Universal Network Encoder (1.0.10 - Mars 20)

[AndersNolberger]

I have created a network encoder that takes a graph from GraphEdit and runs that as a network encoder for Sage. It is called SGraphRecorder (SGR). That means that many different sources can be used as a "tuner".

For example it is possible to connect a Set Top Box with FireWire connections to Sage and use that to watch HDTV! Other possibilites is to hook up an USB camera. I am sure you all can come up with more exciting ways to use it.

The program is installed as a network encoder in Sage in much the same way SageRecorder is set up. In an inifile you specify the name of a graph file that is created with GraphEdit (a program to test DirectShow filters from Microsoft). The Graph must include a file writer (dump filter) that SGR can use to specify which file to write. The file writer should implement the IFileSink interface (most (all?) file writers do that) and there should only be one file writer in the graph (so that SGR is not confused).

SGR also can send events to the Internet Event Server plugin in Girder to change channel if the source supports it.

SGR can be found here: http://www.nolberger.se/Sage/GraphRecorder/.
For information about using this with FireWire set top boxes look in this thread: http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...?t=9288&page=3.

2005-02-01 New version 1.0.5:
Now sends extra "enter" (Sends prefix without number) to girder after channel change.
Configurable delay between channel change and start of graph.

2005-02-08 New version 1.0.6:
Possibility to have SGR free the graph on STOP and reload on START.
The SWITCH command will not reload graph.

2005-03-01 New version 1.0.7:
Responds to the version command so that Sage new it can reuse TCP connections to enhance performance when Sage sends many commands. This version only works with Sage 2.1 and newer.

2005-03-16 New version 1.0.8:
Added support for externat exe to change channel on a STB. Add path to the exe in the ini file and SGR will run this exe with the channel number as a parameter when changing channel.

2005-08-25 New version 1.0.9:
Added possibility to have the SWITCH command reload the graph.
Included a dump filter that report file size back to SGR for faster and or smother channel changes.

2006-03-20 New version 1.0.10:
Fixed a bug where file sizes over 2 GB was reported as a negative number. This caused Sage clients to stop working when the file gets to big.

Anders Nolberger

[PGPfan]

WOW! Anders, this sounds really cool!

I can't wait to give it a try. Could be the HDTV "holy grail" that so many are looking for.

-PGPfan

[Wheemer]

I'm playing with this to add a webcam... I have no clue what I'm doing with graphedit... anyone have any pointers?

[ToxMox]

Wow so this should be really cool. Now if only I could find out if Cablevision Digital HD IO cable boxes would work with firewire then I'd be all over this.

[glbrown]

This is hot. Multiple cameras on firewire. I can think of a million uses

[dagar]

I run a client/server environment. So therefore this must be installed on my Sage server. Is this true? Or is it possible to multiplex the feeds on a seperate OS instance?

[chrisc16]

My mind is busy trying to figure out a way to use this to integrate my AccessDTV card with Sage... is anyone else thinking along these lines?

-Chris

[dagar]

That and several other possibilities. Just trying to bracket the capabilities.

[pcuoco]

Originally Posted by chrisc16

My mind is busy trying to figure out a way to use this to integrate my AccessDTV card with Sage... is anyone else thinking along these lines?

-Chris

I was just about to ask if this could be made to work with an OTA or QAM HD Tuner card. My crappy cable company (Adelphia) doesn't offer HD in my neighborhood yet, so the firewire boxes aren't available yet.

[mikejaner]

Yeah, I would like to Dump MCE and use my ATI HDTV Wonder with Sage

[AndersNolberger]

Originally Posted by dagar

I run a client/server environment. So therefore this must be installed on my Sage server. Is this true? Or is it possible to multiplex the feeds on a seperate OS instance?

SGR is acting as a network encoder in the same way as SageRecorder. That means that it could be installed anywhere on your network. Just make sure that the computer that SGR is installed to has the same path to your video libraries as the Sage "server" has. Use either UNC path or map drives.

[DFA]

Just for reference and an example, attached is a JPEG of the graph I am using for SGR for the firewire capture from my STB. The Cyberlink MUX and DUMP filter work well. I got the Cyberlink filters from a trial download of either PowerDirector or PowerCinema; can't remember which but I will check on my "junk / test" PC tommorrow where I install such things.

Note that this graph converts MPEG2-TS to MPEG2-PS. I would expect it to work with the substitution of other capture devices such as an Access card in place of the Scientific Atlanta device. If the Access card accepts channel changing through Girder, then the SGR network encoder can handle it.

EDIT: I got the mux and dump filters from a trial version of Cyberlink PowerCinema. They are MpgMux.ax and CLDump.ax. There is also a CLMpgMux.ax that is in the "Capture" folder as well but is basically the same thing as MpgMux.ax from what I can tell. The CLMpgMux registers slightly different than the MpgMux for Clberlink's purposes I suppose. Use "RegSvr32.exe" to register in your machine. I tried several different dump filters but had one problem or another until I found the CL dump. I know it works so recommend it since finding that all dump filters are not created equal.

EDIT EDIT: When putting the dump filter in the graph, be sure to set the path to the Sage video directory. The initial name of the file does not matter. Use something like "show.mpg". The dump filter will prompt for path and file name when dropped into the graph but can be changed via the "filter properties" dialog.

Regards,
Dane

[dagar]

Thanks Anders!

[foolio]

can someone figure out a working graph for the fusion-HDTV card?? I guess you would also need a mechanism for changing channel tho... damn, this is an awesome development.

[xcor635]

I do not have the NVIDIA TS to PS items when trying to create a graph. Is there anyone who can give more directions on creating graphs for particular systems.

[chrisc16]

So I followed Anders directions and Dane's suggestions very carefully and I think I have a working ADTV graph. I attached a JPG of it to this post. SGraphRecorder doesn't give any debug messages; so far so good.

I am having a problem though with setting up the network encoder in Sage. I followed the directions on Anders page and copied the MMC/Encoder lines and modified to suit. But when I paste them into my sage.properties file and start Sage, it apparently doesn't like something about them and it reverts back to the backup file. I attached what I am trying to paste in.

Any ideas anyone? It feels like I am so close.

Thanks,
Chris

[gplasky]

Make sure you're not running the service when you paste it into the sage properties file. This would prevent it from saving.

Gerry

[DFA]

chrisc16:

EDITed: Added for missing backslash and clarity

Try cutting and pasting what I have down below at the bottom of this post in place of what you have.

According to Anders's, I guess this shouldn't matter:

mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_name=AccessDTV
versus:
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_name=SGraphRecorder

BUT I'm pretty sure this matters:

mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host=192.168.0.10:6969
versus:
mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host=192.168.0.10\:6969


These 2 parameters shown below are not important and you can use a variety of numbers here just for display purposes that make sense. (for example, 3=S-Video, 10=1394) I have determined a list that defines each number type and will list in seperate post.

mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_type=3


You don't need the extra input choices anyway so what is below keeps things simpler.

Cut and Paste:
...............
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/brightness=130
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/contrast=135
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/hue=125
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/last_channel=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/provider_id=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/saturation=105
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/sharpness=170
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/tuning_mode=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_type=3
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_processor=
mmc/encoders/12345/capture_config=
mmc/encoders/12345/default_device_quality=DVD Standard Play
mmc/encoders/12345/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host=192.168.0.10\:6969
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_type=3
mmc/encoders/12345/live_audio_input=
mmc/encoders/12345/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_name=SGraphRecorder
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/video_encoding_params=DVD Standard Play
mmc/encoders/12345/video_processor=
...............

DFA

[DFA]

Possible values and defs for "mmc/encoders/12345/1/0/video_crossbar_type" and "mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_type".

0 = Unknown
1 = Tuner
2 = Composite
3 = SVideo
4 = RGB
5 = YRYBY
6 = SerialDigital
7 = ParallelDigital
8 = SCSI
9 = Aux
10 = 1394
11 = USB
12 = VideoDecoder
13 = VideoEncoder
14 = SCART
15 = Black

DFA

[chrisc16]

DFA,

Thanks for your help. I have the network recorder showing up in Sage, but unfortunately I am not getting any video or sound through it. Also, I tried pasting in your reduced encoder section, but Sage didn't even recognize it so I went back to my original lines and changed the IP address to include the backslash as you suggested.

I have a feeling my remaining problem has to do with my graph; perhaps I set it up incorrectly? Here is the debug info from SGraphRecorder when I tried to view a channel from AccessDTV:

NOOP 7:48:15 PM
GET_FILE_SIZE F:\EXTRA-1951461-0.mpg 7:48:16 PM
STOP 7:48:16 PM
START SGraphRecorder S-Video|11|2214113786306|F:\EXTRA-1951461-1.mpg|Great 7:48:16 PM
NOOP 7:48:16 PM
STOP 7:48:16 PM
NOOP 7:48:17 PM
NOOP 7:48:17 PM
NOOP 7:50:39 PM
NOOP 7:50:40 PM
NOOP 7:50:40 PM

I guess I'll have to keep playing with it... but I am encouraged so far!

-Chris