New user moving from Windows Media Centre (1 Viewer)

[Vasilich]

if already connected, unable to pause LiveTV.

IIUC user2 will be able to pause livetv, but for not maximum time, as there are 3 files already preallocated, and these will be used (assuming thath there is no more space to allocate even 4th file because of user1).
Correct?

 

[mm1352000]

User2, if not already connected, would then not be able to use LiveTV

Correct.

...or, if already connected, unable to pause LiveTV.

I think Vasilich is right.
User 2 is always able to pause, no matter what. The question will be when TsWriter starts dropping data.
When it becomes necessary to try to create a new buffer file, TsWriter will first try to create a new file (assuming min = 3 and file count <= 3). If that fails (due to limited space), TsWriter will attempt to use the user's oldest file. This should succeed as long as the user has at least 2 files and the pause position is not in the oldest file. If the oldest file can't be reused, TsWriter has no choice but to start dropping data.

A note to correct previous comments...
I had to check the code to answer this question with certainty. When I checked the code, I noticed that in order to create a new file, there must be at least 2 x [file size] free for TsWriter to create a new file:
https://github.com/MediaPortal/Medi...ters/TsWriter/source/MultiFileWriter.cpp#L247

The effect is that TsWriter would always preserve the last [file size] space on the HDD. It won't ever fill an HDD completely. Presumably this is to avoid killing the OS (case where timeshifting folder is on the OS/system drive/partition, and that partition runs completely out of space).

 

[HTPCSourcer]

User2, if not already connected, would then not be able to use LiveTV

Correct.

Could then be worthwile to add some reference to the Wiki in the RamDisk section. A situation where a user forgets to stop pausing Live TV may not be that uncommon.

The effect is that TsWriter would always preserve the last [file size] space on the HDD.

I believe this is implicitely mentioned and visible in the setup dialogue. It is what I referred to as "overhead" in my previous posting.

Thank you for the detailed explanations!

 

[Owlsroost]

As mm has explained, the 'under the hood' logic is simple (assuming all timeshifting is on the same drive):

Maximum possible total timeshift file usage (per server) = available disk space on timeshift drive - one file size.
Minimum space required per client stream = min timeshift files x file size.
Maximum space required per client stream = max timeshift files x file size.

Timeshifting will not work correctly (for a stream) unless there is always sufficient disk space for (min timeshift files x file size) per stream.

There is no 'friendly sharing' between the timeshifting processes - it's a free-for-all competition in terms of getting available disk space.

(I'm being careful here referring to 'client streams' because MP2 has Picture-in-Picture support, so could have 2 streams per client).

 

[HTPCSourcer]

Apologies to all "New user moving from Windows Media Centre"

The discussion has become a little bit technical. Don't get scared as everything that the old hands were talking about, is essentially happening beneath the surface. In real MP life you will most likely never be bothered by anything of this.

 

[regeszter]

There is no 'friendly sharing' between the timeshifting processes - it's a free-for-all competition in terms of getting available disk space.

There is a friendly sharing in my own build. More than one clients can play the same TS buffer.

 

[mm1352000]

There is a friendly sharing in my own build. More than one clients can play the same TS buffer.

We were talking about sharing of disk space on the server side, not about sharing for playback.

 

[Hugh Gamble]

Recorded TV volume is quite low for me. Media Center recorded TV audio is the same volume as other things. Recorded TV from a mostly default config of MediaPortal is maybe half as loud. I can crank things up enough to hear it, but then other system sounds and media players blast at double volume unless I go and fiddle all those. Is there an easy way to increase the audio volume for MediaPortal recorded tv? Is it a default CODEC thing?[DOUBLEPOST=1437960430][/DOUBLEPOST]I've been using MCE so long (XP, Vista, Win 7) I'm not even conscious of all my happy habits. So I'm trying not to complain about MediaPortal behaviours just because they're different, and I'm trying to learn the new features that are better.

One thing I'm used to and am so far missing with MediaPortal: I like to play video at more than 1x speed, 1.2, maybe 1.5x and still have the audio.
Some players even adjust the pitch when you play faster than normal. I can record with MediaPortal then play back at the speed I want with Windows Media Player or something like VLC.

Is there a way to play video at faster or slower speeds with MediaPortal? Is this a good feature request?

I'm mostly doing TV so far, and trying to adjust to the standard config before customising and extending with plugins
So far, I'm highly impressed. My thanks especially to the developers (whom I may join some day) and even the dedicated users too.

 

[mm1352000]

Hello Hugh

If you're recording digital ATSC (over-the-air) or cable then the volume is entirely in your hands. In other words, if the audio is quiet, it is either due to your configuration... or because the channel is broadcasting quiet audio.

Is it possible that you're listening to a 5.1 (surround) audio stream stream but you only have a stereo (2 speaker) system?

If so, check if the codec you're using supports "mixing" (downmixing). LAV and AC3Filter support this.

Regards,
mm

 

[Hugh Gamble]

Hello Hugh

If you're recording digital ATSC (over-the-air) or cable then the volume is entirely in your hands. In other words, if the audio is quiet, it is either due to your configuration... or because the channel is broadcasting quiet audio.

Is it possible that you're listening to a 5.1 (surround) audio stream stream but you only have a stereo (2 speaker) system?

If so, check if the codec you're using supports "mixing" (downmixing). LAV and AC3Filter support this.

Regards,
mm

It is OTA ATSC. Playback in stereo, either out the Motherboard sound card or HDMI to the monitor/TV build in speakers.
Other files have good volume to these outputs.
Windows Media Center recorded OTA ATSC videos play with good volume.
Only recordings made by MediaPortal have the low (otherwise fine) audio volume.

Is there some way I can adjust the default MediaPortal CODECs to increase the volume?
Is there somewhere I can change the MediaPortal CODEC to one that will record with higher volume?

I don't know if WMC is recording stereo only, that might be the difference.
I'll look for audio mixing options.

Not a show stopper, just a minor annoyance.
Thanks!