Guide to Setting Up Commercial Skip w/Comskip & Dirmon2

[xxLJLxx]

Originally Posted by sscumming

My confusion is, do I still need to add a monitor program to make ComSkip work, even in SageTVMC? If so, I have read your latest GT post on DirMon2 and I think it has enough baby spoon steps that I can follow it but again do I need to add DirMon2 to make the ComSkip present in MC work?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Steve

SageMC doesn't actually scan and mark the commercials. It can read the .edl files that are created by Comskip and knows when to skip automatically. You will still need to setup Comskip Monitor or DirMon2. These programs are what actually kick start Comskip and let it know when to start scanning and marking the commercials on a new recording.

2) I then tried to run the batch file for the monitor program but ended up with a system error 1067, it failed

I got that Java error 1067 when I tried to setup Comskip Monitor in Windows 7 so that may be what's happening depending on your OS. I honestly don't know what the problem is so someone more knowledgeable may have to explain what the 1067 error is. I still had a little bit of trouble with DirMon2 but tons of people use that combination. I would attempt that first.

[koan00]

LJL answered pretty well, but to reiterate: You need 3 parts of the puzzle:

1) Something that detects new recordings and tells the ComSkip application to run (DirMon2)

2) The ComSkip application that is called by #1. It analyzes the recording and creates a file ending in .edl - this file contains the commercials found information.

3) Finally, there is a part of Sage that then must read this .edl file. Upon reading this file, it will alter the Sage interface to show commercials on the playback time line and allow the skip forward and backward buttons to work. For the default STV, you need the ComSkip STVi to do this. If you are running the SageMC STV, then no STVi is needed. The functionality is included in the SageMC STV already.

That all being said, I too would also suggest that you try the method described in this thread before trying alternate methods.

And to answer more succinctly, yes you still need DirMon2 if you run SageMC. SageMC only effects #3 above.

[sscumming]

XXLJLXX and koan00,

Thanks a bunch for the quick response and it sounds pretty clear now so I will try it tonight! I have been banging my head trying to get this feature to run and have wasted plenty of time reading all the post but nothing has been as clear as your description.

I will start with "Brents" description of steps to set up DirMon2 and then finish with your direction for steps 2 and 3.

[sscumming]

I am running Windows XP Home Edition on a P4 2.8GHz Sony Viao, 2GRAM, w/SP3 and an AGP Sapphire Radeon HD3600 (512mb). I am trying to extend the useful life of an old trusted dog...

[Brent]

sounds like I need to clean up that post - I'll work on it & get it done. Thanks for the feedback guys

[sic0048]

I just wanted to give a big Thumbs Up again for these directions. I finally did tackle Comskip and Dirmon2 and got everything up and running about 2 weeks ago.

So far I like it. There are some HD-PVR shows that the commercials aren't done well, but about 90% of the shows are almost perfect.

I'm sure I would have screwed up something without these very well done directions. So thanks again!

[nethead]

Set this up back when your posted the 'how to', but since then, I've not had any EDL files created(eg not commercial skips). Finally decided to try and figure this out.

I setup dirmon2 per your post.

I see this over and over in the log (with diff shows listed):

2009-Dec-26 18:16:53 - Starting: "SageTVWatch" on "D:\sagetv\The11thAnnualAHomefortheHolidaysWithFaithHill-620819-0.mpg"
2009-Dec-26 18:16:53 - Processor done due to event.

right now it shows 78 jobs in the que.

[nethead]

Originally Posted by nethead

Set this up back when your posted the 'how to', but since then, I've not had any EDL files created(eg not commercial skips). Finally decided to try and figure this out.

I setup dirmon2 per your post.

I see this over and over in the log (with diff shows listed):

2009-Dec-26 18:16:53 - Starting: "SageTVWatch" on "D:\sagetv\The11thAnnualAHomefortheHolidaysWithFaithHill-620819-0.mpg"
2009-Dec-26 18:16:53 - Processor done due to event.

right now it shows 78 jobs in the que.

(wasn't able to 'save' when I edited my post)

I'm using this:

Program to run:
C:\dl\sagetv\SageTVTools\comskip80027\comskip.exe

commandline options:
-ini="C:\dl\sagetv\SageTVTools\comskip80027\comskip.ini"

Note; I was using ComskipMonitor with no problems with the same comskip/ini

Thx

[toricred]

I think the options needs two -'s. --ini=

[nethead]

thx!

will test that out

[jnewman33]

Hey all,

Thanks for the great tutorial. I think I have all the parts working but when playing in the client there are no breaks seen in the timeline for commercials. The .edl files are present with the source .mpg files and I have installed the comskip stvi etc.

Any ideas as to what is happening or how to troubleshoot?

Thanks,

James

[koan00]

Can you verify that your recordings directory on the server is also accessible via the network (windows/samba sharing)?

The configured recordings directory should use a UNC path. The same path should be accessible on the client (Example: \\ServerName\RecordingsShare )

[gplasky]

If your files exist on another PC then you'll probably need to use UNC naming for your paths and not mapped drive letters.

Gerry

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by jnewman33

Hey all,

Thanks for the great tutorial. I think I have all the parts working but when playing in the client there are no breaks seen in the timeline for commercials. The .edl files are present with the source .mpg files and I have installed the comskip stvi etc.

Any ideas as to what is happening or how to troubleshoot?

Thanks,

James

Are you trying to comskip on HD-PVR files? If so, you have to use the donation version of Comskip per the directions. But what the directions don't make clear is that you have to wait to get the donation confirmation email and use the download link in that email. The downloads that you are sent to directly from the payment page are for the free version which will not pick up any commericals on the HD-PVR files. I fell victim to this and installed the free version of comskip without realizing it and while comskip looked like it was working, none of the files had commerical breaks detected.

It wasn't until the next day or two when I found the confirmation email and went to the linked download page that I realized the paid version wasn't what I initially downloaded. I quickly corrected the problem and everything has worked fine since then.

[jnewman33]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the many on target replies! UNC path was the answer.

Many thanks,

James

[jnewman33]

Hey Guys,

Everything is working now but I see that dirmon2 is picking up the files and seemingly processing them again in a loop. I have set the triggers as per the tutorial and the .edl and .txt files are present.
What might be the best way to troubleshoot this issue?

Thanks again !

James

[koan00]

Originally Posted by jnewman33

I have set the triggers as per the tutorial and the .edl and .txt files are present.

Double/Tripple check the setting match the tutorial exactly. I know entry of the file extensions can be problematic if not done exactly. Also make sure the proper check boxes are checked..

[jnewman33]

Hi koan000,

Thanks for the reply. I have double and triple checked the settings and I believe they are correct. This is an install on WHS and I am wondering if this makes a difference?

All other aspects of the install are working fine. The .txt and .edl files are being generated and the cleanup process works when I delete the source files.

Any other advice?

Thanks,

James

[koan00]

If you have setup Step 2. - Part i. - "Must not exist" boxes, it should not run comskip again on the file in question.

I can only guess that maybe the service isn't reading the info properly. I would start DirMon2 GUI as administrator. Stop and uninstall the service, check the settings and save them, then reinstall and start the service.

[jnewman33]

koan000,

Thanks again for the help. I have done what you recommended with no change then did a complete reinstall of dirmon2. At that time I also changed the watched directory to a drive that is not managed by WHS in case that was the problem. However the problem persists.

This is what the dirmon2 log looks like...

2010-Jan-04 16:05:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:00:06 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:00:06 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:05:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:07:14 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:07:14 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:15:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:17:19 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:17:19 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:25:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:27:22 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:27:22 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:35:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:37:18 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:37:18 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:45:10 - Starting: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"
2010-Jan-04 17:48:31 - Processor done due to event.
2010-Jan-04 17:48:31 - Finished: "SageTV Watch" on "\\server\sage\TheSteveWilkosShow-369564-0.mpg"

It seems that every 10 minutes it wants to reprocess the files. I am sure that I have the must not exist boxes filled with txt and edl as per the instructions.

Thanks for your continued support,

James


Btw...see you are in DC. That is where I am from originally. Was home last week to catch the tail end of the snow storm..quite a sight.