Playing Compressed .mp4 Recordings

[yoztanir]

Sorry if this is a dupe but I couldn't find any posts with this problem that have any answers.

I am trying to convert some of my recorded shows to .mp4 files (x264 and aac) but Sage doesn't recognize them if I replace the .mpg file with a .mp4 (with the same prefix filename, show ID, etc.). Sage seems to recognize an .avi compressed version of a recorded .mpg show, so why not .mp4 since it seems to be compression option for the transcoder. Is there a configuration parameter I have missed to get .mp4 shows to show up in the recording section?

Note, I am not referring to imported videos; there Sage can find .mp4 files.

[dvd_maniac]

I believe you have to shut down Sage (And service if using it) before you switch the ???.mpg with the ???.mp4 file.
Is Sage doing the .avi compression with the files that do work? If so, because it's being handled by Sage then Sage knows the .avi file and what to do with it. If you are compressing to X264/AAC in another program then Sage won't know what to do with the it and the ???.mpg file.

[yoztanir]

I'm compressing using external tools. I shut down sage, replace the .mpg with a .mp4 and then restart. After this the replaced recording no longer shows up. If I rename the file to have a .avi extension it shows up.

[parkimar]

Have you updated your properties file to add .MP4 as one of the video file extensions ?


Cheers

Mark

[yoztanir]

Yes, that was done already and only seems to affect the imported videos section. I don't think the standard recordings section can be controlled by an extension list, unless it's a property I don't know of.

[yoztanir]

Anyone have any idea if Sage supports .mp4 as a compressed recording option? I know it can import them into the media center portions but what about when compressing its own recorded shows?

[bluenote]

Yes, it can. In sage's wisdom it is defined as 'quicktime format'.
(and if I recall correctly without looking, the only two options that utilize that by default are the "Apple TV" which also utilize H.264). I could easily be recalling incorrectly though.

To understand the labels (which are meaningless and/or useless if you ask me) (sigh) you need to understand the config file transcoder formats. ...

Cory

[yoztanir]

Sorry, maybe I'm not being clear enough. I have already compressed these recordings into an MP4 container (i.e. foo.mp4) but Sage won't recognize them if I replace the corresponding mpg (foo.mpg) with them. If I rename them to foo.avi it recognizes them but playback is messed up.

What is the extension/container that sage uses for apple quicktime compressed recordings. Is it .mov?

[tmiranda]

You should be able to do what you are doing. I did a lot of this when trying out different .mp4 conversion programs.

When you manually convert the .mpg to .mp4 where are you storing the .mp4? You must put it into a directory that is listed as a "video import directory" (not just a recording directory) and then rescan the imported video directories.

Also, double check that you have added .mp4 to the property "seeker/video_library_import_filename_extensions=" in sage.properties.

[Hector]

If I understand you correctly this is a solution for importing videos. The OP's issue (and mine) is with converting recordings that are already in his Sage dB.

For instance-

- Sage records a show to an .mpg file.

- If you then convert that show to an .avi and remove the .mpeg Sage will now recognize the new .avi file in the exact same way as the original .mpg.

- If you convert the show to an .mp4 Sage will NOT recognize the converted file as a replacement for that show.

I believe (could be wrong) that the correct parameter is:

seeker/library_import_filename_extensions=

and it's in sageclient.config. However adding .mp4 to this field does not seem to be working, at least in some cases.

Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with imported videos , we are strictly talking about converting existing recordings.

Originally Posted by tmiranda

You should be able to do what you are doing. I did a lot of this when trying out different .mp4 conversion programs.

When you manually convert the .mpg to .mp4 where are you storing the .mp4? You must put it into a directory that is listed as a "video import directory" (not just a recording directory) and then rescan the imported video directories.

Also, double check that you have added .mp4 to the property "seeker/video_library_import_filename_extensions=" in sage.properties.

[Hector]

I've played around with this a little and either something else needs to be edited or its a bug.

If you rename the .mp4 file to .avi then Sage will 'see' the replacement. The length of show displayed in the time bar is a bizarre # (1700+ minutes for a 30minute show) but it does work.

This is what I have in the library import field-

seeker/library_import_filename_extensions=.mpg,.mpeg,.mp2,.mpeg2,.mpe,.jpg,.gif,.jpeg,.jpe,.tp,.mp3,.avi,.wav,.divx,.mpg1,.mp4,.png,.ts

[bluenote]

Sage shows my .mp4 files (which have been converted by sage from recordings) in the same place my other recordings show up. Pretty sure all I had to do was add the .mp4 extension in the properties file, and Im guessing thats the line you referenced above.

Cory

[Hector]

Thanks for the response. I've added .mp4 to my library property and the video library property (all sage shutdown, confirmed it's been saved). No joy so I must be missing something.

Just to be sure, are you using the latest version?

peace . . .

[bluenote]

Im using the latest version but Im not using the beta. I swear that's all I did, that I can remember anyways. the onyl thing I can suggest is to check both sage.properties and sageclient properties. I run in service mode so my sage uses both and sometimes its odd about what goes where.

Other than that, all i can suggest is to contact support.

Cory

[Hector]

I run in service mode too and I've tried to add that property to either file, both files etc. But knowing it works for some people means there's probably something to look for. That's a start at least, heh.

Originally Posted by cnovak

Im using the latest version but Im not using the beta. I swear that's all I did, that I can remember anyways. the onyl thing I can suggest is to check both sage.properties and sageclient properties. I run in service mode so my sage uses both and sometimes its odd about what goes where.

Other than that, all i can suggest is to contact support.

Cory