Transcoding HD PVR files

[babgvant]

I can't get Sage to transcode HD PVR files. Has anyone gotten this to work?

[mikejaner]

Yes, but not until I switched my Cable boxes to output 720p only.

[mayamaniac]

The question is when will 1080i work? That's what we are waiting for.

[babgvant]

I can't get anything to work properly; 480i, 720p, or 1080i.

[jelwood]

I haven't been able to get the Sage Transcoding application to work with 1080i. However, I use Handbrake to do this almost everyday.

I did notice that ffmpeg did a big official release yesterday - version .05 (they almost never cut an official release, I've always had to compile it myself from source code). I haven't checked it out to see if it would work with the HD PVR (from what I've seen the Sage Transcoding utility is just ffmpeg).

[phelme]

yes, it does work, with 720P anyway. but there is a bug apparently in the base ffmpeg code that sometimes throws the A/V out of sync. hopefully the new ffmpeg release has a fix. Sage knows about it and is trying to address it.

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I haven't been able to get the Sage Transcoding application to work with 1080i. However, I use Handbrake to do this almost everyday.

I did notice that ffmpeg did a big official release yesterday - version .05 (they almost never cut an official release, I've always had to compile it myself from source code). I haven't checked it out to see if it would work with the HD PVR (from what I've seen the Sage Transcoding utility is just ffmpeg).

There must be something different w/ my recordings (using the latest HDPVR beta). Haven't tried handbrake recently (w/ the beta drivers), but it was choking on the files so I stopped using it. The only thing I've been able to make "work" is a custom directshow approach but A/V drifts out of sync as the timeline progresses.

I'll check out the latest ffmpeg, thanks.

[bsung]

Originally Posted by babgvant

There must be something different w/ my recordings (using the latest HDPVR beta). Haven't tried handbrake recently (w/ the beta drivers), but it was choking on the files so I stopped using it. The only thing I've been able to make "work" is a custom directshow approach but A/V drifts out of sync as the timeline progresses.

I'll check out the latest ffmpeg, thanks.

There's a beta for HDPVR drivers? I don't see it on their website.

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by bsung

There's a beta for HDPVR drivers? I don't see it on their website.

http://www.shspvr.com/smf/index.php?topic=11880.0

Originally Posted by babgvant

Haven't tried handbrake recently (w/ the beta drivers), but it was choking on the files so I stopped using it.

Handbrake still chokes on the files...

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I did notice that ffmpeg did a big official release yesterday - version .05 (they almost never cut an official release, I've always had to compile it myself from source code). I haven't checked it out to see if it would work with the HD PVR (from what I've seen the Sage Transcoding utility is just ffmpeg).

Is this hosted somewhere? I haven't been able to find a compiled copy.

[thorforyou]

I use the following with the most recent ffmpeg revision 16596
-f matroska -vcodec mpeg4 -qscale 6 -acodec copy

This provides a good quality rip from the hd-pvr files that are 720p.

It usually works with 1080i, but not always.

The release notes from the latest ffmpeg .05 seem to indicate that the paff header problem might be resolved. I hope that someone compiles the new version for windows soon.

[jelwood]

Originally Posted by babgvant

http://www.shspvr.com/smf/index.php?topic=11880.0



Handbrake still chokes on the files...

Hmm... I'm not running the Beta drivers so maybe that is the difference.

Originally Posted by babgvant

Is this hosted somewhere? I haven't been able to find a compiled copy.

I just looked and it isn't hosted somewhere. I'll compile a version and see if it works better. I'll let you know.

[babgvant]

Thanks.

I was able to get the custom DShow method working with 480i content; but have since had to swap out the STB, and my HD PVR (the issue fixed in the new release drivers) so I haven't had much of a chance to really test it.

[Rico66]

Why do you want to transcode hdpvr files anyhow? They are already mpeg4 encoded. Anytime you re-encode again, you'll lose quality. And if you want smaller files, then why not select lower bitrates during capture? Same goes for resolution, why not capture in the desired resolution to begin with.

Don't get me wrong, I did a lot of re-encoding in the past as well, but that was typically from mpeg2 to mpeg4.

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by Rico66

Why do you want to transcode hdpvr files anyhow?

For my phone

[TorontoSage]

Originally Posted by babgvant

For my phone

Just curious but is it a phone with a big screen (like an iPhone) that you watch on public transit while going to work? Or, where do you watch it? I am curious as to why people are compelled to watch small screens. (on public transit would be a good reason I guess)

[jelwood]

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

Just curious but is it a phone with a big screen (like an iPhone) that you watch on public transit while going to work? Or, where do you watch it? I am curious as to why people are compelled to watch small screens. (on public transit would be a good reason I guess)

Personally, I spend a lot of time on planes. I have an IPod Touch loaded with all of my shows. That's why I personally re-encode to a smaller resolution. However, I'm using Handbrake right now for all of my re-encoding and it is doing a great job.

[jelwood]

Originally Posted by thorforyou

I use the following with the most recent ffmpeg revision 16596
-f matroska -vcodec mpeg4 -qscale 6 -acodec copy

This provides a good quality rip from the hd-pvr files that are 720p.

It usually works with 1080i, but not always.

The release notes from the latest ffmpeg .05 seem to indicate that the paff header problem might be resolved. I hope that someone compiles the new version for windows soon.

Well I just spent all morning trying to get version .05 to work. However, I think I found out why no one else has published a .05 version for Windows. It compiles fine, but blows up whenever I try to convert something. I'm not sure what is wrong, but it's going to take a lot of digging...

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

Just curious but is it a phone with a big screen (like an iPhone) that you watch on public transit while going to work? Or, where do you watch it? I am curious as to why people are compelled to watch small screens. (on public transit would be a good reason I guess)

Mostly on the train.

Qvga so not great resolution, but for the content I'm transcoding (daily show for e.g.) it's not an issue.

[TorontoSage]

Originally Posted by jelwood

Personally, I spend a lot of time on planes. I have an IPod Touch loaded with all of my shows. That's why I personally re-encode to a smaller resolution. However, I'm using Handbrake right now for all of my re-encoding and it is doing a great job.

I do too but use my laptop. Do you simply prefer the smaller screen or do you not bring your laptop with you?