Recording errors

[RichardWhite]

I've been using DVBViewer for a few months with a Technotrend 1500 card, and although I like the software, I have yet to resolve a frustrating problem with recording errors. A typical 1 hour recording will have at least 3-4 errors, and I have compared with my Dreambox and tried to record exactly the same thing simultaneously, and it produced no errors whatsoever. I record to TS, and use MPEG2repair to check the files when done, and a typical error will look like this...

 

Sequence Frame 67911(5-P) / Time 0:45:16 :

VideoError: Invalid Huffman code in non-intra MPEG2 block. MBA=1052(272,368)

VideoError: Failed to decode macroblock at MBA=1052(272,368)

FileInfo: Last video errors span 350 bytes at file offset 1293092116

 

Strangely, the txt file produced by DVDviewer claims the recording has no errors, and monitoring the DVBsource stats while recording reveals no discontinuities, but if I play the part of the file where MPEG2repair claims to have found an error, the corruption will be clearly visible in the form of image breakup, the severity depending on how many bytes are corrupted. If I watch while recording, I can sometimes see the picture freeze for a split-second, and this will correspond with where MPEG2repair will find an error afterwards.

 

The errors happen on both FTA and encrypted channels. I have tried switching off audio and video while recording, in the hope that lowering the CPU load a little might help, but it makes no significant difference, and the CPU load rarely makes it past 25-30% anyway. I have 2gb memory, so I wouldn't have thought that was a problem either. MyTheatre has a much higher CPU load, but seems to produce no recording errors. I much prefer DVDviewer, though, and would love to get this problem sorted.

 

I have tried both the VideoRec plugin and DVBviewers "native" recording method, and there seems to be no difference whatsoever.

 

Any suggestions?

[Derrick]

How about discontinuities (source filter view) when playing back a TS_recording with TSPlayer?

[RichardWhite]

I just tried that. It doesn't show any discontinueties, but the corruption I mentioned is visible on playback where MPEG2repair detected it.