STV Import: Comskip Playback w/ support for EDL

[Jere_Jones]

Here is a utility that will convert all the txt files to edl files.

Notes:
- Put it in the directory that has your video files and txt files and run it.
- The video file must be in the same directory as the txt file since the util analyzes the video file to determine the correct frame rate.
- A command line argument of -s will also process subdirectories.
- It will also accept file names or directory names as command line arguments.
- It doesn't delete the old .txt files

Enjoy,
Jere

[ToxMox]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

Here is a utility that will convert all the txt files to edl files.

Notes:
- Put it in the directory that has your video files and txt files and run it.
- The video file must be in the same directory as the txt file since the util analyzes the video file to determine the correct frame rate.
- A command line argument of -s will also process subdirectories.
- It will also accept file names or directory names as command line arguments.
- It doesn't delete the old .txt files

Enjoy,
Jere

Hi Jerry,
I'm getting the following error:
runtime error R6002
- floating point not loaded

[Jere_Jones]

Originally Posted by ToxMox

Hi Jerry,
I'm getting the following error:
runtime error R6002
- floating point not loaded

Try this uncompressed one. The only difference is that I did not run upx against this one.

Jere

[hchucky]

Erik,

Is it possible to have Comskip output .edl as the show is being analyzed? By setting live_tv=1 it will output the .txt file in realtime but it will wait until the show is over until it writes out the .edl file.

HC

[ToxMox]

Originally Posted by Jere_Jones

Try this uncompressed one. The only difference is that I did not run upx against this one.

Jere

Thanks Jerry! This worked great.

[erik]

Originally Posted by hchucky

Erik,

Is it possible to have Comskip output .edl as the show is being analyzed? By setting live_tv=1 it will output the .txt file in realtime but it will wait until the show is over until it writes out the .edl file.

HC

Yes, will be in the next build

[Tomahawk51]

I do apologize, but I am still confused (even after reading this thread).

Is the EDL output specifically useful for HDTV data? Should I consider this to be an improvement, for SDTV, over the TXT output files?

I do experience some initial stutters in the "older" plug in (TXT), so just wondering if things like this might be remedied via EDL.

Thanks!

[blade]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk51

Is the EDL output specifically useful for HDTV data? Should I consider this to be an improvement, for SDTV, over the TXT output files?

I do experience some initial stutters in the "older" plug in (TXT), so just wondering if things like this might be remedied via EDL.

My understanding is it should be more accurate for SD as well. When using a .txt file you're given when to skip as a frame number which isn't very accurate for some reason. Where as the .edl gives you an actual time to skip.

I don't know what you mean by stutters. If you're talking about getting stuck in a loop at the start of the recording, then yes the .edl is supposed to have fixed that.

[Tomahawk51]

Sweet, Thanks Blade...this is exactly what I was looking for!

[Snuffy2]

So I'm having 2 problems with the new Comskip STVi.

Actually, 1 problem existed on the old STVi (txt based), but maybe you have an idea whats going on.

Problem 1 (only on the new STVi):
It seems that if I FF/RW too much, comskip stops working. It'll show the commercials in the time bar, but it wont skip them. If I disable & reenable, then it works again. I'm not 110% it's the FF/RW that's breaking it, but that's my best guess. Note: it breaks on the main Server and on the MVP.

Problem 2(existed on the old & new STVi):
At least once during a show, the playback of the video, then audio, freezes after it skips a commercial. I'll elaborate: A segment of a show ends and the progress bar advances over the commercial, but the picture stays at the last frame from before it skips the commercial. Then the audio will play correctly for ~5sec then it freezes as well and I am left with silence and a frozen image from before the commercial skip. HOWEVER, the progress bar is still advancing. To get past this, all I have to do is rewind (or ff) once and then it plays fine. But it does this at least once per show and sometimes at multiple commercial segments per show. I've tried to remedy this by running videredo on the files to QuickStrem Fix them, but that hasn't worked. In addition, the show never freezes when not skipping over commercials and doesn't freeze when the ComSkip STVi's aren't installed. This problem ONLY happens on the server and NOT on the MVP.

My system:
Sage 5.04
STVi:
deletepartials_import.stvi
comskip_pb_imp_eld.stvi
videolib_times_0_3.stvi
miniguide_plugin_0_96.stvi
IntelligentSuggestions.stvi
autoaspect_import.stvi
dynamic_menu_import.stvi
Nvidia for the Audio & Video decoder
VMR9 with FSE Enabled (also happens with FSE disabled)
P4 3ghz
1.5gb RAM
Win XP SP2
USB-UIRT & Girder
WinTV PVR-150 to Cable Box (Controlled by USB-UIRT IR blaster)
Nvidia DialTV to Coax
Firewire to HDTV Cable box for Controls & Video
Nvidia 7300 GS PCIe Card Running Forceware 84.21
Recording to:
1 250gb internal SATA Drive
2 300gb External USB Drives (IDE enclosures)

I know thats a lot of info, but hopefully someone has some ideas on how to fix these problems (especially the second one).

Thanx in Advance

[sundansx]

I haven't had much time (or sleep, lately) so I will give you an update on what I have been doing. I have tracked down the "stops working if too many buttons are pushed" bug and am trying to fix it. It appears it might be a problem with SageTV core. When several buttons are pushed (and maybe a 'display info' thrown in there) sage throws a "BeforeMenuUnload()" event that is picked up by a comskip hook. This hook stops the comskip thread. It leaves the comskip attribute enabled, so it is not similar to the previous "comskip disabled" bug from before. I'm not sure why the "BeforeMenuUload()" event is happening. The Studio Manual says:

"Called during a menu transition, before the current menu has been unloaded. Note that the menu does not exit until this hook's action chain completes."

I think that fixing this sporatic call will fix the comskip edl stvi bug. I will try to think of a workaround until then. If any of the SageTV experts have anything to add to this, that would be helpful, as I am not quite sure if this hook should be firing at all during this time. I can get it to happen on two of my systems if I press several ffwd2's a custom4 and 5 or so and maybe a info button. I havent been able to nail down a exact button sequence to get it to happen, so if anyone can do that, it would be helpful. Maybe I can submit a bug to Narflex if we think sage is not working properly, but I didn't want to do that yet.

Snuffy,
You might try turning off or on the "pause before skip" feature on the comskip options to see how it affects things. I am using the same Sagetv version and decoder combo without this effect. You might try using just the main and comskip stv/i combo and see if there is some other stvi interaction.

[davidk21770]

I've found that the only way to keep the EDL version of comskip working is to hit absolutely no buttons during playback. A simple <play> to see where I am is often enough to get it to stop auto-skipping. I had absolutely no problems at all with the old TXT version (other than being unable to set a window around the skip so that I don't lose some show at the skip point -- why I went to the new EDL version -- which also seems more accurate! -- when it's working...).

Until you work out the problem, is there a way to make sure that you're enabled when you think that you're supposed to be? Or, is this a callback issue where you just stop getting called...

[toricred]

That explains the problem I was having when trying to force it into SageMC. I haven't noticed it since flachbar did it. He may have found the way around it.

[ToonGal]

Originally Posted by sundansx

Get it here:
comskip w/ EDL version 1.1

Tried to get this tonight, but seems to fail on the "Download here" link at the bottom of the page. Site down at midnight PST? Or file mislocated?

Thanks for the help!

[roxy99]

Does this plugin require showanlyzer or is it basically a similar product?

[davidk21770]

The plug-in requires a way to generate the skip file from the TV show (*.edl). Either ShowAnalyzer or comskip will do this for you.

[scoful]

I've been using this STVI for a while now, and it does seem to work a lot better than the old one I was using. I did want to suggest a feature. It would be great if, when you shut off comskip on the OSD popup menu, it would only shut off for the show you were currently watching. After the show was over it would turn back on. Certain shows and channels don't process well (or they are from premium channels without commercials) so I end up disabling it. Then I forget to turn it back on. This isn't really a problem for me, but the other members of the household don't know (or really want to know) what to do.

[ToonGal]

Originally Posted by ToonGal

Tried to get this tonight, but seems to fail on the "Download here" link at the bottom of the page. Site down at midnight PST? Or file mislocated?

Does nobody read my posts??? So many people seem to have this file, but the "Download here" link STILL doesn't download the .stvi, at least for me.

Thanks once again for the help!

[blade]

Originally Posted by ToonGal

Does nobody read my posts??? So many people seem to have this file, but the "Download here" link STILL doesn't download the .stvi, at least for me.

Thanks once again for the help!

I just tried it and it worked fine for me.

[ToxMox]

Download link works fine for me too. Perhaps try a different web browser.