HD Video Problems - Not playable from within Sage

[jturner421]

Having a really strange problem that I can't seem to isolate. Pertinent configuration details:

SageTV verison 6.2
Leadtek GeoForce 6200 TC
Nvidia force driver version 163.71
Nvidia Purevideo Decoder 1.02-96
Tuners:
HDHomerun - Tuner 0 - ATSC, Tuner 1-QAM - BDA Driver
PVR-250
Firewire Capture

I've run Sage in windowed mode and verified that the Purevideo decoder is operational. It works just fine on all SD recordings. Problem occurs with HD recordings and is intermittent. HD recordings exhibit one of two problems:
1) No video but audio. Purevideo decoder is showing in the system tray.
2) Recording does not play. Receive the following error - Sage.PlaybackExeception: ERROR (-4,0x80040217) - Purevideo decoder is NOT showing in the system tray

Scenario number one is exhibited by the recording of Numb3rs. Rendering the file in Graphedit shows the correct filter sequence:

Nvidia Transport Demux>Nvidia Video Decoder>Video Renderer

Scenario number two occurs on a recording of CSI-NY. Rendering the file in Graphedit also shows the correct filter sequence:

Nvidia Transport Demux>Nvidia Video Decoder>Video Renderer

Both files are playable through Graphedit and VLC so I'm almost positive it is a Sage problem. Settings in Sage are FSE, VMR9, 3d acceleration, Default Decoder. I verified that the Nvidia Decoder is the default and has the highest priority.

Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

[geogecko]

I haven't isolated my problem yet, but it very well could only be related to HD shows. Since Oprah is recorded on two different channels right now, it only affects some of the shows.

I haven't noticed it on the other prime time HD shows, probably because my wife complained about the no video problem, and me fixing it before we watched anything in the evening.

I didn't go as far as you to use GraphEdit (looks like I need to download that), but this problem looks very similar.

I'd be interested to know what shows up in your WMP if you click on the DVD tab, and then Advanced.

Edit: My only different settings from yours, is I am not using FSE, and I force the video and audio decoder to Nvidia within Sage.

[cychou]

You video card (6200) will not allow you to play HD video smoothly using VMR9 & FSE.

When playing the same video in GraphEdit, you are using VMR7 as the video render, which is different than VRM9. VLC certainly don't use VMR9 either. That is why it plays fine there. VMR9 require a lot more processing power from your video card.

I am not sure the lack of hardware power will cause the errors you described here.
Usually the HD video will just stutter, or skipping frames.

Try using overlay first to see if your system is ready for HD. You definitely need an upgrade to play HD material using VMR9.


Vince

[Djc208]

Originally Posted by cychou

You video card (6200) will not allow you to play HD video smoothly using VMR9 & FSE.

Vince

Actually I have the same chip (different manufacturer) and it works fine on my Athlon64 3000+ with VMR9 in HD, it can get a little jittery in fast motion scenes but it's barely noticable. I did have some issues with FSE but it wasn't limited to just video playback.

The video problems I had (and still periodically do) are with the image freezing, somtimes for a few seconds, other times I have to stop and re-start playback. Rolling back to an older driver (per nVidia tech support) helped with that. Still happens but very rarely (maybe once or twice a week) and I'm not always shure it's the video card and not just other processes slowing down the system.

I'll have to look and see what driver I'm running but nVidia said it was the best for that card and none of the newer revisions have made any improvements for it.

[jturner421]

Vince,

Interesting. I find that when I get playback to work, it's just fine. Like the previous poster, during fast pans it's not smooth but for other than that it works great. What I've found with my problems is that in scenario one, restarting the client solves the problem at least on a temporary basis. In scenario two, this appears to have started when I upgraded sage to version 6.2.10.

What do you recommend as an upgrade card that might resolve the problem?

--Joel

[cychou]

Originally Posted by Djc208

I'll have to look and see what driver I'm running but nVidia said it was the best for that card and none of the newer revisions have made any improvements for it.

I will be interested to know what version of driver are you using.
I am using 84.21 with my Geforce 6600 to give the best result.
This combination give me the best result and it only stutters a little in some Sports HD programs.

[cychou]

Originally Posted by jturner421

Vince,

Interesting. I find that when I get playback to work, it's just fine. Like the previous poster, during fast pans it's not smooth but for other than that it works great. What I've found with my problems is that in scenario one, restarting the client solves the problem at least on a temporary basis. In scenario two, this appears to have started when I upgraded sage to version 6.2.10.

What do you recommend as an upgrade card that might resolve the problem?

--Joel

Either Nvidia 8600 or ATI 2600 will do. They will also give you H.264 hardware decoding as well.



Vince

[geogecko]

Originally Posted by jturner421

Vince,

Interesting. I find that when I get playback to work, it's just fine. Like the previous poster, during fast pans it's not smooth but for other than that it works great. What I've found with my problems is that in scenario one, restarting the client solves the problem at least on a temporary basis. In scenario two, this appears to have started when I upgraded sage to version 6.2.10.

What do you recommend as an upgrade card that might resolve the problem?

--Joel

I don't think an upgrade to your card will solve the problem. There are two other threads that are pointing out this same issue with the most recent version of SageTV. I think there is something going on with SageTV, but can't quite pin it down yet.

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28411
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28382

[cychou]

Originally Posted by geogecko

I don't think an upgrade to your card will solve the problem. There are two other threads that are pointing out this same issue with the most recent version of SageTV. I think there is something going on with SageTV, but can't quite pin it down yet.

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28411
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28382

Both threads point to the same issue IMO.
Apparently after installing 6.3 beta, your default decoder was changed and this is causing problems for people. I noticed this myself, even though this new decoder (SageTV Mpeg Video Decoder) does not give me any problem. It just throws my color calibration off.

After lowering the merit of this new decoder in DirectShow Filter Manager and then reboot, I was able to put everything back in order. I think this will fix your problem too.

However I think Joel's problem is a different one from yours based on the following:
1. His DirectShow graph show Nvidia is still the default decoder.
2. He did not mentioned the upgrade to 6.3 beta.





Vince

[rethdog]

Originally Posted by cychou

Either Nvidia 8600 or ATI 2600 will do. They will also give you H.264 hardware decoding as well.

Vince

looking at his video card it's highly likely his motherboard is AGP, are there any H.264 hardware decoding cards for AGP??

[cychou]

Originally Posted by rethdog

looking at his video card it's highly likely his motherboard is AGP, are there any H.264 hardware decoding cards for AGP??

According to this discussion in AVS Forum. ATI 2600 agp version will do.


Vince

[jturner421]

I was able to resolve the problem by completely unloading the Nvidia drivers, PowerDVD and Nero. I then only reloaded an older version of the Nvidia driver and Purevideo. That seemed to do the trick and HD is working again. I plan on ordering an Nvidia 8600GT card in the near future.

[geogecko]

I was able to fix my problem as well, just by adjusting the merit of the Purevideo decoders up to above preferred. A quick reboot, and everything is back to normal.

I still have to admit, the Purevideo decoders make HD look a lot better than the SageTV decoders do. I would see a lot of blockyness before the Nvidia decoders took over. Now it's all back to being smooth and sharp.