andy vt's tools & blog

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.1 - Public Release

babgvant — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:47:00 GMT

Note this is the same as the R4 Early Access release.

DH57JG (H57 mini-ITX) + Core i3-530 (Clarkdale) Review

babgvant — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:47:00 GMT

Should have posted the link to the review earlier, but I've been crazy busy lately.

I have to admit that I've never been much of a SFF HTPC guy because of the trade-offs required; but other than PCI[e] slots there isn't anything missing from the DH57JG.

Now if only I could find a decent looking ITX case :)

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.1 - Early Access Release (R4)

babgvant — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:45:00 GMT

This is an Early Access release.

Version 1.2.2.1
- Add MSAS and addin debug log options to settings tool
- Add DeleteContextValue action
- add option to process shows w/o artifacts when the FW starts
- rework FW queueing model to only allow N (default is 5) instances of dvrmstompeg to run at a time
- ProcessDirectory supports custom ext
- Update todvrms to 1.0.1.4
- Integrate SRTWriter filter (dumps SRT from US WTV files)
- Add ChangeAffinity action
- FW will create DTB public folders if they are missing
- Fix bug when framerate is changed in VideoConverter
- Update to custom Monogram 1.0.8.0 H.264 encoder that allows profile selection (MAIN is the default)
- Add SetPreferredAudio action (for WTV only)
- Add audio stream selection for WTV files in ConvertVideoFile (use SetPreferredAudio prior to ConvertVideoFile in the profile)
- Additional error handling in FW
Version 1.2.2.1
- Add MSAS and addin debug log options to settings tool
- Add DeleteContextValue action
- add option to process shows w/o artifacts when the FW starts
- rework FW queueing model to only allow N (default is 5) instances of dvrmstompeg to run at a time
- ProcessDirectory supports custom ext
- Update todvrms to 1.0.1.4
- Integrate SRTWriter filter (dumps SRT from US WTV files)
- Add ChangeAffinity action
- FW will create DTB public folders if they are missing
- Fix bug when framerate is changed in VideoConverter
- Update to custom Monogram 1.0.8.0 H.264 encoder that allows profile selection (MAIN is the default)
- Add SetPreferredAudio action (for WTV only)
- Add audio stream selection for WTV files in ConvertVideoFile (use SetPreferredAudio prior to ConvertVideoFile in the profile)
- Additional error handling in FW
- Fix "Suppress" persistence in the settings tool
- Add VS.2008 runtime to installer
- Fix can't uninstall bug when the DTBFWService is not installed (previous versions, run installutil on the dtbfwservice to install it before uninstalling)

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DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.1 - Early Access Release (R3)

babgvant — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:38:00 GMT

This is an Early Access release

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This EA release is more experimental than most. If you use h.264 transcoding or the audio stream switching features and have an issue please let me know in the forum.

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.1 - Early Access Release (R2)

babgvant — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:15:00 GMT

This is an Early Access release

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DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.1 - Early Access Release

babgvant — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:37:00 GMT

This is an Early Access release

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ToDVRMS - 1.0.1.4

babgvant — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:25:00 GMT

- Modify IMediaSeeking implementation in AttributeEnable.ax to produce more reliable results
- Fix bug in determining last write for non-SBE files
- Fix MPEG converstion when demuxer is not a source filter
- Change MPC-HC back to default MPEG demuxer, OOTB demux will be used if -msdemux is passed
- add -uselastwrite argument, when present last modfied time will be used instead of status to determine when to stop
- Alter custom MPC-HC MKV splitter to present MEDIASUBTYPE_DOLBY_AC3 so avi2ac3filter.ax is no longer necessary

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DTBAddin - 1.0.0.5 (Public Release)

babgvant — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:17:00 GMT

- Add addtional logging in XML file watcher
- Add potential workaround to Current MediaExperience bug (thanks eddyc via philefriendly)

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DTBAddin 1.0.0.5 - Early Access

babgvant — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:45:00 GMT

- Add addtional logging in XML file watcher
- Add potential workaround to Current MediaExperience bug (thanks eddyc via philefriendly)

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ToDVRMS - 1.0.1.3

babgvant — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:27:00 GMT

1.0.1.3
- fix crash condition in AttributeEnable.ax
- add -mpchc arg to force MPC-HC source for MPEG/MKV files, otherwise OOTB MPEG-2 Demuxer is preferred for MPEG and Haali for MKV
- AttributeEnable.ax support IMediaSeeking to return streaming status
- Update AVCtoH264.ax to work with updated Haali splitter

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DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 - Public Release

babgvant — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:08:00 GMT

Version 1.2.2.0 (same as R4)
- change "sage/home" to "sage/Home" in web server testing URL
- add OR logic to Processing Conditions
- MigrateMetadata uses DvrmsMetadataEditor to write metadata to WTV files
- add WriteMetadataXml action
- Change AtomicParsley action to accept context values
- Use WMV writer for retrieving status when writing WMV files
- add CalculateMaxScanTime action, used to calculate number of minutes used to limit the commercial analyzer
- Read MC recorded tv and watched folders differently, may fix incorrect values read on x64 systems
- Updated version of todvrms.exe
- Download SA v1 (to the desktop) instead of SA beta
- Fix a bug in MigrateMetadata with WMV files
- Native/Native stream copies no longer remove DS clock (should fix A/V sync issues when swapping containers)
- VideoConvertor supports framerate conversion
- Fix a bug in ChangeContextValue
- add logging to FW startup (watched dir, etc)
- Resize/crop filters should maintain proper AR when converting
- Iphone profile forces framerate to 30fps
- Added framerate control to DTBVideoEditor
- VideoConverter delete output file if it exists before transcoding
- Fix file truncation when MKV is used as the target container
- Update to todvrms 1.0.1.2
- Include and register customized MPC-HC MKV source filter
- Add "Convert VOB to WTV" profile (thanks oaktech)

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Compiling Ffdshow Tryouts - yasm error

babgvant — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:25:00 GMT

If you've ever tried to compile ffdshow tryouts and received this error -

yasm: warning: can open only one input file, only the last file will be processed
yasm: FATAL: Could not open input file

The problem is spaces in the project path (i.e. D:\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ffdshow-tryout\trunk) that aren't properly enclosed in quotes. Easiest thing is to move the folder, but hopefully the project admins will accept a patch and save everyone the trouble.

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 - Early Access Release (R4)

babgvant — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:35:00 GMT

This is Early Access software.

Version 1.2.2.0
- change "sage/home" to "sage/Home" in web server testing URL
- add OR logic to Processing Conditions
- MigrateMetadata uses DvrmsMetadataEditor to write metadata to WTV files
- add WriteMetadataXml action
- Change AtomicParsley action to accept context values
- Use WMV writer for retrieving status when writing WMV files
- add CalculateMaxScanTime action, used to calculate number of minutes used to limit the commercial analyzer
- Read MC recorded tv and watched folders differently, may fix incorrect values read on x64 systems
- Updated version of todvrms.exe
- Download SA v1 (to the desktop) instead of SA beta
- Fix a bug in MigrateMetadata with WMV files
- Native/Native stream copies no longer remove DS clock (should fix A/V sync issues when swapping containers)
- VideoConvertor supports framerate conversion
- Fix a bug in ChangeContextValue
- add logging to FW startup (watched dir, etc)
- Resize/crop filters should maintain proper AR when converting
- Iphone profile forces framerate to 30fps
- Added framerate control to DTBVideoEditor
- VideoConverter delete output file if it exists before transcoding
- Fix file truncation when MKV is used as the target container
- Update to todvrms 1.0.1.2
- Include and register customized MPC-HC MKV source filter
- Add "Convert VOB to WTV" profile (thanks oaktech)

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DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 - Early Access Release (R3)

babgvant — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:55:00 GMT

The break's not going so well :)

This is Early Access software.

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DH55TC & Core i5-661 (Clarkdale) Review

babgvant — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:04:00 GMT

You may have noticed that things have been kind of quite around here the last few weeks. It was part holidays, but mostly that all my free time was being chewed up beating the crap out of a Clarkdale review sample. Head over to MissingRemote.com and take a read; let me know what you think.

Things should return back to normal real soon, but I think I'm going to take a little break (don't worry, just a few days) to catch my breathe and bask in the good stuff coming out of CES.

SVN and VS2008

babgvant — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:47:00 GMT

The source for DTB and most of the OSS projects maintained on this site has been migrated to SourceForge.net. I'm hoping that this will make it easier for other to contribute to the project and make the code easier to work with.

I will be building DTB off the same SVN snapshot as everyone else, so it should make the "why can't I build it" issues go away (the projects will remain BYOS[NK] though).

Because that was a PITA, I figure why not push all the projects to VS2008 at the same time. Hopefully everything will still work :)

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 - Early Access Release (R2)

babgvant — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:47:00 GMT

This is Early Access software.

bin | source

DTBAddin for Window 7 - 1.0.0.4 (public)

babgvant — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:21:00 GMT

1.0.0.4
- write AlwaysUseFPD key
- use invariant culture to format current position
- prompt user if the CurrentExperience object is null (i.e. MC is broken) and option to notify me
- fix eventlog source creation
- fix AlwaysUseFPD x64 issue

bin | source

DTBAddin for Window 7 - 1.0.0.4 (R3)

babgvant — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:18:00 GMT

Hopefully this is the last Early Access spin.

bin | source

DTBAddin for Window 7 - 1.0.0.4

babgvant — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:18:00 GMT

There have been several reports of a problem with the addin not working so the addin will prompt when the issue is encountered. To get a better feel for how widespread the issue is the addin can request a page on the site to track the number of users and how often the issue is encountered.

The first time the issue occurs the addin will generate a (per user) GUID to uniquely identify the user. This GUID is used to increment the per user error count. No other information is sent.

I'm not a big fan of software that has anything that tracks usage, but if the issue effects a large enough group (and I can demonstrate that) it is much more likely to be addressed by Microsoft.

I'd like to keep the Early Access process very short (a few days) this time around so please if you're in the EA group try it out and let me know if you have any issues.

1.0.0.4
- write AlwaysUseFPD key
- use invariant culture to format current position
- prompt user if the CurrentExperience object is null (i.e. MC is broken) and option to notify me

bin | source

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 - Early Access Release

babgvant — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:35:00 GMT

This is Early Access software.

bin | source

Commercial Skipping on Windows 7 Media Center

babgvant — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:57:00 GMT

For those looking for some help getting commercial skipping working in 7MC two guides were published last week.

MissingRemote

EngagdetHD

Thanks to Mike and Ben for doing my least favorite job (creating documentation) for me.

One thing that needs to be added to both, and this is completely my fault since I forgot to add it to the installer. If you use an extender check that "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service, AlwaysUseFPD(DWORD) = 1".

Hopefully I'll remember to put it into the next rev :)

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.1.9 - Public Release

babgvant — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:58:00 GMT

Version 1.2.1.9 (same as EA7)

- Change MP4 muxer to GDCL filter for iPhone/iPod compatibility
- Add ExtraData action for adding static context values by type using xml document (<root><data name="ForceStereo" type="bool" value="true"/></root>)
- Add WMV to supported output types from ConvertVideoFile and DTBVideoEditor. Default prx is cbrZune (supports AC3 btw), to use a different PRX in ConvertVideoFile ExtraData must be used with <root><data name="PrxPath" value="prxfile.prx"/></root>
- Add "Convert For Zune (no commercials)" and "Convert for iPhone (no commercials)" profiles
- PC support > < testing with numeric and string values
- Add FWThrottle action to profiles created with DTBVideoEditor
- Add AtomicParsely action, and AtomicParsely.exe
- Refine status/completion for convertors
- Fix a bug where an audio decoder is specified for a native audio format copy in VideoConvertor
- VideoConvertor will prefer to use DSCutter with uncompressed samples
- VideoConvertor replaces "MPC - Mpeg Splitter (Gabest)" with "MPC - Mpeg Source (Gabest)" as a preferred filter; if original behavior is desired use the CLISD instead
- DTB will assume all SSL certs are valid when retrieving metadata
- Fix filter connection issue using DSCutter with SBE file types
- Update todvrms to 1.0.1.0
- Add AttributeEnable and AVC1toH264 filters
- ConvertVideoFile and DTBVideoEditor will calc resize value based on frame height/width when either is set to 0
- PC support = != testing of numeric text values as numbers
- DVRMSToolbox.exe returns codes on termination (thanks ChrisRichner)
- Fixed a bug in ConvertVideoFile when removing spans from SBE files
- AtomicParsley action supports cascading metadata items using attribute1;attribute2 syntax in the value node
- Set 32BIT+ in MencoderProper.exe
- Fix a bunch of bugs w/ converting WTV files
- Disable the graph's clock when doing a container swap in VideoConverter
- Fix a bug in ExtraData action when "type" was not specified
- Fix some container/codec validation bugs in DTBVideoEditor

bin | source | 7MCAddin | VistaAddin

DVRMSToolbox 1.2.1.9 - Early Access Release 7 (and hopefully the last one)

babgvant — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:58:00 GMT

This is an Early Access release.

Version 1.2.1.9

bin | source

SageMCTuner - Experimental Release

babgvant — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:09:00 GMT

SageMCTuner is a Windows Service that runs on a Windows Media Center (MC) machine to enable SageTV to use MC's tuners as Network Encoders.

Included in the zip are the following files:

install.cmd: run from an escalated cmd prompt to install the service
uninstall.cmd: run from an escalated cmd prompt to uninstall the service
SageMCTuner.exe: service executable (platform independent)
SageMCTunerConfig.exe: config tool (x86)
SBEConvert.exe: SBE->MPEG-TS (or MPEG-PS w/ custom muxer) converter (x86)
SageMCTunerLib.dll: shared library (platform independent)
channelMap.xml: if necessary SageTV channels can be mapped to MC channels using this file

After the service is installed and running (don't forget to configure your software firewall to trust the exe), configure SageTV to use it as a network encoder.

Below is the block of text I added to my sage.properties file. Note that the encoder number (12345) must be unique, so if you have another tuner with this number change 12345 to something else. Also note that when encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream SageTV will ask for a .ts file, if a custom muxer is used that writes MPEG-PS (.mpg) files change this value to true.

mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/available_channels=
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/brightness=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/contrast=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=false
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/hue=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/last_channel=2
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/provider_id=40453653930
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/saturation=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/sharpness=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/tuning_mode=Cable
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/tuning_plugin=
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/tuning_plugin_port=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/video_crossbar_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/100/0/video_crossbar_type=100
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_index=-1
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_name=
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/audio_processor=
mmc/encoders/12345/broadcast_standard=
mmc/encoders/12345/capture_config=299008
mmc/encoders/12345/default_device_quality=
mmc/encoders/12345/delay_to_wait_after_tuning=5000
mmc/encoders/12345/device_class=
mmc/encoders/12345/dshow_tv_type=
mmc/encoders/12345/encoder_merit=0
mmc/encoders/12345/encoding_host=HUNGRY7\:6969
mmc/encoders/12345/forced_video_storage_path_prefix=
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_index=0
mmc/encoders/12345/last_cross_type=100
mmc/encoders/12345/live_audio_input=
mmc/encoders/12345/multicast_host=
mmc/encoders/12345/never_stop_encoding=false
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_name=MCTuner1
mmc/encoders/12345/video_capture_device_num=0
mmc/encoders/12345/video_encoding_params=MPEG2 Max Quality
mmc/encoders/12345/video_processor=