Help with Codecs! A/V Sync Issues

[vbtweb]

Hello there.

I have a server running WHS and Sage version 7.

I originally was on version 6. I sent a short version of my issues to support and they recommended I upgrade, which I did.

I have dish network and two vip units, along with a hd homerun (set just to an antenna)

After finally getting everything to work, it worked great for about 6 months. ( I actually paid someone from this forum to drive out and help me get it going lol)

Then it started in on A/V Sync Issues.

I only have playback going to HD200 boxes (8 or 9 of them) No Desktop or Client Playback of any kind.

I use two Hauppauge HD/PVR's to get the signal and bring it to the server.

A/V issues have been VERY weird.

An example week.

Everything works for 10 hours, then A/V gets off about 2 seconds on one source. Within an hour it's off almost 10-20 seconds. I switch to the other Dish source, and its fine. Within 20 minutes it begins to get off as well, eventually getting so bad that I start getting capture errors. I reset the server, works fine for 30 minutes, then starts having problems again. I restart again, works for 3 hours, and then A/V gets off again.

No real rhyme or reason.

Support (official Sage) thinks the problem is simply that the HDPVR's have a defect. I know when I had this working for 6 months; it was because I had someone help me with the Codec's. (I was using defaults)

The PC is a quad Xeon server, 8 gigs ram, 9X series Nvidia, Audigy sound card, etc. Entire house is wired gigabit. I've confirmed with support that the specs on the pc are sound.

What I haven't found is a decent guide to which codecs to pick in detailed setup, and which ones actually affect what type of playback.

On an interesting diagnostic piece of information, the HD Home Run always works and never falls out of sync. I'm guessing maybe it does all its transcoding and filtering in the box itself, instead of tasking Sage to do the work for it, like the HDPVR's seem to do.

From trial and error I'm thinking this on the codecs

Video Renderer

(Unknown)

My current selection = EVR

MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter

(My guess is certain types of video files sent to hd200's from my hard drive, maybe even low def (sd) TV )

My current selection = ArcSoft Video Decoder

H.264 Video Decoder Filter

(my guess is HD television and certain hd video files, like MKV etc)

My current selection is = CoreAVC Video Decoder

This JUST happened. It WAS ArcSoft Video Decoder, but I purchased CoreAVC in hopes that it would help my A/V Sync Issue (9.99 if you use checkout code SUNNY)

Media Player for non-mpeg files

(Not sure what this would entail, most all of my media files are divx or avi)

My Current selection is DirectShow

DScaler Deinterlacing Filter

(??)

Disabled

Audio Renderer

(What renders audio, self explanatory)

My Current selection is Default DirectSound Device

Mpeg2 Audio Decoder Filter

(specific to mpeg2 files?)

My current selection is Default

Audio Playback Delay (ms)

(if it were a constant amount and time of a/v sync issues, maybe this setting could help)

My current selection is 0




I've not found a good description or list of what codecs work best. I'd love to hear from people using HDPVR and DISH NETWORK (esp. VIP box’s) to HD200's to know what settings they are using.

If you know a better description for the values please let me know. Also if you have feedback on the codecs please let me know.


I'm of the opinion that certain codecs work better with certain sources and certain hardware, in different situations. Otherwise Sage would come with all the codecs needed and they would all be Sage Default. That's why I brought the issue here. I've been battling it pretty much nonstop for over a year. I've gone through video cards, sound cards, etc.

At this point I do not care what I have to pay, or what I have to do to get it resolved permanently. I'm open to any suggestions.

And I know someone will ask about HDPVR drivers, so here is where I am on that.

I have tried every version, (beta when available) and am currently on the last one, which updated firmware in the boxes, or at least it said it did. 1.5.7

It actually made the A/V sync issue slightly worse. So I used the HWClear and redid it, and got the problems back to normal bad



And why I changed to CoreAVC is basically because I'm getting a little desperate. I have a atom 1.6 with 512 dedicated ddr3 Nvidia Ion on board on a micro pc snapped to the back of one of my televisions, and CoreAVC made it SERIOUSLY deliver video, compared to ffdshow, klite, combinedcc, etc. It seems to do amazing with Nvidia so I was hoping it would do something for me in sage as well.


If I can't use the collective geniuses here to find a solution, my next step will probably be to start harassing Hauppauge technical support on the HD-PVR's.

Thank you for reading this and thank you for any responses you may have. Here is to hoping one day we live in a world where fair-use is more than a marketing gimmick.

[Striker:WG]

If all your playback is done on HD200's then the codecs you have selected in Sage really don't matter.

All the codecs you are selecting in Sage are for playback. This is handled natively by the HD200's.

Your issue, as you have stated is specific to the HD PVR's as your HDHomerun is working without issue.

Do you have any spare hard drives kicking around? Try doing a clean install of Windows on a spare drive, keep it to as bare bones installation as possible. Just get the HDPVR and Sage working and see if its stable, then start adding in other components to your Windows setup until you have restored your setup. Eventually it will either be what you want or it will break again but you will know what broke it from the methodology of adding one piece at a time, slowly, over several weeks.

-Striker-

[vbtweb]

Ok so I took an entire new computer, Loaded Windows 7 64 BIT, and Sage latest version. Set everything up. Within a few days I was having the exact same issues.

So where to go next?

Is the culprit here DISH NETWORK?

Could Changing to DirectTV make a difference as far as compatibility with the HD PVR's?

If so, what Recievers work best? I have the USB-UIRT, should I continue to use that, or should I use serial since DirectTV supports that?

The other option would be to take sage out of the equation all together. There is a massive investment of two versions of software and 8 or so HD Theatre Boxes. It would be really sad to have to toss all of that equipement and start over with something else.

I TRULY appreciate any feedback I can get on this.

Regards,

Vance Tow

[jerryt]

What you are describing is a common problem with Dishnet and the HDPVR's.

The only fix that is 100% is to stop using 5.1 audio and go back to stereo RCA connections.

Next most important change would be to install the 1.0.5.301 drivers.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by vbtweb

Could Changing to DirectTV make a difference as far as compatibility with the HD PVR's?

If so, what Recievers work best? I have the USB-UIRT, should I continue to use that, or should I use serial since DirectTV supports that?

DirecTV users (myself among them) do seem to have significantly fewer problems than others. In fact, I don't believe that any of my issues were because of DirecTV. The HD-PVR has to restart when the TV goes from stereo to 5.1 (and vice versa), but that's just a momentary blip, due to hardware limitations in the chips of the HD-PVR. Other than that, all of my issues were due to things outside the control of DirecTV. I'm using serial channel changing on my receivers and it works great, but others love their USB-UIRT for that.

[vbtweb]

Originally Posted by jerryt

What you are describing is a common problem with Dishnet and the HDPVR's.

The only fix that is 100% is to stop using 5.1 audio and go back to stereo RCA connections.

Next most important change would be to install the 1.0.5.301 drivers.

I am using RCA audio from HD PVR to Dish Box. I'm not using optical. Only RCA was supported back when I first did the install. I've never used it another way.

Is that all your saying about the fix, or is there something I need to do in the Sage Software, or inside the Dish Box to disable it as well?

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by vbtweb

I am using RCA audio from HD PVR to Dish Box. I'm not using optical. Only RCA was supported back when I first did the install. I've never used it another way.

Is that all your saying about the fix, or is there something I need to do in the Sage Software, or inside the Dish Box to disable it as well?

No, just the RCA cables from Receiver to HDPVR.

Then you are only left with trying the 1.0.5.301 drivers...

[paulbeers]

I have two HDPVR's running the current 1.5.7 drivers hooked to two Dish VIP211's and do not have any audio drift. This is with Windows 7 32bit running Sage V7 (I think I'm still on build 17 simply because I haven't had a chance to upgrade). Audio is connected via Analog. Playback is via extenders.

Just saying that I don't think this is a Dish Network issue.....

Oh and using USB UIRT to change the channels on the VIP211.