Is converting supposed to be working for HD-PVR files?

[Chriscic]

I decided to try the convert function for the first time. I'm trying to convert HD-PVR recorded files.

Let me first note my server is not very powerful; it's a 1.3ghz P3. But, I would expect converting to work, albeit very slowly.

First, I tried to convert a 30min. HD-PVR recording to Iphone format. I would immediately get a failure dialog every time I tried. Next, I tried to convert to Ipod format. It did start to convert. When I went to on progress hours later, I saw that it was at 217% done and counting (obviously should not go above 100%). I checked again in the morning and it did finish. However, there is something wrong with the file as it plays back super slowly and choppy (either on my HD200 or on my Core2Duo PC).

I also noticed that the time counter on the HD200 goes from -1:29 to 0:30, and the counter on my PC (via Zoom Player) goes from zero to 1:59... again, it's a 30 min. program.

This is using 6.5.5 RC and the latest firmware on the HD200.

Anyone else tried this? I'm submitting a bug report as well.

EDIT: Ok, just heard from Sage support that this is a known issue and will be corrected in the next build.

[phelme]

I tried it on an 8 GB HD-PVR file, it took over a day to convert it into AppleTV Widescreen Quicktime format on a 4 core AMD CPU, but the audio is all out of sync.

[jriskin]

Usually I just try a short clip, but I've had no success. I've managed to not make and useful files with several different output formats. All of them are choppy and have bad audio sync.

[dvd_maniac]

I convert most of my HD-PVR files for archiving. But I use TEMPGenc 4.0 XPress to convert them to MPEG-2 first, then I edit out Commercials or trim them. Finally I use Staxrip or Nero Recode to encode them to H.264/AAC files.
It takes about 1 hour to run 45min video through TEMPGenc with high settings on my Quad-Core Q6600, a few minutes to trim/cut and then about another hour to encode.
I Queue a few of them up at a time to cut down on actual time spent on PC...

[jriskin]

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

I convert most of my HD-PVR files for archiving. But I use TEMPGenc 4.0 XPress to convert them to MPEG-2 first, then I edit out Commercials or trim them. Finally I use Staxrip or Nero Recode to encode them to H.264/AAC files.
It takes about 1 hour to run 45min video through TEMPGenc with high settings on my Quad-Core Q6600, a few minutes to trim/cut and then about another hour to encode.
I Queue a few of them up at a time to cut down on actual time spent on PC...

Yikes, that sounds like a lot of effort. Personally I wish I could have two things...

1. Ability to convert them directly to a lower resolution and lower bit-rate version of what they already are.

2. Ability to trim/edit the existing files and put them in a different container formats without having to re-compress anything.

[wayner]

Given that 6.5 has been released - does the Convert function in Sage work for H.264 files. When I try to convert a H.264 file it says failed. Part of the release notes for some of the 6.5 beta said:

HDPVR transcoding should now function correctly in SageTVTranscoder

But I am unclear ifb y Transcoding they mean Transcoding files in realtime with PlaceShifter or Converting since convert seems to use SageTVTranscoder.

[phelme]

Originally Posted by wayner

Given that 6.5 has been released - does the Convert function in Sage work for H.264 files. When I try to convert a H.264 file it says failed. Part of the release notes for some of the 6.5 beta said:



But I am unclear ifb y Transcoding they mean Transcoding files in realtime with PlaceShifter or Converting since convert seems to use SageTVTranscoder.

Yes, 6.5 DOES convert H.264 files. I use the AppleTV method. But... I find that 1/3 or more of them I convert have audio sync issues. There appears to be no pattern to which will fail that I can find.

[phelme]

what does seem to be consistent for me is every file that has sync issues is exactly 1.750 seconds off, with audio lagging the video. Strange. So they can be fixed with a reconvert and a negative audio delay. Maybe it's a frame rate misread on the part of the SageTVTranscoder.

[phelme]

FYI. I filed a bug with Sage last week and sent them an HD-PVR TS recording that for me, ended up out of sync after converting. They were able to reproduce the issue and it's now on their to-fix list.

[TorontoSage]

I don't even get an option for converting video when I go to advanced options, no matter which recording I choose. I am using the HD PVR to record and SageTV version 6.5.9.204 which is supposed to allow me to convert. Why don't I even see that menu choice?