Some recordings blank (1 Viewer)

[DrMopar]

TV-Server Version: RC1
MediaPortal Version: RC1
MediaPortal Skin: Blue Two (wide)
Windows Version: WinXP Pro SP3
CPU Type: AMD Phenom 9600
HDD: Seagate 750GB
Memory: Corsair 4GB
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DQ6
Video Card: XFX Nvidia 8800GTS 512Mb
Video Card Driver: 169.32
Sound Card: Creative SB X-Fi Platinum
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: 6.01.1.1304
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR4000
1. TV Card Type: Hybrid Analog, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: 2.122.26109.0
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: Nvidia Video Decoder
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Nvidia Audio Decoder
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Optus D1
HTPC Case: Cooler Master
Cooling: Fans
Power Supply: 700W
Remote: MCE
TV: Sony Bravia SXRD 60 inch
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

I've been using MP for a couple of months now and found it very reliable. However, in the last couple of weeks I've had an issue where some recordings have created an entry in the "Recorded TV" area but there is not programme data.
I can't think of anything I've changed in my set-up over this time. I've done stacks of test recordings and most work but the odd one gives this issue and I can't seem to find a pattern.
Last night I was recording a one hour show and went to start watching it about half an hour in. The recording was empty. I turned on the TV (within MP) and the programme came on fine. I turned the TV off again and went back to check the recording and it had started fine - but only from the point where I turned the TV on.
I can see from the logs that where programmes have failed not all of the normal [Record] entries are there but don't understand enough to interpret why or what else to look for.
I've reinstalled my TV card drivers with no effect.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Last nights issue was a date/time index: 25-06-2008 21:30:21.334

 

[dimamo1983]

I have noticed the same thing - sometimes the recordings show up in the list but do not play... RC1 with TV server running on Win XP pro. Two were scheduled, one I started on the fly and watched another recording. When I was finished and switched to this one, it was blank... Haven't done much troubleshooting yet, but figured I'd chime in.

Dima

 

[DrMopar]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I was beginning to feel like it was just me. Have a look at my log file (attached to first post) and see if yours is similar for the one that didn't work.
What are your system specs?

 

[RICHARDG]

I am wondering if I am having a similar issue.
My records show up, but when I try to play them they are just 30 minutes of black silence.
I have no clue why.
I am running RC3 and last night went to the latest SVn of the tv server thinking perhaps I had based something.
But no change.
I did however learn from this post there is a TSWRITER.log so I will have a look at that this evening.
for me, its all recordings are blank..no exception.
TV is fine, video is fine...everythign is fine..just the recordings.

 

[JoePlumber]

Try changing your video/audio codecs. Switching from ffdshow to CyberLink's PDVD7 and AC3Filter worked for me.

BTW, it's better to preview your recorded TV shows under MY VIDEOS. It's less likely to freeze up on you.

 

[Marcusb]

I've noticed similar a few times too.
I don't watch a lot of live or recorded tv so it's hard to pin down exactly what has happened. Just that some shows are just black with no sound when I try to watch them.

 

[RICHARDG]

Thanks Guys
I figured out whats going on just don't know how to correct it.
I am using a hauppauge hybrid card, dual analog tuner.
Each tuner has its own comp video input. so my stb plugs into both. So far so good.
Problem is, when you set up the channels on the tv server you can only assign one video source.
so each time the second tuner tries to record, it gets told to use the inputs from the firs ttuner. Of course it can't becuase they are in fact seperate devices. So the recoding is blank. It runs the fill time allocated for the show, but contains no audio or video becuase it never saw or heard it.
Now I have to figyure out how to let the server know that each tuner has its own input.

Any thoughts.
When I disable the second tuner it works like a charm.

 

[rekenaar]

Maybe you can create two channels (one for each tuner) and then combine them?

 

[JoePlumber]

I've noticed similar a few times too.
I don't watch a lot of live or recorded tv so it's hard to pin down exactly what has happened. Just that some shows are just black with no sound when I try to watch them.

My guess is somewhere in the transcoding phase where the raw video (YUY2) is converted into MPG2 during recording. The codecs used in decoding/encoding the data should be the same as well.