Playback of transcoded recordings

[drmargarit]

I am experimenting with transcoding recordings from .ts to .mp4. I am using:
ffmpeg.exe -i infile.ts -c:v libx264 -crf 20 -s 720x404 -c:a copy outfile.mp4

After the transcode, I update scheduled_recording table of npvr.db3 with the new filename.

They play in vlc but not in npvr.

Is this a codec issue, a transcode issue or an npvr issue?
The attached log doesn't tell me a whole lot.

Thanks for looking,


Jim Margarit

[sub]

You probably don't have good combination of directshow components on your machine for playing .mp4 files. You'll probably find it works if you install the LAV filters from https://github.com/Nevcairiel/LAVFilters/releases

[drmargarit]

You probably don't have good combination of directshow components on your machine for playing .mp4 files. You'll probably find it works if you install the LAV filters from https://github.com/Nevcairiel/LAVFilters/releases

Installed the filters, activated the filters in settings, everything played. Discovered channel switching live tv causes freezes, disabled lav filters. MP4 still plays. Nothing makes sense. Taking a nap.

Jim

[sub]

Installed the filters, activated the filters in settings, everything played.

You didn't need to change any decoders in the Settings screen. The decoders in there only relate to .ts file and live, so put those back to whatever you were using before.

NextPVR doesn't play an active part in playing .mp4 files. For anything other than .ts files, NextPVR just lets Windows decide what decoders to use. Having installed the LAV components would have been enough to allow Windows to find an appropriate combination of decoders/splitters to play your files. In your case I'm pretty sure it was a directshow MP4 splitter filter that you were missing (ie, not audio/video decoders).

Discovered channel switching live tv causes freezes, disabled lav filters. MP4 still plays. Nothing makes sense. Taking a nap.

Yep, as mentioned above, put it back to whatever you had the decoders set to before.

[martint123]

After the transcode, I update scheduled_recording table of npvr.db3 with the new filename.

If you delete (or rename when testing) the original file then NPVR should update itself to the new file extension if it is on the list in config.xml and MP4 is ISTR.

[drmargarit]

You didn't need to change any decoders in the Settings screen. The decoders in there only relate to .ts file and live, so put those back to whatever you were using before.

NextPVR doesn't play an active part in playing .mp4 files. For anything other than .ts files, NextPVR just lets Windows decide what decoders to use. Having installed the LAV components would have been enough to allow Windows to find an appropriate combination of decoders/splitters to play your files. In your case I'm pretty sure it was a directshow MP4 splitter filter that you were missing (ie, not audio/video decoders).

Yep, as mentioned above, put it back to whatever you had the decoders set to before.

Ok, makes more sense now. It seemed logical that if I was adding LAV filters, I would have to explicitly tell NPVR to use LAV filters in the decoders page. Not all things intuitive are...

Jim

[drmargarit]

If you delete (or rename when testing) the original file then NPVR should update itself to the new file extension if it is on the list in config.xml and MP4 is ISTR.

I knew that it would do that but I wasn't certain *when*. For example, does it look for an alternative upon request to play, or when the program initially starts up, which could be days in the future?

Ultimately, for me, it doesn't matter because the next step is to move the transcoded file from the SSD to the server so I will have to update npvr.db3 anyway.

What does ISTR stand for? I Seem To Recall?

Jim

[sub]

I knew that it would do that but I wasn't certain *when*. For example, does it look for an alternative upon request to play, or when the program initially starts up, which could be days in the future?

It does this whenever it loads the recording list. For example, entering the Recording screen, or changing lists in the Recordings screen, entering the TV Guide etc.