After a tv show gets converted it adds the show back to the scheduled recorded list is there a fix for this.

" After a tv show gets converted it adds the show back to the scheduled recorded list is there a fix for this."

Trey, 1.0.x releases of MCEBuddy simply look to see if the converted file is there or not and if it isn't it does a new encode.  So if you do not delete originals and then either move or delete the converted files it will do another encode.  So you either need to delete the originals or leave the converted files where they are.  Tracking converted files is in scope for version 2.0 as I need an interface to alow people to -resubmit conversions, which needs an MCE interface.

Cheers

Derek

Beta Testers, MCEBuddy 1.0.6 BETA 4 is available

New items in Beta 1.0.6 BETA 4:
Beta 4 is a big release beta.  Many Vista issues have been corrected and a native Vista64 release is now available.  I must say I'm finding Vista development a pain in the butt, hopefully I've killed the remaining Vista niggles. Roll on Orcas.  Another significant change is making the DivX 5 encode the recommended encoding option.  While I consider H.264 a technically superior codec, this is for three reasons.  The first is that it has the widest range of software and a/v equipment and the least issues with decoder packs.  The second is that I've finally managed to work an encode that produces results comparable to the excellent H.264 encode.  That is, comparable in quality as well as as size.  The third reason is the excellent H.264 encode hangs with commercial removal.  The high quality H.264 encode is still the best overall encode and if you are technically minded I'd still go with that if you don't want automatic commercial removal, though the gap with the DivX encode isn't very large anymore.  Net result - High Quality DivX encode is now the default.

Things I would like feedback and specific testing for:
- Vista and Vista 64 installation and operation
- iPod encode.  A few people have said they have one and will test it but no-one has told me if it works or not yet
- Hibernation/resume.  It should work but I won't know until its been tested on a lot of platforms.

Changes and bug fixes are:
- Setup under Vista using non administrative account should now work.
- Vista 64 native installation and build (this one's for you Astro)
- Further improvements to encoding
- Two pass coding now performs first pass optimally
- First and second conversions now occur correctly
- Second conversion path check is now fixed
- Support for hibernate and wake.  Note this will not pause an encode in the middle of operation but will start from the beginning.
- Many other minor bugs corrected

Encoded file sizes:
I have taken a 30 minute HDTV television program with 14 minutes worth of ads and performed unit tests against each non-resizing encode from BETA4.  Here are the results:
Original DVR-MS File - 30 Minute HDTV - 1.54GB

Recommended High Quality 2 Pass DivX 5 Encode, commercial removal - 192MB
Lower Quality 1 Pass DivX 5 Encode, commercial removal - 186MB
High Quality 2 Pass H.264 5 Encode,  325MB  **No commercial removal as this encode does not work with commercial removal**
Lower Quality 1 Pass H.264, commercial removal - 138MB
WMV encode, commercial removal  - 325MB

Summary - with maximum quality and no commercial removal the DVR-MS file encodes to a DivX file around 1/5 the size.  If you want better you simply select a smaller video size as well.

Things to come to wrap up the 1.0.x releases are (ie. next beta release):
- Critical errors displayed in configuration console as well as instead of just event log
- Supply connection credentials for conversion to a network location
- Automatic conversion of mapped drives to UNC paths
- Correct re-read of configuration settings on new service start

Hey Derek,

I just found your program tonight an I think it looks great!  One question: Can I set it to auto-transcode only one show (by name)?  I want to transcode a daily show or two for use at the gym on my iPod, I don't need my whole library converted.

TIA, Sus

I installed 1.0.5 on my Vista media center about a week ago and thought I'd report on my experience so far. I use an Xbox 360 in 1080i mode via component as an extender for all my viewing.

First, the program installs very easily and is incredibly simple to configure - great job!

I record OTA ATSC recordings, some are HD (1080i and 720p) and some are SD (480i). I converted several recordings to 'Very High' video quality in each format - WMV, H.264 and Xvid. While all 3 would play through the Xbox (H.264 and Xvid in the dashboard only), the video decoding was not able to keep up and nothing was watchable.

I then changed the video quality to 'High' (720p right?) and converted several files to WMV and Xvid. The Xvid file was again unwatchable because of slow video decoding (this was again in the dashboard only). The WMV file was mostly OK, but I can see a very slight choppiness to the video that isn't there in the DVR-MS file. Shouldn't the XBox 360 be powerful enough to play 720p WMV files?

So its a great program, but for whatever reason the files it produces aren't able to be played back smoothly in my Xbox 360 - at least not HD resolutions.

"Hey Derek,

I just found your program tonight an I think it looks great!  One question: Can I set it to auto-transcode only one show (by name)?  I want to transcode a daily show or two for use at the gym on my iPod, I don't need my whole library converted.

TIA, Sus"

You can use the filename wildcard.  I think that will do what you need.

eg.  Simpsons*.dvr-ms

Cheers

Derek

Just so you're aware, I'm using a new profile name - Phredeaux.  Just so its the same as other forums.

Cheers

Derek

roblanderson:

I installed 1.0.5 on my Vista media center about a week ago and thought I'd report on my experience so far. I use an Xbox 360 in 1080i mode via component as an extender for all my viewing.

First, the program installs very easily and is incredibly simple to configure - great job!

I record OTA ATSC recordings, some are HD (1080i and 720p) and some are SD (480i). I converted several recordings to 'Very High' video quality in each format - WMV, H.264 and Xvid. While all 3 would play through the Xbox (H.264 and Xvid in the dashboard only), the video decoding was not able to keep up and nothing was watchable.

I then changed the video quality to 'High' (720p right?) and converted several files to WMV and Xvid. The Xvid file was again unwatchable because of slow video decoding (this was again in the dashboard only). The WMV file was mostly OK, but I can see a very slight choppiness to the video that isn't there in the DVR-MS file. Shouldn't the XBox 360 be powerful enough to play 720p WMV files?

So its a great program, but for whatever reason the files it produces aren't able to be played back smoothly in my Xbox 360 - at least not HD resolutions.

Rob,
   I'm not sure, not having a 360 myself.  It really depends on how they've implemented it.  Obviously on base system specification for the 360 it should be able to handle 720 WMV fine.  In the next MCEBuddy release I have a pile of pre-canned WMV conversions.  Once its out of beta (soon) maybe you can have a try and see how they go.  If you're willing, send me an eMail and I'll send you a link and you can try them out in beta and let me know.  Some 360 testing would be welcome as I don't have one.  The beta of most interest to you would be BETA5 which I have not wrapped for the beta site yet as it has another set of encodes and a full unit test of all the encodes takes *days* and it is still running now.

Cheers

Derek

That wildcard thing sounds great!  I can only get 1.05 though, which doesen't have the wildcard field or I cannot find it.  How do I get 1.06 Beta 4?

Sus

Susurrus:

That wildcard thing sounds great!  I can only get 1.05 though, which doesen't have the wildcard field or I cannot find it.  How do I get 1.06 Beta 4?

Sus

Just send me an eMail and I'll send you the link.

Cheers

Derek

MCEBuddy Beta Testers - MCEBuddy 1.0.6 BETA 5 is available

Beta 5 is hopefully the wrap-up for MCEBuddy 1.0x versions.  The last remaining bits of functionality in scope for this release are now in, so it's just bug fixing until version 1.1.  Key areas are:
- Connect as credentials for putting your encoded files on other systems, servers and NAS devices.
- The new generic encodes.  The earlier beta encodes have been backed off as they were too optimised and either produced good results or crashed.
- Better suspend and resume.  Should work well now.
- Critical errors displayed in configuration console as well as instead of just event log
- Automatic conversion of mapped drives to UNC paths
- The Microsoft hotfix for Vista 64 file browsing is now included
- ShowAnalyzer is not used under Vista64 as it does not interact correctly with MCEBuddy on that platform.  Comskip is still supported on all platforms.  ShowAnalyzer is supported on 32 bit platforms.

After running numerous encodes over a few days I got a number of surprises.  Fortunately they have actually made the simplification process of MCEBuddy even easier.
H.264.  Changing the resolution size of the resulting file for the H.264 encode to something smaller actually made absolutely no significant difference to the final file size , though it did speed things up a little.  So there is now only one H.264 encode.  It's now not quite as effective as the BETA4 version, but it is more robust (ie. no mencoder crashes in my tests).  However, commercial skipping is still not supported with H.264.  There is only one encode and it keeps the original resolution.
DivX.  Changing the resolution size of the resulting file for the DivX encode to something smaller made some difference to the final file size, but the gains were not good enough to justify the loss of quality.  So the DivX encode has gone the same way as the H.264 encode.  There is only one encode and it keeps the original resolution. The new encode is MUCH faster than the BETA4 one.
WMV is huge and not as optimised so reducing the size does make a difference.  As such the smaller resolution options are available.

By popular request, all the encodes now utilise 4 core systems as well as dual and single core.  Don't expect 100% CPU utilisation on all though.

First let me say you  program works well. I have just one problem. After I convert the file I see noise across the top ofmy screen. It does matter what quality I select or what codec I select

Hey phredeaux,

I sent an email via the mailto link on the mcebuddy page, but I haven't heard back. Is there a different email I should use?

Thanks,
Sus

Susurrus:

Hey phredeaux,

I sent an email via the mailto link on the mcebuddy page, but I haven't heard back. Is there a different email I should use?

Thanks,
Sus

You should have it now.

Cheers

Derek