HDHomeRun Lip Sync way off on Mac

[transco]

Is there some secret to using the HDHomeRun with SageTV? The lip sync is so bad its unwatchable. To make sure everything was in working order I shut down SageTV and started EyeTV and the lip sync was perfect (same computer (Mac) and same channel). I have two HDHomeRun's on the network and even my little Mac Mini can simultaneously display 4 different channels without any problem so I would assume the dual core Intel Mac Mini has enough horsepower for a single channel on SageTV. Am I missing something?

[edmc]

Originally Posted by transco

Is there some secret to using the HDHomeRun with SageTV? The lip sync is so bad its unwatchable. To make sure everything was in working order I shut down SageTV and started EyeTV and the lip sync was perfect (same computer (Mac) and same channel). I have two HDHomeRun's on the network and even my little Mac Mini can simultaneously display 4 different channels without any problem so I would assume the dual core Intel Mac Mini has enough horsepower for a single channel on SageTV. Am I missing something?

I suspect you're probably not using the proper video codecs thus causing your video rendering to be non-ideal. I would suggest playing with the Setup->Detailed Setup->Video/Audio->MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter.

I am running the HDHomeRun over a 75' Cat6 cable to an HP s3330f with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5400+ 2.80GHz CPU, 2GB DRAM, and 32-bit Vista Home Premium with no problems using the "SageTV MPEG Video Decoder" and set it to use "DXVA (hardware acceleration)" (i.e. set that value to "Yes"). Aside from this limiting the color depth of my screen, it works great.

Hope this anecdotal evidence gives you the hint you need to get SageTV working well.

[Clift]

I agree with the codec thought. And something else to throw out there:
There is a way to add delay to the sound from within detailed setup. I would recommend fixing the decdoing issues instead of putting a band aid like that on it, though.

The other thing may be your audio decoder. This is found under detailed setup too under MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter. I would try to change that as well and see.

[transco]

Originally Posted by Clift

I agree with the codec thought. And something else to throw out there:
There is a way to add delay to the sound from within detailed setup. I would recommend fixing the decdoing issues instead of putting a band aid like that on it, though.

The other thing may be your audio decoder. This is found under detailed setup too under MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter. I would try to change that as well and see.

I discovered that, a recorded show that plays back with the lip sync error on the SageTV Server (Mac Mini), plays OK on a Mac Pro running a SageTV client.

I have two HDHomeRuns on the network, and have been experimenting with a single recording then two, three and four simultanious recordings. I tried this with EyeTV and it works OK. With SageTV, things start failing making two or more simultaneous recordings. I've looked at the CPU loading and it is negligible. It appears SageTV itself gets confused. Doing multiple simultaneous recordings results in no sound in any of the recordings, black screen on one if three simultaneous recordings are tried, and a system crash with 4. A few questions please (all relating to Mac operation):

1. Is SageTV supposed to be able to handle multiple simultanious recordings?
2. Is simultaneous record and playback OK?
3. Any problem running multiple Servers on the same network? Can they share the same storage directory and access each others files?

As to the playback problem on the Mac Mini (the media center's computer), I don't have much option. Unlike pizza dish satellite receivers, C-band receivers have to stay where they are installed because of the cabling involved. Mine is in the same location as the Mac Mini which means recording must be made on that computer and that computer must be running a copy of the SageTV server software. The problem is, I won't be able to watch the recordings because of the lip sync problem. I won't know until my modified receiver arrives if I'll be able to record from the satellite receiver and ATSC broadcasts from the HDHomeRun's simultaniously.

Is there any other 'SageTV like' program that I might try? EyeTV works great for ATSC recordings, but it won't record the video stream from the satellite receiver. I'll keep playing with the CODEC's, but between the black screens, no sound or sound with lip sync errors, and frequent system crashes of both server and client computers, SageTV isn't looking very promising.

[Fuzzy]

Sage has no inherent limits on number of simultaneous recordings. I have at times had 5 shows being recorded at a time. The limits en up being HDD bandwidth, and the fact that Sage doesn't do a good job of spreading it out among multiple drives.

Another question, What are you going to be using for recording the C-Band? If you are using an R-5000HD modded box, you shouldn't need to run the Sage Server on the MacMini, but just the R5000 software. The R5000 software exposes itself to Sage via a Network Encoder interface, so you could have your remote, more capable computer run the Sage Server, and have it simply connect to the R5000 Network Encoder on the MacMini.

[transco]

The R5000 software is Windows only I believe. From their website:

The R5000-HD is a Windows XP/2000/Vista (32-bit versions) based HDTV recording system installed in your set top box (STB) and connected to your PC via USB 2.0.

Besides the internal Mac Mini HDD, I've tried a fast external Firewire 7200RPM HDD and still am unable to record more than one stream. Going by the 'activity light' on the external drive it is no where near being max'd out. As mentioned earlier, EyeTV can record 4 shows simultaneously with no problem. Several posters are successfully running SageTV on a Mac, some with the HDHomeRun's and not having any problems so I know it can work. Problem is, I don't know what else I can do to fix this.

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by transco

1. Is SageTV supposed to be able to handle multiple simultanious recordings?
2. Is simultaneous record and playback OK?

All I can tell you is what I did at one time. I had 2x HDHomeruns, 1x WinTV-HVR-1600 on a system, and was able to record 4 HD shows and 1 SH show, and playback 1 HD show and 1 SD (only playback devices I had) all at one time, and didn't drop any recordings or have any playback problems.

I can no longer test this, as that system has been split up, but the #2 server in my list has recorded from all 6 recorders and played back on the HD-100 all the time.

[transco]

From what I've read here, the Window's version of SageTV is more stable than the Mac version.

I tried running SageTV Media Server on an Intel iMac and tried the test again. This time I could record all four streams without crashing. Three of the four were perfect, the forth didn't have sound. On the other side of the coin, when I tried watching these on a Mac Pro running the SageTV client. One played OK, but the other three caused the Client to crash. I then tried this again, this time with PlaceShifter and all four played, three were perfect and one had no sound.

[MattHelm]

OK, how are the HDHomeruns hooked up? I assume a Ethernet switch, do not use a hub. Is it a "good" switch. When I say good, I mean performance.

Next, are you using the latest HDHomerun software, and have you looked at the Silicondust website (http://www.silicondust.com/) and check for known Mac issues?

Next, make sure the HDHomerun is NOT setting near any electrical noise source. Someone just posted his was near his modem or switch, and when he moved them away, everything started working.

Next, if you have access to one of those USB to Ethernet converters, try moving 1 of the HDHomeruns (or maybe just your "main" intranet connect) to this. There a slim chance the dual HDHomeruns and any computer to computer traffic are overloading the port and this would fix it.

These are just suggestions to try and find if you can stick with the Mac Mini and SageTV, or not.

[transco]

I use only managed switches on my network and the link between the HDHomeRun's and the Mac Mini is set for top priority. Also, remember that EyeTV has none of these problem and can make simultaneous recordings of all 4 tuners for hours without a dropout or lip sync error.

Speaking of EyeTV, I played back some of its recordings via SageTV and the lip sync problem was there (sound leads video by perhaps 500ms or so). Play the same recordings with EyeTV or VLC and they play perfectly. I think the fellow that said I had a CODEC problem was right. Fixing that may not fix everything, but it would be a good place to start. I'll work on that tonight.

[Fuzzy]

sorry bout that, I guess I figured you were already running windows on the MacMini. It would be the easiest solution to your problem, as your MacMini would only have to stream the R5000 data from the C-Band to your sage server (whatever you end up setting it up on).

[transco]

Originally Posted by edmc

I suspect you're probably not using the proper video codecs thus causing your video rendering to be non-ideal. I would suggest playing with the Setup->Detailed Setup->Video/Audio->MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter.

All I have under Setup Menu -> Detailed Setup -> Audio/Video is a single item: Audio Output Port (analog or SPDIF). Am I supposed to do something to enable and display the Audio and Video Filter menus?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by transco

All I have under Setup Menu -> Detailed Setup -> Audio/Video is a single item: Audio Output Port (analog or SPDIF). Am I supposed to do something to enable and display the Audio and Video Filter menus?

Those options are different on a Mac. I've updated the title of this topic to say it is being used on a Mac so Windows-related suggestions might not get posted. Maybe a Mac user will have a playback suggestion.

- Andy

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by transco

I use only managed switches on my network and the link between the HDHomeRun's and the Mac Mini is set for top priority. Also, remember that EyeTV has none of these problem and can make simultaneous recordings of all 4 tuners for hours without a dropout or lip sync error.

Yes, but at one time, Sage had a problem that it was getting the entire HD channel stream, not just the sub channel. By breaking them into 2 ports, you could tell if this was still happening with the Mac. (know as a software "Oops!" )

I know this isn't easy to do with the Mini, but if you can, I'd try it.

[transco]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

Yes, but at one time, Sage had a problem that it was getting the entire HD channel stream, not just the sub channel. By breaking them into 2 ports, you could tell if this was still happening with the Mac. (know as a software "Oops!" )

At this point I'll try anything. Could you please explain how this is done? As far as I know I don't have any control over the ports that HDHomeRun uses.