andy vt's tools & blog

Dear Babgvant (and all others)

Thank-you for the overneeded download for DTB 1.2.1.3 Public. Things have been working great and twice the accessibility of the previous, and I must say lousy, version of DTB 1.2.1.2. Honestly, 1.2.1.1 worked better, but the best since 1.2.1.0 and 1.2.1.3 was probably the 1.2.10, but I'm not sure anymore. I like to have access to updates soon, but not too soon, cause I can't figure out bug fixes.

Anyways, my question this time, is about which is the better analyzer for DVRMSToolbox to use in commercial-skipping, and how to configure it. I figured out a possible trick to use for best processing purposes (after trashing some valuable recordings in the past, I might add). See, I know how to open File Watcher, and now know that it is for Processing better.

My question is, although I'm only guessing, ComSkip is the primary analyzer for processing. Yet, I've always liked SA 0.9.6+... and now that I figured out my mistake for past recordings, I'd like to take advantage of SA 0.9.7. I try asking it to be SA for preferred analyzer, but since all I see is the splice %, I have no way to know which is working. I know that my end result with FW is more of a com-free file, and without FW while processing, it takes out maybe 15 minutes of the commercials per hour.

So I guess what I'm saying is this: I appreciate the programs, but I need more guidance. In addition to all the details I shared, I am just bugged that the ComSkip or Default Analyzer takes out the opening credits. What I mean, for example, is on my recording of "The Thomas Crown Affair", its iffy if I have the last programs credits and scenes still (cause I record 1 minute before, for the same purpose: production company and TV rating)... but what I don't have is important movie information when it begins... mostly the TV Rating, along with the opening credits.

Ugh, I cannot seem to figure that out. And the last question I have, I may have stated already, is how to configure SA to work in processing.

For those of you reading this, I found out a couple dos and don't with this process (on previous valuable files, that got ruined and deleted):

You DO want to open File Watcher and leave it in your tray, while processing your show

You DO want to limit your memory processes to 1-2 programs, while processing your show (Processing takes time and memory)

You MAY want to choose Automatic, yet it'll most likely give you ComSkip (the program without flexible options and manual settings, nor CC settings)

You DO NOT want to throw out the original file, nor the EDL file (the show and commercial file), until you have your second copy

You DO NOT want to replace your file or choose a profile that winds up replacing the original... trust me!

RECOMMENDED PROFILE (DTB): Remove Commercials, Output DVR-MS, Move to Recorded TV

The Burning Question: Which analyzer works best? Another fact is, in a movie on reg. cable, there are about 40 minutes of show per hour on TV. So for example, a 2 hour show... winds up about 85 minutes total... roughly. I'm not sure about like a 4 hour movie, but I'm guess that's about 150-165 minutes total.

Thanks for reading this. This is tagged for anyone's information... hope to hear a reply.

Gregory K

I prefer SA, others like comskip.  SA isn't free, but it's much easier to tune and the integration is tighter with DTB so it's easier for the application to work with SA.  DTB prefers SA when Automattic is set, but once the trial expires it will start using Comskip unless you register SA.

If detection isn't perfect, I wouldn't recommend replacing the files with a cut up version.  HD space is too cheap to risk missing segments of a show.  Getting 90-95% accuracy is easy in SA (maybe in comskip too, but I can't speak to that), but the last 5% is very elusive and require significant investment in custom profiles.