Is there any way to stop SageTV from splitting files?

[blueroom]

I notice Sage splits files up about every 30 minutes. Is there a setting to make it not do this?

[GKusnick]

It creates new files at program boundaries. Each program should be a single file. If you're getting multiple files per program, that could be due to hardware/driver issues that cause Sage to lose the signal periodically, or perhaps you're using a file system or recording format that can't support files larger than a certain size.

[blueroom]

It seems to do it on every recording over 30min.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by blueroom

It seems to do it on every recording over 30min.

What file system are you using on your recording drive? FAT32 has a maximum file size of 1 byte less than 4GB. If you're using FAT32 then Sage is breaking up the files because it has to in order to save them to the hard drive. I think it was/is relatively common for applications to break files into 2GB chunks when writing to a FAT32 drive.

[blueroom]

I'm using exfat. Just wondered is there a hidden setting somewhere

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by blueroom

I'm using exfat. Just wondered is there a hidden setting somewhere

Out of curiosity, how big are each of the file splits? It's just a guess, but I wonder if Sage just recognizes a few file systems, like NTFS, that support large file sizes. If a file system is used that Sage doesn't recognize, maybe Sage automatically falls back on 2/4GB files. I'm guessing most people running Windows machines are using NTFS for their file system.

In any event, e-mail SageTV support. Whether its a bug or just a limitation in software, I wouldn't think this would be a difficult thing to fix.

[GKusnick]

Have you checked your System Messages in Sage for tuner failures? That's the most common reason files get broken up.

[blueroom]

It's not a bug as Sage plays them back normally as if they were joined. But the directory contains the split files with a numbering scheme 0,1,2...

[Fuzzy]

right, but what is the filesize of the individual chunks? that will help determine if it's breaking it for (percieved) filesystem limitations.

[blueroom]

Always under 4G before split, everytime. Not a single file larger than 4.5G has ever appeared. I'm using ExFAT might that have something to do with it?

[stanger89]

Probably, I bet Sage detects that as FAT and thus limits file sizes to 4GB.

[perfessor101]

I was running SageTV on a Nvida Nforce 2 - 400 motherboard (An7 with Sound Storm) ... and was constantly getting glitches and split files ... I tried many things ...
When I moved to a new motherboard it helped ... and when I started getting all new SATA cables from our favorite place here to get cables ... I started to get error free recordings. (the hauppauge reg fix for Pvr-500/150's helped too)

When I tried to set the Nvidia motherboard (Abit An7) up with unRaid I found out about the buggy Sata ports / South Bridge on it... and almost any time I put a Sata cable from a motherboard manufacturer in my SageTV computer I have split files.

If you're getting random splits of differing file sizes (say from 1 GB to 4 GB) these are the questions I would ask :
What computer (motherboard / cpu / memory / Operating system / Capture Cards) do you have?
What brand of Sata cables do you have?

If they're all splitting around 4GB then sending a letter to SageTV support asking if there would be any issues around using exFat as the recording file system and like reggie14 says it might be something very easy for them to change.

Bobby

[blueroom]

Well it turns out it was because the partition was exFAT, seems Sage will split files on that type of format. NTFS fixed it and the files no longer split.

[Fuzzy]

Did you submit a bug report for this? It is something that they should definitely fix. exFat, imo, is actually quite good for a sage storage drive, but if it isn't properly recognized by sage, it will lead to problems.

[jlampson]

Originally Posted by perfessor101

when I started getting all new SATA cables from our favorite place here to get cables ... I started to get error free recordings.

Do you mean "our favorite place here" in Canada or from the forum? Are you allowed to say where from? I have no problems but am always looking for a way to increase stability.

[Fuzzy]

There are no restrictions about listing stuff like that, and it does help others to actually do so instead of post vague confusing statements.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

There are no restrictions about listing stuff like that, and it does help others to actually do so instead of post vague confusing statements.

Sorry to come to this late but the poster probably means Monoprice.com. Their name is banned on a very popular Canada forum and perfessor101 might have thought they were banned here as well.