NPVR Not Honouring Audio Renderer Selection

[Lao Pan]

I have just discovered that whatever I set in the Audio Renderer List - even though config xml is updated - the logs show that the default direct sound filter is loaded.
In GBPVR I was never able to use the default audio renderer as it caused video instability (always the realtek or realtek direct sound - depending on driver version gave good results)

I am finding the same problems at the moment with NPVR - Programs having to be started multiple times to get a picture - jamming on skipping etc.

[Lao Pan]

Have you got any thoughts on this Sub?
Config

Code:

<Renderers>
    <VideoRenderer>EVR</VideoRenderer>
    <AudioRenderer>Realtek Digital Output (Realtek</AudioRenderer>
  </Renderers>
  <Decoders>
    <DecoderH264>CyberLink Video Decoder (PDVD9)</DecoderH264>
    <DecoderMPEG2>CyberLink Video Decoder (PDVD9)</DecoderMPEG2>
    <DecoderAC3>Disabled</DecoderAC3>
    <DecoderEAC3>Disabled</DecoderEAC3>
    <DecoderAAC>Disabled</DecoderAAC>
    <DecoderHEAAC>Disabled</DecoderHEAAC>
    <DecoderMPEG1Layer2>ffdshow Audio Decoder</DecoderMPEG1Layer2>
  </Decoders>

NPVR.Log

Code:

2010-08-25 07:23:34.137    [DEBUG][1]    locked=1, present=1, strength=36588, quality=20   (took 172ms to check)
2010-08-25 07:23:34.196    [INFO][1]    DigitalRecorder.StartStream() allocated handle: 0x1
2010-08-25 07:23:34.247    [DEBUG][1]    Live TV handle: 0x140001
2010-08-25 07:23:34.348    [DEBUG][1]    Client got streaming handle: 140001
2010-08-25 07:23:34.398    [DEBUG][1]    service type is: 1
2010-08-25 07:23:34.448    [DEBUG][1]    StartLiveTV@5
2010-08-25 07:23:34.593    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system LATM AAC decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:34.644    [ERROR][1]    Unable to find named decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:34.694    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system AC3 decoder
r
2010-08-25 07:23:34.678    [INFO][4]    Got 13 epg events
2010-08-25 07:23:34.694    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system AC3 decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:34.796    [ERROR][1]    Unable to find named decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:34.846    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system MPEG1 Layer2 decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:34.896    [DEBUG][1]    about to load decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:35.188    [DEBUG][1]    added decoder to graph
2010-08-25 07:23:35.588    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system E-AC3 decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:35.666    [ERROR][1]    Unable to find named decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:35.726    [DEBUG][1]    Adding system MPEG2 decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:35.820    [DEBUG][1]    Adding EVR renderer
2010-08-25 07:23:36.191    [DEBUG][1]    about to load decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:36.505    [DEBUG][1]    added decoder to graph
2010-08-25 07:23:36.648    [DEBUG][1]    Reference clock set to 'Default DirectSound Device'
2010-08-25 07:23:37.263    [DEBUG][1]    Source Aspect Ratio: 16x9
2010-08-25 07:23:37.314    [DEBUG][1]    Setting display rect: 0.000000,0.000000,1.000000,1.000000
2010-08-25 07:23:37.835    [INFO][4]    Got 386 epg events
2010-08-25 07:23:39.081    [DEBUG][1]    Playback graph running...
2010-08-25 07:23:39.173    [DEBUG][1]    Graph filter list:
2010-08-25 07:23:39.223    [DEBUG][1]     - EVR Renderer
2010-08-25 07:23:39.273    [DEBUG][1]     - NPVR PES Collector (Teletext)
2010-08-25 07:23:39.323    [DEBUG][1]     - NPVR PES Collector (DVBSubs)
2010-08-25 07:23:39.373    [DEBUG][1]     - Default DirectSound Device
2010-08-25 07:23:39.423    [DEBUG][1]     - CyberLink Video Decoder (PDVD9)
2010-08-25 07:23:39.473    [DEBUG][1]     - ffdshow Audio Decoder
2010-08-25 07:23:39.523    [DEBUG][1]     - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2010-08-25 07:23:39.573    [DEBUG][1]     - NPVR TS Reader
2010-08-25 07:23:39.623    [DEBUG][1]    StartLiveTV@6

Realtek Digital Output (Realtek - is set in config but - Default DirectSound Device is being loaded for the reference clock & Audio Filter.

Love the Picture Quality of NPVR once its running but bit of a PITA to get it going or skipping forwards or backwards.
Also is there a way to increase the live TV buffer slightly sometimes ffdshow starts to cough & Splutter - It is doing dolby pro logic conversion then converting to 5.1 Dolby Digital for SPDIF output so needs a few extra milliseconds.

[sub]

I did find the reason the selected audio renderer wasnt being used, and I've fixed it in the next build.

I'm not sure about the cough and splutter. This isnt something I'm seeing here when I skip.

[Lao Pan]

The problem I am getting is due to the amount of audio processing that ffdshow is performing, the audio occasionally starts to stutter and sometimes fails if I can get about a second of delay all is ok - I think in GBPVR live delay was set at 600 or 700 milliseconds.
The reason I have to use the Realtek Audio Renderer is that the default causes video instability - having to press watch 2 - 4 times to get tv showing - problems with recordings freezing whilst jumping adverts etc. It was the same using default renderer in GBPVR - It is something to do with the motherboard/driver/SPDIF combinations - with some driver updates the Realtek Direct Show Renderer has been the only working solution, at the moment it is the one above.

[sub]

The problem I am getting is due to the amount of audio processing that ffdshow is performing, the audio occasionally starts to stutter and sometimes fails if I can get about a second of delay all is ok - I think in GBPVR live delay was set at 600 or 700 milliseconds.

There was no delay in GB-PVR's Live Preview mode, which is effectively the same mode you're in with NPVR until you hit pause or skip. As soon as you skip, that delay was irrelevant any way. The delay was only used in timeshift mode to make sure the file had grown a little bit before the application started playing it - ie, it wasnt any form of buffering.

[Lao Pan]

Just Installed latest drivers - Catalyst 10.8 - Realtek R251 - and latest ffdshow tryout rev3529.
I've only had 5 mins trying before work interviened, but all seems much improved no stutters or jamming on skiping backwards forwards.
I will give it a couple of days abuse (let the wife have the remote ) and report back.

[BigMoose]

I'm interested in this thread and wonder if it's related to my poor sound in nPVR. I get audio stutters from UK DVB-S and Irish DVB-T channels - after an hour of viewing "decent" channels (like BBC 1 - I assume it is slowly degrading over this hour until it gets annoying enough for me to do something, but I don't notice any degradation for the first 40mins or so) or straight away from some of the crapper satellite channels. A quick pause/play clears the problem though. I am also using a digital on board SPDIF out (realtek) to an AV amp except I don't convert everything to DD5.1. I leave the amp to do DD pro logic from PCM sources. I don't know what decoding ffdshow is doing though that might be causing this problem and why it is so much worse on the poorer quality channels. I can only assume that whatever ffdshow is doing, that is has more work on these channels. I will install Catalyst 10.8 and look for the latest Realtek drives and ffdshow tryout to see if that helps... GBPVR doesn't exhibit the problem at all.

[sub]

One thing worth doing is disabling the audio decoders you dont use for live tv, and only leave those decoders enabled that your might possibly need. This can sometimes give more stable audio. Some audio devices behave this way when multiple audio decoders are hooked up at the same time.

[BigMoose]

Conveniently I've found a spare 1.5Tb disk (a green one that I took out a while ago) so have decided to do a fresh install of win7 on it with only the decoders I really need. (recordings all safely on a 1Tb black drive). Although I have been using the SAF5 beta's and not the very latest ffdshow tryouts. Not sure if SAF installs any additional audio decoders I dont use, but I dont thinks so. Anyway will give this a go and will see if it makes any difference.

[Lao Pan]

I have been using Catalyst 10.8 - Realtek R251 - Cyberlink PDVD9 and latest ffdshow tryout rev3529 for 6 days - Only MPEG 1 sound enabled in NPVR.
Picture Q is outstanding (ATI HD5670) & Sound Glitching has gone. But still have problems with Starting Live TV and Jumping Forwards / Backwards in recorded programs (hoping selecting audio renderer in next build will fix this - PVRX2 had this problem with default renderers)

If a Freeview HD tuner card is ever released for DVB-T2 (5 months since broadcasts started here) or I get fed up and install freesat I think I may install AC3 Encoder and set merit low just for NPVR.

A Heads up for Catalyst 10.8 Drivers - ATI have managed to break them and they do not remember the Overscan / Underscan settings - at least in the HD 5 series over HDMI.
I found on the ATI Game forum a tray aplication by a certain Mr WHURLSTON that works perfec in keeping the settings as you originaly set them - even when changing refresh rates. -- Thanks Whurlston - I presume you are one & the same.