Hauppauge HD-PVR & Colossus Support (2 Viewers)

[texaschangas]

thanks for the reply, I think the internal is the way to go. Am I correct in thinking that this is for STB solutions because Cable cards are just to expensive or am I missing something. My objective is to get my encrypted channels on my STB into MP for viewing.

 

[ajp8164]

Hi All,

I've had a chance to look into the a/v sync issue with my directv-hdpvr on Win7 setup. I haven't looked at the setup in any real detail in quite a while and I have found that it appears my system is not using hardware acceleration to render the stream(!) My CPU use is 75%+ when using MP. So, I backed up to the Arcsoft TME software to monitor the CPU use with it, and with TME my CPU use is around 15% (!) I'm not sure what's going on here. I moved to Win7 from WinXP several months ago and I suppose it's been using a software renderer since.

Here are the basics of my setup:

• Stream is 1280x720p
• .Net framework 4 (doesn't look like I have .Net 3; do I need explicitly?)
• ArcSoft video and audio encoders
• TV renderer set to EVR
• HD3200 onboard with 512Mb allocated

I used GraphStudio to check the graph and it shows a Line 21 filter feeding EVR. Anyone know what this is?
I tried to backup to VMR9 but it made no difference.
What's going on here?

 

[WileECoyote]

Hey Andy,
A lot depends on the splitter installed. Do you have individual codec's installed or did you install SAF (or somthing similar)? The splitter determines which codec best fits the video/audio stream. The HD-PVR pumps out H264 video, so the splitter detects it and chooses the best (or highest priority) codec and plays the video.

I have an ATI 5550 video card, so I used BMan's instructions here to set up my system (Specifically the ATI5000.pdf file) -> https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/644654-post14.html

I have used that same procedure on ALL my machines (including the clients I dont bitstream) and it works perfectly. The only thing I do in addition to his instructions is set the MPEG 2 priority to FFDSHOW.

Only installing those few codecs should be all you need to run almost any video/audio combination. NOTE: Arcsoft TME installs its own codecs and splitter that has a higher priority than those outlined in BMans procedure above. This caused me all kinds of issues, so I ended up uninstalling the TME software all together.

Im at work right now, but if you like I can attach some screenshots of my configuration when I get home...

Wile E.

 

[ajp8164]

Hey Andy,
A lot depends on the splitter installed. Do you have individual codec's installed or did you install SAF (or somthing similar)? The splitter determines which codec best fits the video/audio stream. The HD-PVR pumps out H264 video, so the splitter detects it and chooses the best (or highest priority) codec and plays the video.

I have an ATI 5550 video card, so I used BMan's instructions here to set up my system (Specifically the ATI5000.pdf file) -> https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/644654-post14.html

I have used that same procedure on ALL my machines (including the clients I dont bitstream) and it works perfectly. The only thing I do in addition to his instructions is set the MPEG 2 priority to FFDSHOW.

Only installing those few codecs should be all you need to run almost any video/audio combination. NOTE: Arcsoft TME installs its own codecs and splitter that has a higher priority than those outlined in BMans procedure above. This caused me all kinds of issues, so I ended up uninstalling the TME software all together.

Im at work right now, but if you like I can attach some screenshots of my configuration when I get home...

Wile E.

I'll have a look through the ATI5000 doc. Thanks for that! I have shark007 codec pack for Win7 installed. I don't have SAF installed. I messed around with the shark codec setup for a few minutes and managed to competely hose my system. Won't play video now I may have to uninstall the shark pack and start again with SAF5...

Is there anyway you can share your specific setup (codec/filters etc). Perhaps I can duplicate some of your setup. All this codec/filter stuff is a bit like magic to me (still, after fiddling with it for years). I'll continue to work on it...

 

[WileECoyote]

I'll have a look through the ATI5000 doc. Thanks for that! I have shark007 codec pack for Win7 installed. I don't have SAF installed. I messed around with the shark codec setup for a few minutes and managed to competely hose my system. Won't play video now I may have to uninstall the shark pack and start again with SAF5...

Is there anyway you can share your specific setup (codec/filters etc). Perhaps I can duplicate some of your setup. All this codec/filter stuff is a bit like magic to me (still, after fiddling with it for years). I'll continue to work on it...

A year ago I was in the EXACT same boat. It took me a while to learn the language (codec, splitter, filter, etc), but after playing with it a while I finally got it down to a science.

Personally I wouldnt install SAF or Shark007 codec packs. They install way too many codecs in my opinion (I know there are a LOT of people out there that disagree with me on this, I will just say that is my opinion and leave it at that.)

If you uninstall all the other packs (Shark 007, TME, etc...) and install the codecs outlined in the ATI5000 doc, you will have exactly what I have. Again, the only think different is I use the Windows 7 Codec Tweaker to bump the FFDShow codec up for Mpeg-2 video. That allows me to play H264, VC1 and MPeg-2 videos without a glitch.

I will post my setup pages when I get home...

Wile E.

PS: I was just browsing the WIKI and the inforation on codecs is good, but could be futher expanded. When I get time I may assist in adding more information to it...

 

[ajp8164]

A year ago I was in the EXACT same boat. It took me a while to learn the language (codec, splitter, filter, etc), but after playing with it a while I finally got it down to a science.

Personally I wouldnt install SAF or Shark007 codec packs. They install way too many codecs in my opinion (I know there are a LOT of people out there that disagree with me on this, I will just say that is my opinion and leave it at that.)

If you uninstall all the other packs (Shark 007, TME, etc...) and install the codecs outlined in the ATI5000 doc, you will have exactly what I have. Again, the only think different is I use the Windows 7 Codec Tweaker to bump the FFDShow codec up for Mpeg-2 video. That allows me to play H264, VC1 and MPeg-2 videos without a glitch.

I will post my setup pages when I get home...

Wile E.

PS: I was just browsing the WIKI and the inforation on codecs is good, but could be futher expanded. When I get time I may assist in adding more information to it...

Hi Wile E.,

I went through the complete set of setup instructions using the ati5000 doc after uninstalling the shark007 package. It appears that I am now getting dxva compression - I checked the graph properties video output parameters and it indicates [dxva] next o bitCompression. Problem is now that I get dropped frame continuously (at one point I noted ~2400 rendered frame with ~1500 dropped). Also, when I first tried everything (after setting up exactly as in the doc) the sound was just scratchy-clicking; unchecking "Connect as PCM first" seemed to clear that problem up.

My graph shows audio and video rendering using MPC codecs. I expected to see the ffdshow audio codec being used(?)

My CPU use is around 50% now. I still don't get how the TME software gets ~20% CPU.

I'll keep working with the settings; I'll take additional advice/things to try ;-) Thanks for your help!

==========

UPDATE: I've been making different settings changes and I think i'm back to the settings suggested in the ATI5000 doc. I'm still getting dropped frames though not as many as when I started <scratch-head>. On shift-1 I see that the three lines are remarkably flat with green and yellow on top of each other and red two blue line above (not sure what this scale is). I measured a random minute and I dropped 40 frames during that minute. I also notice that the whole screen flickers/flashes - this does not appear to be detected as a dropped frame in the shift-1 data because when many of the flashes/flickers occur the dropped frame value does not change. The flashing/flickering is a much bigger problem than the detected dropped frames (this definitely needs fixing). The flash/flicker appears as one or more inserted frames from a few seconds ago (the flash of the frame seems fast enough that it's a single frame).

Forgot to mention; using MP1.2 code freeze (beta candidate); should contain all of mm's changes/updates.

Wondering if the problems are due to an under powered gpu (onboard hd3200)... so I just ordered an hd5450 (MSI R5450-MD1GD3H/LP). Can also get my 512Mb RAM back for the CPU.

 

[WileECoyote]

UPDATE: I've been making different settings changes and I think i'm back to the settings suggested in the ATI5000 doc. I'm still getting dropped frames though not as many as when I started <scratch-head>. On shift-1 I see that the three lines are remarkably flat with green and yellow on top of each other and red two blue line above (not sure what this scale is). I measured a random minute and I dropped 40 frames during that minute. I also notice that the whole screen flickers/flashes - this does not appear to be detected as a dropped frame in the shift-1 data because when many of the flashes/flickers occur the dropped frame value does not change. The flashing/flickering is a much bigger problem than the detected dropped frames (this definitely needs fixing). The flash/flicker appears as one or more inserted frames from a few seconds ago (the flash of the frame seems fast enough that it's a single frame).

Forgot to mention; using MP1.2 code freeze (beta candidate); should contain all of mm's changes/updates.

Wondering if the problems are due to an under powered gpu (onboard hd3200)... so I just ordered an hd5450 (MSI R5450-MD1GD3H/LP). Can also get my 512Mb RAM back for the CPU.

Hey Andy,
Sorry, I got busy last night and didnt have time to reply.

The new video card should be great improvement over the on-board. It shouldnt have any issues pumping out 1080p content.

What resolution are you running your STB to the HD-PVR? If your experiencing flickering it sounds like you are running 1080i? If so try to set your STB to 720p and see how much that helps.

Wile E.

Edit: Another possible reason for flashing is if you use the FFDShow or MPC codecs for H264 decoding for Television. I have mine set to use the Microsoft DTV codec for H264 in TV. Audio is set to use FFDShow and I use the default audio renderer.

 

[ajp8164]

Hey Andy,
Sorry, I got busy last night and didnt have time to reply.

The new video card should be great improvement over the on-board. It shouldnt have any issues pumping out 1080p content.

What resolution are you running your STB to the HD-PVR? If your experiencing flickering it sounds like you are running 1080i? If so try to set your STB to 720p and see how much that helps.

Wile E.

Edit: Another possible reason for flashing is if you use the FFDShow or MPC codecs for H264 decoding for Television. I have mine set to use the Microsoft DTV codec for H264 in TV. Audio is set to use FFDShow and I use the default audio renderer.

I have my STB set to 720p; mostly since the native resolution of my TV is 1366x768 - 1080i is the only other option and it doesn't scale as well as 720p (not as crisp).

The flickering (bad word for it) truly is a past frame showing up a few seconds later. No ideas what's up with that but it seems like a core problem.

I've attached my graph and the properties pages for the MPC video decoder. Not sure how to interpret some of this..

 

[WileECoyote]

Hey Andy,
I experienced the same thing with the HD-PVR using the MPC Video codec. Try the Microsoft DTV codec instead...

 

[ajp8164]

Hey Andy,
I experienced the same thing with the HD-PVR using the MPC Video codec. Try the Microsoft DTV codec instead...

I now have the Microsoft DTV codec in use now. For the 30 minutes it's been running pretty good! around 40% total cpu; MP around 15%. Shift-1 lines are pretty flat. I show ~750 dropped frames over 120,000 frames drawn. Not bad. Best I've experience I think.

The graphc show a Line 21 filter between the MS codec and the evr. I think this is for subtitles. Anyway to get rid of this; I never use subtitles. Not sure if it adds any load or concern. I still have TME installed. Should I uninstall it?

Wow, great results. and thanks for the awsome advice.