DivX for BTV 3.5 official response?

[pcjr]

Hi, does anyone know what the official response is regarding the DivX plugin for BTV 3.5? I really miss it from 3.4. I got an e-mail saying it will be developed after the 3.5 Gold release, and I also read in the newsgroup that it will be dropped entirely. Just wondering what the official word is.
My hard drive is filling up, and I'm deciding whether to wait for the DivX to convert and move it to my external, or whether I should bite the bullet now and transcode to Windows Media already.

--Peter

[PBMax]

I am sorry to say that Divx Support for 3.5 will not be coming out.

[Brett]

This may help ease the pain: Got DivX? (or XviD)

-Brett

[DancesWithLysol]

PBMax: When you say that Divx support for BTV 3.5 will not be coming out, does this mean that the plugin that was promised a long time ago has been cancelled?

If so, this is unfortunate because I've had a lot of problems attempting to play content that has been transcoded to WMV over BTV Link. I don't have the same issues when playing MPEG 2 and DivX files over BTV Link. I haven't re-tested since the 3.5 beta because when I posted this issue as a bug, I was told that its an issue with the WMV decoder and that "after a certain bitrate, it becomes crabby and starts to playback badly".

I was hoping that after a DivX plugin was released I could use said plugin for transcoding shows for archival purposes.

If Snapstream is not going to persue this, has the current BTV API exposed enough functionality to allow the user community to implement this? I haven't looked into it myself (yet) because I assumed that Snapstream was going to fill this need.

[pcjr]

Well this is most unfortunate news. I guess a feature request would be to incorporate into the GUI or webadmin a way to allow users to set up their own plugins. Thanks for the suggested workaround, Brett!
However, setbacks like this is what really keeps BTV software still an esoteric product more appropriate for power users, and less appropriate for the general public computer user (i.e., BTV isn't as Tivo friendly as Tivo yet).

--Peter

Originally Posted by PBMax

I am sorry to say that Divx Support for 3.5 will not be coming out.

[rpemb]

Originally Posted by PBMax

I am sorry to say that Divx Support for 3.5 will not be coming out.

I'm sorry to say that I'm dropping BTV for Sage. I've been waiting patiently but DivX support for 3.5 was the decision point for me.

[PBMax]

The Divx plugin was cancelled for reasons beyond our control. We were slated to release a Divx Plugin with 3.5 but were unable to. We have an Archive command that a user could use to create their own plugin. I'm sure that is how the thread that Brett linked is using.

[pcjr]

Hi, I see the Archive command under the Advanced settings of BTV's webadmin, but I'm not quite sure how to implement it. The Auto Gordion Knot script needs an input file name for its pseudo-CLI syntax -- does BTV automatically provide that? I see that if I put in a program (like AGK) to run in the Archive command, an option to Burn to CD or DVD appears, but I get an error message when I click on it, so the filename variable isn't passed off to AGK properly.


--Peter

Originally Posted by PBMax

The Divx plugin was cancelled for reasons beyond our control. We were slated to release a Divx Plugin with 3.5 but were unable to. We have an Archive command that a user could use to create their own plugin. I'm sure that is how the thread that Brett linked is using.

[Ricksm]

I have installed BTV 3.5, and was a little disappointed that DIVX support was eliminated, but had converted showsqueeze to WMV, and was living with it.

I typically maintain a library of 20 to 30 on-line movies, and when my drive gets full I copy to DVD -R. Because of both on-line and DVD space issues, the compression is important to me.

I have just purchased a Philips DVR642 DVD player (capable of playing DIVX and XVID as well as MPEG2). Unfortunately, it does not play WMV, so I really have to get a process in place where I can at least change the encoding to DIVX or XVID before I cut the DVD.

It seems kind of silly (not to mention very slow) to encode to WMV and then re-encode to DIVX/XVID.

I have Auto Gordian Knot 1.6, and it is indeed a wonderful product. SnapStream seems to be directing disappointed DIVX users to the "user supported" solution which involves using a "sendkeys" type approach to AutoGK. I think this solution is an excelent effort, and don't want to come across as criticizing it...but it obviously is a very tenuous stop-gap measure. It is too fragile and prone to problems....there has to be a better way.....

The problems with doing an external conversion using a tool that is not integrated into ShowSqueeze is:
1) controlling the CPU usage to ensure that live TV and recording is not comprimized is not really possible
2) you lose the ability to run compression at certain times
3) you lose the extended information (name, actors etc) about the movie that is maintained when you use showsqueeze

If Snapstream is having business relationship problems with DIVX, I think they owe it to their customers to provide some viable alternative to replace the lost DIVX functionality. The Philips 642 seems to becoming the most favoured device among their customer base... ignoring any moral obligations relating to people who purchased BTV based on its DIVX capabilities, it seems to me that there are reasonably compelling business considerations....I think that SS needs to come up with a solution that addresses the needs of their customers using the 642.

I would be more than happy with an XVID based solution. As XVID is open source, I wouldnt think there should be a problem in accomplishing this (probably in fewer man hours than they have blown dealing with DIVX!).

I would really like to see a coherent statement and direction from SS on this issue.....user supported efforts are not going to be a proper solution, without SS at least providing a properly architected framework.

[ruel]

there is always the Advanced X Video Converter that you could use outside of BTV to convert WMV files to whatever you want.

http://www.tucows.com/preview/360294.html
http://www.aoamedia.com/videoconverter.htm

and there's also sagetv with its support of the divx-certified Plextor ConvertX TV-402U. i like WMV files, but i'm not holding my breath for any standalone dvd player that is WMV-compatible for anytime soon. later yes, but that's not soon enough.

ruel

[Brett]

Originally Posted by ruel

and there's also [the enemies] with its support of the divx-certified Plextor ConvertX TV-402U.

Just FYI, from my understanding the Plextor is already working in-house with BTV. And it does not have a tuner, so it only works for cable box setups. Not giving any ETA or additional details, but its in the pipeline.

-Brett

[opilion]

Just FYI, from my understanding the Plextor is already working in-house with BTV. And it does not have a tuner, so it only works for cable box setups. Not giving any ETA or additional details, but its in the pipeline.

FYI... The TV-402U is a new offering from Plextor that does include a tuner.

op

[nanook105]

The PX-M402U is the one without the tuner, and I have one of those. I bought it for it's DivX capabilities, but it would be great if I could also use it as a BTV recorder

[ruel]

the Plextor ConvertX TV-402U also comes with WinDVR
http://www.plextor.com/english/products/TV402U.htm
http://www.plextor.com/english/produ...X-TV402Uds.pdf

as well as mentioning sagetv in the same breath as beyondtv, there is also Home Media Networks Limited with its showshifter software which provides support for both WMV and divx although you have to manually add the divx recording profile which is a configuration hurdle that users have to jump over.

fortunately, anyone should be able to at least play divx videos in whatever software you're using if divx is installed separately.

ruel

[rpemb]

Originally Posted by Ricksm

I have installed BTV 3.5, and was a little disappointed that DIVX support was eliminated, but had converted showsqueeze to WMV, and was living with it.

I feel your pain. I was lucky enough to have BTV running with DivX support until a routine software update ripped it from my system. Sure, I have the option of running that historical version forever and enjoying native DivX but the updates I've enjoyed in 3.5 make that idea a bit lame. I have tried alot of things to make Divx work with 3.5 as an add-on with Gordian Knot and such but since I don't have the time or desire to sit around editing script files I've given up on that. I now record to high quality mpeg, edit out unwanted stuff with Womble Mpeg Video Wizard and compress into DivX using Dr. Divx. I had to spend some cash for the software but am very satisfied with the results I'm getting. The Womble editor is so fast and intuitive that I actually enjoy editing now. I will be putting a new system together early next year using Plextor/Sage and will probably give the current one to the kids for cartoons and stuff. Thats about the only thing the WMV format is good at anyway.