MediaPortal generates an invalid filter graph for my tuner (1 Viewer)

[xfx]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.2
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP
Windows Version: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.83GHz
HDD: WhiteLabel 2TB
Memory: 4GB DDR2
Motherboard: Dell 0CU409
Video Card: NVidia GeForce 8600 GT
Video Card Driver: ForceWare 266.58
Sound Card: Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro II
Sound Card AC3: 0/0/1
Sound Card Driver: 6.12.8.2137
1. TV Card: Adaptec AVC-3610
1. TV Card Type: Analog
1. TV Card Driver: 1.7.2.1100
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio 6.1.7140.0
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Microsoft DTV-DVD Video 6.1.7140.0
h.264 Video Codec: Microsoft DTV-DVD Video 6.1.7140.0
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Aster
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: MCE Remote
TV: ViewSonic
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI

I have been trying to troubleshoot the NoAudioVideoDetected issue for sometime now and I think that the main problem is that, for some reason, MP is generating an erratic filter graph.

Here's the graph that MP is generating:

As you can see, the Sink filter does not have any output pins so no rendering filters are added to the graph... thus the NoAudioVideoDetected error.
Here's the Filter Graph: View attachment 78990

Here's a screenshot of how the filter "should" look like:

Here's the Filter Graph: View attachment Adaptec.zip

Does anyone knows if this will be fixed in a future release or if there's something that can be done to force MP to use the correct graph?

 

[mm1352000]

Hi xfx

The graph is not technically incorrect. The TS file sink is TsWriter - its job is to write the audio and video streams to the HDD. TsReader reads those files back from the HDD and provides connections for codecs, which connect to renderers etc. The fact that the audio doesn't work suggests deeper structural problems... like maybe the video and audio pins on the capture filter need to be used as per the screenshot -->here<--.

mm

 

[ijourneaux]

I noticed you are having difficulties with the same tuner I am trying to use (Adaptec AVC-3601). A user name "garry" was able to get this tuner to work about a year ago but it required software modifications. The thread indicates that the changes were not accepted as there was a fear of breaking other tuners.
Appreciate it if you update the forum on the status of your efforts.

Take Care

 

[mm1352000]

Hi ijourneaux

I see you found this thread too. I'm very conscious that information about Adaptec tuner compatibility is scattered all over the forum. That has made it *very* hard to find out exactly which models are supported and exactly when support was added. Let's try and keep discussions in one place to make it easier for other people who are looking for information.

Okay, so I haven't heard back from garry yet, but I still hope he may contact me. On a hunch, I contacted MisterD, who is one of the most experienced team members. He has been supporting the analog tuner code for years, so his experience and knowledge on subjects like this is second to none. Anyhow, here is what he told me verbatim:

I remember that topic about those Adaptec tuners and I also got a patch file via mail from Garry which fixes the problem. Unfortunately this patch removes also a special handling for other Adaptec cards. So in the end this patch could fix the problem for the referenced card and break it also for the other ones. Since the code doesn't reflect in detail for which card it was added, we can't evaluate how risky it would be. It is some kind of a deadlock. That's why I never integrated that patch.

(Note that I did not get the patch from MisterD.)

So we have a bit of a predicament. I have tried to look back through our code history and check the commit comments, but there is very little information there. I also looked through the forum for posts referring to Adaptec at around the time that Adaptec-specific code changes were made, however that was also an exercise in futility. About all that I can gather is that at some point there was a problem with audio not working for certain Adaptec tuners. I can see some Adaptec-specific code that is related to audio and I'm *guessing* that change was made to fix the problem that was reported, and that it is also responsible for the audio issues here.

In the interests of helping you good folks to get your tuners working I have created a patch with the earlier patch removed (if that makes sense! ). I'm hoping that my guesswork will prove correct and that the removal of the earlier patch will make the AVC-3610 work. This patch is for use with MP 1.1.3 only. Obviously it is not guaranteed to work, but please try it and let's hope it does work!

Instructions for use:
1. Stop the TV service.
2. Take a backup of the TVLibrary.dll in your TV Server install folder.
3. Download and extract the attached TVLibrary.dll into your TV Server install folder.
4. Start the TV service.
5. Try your tuner.
6. If the tuner works then do a victory dance D), otherwise use the watchdog tool to collect logs and post them here. Be sure to restart the TV Server again before starting the watchdog session because I need to see the tuner initialisation.

Best regards,
mm

 

[ijourneaux]

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. After I tried the 1.2 beta I dug out an old PVR-500 card and was setting thigs up with that card which does seem to work correctly.

Got everything back to the original configuration MP1.1.3, Adaptec tuners, disabled all of the other tuners, scanned in a few channels on one of the adaptec tuners. Switch to the TV channels page and tried to preview the channels that had been scanned.

Unfortunately no victory dance. Here are the logs.

I appreciate the effort on this,

Ian

 

[mm1352000]

Hi again Ian

Are you sure you applied the patch correctly? Just from the logs, it looks like you're using the standard 1.1.3 dll there. To make doubly sure, I've created the patch again and I'm attaching it to this post. Sorry to ask you to do this, but please could you try again with the attached dll.

mm

[Edit: PS, I don't mind if you want to use 1.2.0b. In fact it actually makes things a little easier for me. Just let me know and I'll create a test patch for 1.2.0b...]

 

[ijourneaux]

No problem. WIll try it again right away.

This is what I (thought) I did the first go araound; I renamed original .dll to .dll.backup and unziped the new dll into the TVServer folder.

The new version worked!!! The date of the first dll looked correct so perhaps I missed something else the first go araound. Even though itseems to have worked correctly, do you need an updated debug log?

Thanks much for the effort. If you could provide a pathc for 1.2b, I will reinstall that version.

Take Care

Ian

 

[mm1352000]

The new version worked!!!

WOOT!!!

...do you need an updated debug log? ...If you could provide a pathc for 1.2b, I will reinstall that version.

What I'm going to need is something that allows me to distinguish that model of tuner from all other Adaptec models so that we can keep the old patch for all the other Adaptec models but not use it for the 3610. I foolishly didn't include any debug info that would have given me that information in the original patch. Not to worry though. I've created a patch for 1.2.0b that will also include the debug that I need. Patch for 1.2.0b with debug to logs attached. If you could please upgrade to 1.2.0b, confirm that the patch works, and then provide me logs exactly as you did before then that would be perfect.


mm

PS: I'm about to go to bed as it is almost 4am here, but I'll check the logs tomorrow and submit a patch to the team for inclusion in 1.2.0rc ASAP.

 

[ijourneaux]

Here you go! Still works. Scanned for a couple of channels and then confirmed I could preview them successfully.

Hope this gives you what you need to submit the changes that are required.

Take Care

 

[mm1352000]

Hi Ian

Cheers for the logs.
The logs actually revealed that your two AVC-3610's are slightly different (perhaps different revisions), so I want to be *very* careful to confirm that this patch works correctly for both. We don't want to commit the patch and release 1.2.0rc only to find that only one of them works. I've attached a copy of the final version that I intend to submit to the team. Can you please check one more time that this patch will actually work with *both* your AVC-3610's. Disabling one while testing the other and then alternating would probably be the safest...

mm