SageEncoder v0.4.2 01/29 - Encode .mpg to .wmv streaming files & divx

[lebedev]

Ok....how about "tvshows.prx" in your encoder directory? Attached is another debug version that may or may not be useful...

tvshows.prx is in my encode directory.

I ran the new debug version and the results were exactly the same as the previous debug version.

OK, I feel stupid for not doing this before... I just ran windows encoder to see if I could use the program on its own to convert a file. I can't, as soon as I try to open any video file (mpeg2, divx, xvid...etc,) windows encoder crashes. So I guess the problem has nothing to do with SageEncoder.

The error signature that Windows Encoder puts out is:

AppName: wmenc.exe AppVer: 9.0.0.2980 ModName: ttadsdecoder.ax
ModVer: 1.0.0.156 Offset: 0000127e

I did a search for ttadsdecoder.ax on google and ttadsdecoder.ax seems to be an audio codec. I guess I'll have to figure out what is going on with my machine before I try SageEncoder again.

Sorry for all the problems, and thanks for all the help,
-lebedev

[mtnwing]

I'm building another more powerful machine so we'll se if I have better luck with the second one which will eventually become my main machine. Please let me know if you discover a fix with your dev box though.

Thanks so much for building this ultra cool encoder integration for WMV's. If I can get it running I'll be on cloud 9 as a road warrior that's constantly out of town and wanting to access my files remotely.

One other question, I've not been able to get any new check boxes or buttons to appear in my Nielm's webserver to manually trigger encodes. Is this suppose to happen automatically after a file is encoded or should it show up before any encoding is successful? Have I some how missed a step in my installation relative to the webserver that would enable this function?

[ajuhawk]

Originally Posted by lebedev

tvshows.prx is in my encode directory.

I ran the new debug version and the results were exactly the same as the previous debug version.

OK, I feel stupid for not doing this before... I just ran windows encoder to see if I could use the program on its own to convert a file. I can't, as soon as I try to open any video file (mpeg2, divx, xvid...etc,) windows encoder crashes. So I guess the problem has nothing to do with SageEncoder.

The error signature that Windows Encoder puts out is:


I did a search for ttadsdecoder.ax on google and ttadsdecoder.ax seems to be an audio codec. I guess I'll have to figure out what is going on with my machine before I try SageEncoder again.

Sorry for all the problems, and thanks for all the help,
-lebedev

Yeah, that could definately be part of it. Sage Encoder appears to be working correctly (as the debug checks merely added writes to the screen if something went wrong) so my guess is it's something with Windows encoder... though one final dumb question - does the computer you're running sage encoder on have write access to the input directory?

[ajuhawk]

Originally Posted by mtnwing

I'm building another more powerful machine so we'll se if I have better luck with the second one which will eventually become my main machine. Please let me know if you discover a fix with your dev box though.

Thanks so much for building this ultra cool encoder integration for WMV's. If I can get it running I'll be on cloud 9 as a road warrior that's constantly out of town and wanting to access my files remotely.

One other question, I've not been able to get any new check boxes or buttons to appear in my Nielm's webserver to manually trigger encodes. Is this suppose to happen automatically after a file is encoded or should it show up before any encoding is successful? Have I some how missed a step in my installation relative to the webserver that would enable this function?

Not sure I follow the question about the web integration - I think what you're saying is that you're not seeing the check boxes on the recordings page? If those aren't showing up, I'd extract recordingservlet.class and find where it is and overwrite it, that should assure that it's the right one. If I'm not right, maybe you could try explaining it for me again

[lebedev]

though one final dumb question - does the computer you're running sage encoder on have write access to the input directory?

yes, everything I have been doing is on the SageTV computer and all files and directories are local to that computer. I've been accessing the computer using XP's Remote Desktop

-lebedev

[lebedev]

If anyone is having the same problem as I had with ttadsdecoder.ax crashing windows media encoder the solution I came up with (sor far) was to uninstall the matroska codec pack that used this audio codec.

OK, so I just fixed one problem, only to run straight into another

I have a sigma Xcard on my computer that does hardware decoding of mpeg2 files. The only software mpeg2 decoder I have installed on my computer is the one that came with my Hauppauge encoder card (Intervideo NonCSS Video Decoder for Hauppauge.) If I try to open a mpeg2 file in windows encoder, it views it as an audio-only file and tries to create a wma instead of a wmv file and deactivates all menus/options dealing with video settings. I think this has to do with the computer not having a software mpeg2 decoder that is compatible with windows encoder. Or, it could be that my xcard keeps trying to hardware decode every mpeg2 file that my computer accesses.

Anyway, has anyone here had any success with running the encoder with an Xcard installed in their sytem? Or, anyone know what mpeg2 decoder they are using successfully with the windows encoder (especially if it's free)?

Thanks,
-lebedev

[ajuhawk]

Just so everyone knows that I'm not ignoring the requests, I'm not. I have a really busy 2 weeks at work with lots of OT so I probably won't be spending a lot of time looking at Sage Encoder code However, as time permits, I do plan to look into a number of things. If there's a pressing issue (a bug) that I've overlooked, let me know and I'll see if I can't resolve that quickly. It's my understanding that the two aforementioned turned out to be configuration problems... The log problem is on the list as it puzzles me.

[dblaine2]

I found that SageEncoder was stopping after a very short time. It generated a file of only a few KB. So, I ran WME by itself. I get the error "Cannot allocate memory because no size set".

Looking around the boards this error might be related to the Decoder used. I have NVidia decoder 2.0.55 (came with the video card). I used Microsoft's XP Video Decoder Checkup utility to test compatibility, etc. It states it is not WMP10 compatible and cannot do synching. This wouldn't have any affect here, right? Since I have several decoders, NVidia is the preferred.

Any ideas? What are those who have this working using for Decoders?

[dblaine2]

Well apparently I needed to upgrade my Nvidia Encoder to the latest and greatest. Hurray! I'm encoding now!

BTW: The checkup utility above confirms that the new Nvidia Encoder support WMP10 and synching.

[dblaine2]

Well my encoding finished in just over 2 hours. I have great sound but no video The decoder is set to prefer VMR9. I will try some other settings and see if it makes a difference.

[ajuhawk]

Well, just ended 2 really busy weeks at work and I'm hoping next week won't be so bad. I have some hardware issues to deal with and then I should be able to work on whatever it was I said I'd do

[dblaine2]

I have sound but no video! What gives?

[ajuhawk]

could you provide a tad more info? Does encoder work standalone?

Edit: finished reading your previous posts - so I'm guessing WME still doesn't work standalone...and that micro$oft isn't much help as to why it won't work. Unfortunately all my cards are ATI so I'm not sure how much help I can give...but if you provide more info maybe someone will think of something.

[dblaine2]

Originally Posted by ajuhawk

could you provide a tad more info? Does encoder work standalone?

Edit: finished reading your previous posts - so I'm guessing WME still doesn't work standalone...and that micro$oft isn't much help as to why it won't work. Unfortunately all my cards are ATI so I'm not sure how much help I can give...but if you provide more info maybe someone will think of something.

You are correct. M$ isn't much help. It completes ok standalone it just doesn't have video when its done. I'm not sure what info I can give you.... Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Help!

[ddman]

I read somewhere about the possibility of an interval check with parameters to NOT check between certain hours. Along those lines, could you please add that OR something to run a check at a particular time each day, etc... for example 2am to do a sweep of all new things recorded that day.

Also, I know there was talk about adding an option for encoding to divx instead of wmv. wmv seems to be the way to go for streaming, but in terms of archiving files divx seems to offer a happy medium in terms of quality and compression. Does this seem likely any time in the near future??

I haven't gotten a chance to use the program yet, but I've read all the posts and this is really an awesome project. As was mentioned earlier, it's always great to see the benefits of sharing code and customizing software to individual needs. Keep up the good work!!

UPDATE::
Also, will there be an update for Neilm's new webserver. I tried to look at the files and copy in anything I noticed that was changed, but now I messed everything up and have to revert to the original 1.6 files. -- There has to be a better way than having to re-hack at the files every time he releases a new version.

[ajuhawk]

Originally Posted by ddman

I read somewhere about the possibility of an interval check with parameters to NOT check between certain hours. Along those lines, could you please add that OR something to run a check at a particular time each day, etc... for example 2am to do a sweep of all new things recorded that day.

Ok, I'll check into doing that, shouldn't be too bad... see below as to my "time off" excuse.

Originally Posted by ddman

Also, I know there was talk about adding an option for encoding to divx instead of wmv. wmv seems to be the way to go for streaming, but in terms of archiving files divx seems to offer a happy medium in terms of quality and compression. Does this seem likely any time in the near future??

This is something I've been thinking about, so when I dig in next I'll see what I can find.

Originally Posted by ddman

I haven't gotten a chance to use the program yet, but I've read all the posts and this is really an awesome project. As was mentioned earlier, it's always great to see the benefits of sharing code and customizing software to individual needs. Keep up the good work!!

Ok, so honesty time. I haven't even looked at the code for probably 2 months now. First I got really busy at work for a month, then I performed a major hardware update around the house (new server, htpc, ...) then I had knee surgery and am just now dealing with going back to work. SO, that said, now that I see some interest in this project again, hopefully that will motivate me and I can pick this up soon.

Originally Posted by ddman

UPDATE::
Also, will there be an update for Neilm's new webserver. I tried to look at the files and copy in anything I noticed that was changed, but now I messed everything up and have to revert to the original 1.6 files. -- There has to be a better way than having to re-hack at the files every time he releases a new version.

At one point Neilm asked for my "hack" and said he'd make a plugin out of it. So far I haven't heard back on this... I was hoping he'd do that as it's annoying to have to go "hack" someone else's code every time he modifies it. But, that said, I'll make sure I get that done first so my existing program still works. It's not overly difficult once I sit down and just do it.

Hope that answers your q's. As always, the more interest I see, the more likely I am to update/add features.

[nielm]

Originally Posted by ajuhawk

At one point Neilm asked for my "hack" and said he'd make a plugin out of it. So far I haven't heard back on this...

It will be built-in to version 1.7 which will be released as soon as I can get the bugs out of it!

[ddman]

Awesome, I can't wait.

ajuhawk -- Thanks for the quick response. Is there anyway also to add a progress indicator? I started using the program last night to compress a bunch of files. I set it up, hit start and it detected the first file. I went to sleep, woke up and the tooltip indicator did not change. I exited the program because I thought it wasn't working although I now think that it probably was. Even something as simple as indicating what step it is in the process in the main window would be cool, of course some sort of percentage would be amazing (and a time remaining even better) But I know some of that can be a pain. I guess you would know which is the most feasible. (This would also help in debugging as I have no idea what step in the process SE is causing any potential lag.)

Thanks!!

-- If it's the interest that motivates you, I hope more people post. This seems like one of those projects, like the webserver, that adds a new dimension to having an htpc. Now not only can you timeshift, you can do it anywhere!

UPDATE::

The time is now 11:02 am... Like I said, this is my first attempt to encode, but this is my feedback so far:
6/24/2005 9:11:21 AM: Settings Saved.
6/24/2005 9:11:24 AM: processing C:\Documents and Settings\My Documents\My Videos\SageTV\FamilyGuy-88978-0.VPrj

Note that I started two hours ago -- is it normal for a half-hour show to take this long?

[ddman]

After playing around for a little while, I cancelled the other process after it had been running for 6hrs. Now it says "Encoding file" this is definitely a step up so I guess you did implement some type of notification. Hopefully it will work now.

[ajuhawk]

Nielm - glad to hear it!! That will make my life a lot easier.

ddman - Seems like you figured out the level of feedback I can give. Unfortunately since I use the Windows Media Encoder (WME) to do the actual encoding (I just tell it what file to encode and what settings to use), I currently have no way of knowing how far it's gotten. In the future I MIGHT have an idea how this could be done....but that would be a ways off.

Hope that helps, I'll try to motivate myself this weekend to getting going