Subtitle Support

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by Narflex

If there's an existing DirectShow filter that supports DVB subtitle decoding that we can utilize it would greatly increase the chances of us supporting that. So if any of you DVB users are aware of such a filter then it'd be a good idea to submit a new report with that information.

Hi Jeff

I’m not an expert in filters but I can tell you that if I record something in Sage, I can play that file using Dvbviewer and get DVB subtitles.

I've attached screen shots of the filters the Dvbviewer is using. I hope that can help.

Subs.jpg

filters.jpg

Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Narflex

If there's an existing DirectShow filter that supports DVB subtitle decoding that we can utilize it would greatly increase the chances of us supporting that. So if any of you DVB users are aware of such a filter then it'd be a good idea to submit a new report with that information.

I have implemented not a DVB subtitle filter in directshow but a STVi plug-in that does playback DVB subtitles very nicely (I'm using it for 5 months on DVB MPEG2 and H264 HD, even on live recording works really great)

What I'm doing is very simple : I dump the DVB subtitle stream I'm interested in in a external file. The file format is a format i created (.isub) that does contains : time index, position and size of the images as well as the image data (png file)

So you can leverage the work I've done thus far: by creating the .isub file by decoding the subtitle stream (that's not a difficult task at all) and integrate the .isub playback support in V7

The only thing left to be done in SageTV would be to select the right DVB stream to decode.

Otherwise, there is no DVBSubtitle filter that I know of.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Doubletop

Is there any way that clear an unequivocal set of instructions could be created that explains what version of the server, client and extender will work with what decoders and, if necessary in what locale, with what service (e.g DVB-S and/or DVB-T as in NZ)?

DVB subtitles are not supported directly with SageTV yet, so there is no instructions to follow.

If you do want DVB subtitles now, your only option is the plug-in I have created (that does work with SageTV V7 by the way), but you're right it's fudgeware...

Regards,
Stéphane.

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Otherwise, there is no DVBSubtitle filter that I know of.

Just out of curiosity What is it that Dvbviewer is doing then? And wouldn’t it be possible for sage to implement the same sort of solution?

Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by rtengvad

Just out of curiosity What is it that Dvbviewer is doing then? And wouldn’t it be possible for sage to implement the same sort of solution?

If I remember correctly, DVBViewer doesn't use Directshow to display subtitles (TTX or DVB). So they are decoding the subs within DVBViewer and display them through their OSD (Thouhg their timing and sub colors is not perfect )

The same thing is done in SageTV with my plugin, except the subs get decoded in the recorder process when the recording is done. But rendering / displaying the sub is entirely done in the SageTV OSD.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[rtengvad]

Thanks for the reply Stephane

How accurate is your plug-in? WAF? In case, is it possible to test it?

I do speak a bit of German, Italian and French but subtitles are still needed when watching film.

Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by rtengvad

How accurate is your plug-in? WAF? In case, is it possible to test it?

Playback of subtitles is as accurate as it can be: with SageTV V6 you'll have a little offset because of the way playback time is computed.

For instance : the recording was scheduled to start a 20:00:00 but the recording has really started at 20:00:02 => the offset is 2 sec. But as the offset is evenly distributed throughout the recording the delay from real subtitle time change during playback: that's why the plug-in use its own clock to avoid time shifting of subtitles.

So usually, you start playback there is a little delay, you use the Up / Down arrows on the remote to compensate and you are good to go for the whole show (unless you encounter a discontinuity)

In SageTV V7, I'll update the plug-in to get rid of the initial adjustment (because V7 does allow to get raw media time instead of this stretched time)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[bjkiller]

Narflex,
in case you have no power to support your European community regarding dvbs subtitle support, may be release API that we will manage to write parser that sagetv server can use to handle DVBS subtitles. many of us invested a lot into sagetv installations, i personally bought 6 extenders. please release API to handle subtitles or enhance support of subtitles to support DVBS ones!

thank you in advance.

[rtengvad]

Hi Stephane

Did you hear from Narflex ?

If not, I fear there will be no implementation of DVB subtitles directly in Sage since there seems to be no Directshow filters available.

Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by rtengvad

Did you hear from Narflex ?

No.

If not, I fear there will be no implementation of DVB subtitles directly in Sage since there seems to be no Directshow filters available.

I don't see why not. Directshow filter would only work on the Windows platform anyway... The STVi playback, as done by DVBViewer Recorder, is imho way better as it works everywhere SageTV can and allow adjustments (adjustments in a Directshow filter would be more difficult to handle).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[rtengvad]

You are right. I look forward to try your plug-in when its ready

Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by rtengvad

You are right. I look forward to try your plug-in when its ready

It is available since January 2010...

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

It is available since January 2010...

Ahh yes I see that but I got the impression that it had to be updated... I'll try it tonight.

Thanks

Rasmus

[banjo]

Sorry for my Q.

Is that plugin will let me use the regular Sage and see my online DVB broadcasting with subtitle support in real time?

And if so, what is the different from what we are asking Sage to implement in the software?

thanks

[bjkiller]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

It is available since January 2010...

Hi StephaneM,

Do possible to use your subtitle plug-in with dvbe4sage?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by banjo

Is that plugin will let me use the regular Sage and see my online DVB broadcasting with subtitle support in real time?

It depends on what is the meaning of "regular Sage". The plug-in allows you to view DVB Subs on Live TV and Recorded TV. It is though required that you use DVBViewer as the recording engine in SageTV through DVBViewer Recorder.

And if so, what is the different from what we are asking Sage to implement in the software?

It's difficult to say something is identical or different when a comparaison point cannot be made: SageTV DVB Sub support doesn't exist, so how could I compare with what I am doing...

Though what is asked is DVB Sub support, with my plug-in you have DVB Sub support....

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by bjkiller

Do possible to use your subtitle plug-in with dvbe4sage?

No.

[banjo]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

No.

What is the difference between dvdb4sage and your plugin? are thay not the same?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by banjo

What is the difference between dvdb4sage and your plugin? are thay not the same?

DVBE4Sage is a standalone recording engine for SageTV that supports DVB-S free to air or encrypted channels;

while DVBViewer Recorder let you use DVBViewer (commercial application) as the recording engine for SageTV (and thus supporting all hardware that DVBViewer supports : DVB-S / DVB-T / DVB-C / DVB over IP and many CAM as well as some SoftCAM <= though not oficially supported)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[banjo]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

DVBE4Sage is a standalone recording engine for SageTV that supports DVB-S free to air or encrypted channels;

while DVBViewer Recorder let you use DVBViewer (commercial application) as the recording engine for SageTV (and thus supporting all hardware that DVBViewer supports : DVB-S / DVB-T / DVB-C / DVB over IP and many CAM as well as some SoftCAM <= though not oficially supported)

Regards,
Stéphane.

Thanks
Well tell me is it better to use DVBViewer then the original Sagetv recorder?
is it better?
is it fast and can give me the same features as the original sagetv recorder?

Thanks