Horrible performance but good recording?

[eg4190]

Just made the switch to SageTV after buying a Hauppauge HD PVR, like a lot of users. Installation occurred with very few problems, but I'm getting horrible performance within the SageTV application. Every time I change channels, it takes about 30 seconds of stopping and stuttering before the picture displays. Usually this is accompanied by a metallic squeak every few seconds, and sometimes the audio doesn't come back on unless I minimize the SageTV window and maximize it again. Recordings and live TV regularly freeze out of nowhere, and won't resume playback unless I close the application and restart.

The really weird thing is, when I open the SageTV output files in Windows Media Player, the recordings play flawlessly. This tells me that the HD PVR is working fine, and that SageTV is properly tuning and recording these files.

The problem is only with playback within SageTV! It's a pretty big problem as it's now really cumbersome to watch live TV.

My system specs are low-to-mid range for an HTPC -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 processor (slightly overclocked to 2.3Ghz), GeForce 9600 video card, Kingston 2GB DDR2 800 RAM, running Vista 32-bit SP1. Very stable system with no other problems.

I'm using the CoreAVC codec to watch all H.264-related files -- this may be causing an issue with SageTV, but all MKVs run absolutely flawlessly with no dropped frames, even at 1080p.

[mayamaniac]

have you tried the arcsoft codec that came with the HD-PVR?

[eg4190]

I have a feeling that's probably it. I avoided using the Arcsoft stuff because it came with some horrible adware, so I uninstalled it right away. I had CoreAVC set as the preferred decoder anyway. It seems like the codec being used shouldn't affect SageTV though, since like I said the recorded files play back great using Windows Media Player with CoreAVC.

Does anybody know the exact codec being used by the HD PVR? I'm going to try using the Arcsoft codec for SageTV, and CoreAVC for everything else.

[HelenWeathers]

Try adding these settings to your Sage properties and/or SageTV Client properties file:

videoframe/aac_audio_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Audio Decoder HD
videoframe/ac3_audio_decoder_filter=AC3Filter
videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=ArcSoft Video Decoder

Some of these may already esist, but if they don't, add them.

The properties files are located in the \Program Files\SageTV\SageTV folder.

EDIT: Didn't see that you had uninstalled TME - Soooo, Ignore my suggestions.

[TallMomof2]

If you still are having issues, try the beta. The latest beta really improved my playback.

[ghostlobster]

Originally Posted by eg4190

I have a feeling that's probably it. I avoided using the Arcsoft stuff because it came with some horrible adware,

Huh? What Adware? My ArcSoft CD had no Adware on it.

[eg4190]

There was an Arcosft icon loaded into my tray that kept showing annoying little ads for Arcsoft products. It bothered me so much that I got rid of Arcsoft altogether. My reasoning at the time was that SageTV should only need the Hauppauge driver and CoreAVC to run, but apparently SageTV is expecting to use the Arcsoft codec.