ZTools: Coming soon! (to do list)

[zehd]

I'd like to use this thread as a pulse check for users of ZProcess and UltraXMLTV

In the other closed thread I have been hinting on adding new features and new releases soon.

I just thought I'd list some of the features I'm hoping to finish before I release out of beta and onto the wiki.

I'd love to know who's using the software (who's beta testing), how's it going, and whether new features that I'm working on are even worth it...


[SIZE="4"]ZProcess and ZTranscode[/SIZE]

• DVD on the fly transcoding already released
  
  
• Some better controls for manual transcoding including cropping and scaling of output video. Ripping DVDs. Better support for DIVX/XVID AVI, wmv, mpeg2, and maybe mkv(h264)
  
  
• On the fly transcoding for TS and MKV files (Already limited support while using VLC as the transcode engine)
  
  
• Post Processing feature to automatically remove letterbox from 'Letterbox in 4x3' TV content
  
  

**. I'm not kidding myself. There are far too many transcoders out there, that I don't even want to think about adding features to compete (if I'm even competing) Most of all these features are extensions of simple conversions from one format to another, with little setup.



[SIZE="4"]UltraXMLTV Enhancer[/SIZE]

The version that is available in my New Release thread, is almost finished.

I want to add Whurlston's WAF gainer: the reverse New show (repeat) indicator.

• Along with adding an asterix to the title of a repeat show (but not for new shows), add the word (configurable) 'Repeat' to the Show Description
  

(Old TV guides used to say ® for repeat, but it has since been taken to mean Restricted)

I'd like to know how many people out there understand and want carpevideo's feature (he has in his own enhancer) that tells you if the movie is new or not... (CV, I do understand, but I wouldn't use it myself)

discussed here: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?p=313745


Also, I need to move some buttons (limited real estate)

I want to be sure that 'Zehd's Picks' is working fine, and that fewer and fewer problems are happening for people when they update in the middle of the night

BTW, if you do have a lock up, along with the log, I'd like to know what grabber and your log on information, so I can try and simulate the lock up. (That means I'm blaming the grabber and not the enhancer, doesn't it!)

I want to thank the brave souls who have been trying out my beta releases.

Anyone who checks in will get a free pass on Ultra

[Mike S]

Running 1.2.142 without any stalls lately.

[leaded1]

First I'll say that I'm happily using Ultra v1.2.130 with no problems to report.

I tried ZProcess again last month and loved the automatic Aspect Ratio,but switched back to GBPVR's built-in FFMPEG implementation because I had problems with several movies. Most of my videos are widescreen M4V files (AAC audio and h264 video) and the audio would transcode fine, but the video would look like it was in slow-mo. I was playing around with red and gamma correction, and I do have a pretty archaic computer, so I'm not sure if it was a setting that I changed, or my computing horsepower. I will give it another shot when you release the version that uses VLC.

Thanks for the great tools,
Leaded

[carpeVideo]

I would suggest using creating a few tabs in the GUI - there are so many buttons now it get's a bit confusing. Perhaps move the series config to its own tab and a few others.

[zehd]

I tried ZProcess again last month and loved the automatic Aspect Ratio,but switched back to GBPVR's built-in FFMPEG implementation because I had problems with several movies. Most of my videos are widescreen M4V files (AAC audio and h264 video) and the audio would transcode fine, but the video would look like it was in slow-mo. I was playing around with red and gamma correction, and I do have a pretty archaic computer, so I'm not sure if it was a setting that I changed, or my computing horsepower. I will give it another shot when you release the version that uses VLC.

Thanks for the great tools,
Leaded

The new version might not work for you still, unless I can be sure it's transcoding what you're using. Can you make available one of the video that is causing your trouble?

Also, If you're succesful with the default ffmpeg use, then you could always select ffmpeg as your transcoder IN ZProcess. You'd get aspect ratio correction, but still use the same settings as GB-PVR would use by default.

We can talk about that in another thread

First I'll say that I'm happily using Ultra v1.2.130 with no problems to report.

Running 1.2.142 without any stalls lately.

Thanks. Anything newer than what's on the wiki (1.2.127) and you *should* keep up and use the very latest on the release thread, because of bugs that were introduced and then fixed. But if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[zehd]

I would suggest using creating a few tabs in the GUI - there are so many buttons now it get's a bit confusing. Perhaps move the series config to its own tab and a few others.

My first ZProcess had tabs. People thought it was too confusing.

Well you're right, it's time for tabs...

[jgwallace3]

I'd been happily using 1.2.94 for a while and recently upgraded to .121. I then began experiencing the overnight hangs (I'd check in the morning and UXMLTV enhancer was just sitting there doing nothing.). I tried out the beta .151(?) and had the same results. I tried several runs interactively and saw UXMLTV trying to set the recording service to 'interact with the desktop'. For some reason, it didn't seem to stick.

I finally killed all the gbpvr tasks (incl the rec svc), set the rec svc to 'interact' and rebooted. It's been working fine ever since.

FWIW, I haven't tested (and don't have a need for) the 'picks' or 'reverse new' functions.

Jack

[zehd]

I'd been happily using 1.2.94 for a while and recently upgraded to .121. I then began experiencing the overnight hangs (I'd check in the morning and UXMLTV enhancer was just sitting there doing nothing.). I tried out the beta .151(?) and had the same results. I tried several runs interactively and saw UXMLTV trying to set the recording service to 'interact with the desktop'. For some reason, it didn't seem to stick.

I finally killed all the gbpvr tasks (incl the rec svc), set the rec svc to 'interact' and rebooted. It's been working fine ever since.

FWIW, I haven't tested (and don't have a need for) the 'picks' or 'reverse new' functions.

Jack

The 'Picks' is meant to be a starting point because Ultra by dafault and fresh install doesn't do anything.

I wonder if I was unable to set the 'interact' attribute because of permissions. What OS are you using...?

[zehd]

I would suggest using creating a few tabs in the GUI - there are so many buttons now it get's a bit confusing. Perhaps move the series config to its own tab and a few others.

I certainly think it's time. I would be able to add a few more labels then and have less confusion as to what is what

[jgwallace3]

I wonder if I was unable to set the 'interact' attribute because of permissions. What OS are you using...?

Windows XP SP3. When I ran it interactively, it said that the attribute needed to be set and that it set it. A quick check confirmed that, however, it didn't stick. I don't remember how/when it got reset; just that I checked after a subsequent reboot and it was NOT set. As I said, after killing the pvrx2 and recording tasks and then setting manually it stayed set and all is well now.