ATI Mux / mpeg file recordings playback issues

[topperdude]

Hi,

I recently switched to the ATI Mux in the BDA Multiplexer. Wierd thing is that when I now record shows using the Analog tuner on the HVR1600, when I open and play back the recordings created with this Mux (in GBPVR, VLC, WMP or VideoRedo) it plays back as if it was being fast forwarded at twice the speed. Moreover, VLC shows that the recording is only half the length as the show's actual length.

I understand the BDA Multiplexer should not affect analog recordings, right? So I tried this - recorded ~3min of a show with the ATI Mux selected in BDA Multiplexer and verified the above behavior. Then, switched the BDA Multiplexer to TS Mux and recorded the same show for ~3min and the resultant file played back fine.

Not sure if BDA Mux is affecting above behavior or not but would appreciate any thoughts on what might be happening.

Edit: Some more info:
Above behavior with ATI Mux happens only if I let the show record till the end. So here are the scenarios I tried and the resultant playback:
1. Started recording in the middle of the show slot and stopped recording before the scheduled end time: mpeg file played back fine
2. Started recording in the middle of the show and let it record till the end of the show: mpeg file played back messed up
3. Started recording from the beginning of the show and then cancelled recording before the show ended: mpeg file played back fine.
Tried same scenarios as above with TS Mux and all resultant mpegs played back fine.

BTW, I switched to using recording in mpeg versus TS due to playback issues on client PC as described here.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
-Topper

[sub]

I cant explain that. For analog recordings, it wont even look at which BDA Multiplexer you have selected.

Are you sure it wasnt a digital recording.

[pBS]

hmmm, checked the config auto-transcode settings to make sure it's not converting them immediately after recording? it only transcodes if recording completes...

are they .mpg files all? or do some come out as .ts?
what version catalyst mux are you using?
as far as i know they don't have a ts output option at all in that mux...
[as of cat 8.12] wish they did...
using latest comskip?

[topperdude]

OK - I stand corrected! As sub mentioned, I also think the the issue is not related to the BDA Multiplexer as I just did some more testing after my first post in this thread and found the same behavior with TS Mux as well.

Some more tests with results:
1. Recorded a show on analog channel ~90mins long with TS Mux and the playback of mpg file was messed up as described previously.
2. After the show above finished recording, recorded two shows, each ~31 min (incl padding) one an analog channel - one with TS Mux and the other with ATI Mux. Neither had a problem with playback.
3. All other analog channel mpg recordings that exhibited the messed up playback were atleast an hour long.
4. I have been watching basketball live on the client PC since the two 30min shows stopped recording for about 30 minutes now on an analog channel and its playing just fine.

Since we have determined that the BDA Mux doesnt make a difference for analog then based on above tests, I wonder if length of recording may have anything to do with it ?

pBS - I have also turned off the Auto-transcode option for mpg files and have scheduled a recording for mid-night. Will check in the morning how that turns out. Here's info on the ATI mux: VERSION: 9.14.0.60504

Any thoughts/ideas?
Thanks,
-Topper

[sub]

There has been a couple of reports in the last few months of HVR1600 analog recordings playing in a fast forward speed, or reporting incorrect duration and bad skipping behaviour. This sounds like some infrequently occuring HVR1600 driver bug, similar to the PVR150 timestamp bug.

When it comes to analog recordings, its all done by the hardware encoder, so timing problems like this can only be caused by the device itself (or the drivers).

[ww4397]

There has been a couple of reports in the last few months of HVR1600 analog recordings playing in a fast forward speed...

Well, here is another report of 2x recording/playback. After a long period of no problems at all, my HVR1600 is recording a lot of shows at a 2x type of speed. The file is not playable and is about half the size that it should be.

Did anyone ever find a solution to this?

Thanks.

[hoborg]

ww4397:
Can you provide small sample for test reason?

BTW, i was on CyberLink "MpgMux.ax" (5.1.0.2507) about 3/4 of year, i did lot of recodrings from analog source in to MPG. There was no one audio/video desync/speed up at all.
Since 1.3.2010 i am on DVB-t now.

MpgMux.ax is part of *unlocked* SAF, or you can found it in mux catalog.

[zvm]

Regarding Mux.... I couldn't register them in Windows 7. I used muxer from this thread and posted there, but noone answers there.

To be honest, I didn't have to much time to investigate, so it could be something trivial. Apologies on that. But, if it simply does not work on Win 7 why waste time!?

PS: I am fine with TS muxer, but sometimes I need mpeg.

[hoborg]

Regarding Mux.... I couldn't register them in Windows 7. I used muxer from this thread and posted there, but noone answers there.

To be honest, I didn't have to much time to investigate, so it could be something trivial. Apologies on that. But, if it simply does not work on Win 7 why waste time!?

PS: I am fine with TS muxer, but sometimes I need mpeg.

You mean CyberLink "MpgMux.ax" ?No problem to register it on my Win7 X64. Just make sure you run it as admin, tak is all
Or use unlocked SAF, it will do it automatically.

BTW, not sure why do you want to record to MPG, but if you want to edit, cut, TS to MPG or MPG to TS, 16/9 to 4/3 aspect fix, DVD authoring, etc..., my tip is Womble MPEG video wizard (30days trial)

[zvm]

Thanks for the info and tips.
I have Womble. Basically, I want avi in the end. GBPVR has automatic transcoding, but... it doesn't work if show has some of Croatian special characters in the name, and of course there is always unwanted material in recordings - prior and after.

I am using Any Video Converter (free edition) which can cut and transcode at one step. Or Sollveig AVI Trimmer if GBPVR has made automatic transcoding.

Hm... when I think of it now, I really don't know why do I need mpeg!? Probably force of habit.