andy vt's tools & blog

First, huge fan, been following for years.  I have in interesting situation that I hope someone can help me troubleshoot. 

Setup: Newly formatted 7MC, Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 w/ GeForce 9300.  DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 (R3) with Haali (installed correctly per babgvant's instructions).

Problem: When I convert a .mkv TV show with DVRMSTooboxGUI using the "Process File" tab it produces a perfect, stutter free .wtv. file.  If I opt to use the "Process Directory" tab it produces .wtv files that stutter -- audio is fine, but video is unwatchable.  The same is also true if I let the DTBservice pick-up the files in the watch directory and process them, stutter.

This took hours to realize, and I stumbled upon this very randomly.  What could be the problem?  I'd much prefer the files to be processed automatically.  How do you reccommend I troubleshoot?

Log from GUI (stutter free video):

InputFile=G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Processing actions, this may take some time!!
Current Affinity: 3 System Mask: 3
File is not a dvrms-file
Run Profile = Convert MKV TV Show to WTV
ProcessId = 4768
DvrmsToolbox Version: 1.2.2.0
Throttle DVRMStoMPEG
FWThrottle: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
WaitTime: 5 PollTime
Waiting to process file
Queue file
Duration = 00:00:01.0140000
Waiting for available worker: 1/13/2010 4:22 PM
Worker allocated: 1/13/2010 4:22 PM
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFolder"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["OutputFolder"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\
Duration = 00:00:00
Get the value of Context["OutputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFile"]
Context["OutputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Context["OutputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["TvDBXMLFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00
Read metadata from TvDB and build Sage XML file.
Processing TvDBMetaData with 12 arguments.
Using following file as Template Metadata XML file: Template.mpg.xml
Using following file as Series Alias XML file: SeriesAlias.xml
Using following file as the target Metadata XML file: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Using input parameter as regular expression: (?<series>.+)\.[s,S](?<season>\d+)[e,E](?<episodenbr>\d+)\.
Metadata provided by thetvdb.com
Found APIKey.
Found Series Name
Retreived Series Info
Retreived Episode Info
Sage XML file created: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.1560000
Run todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv" -wtv
Run C:\Program Files\DVRMSToolbox\Applications\todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv" -wtv

Duration = 00:00:46.4860000
Move file specified in Context("OutputFile") to G:\Recorded TV\
Moving G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv to G:\Recorded TV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00
Delete the file in Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Duration = 00:00:00
Total Duration = 00:00:47.6560000

Log from fileprocess (stuttering video)

Start Process: 1/13/2010 : 4:32 PM
InputFile=G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Processing actions, this may take some time!!
Current Affinity: 3 System Mask: 3
File is not a dvrms-file
Testing "MKV"
"MKV" is a match.
Run Profile = Convert MKV TV Show to WTV
ProcessId = 6040
DvrmsToolbox Version: 1.2.2.0
Throttle DVRMStoMPEG
FWThrottle: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
WaitTime: 5 PollTime
Waiting to process file
Queue file
Duration = 00:00:01.0080000
Waiting for available worker: 1/13/2010 4:32 PM
Worker allocated: 1/13/2010 4:32 PM
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFolder"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["OutputFolder"] = G:\bittorrent complete\
Duration = 00:00:00.0020000
Get the value of Context["OutputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFile"]
Context["OutputFile"] = C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\Output\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.mkv
Context["OutputFile"] = C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00.0010000
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["TvDBXMLFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.0010000
Read metadata from TvDB and build Sage XML file.
Processing TvDBMetaData with 12 arguments.
Using following file as Template Metadata XML file: Template.mpg.xml
Using following file as Series Alias XML file: SeriesAlias.xml
Using following file as the target Metadata XML file: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Using input parameter as regular expression: (?<series>.+)\.[s,S](?<season>\d+)[e,E](?<episodenbr>\d+)\.
Metadata provided by thetvdb.com
Found APIKey.
Found Series Name
Retreived Series Info
Retreived Episode Info
Sage XML file created: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.1310000
Run todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv" -wtv
Run C:\Program Files\DVRMSToolbox\Applications\todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv" -wtv
Duration = 00:00:46.4410000
Move file specified in Context("OutputFile") to G:\Recorded TV\
Moving C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv to G:\Recorded TV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv
Duration = 00:00:20.0300000

Delete the file in Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Duration = 00:00:00.0040000
Total Duration = 00:01:07.6210000

 I just started having problems with MKV to WTV also, same thing video stutttering.

I've had problems with anything after standard 1.2.2.0 (R2, or R3 - haven't tried R4). Trying to convert mkv movies to wtv results in severely truncated files (a 4gb movie will wind up as only 900mb or so). I haven't bothered to try to play them to see how they looked. I've since gone back to just 1.2.2.0 standard. I generally use todvrms.exe directly to convert; no profiles or anything.

I saw this as well under R3 (files becoming trucated).  I found that when I had more than 1 worker processing files (in my case I had two) the results would be truncated. 

Under R4, I couldn't get Haali to be recognized by DVRMStoolbox at all, but that is a different issue I suppose.

renderaction:

I saw this as well under R3 (files becoming trucated).  I found that when I had more than 1 worker processing files (in my case I had two) the results would be truncated. 

Under R4, I couldn't get Haali to be recognized by DVRMStoolbox at all, but that is a different issue I suppose.

 

 

I also saw random trucated files.

 I had this same problem and found a post here on the forum that solved it. It was mencoder that was effectively creating the stutter and by replacing mencoder.exe from the mencoder associated with the 1.2.1.8 release the problem was solved. 

 

Dallas Knox

DallasKnox:

 I had this same problem and found a post here on the forum that solved it. It was mencoder that was effectively creating the stutter and by replacing mencoder.exe from the mencoder associated with the 1.2.1.8 release the problem was solved. 

 

Dallas Knox

 

What would Mencoder have to do with MKV->WTV?  All that happens in that profile is the file is remuxed in a wtv container.  Mencoder is not used.

 

I'd guess that one of the components doesn't like being run from a background process, but honestly I have no idea.

The latest rev of 1.2.2.0 uses the MPC-HC mkv splitter, you might want to test with that.

What was your resolution to this issue?  I too can produce a stutter-free file only when I process a single file via the GUI.  when automated process runs, it consistently outputs a stuttering WTV file.

renderaction:

First, huge fan, been following for years.  I have in interesting situation that I hope someone can help me troubleshoot. 

Setup: Newly formatted 7MC, Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 w/ GeForce 9300.  DVRMSToolbox 1.2.2.0 (R3) with Haali (installed correctly per babgvant's instructions).

Problem: When I convert a .mkv TV show with DVRMSTooboxGUI using the "Process File" tab it produces a perfect, stutter free .wtv. file.  If I opt to use the "Process Directory" tab it produces .wtv files that stutter -- audio is fine, but video is unwatchable.  The same is also true if I let the DTBservice pick-up the files in the watch directory and process them, stutter.

This took hours to realize, and I stumbled upon this very randomly.  What could be the problem?  I'd much prefer the files to be processed automatically.  How do you reccommend I troubleshoot?

Log from GUI (stutter free video):

InputFile=G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Processing actions, this may take some time!!
Current Affinity: 3 System Mask: 3
File is not a dvrms-file
Run Profile = Convert MKV TV Show to WTV
ProcessId = 4768
DvrmsToolbox Version: 1.2.2.0
Throttle DVRMStoMPEG
FWThrottle: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
WaitTime: 5 PollTime
Waiting to process file
Queue file
Duration = 00:00:01.0140000
Waiting for available worker: 1/13/2010 4:22 PM
Worker allocated: 1/13/2010 4:22 PM
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFolder"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["OutputFolder"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\
Duration = 00:00:00
Get the value of Context["OutputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFile"]
Context["OutputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Context["OutputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["TvDBXMLFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00
Read metadata from TvDB and build Sage XML file.
Processing TvDBMetaData with 12 arguments.
Using following file as Template Metadata XML file: Template.mpg.xml
Using following file as Series Alias XML file: SeriesAlias.xml
Using following file as the target Metadata XML file: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Using input parameter as regular expression: (?<series>.+)\.[s,S](?<season>\d+)[e,E](?<episodenbr>\d+)\.
Metadata provided by thetvdb.com
Found APIKey.
Found Series Name
Retreived Series Info
Retreived Episode Info
Sage XML file created: G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.1560000
Run todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv" -wtv
Run C:\Program Files\DVRMSToolbox\Applications\todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv" -wtv

Duration = 00:00:46.4860000
Move file specified in Context("OutputFile") to G:\Recorded TV\
Moving G:\bittorrent complete\Mad Men Season 3 720p HDTV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv to G:\Recorded TV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00
Delete the file in Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Duration = 00:00:00
Total Duration = 00:00:47.6560000

Log from fileprocess (stuttering video)

Start Process: 1/13/2010 : 4:32 PM
InputFile=G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Processing actions, this may take some time!!
Current Affinity: 3 System Mask: 3
File is not a dvrms-file
Testing "MKV"
"MKV" is a match.
Run Profile = Convert MKV TV Show to WTV
ProcessId = 6040
DvrmsToolbox Version: 1.2.2.0
Throttle DVRMStoMPEG
FWThrottle: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
WaitTime: 5 PollTime
Waiting to process file
Queue file
Duration = 00:00:01.0080000
Waiting for available worker: 1/13/2010 4:32 PM
Worker allocated: 1/13/2010 4:32 PM
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFolder"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["OutputFolder"] = G:\bittorrent complete\
Duration = 00:00:00.0020000
Get the value of Context["OutputFile"] and set the value of Context["OutputFile"]
Context["OutputFile"] = C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\Output\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.mkv
Context["OutputFile"] = C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv
Duration = 00:00:00.0010000
Get the value of Context["InputFile"] and set the value of Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Context["InputFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv
Context["TvDBXMLFile"] = G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.0010000
Read metadata from TvDB and build Sage XML file.
Processing TvDBMetaData with 12 arguments.
Using following file as Template Metadata XML file: Template.mpg.xml
Using following file as Series Alias XML file: SeriesAlias.xml
Using following file as the target Metadata XML file: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Using input parameter as regular expression: (?<series>.+)\.[s,S](?<season>\d+)[e,E](?<episodenbr>\d+)\.
Metadata provided by thetvdb.com
Found APIKey.
Found Series Name
Retreived Series Info
Retreived Episode Info
Sage XML file created: G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv.xml
Duration = 00:00:00.1310000
Run todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv" -wtv
Run C:\Program Files\DVRMSToolbox\Applications\todvrms.exe "G:\bittorrent complete\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctu.mkv" "C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv" -wtv
Duration = 00:00:46.4410000
Move file specified in Context("OutputFile") to G:\Recorded TV\
Moving C:\Users\Public\DvrmsToolbox\DTBTemp\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv to G:\Recorded TV\mad.men.s03e13.720p.hdtv.x264-ctufileprocess.wtv
Duration = 00:00:20.0300000

Delete the file in Context["TvDBXMLFile"]
Duration = 00:00:00.0040000
Total Duration = 00:01:07.6210000

 

Hi Renderaction, what did you ever do to resolve the suttering MKV to WTV output issue?  I just built a new HTPC and am having this same issue.  No codec packs only Haali Splitter.  Tried 1.2.2.5 and 1.2.2.2.  Now reverting back to 1.2.2.0 as you've suggested.  Has been making me crazy.  Thanks for your help!

renderaction:

Problem: When I convert a .mkv TV show with DVRMSTooboxGUI using the "Process File" tab it produces a perfect, stutter free .wtv. file.  If I opt to use the "Process Directory" tab it produces .wtv files that stutter -- audio is fine, but video is unwatchable.  The same is also true if I let the DTBservice pick-up the files in the watch directory and process them, stutter.

This took hours to realize, and I stumbled upon this very randomly.  What could be the problem?  I'd much prefer the files to be processed automatically.  How do you reccommend I troubleshoot?

 

 

I'm also having this problem but it does it on .mkv AND .mp4 to WTV. Further some MKVs come through with no video, just audio. Others are truncated at 70 bytes. I'm using 1.2.2.6 early access edition.

I'm also getting mp4 files that are converted to wtv that won't play with a display driver error.

 FWIW, I've foundthe following w/ regards to stuttering:

- it happens on my systems if SATA mode is set to AHCI.  when SATA set to IDE, it works fine.

- the conversion must occur on a local HDD (c:) and not a mapped network drive OR RAID array

however I have been able to successfully process MKV to WTV on local C drive and move to a network share after conversion complete and playback is fine (Gigabit LAN).

Based on my early testing, I've found 1.2.2.6 MKV to WTV conversion to be somewhat unreliable compared to 1.2.2.5.  Resulting WTV output is often truncated.  For example a 50 min MKV may yield a 6 min WTV, etc.  Seems to be inconsistent.

Hi all, sorry so long to reply -- I've had everything working for two years now and haven't touch it!  Luckily I wrote down everything. Again, these notes are from 1/21/2010, but as I recall, the trick was something to do with todvrms -- the OLDER version worked... Here are my notes:

- installed dvrmstoolbox 1.2.2.0: check modify file permissions, unchecked showanalyzer and checked "run DTB file watcher as a service"
 -installed todvrms 1.0.1.0 and copied contents to c:\program files\dvrmstoolbox\applications
 -ran registertodvrmsfilters.cmd
- installed DTBAddin
- Installed Show Analyzer 1.0.58: Output folder DVRMSToolbox to "Live" Where to: "c:\users\public\dvrmstoolbox\CommericalsXML", all other settings to "never"
- Restarted
- installed CoreCodec from CoreAVC
 -Did NOT install Haali
- installed Shark007 codecpack
 -ran as administrator, In the settings application, on the H264 tab, selected CoreAVC then select the FFDshow postprocessing feature below that setting
 -also disabled MKV thumbnails in MKV tab
 -within Haali: decoder boost priority ON; input buffer size: 16384
- Configured DVRMStoolbox per: http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/22/how-to-automatically-skip-commercials-in-windows-7-media-center/
- Configured DVRMStoolbox per: http://hd.engadget.com/2009/02/24/how-to-automatically-download-and-import-hd-to-windows-media-cen/