GrafCorder

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by poobah

System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80004005): Unspecified error

Not finding anything really related to that when googling that error code... Maybe you are running under an account which doesn't have the privilege to change the output file or something strange like that... Are you running Vista, win 2000 or win 2003?

Try getting your hand on another dump filter, like the one included with SageGraphRecorder (link in the first message)...

[poobah]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Not finding anything really related to that when googling that error code... Maybe you are running under an account which doesn't have the privilege to change the output file or something strange like that... Are you running Vista, win 2000 or win 2003?

Try getting your hand on another dump filter, like the one included with SageGraphRecorder (link in the first message)...

Bad news, good news...

The error code is E_FAIL - which is a pretty general (and unhelpful) error. I am running WinXP with an Administrator account, so that's unlikely the issue.

I tried the sage dump filter with the same results. I tried updating to the latest DirectX, nada.

Then...

When I was running GrafCorder with the same filename as the dump file, I noticed that the Analyze check box was still selected. I'd never actually noticed the checkbox before - I had tried changing the value in the grafcorder.exe.config file. When I unchecked the box, and then tried a different name...

Voila!

I've just tested it in BTVE, and it works just fine there too (although an option to block the original recording for cloned tuners - ala Firewire - would be very nice) so long as the Analyze checkbox is off.

Intriguingly, regardless of how I change the analyze checkbox, the .config file doesn't change, so you must be storing your settings someplace else I guess. There's also a bit of a chicken & egg problem with turning the setting off since I've got to get the program running correctly in order to change the settings...

But bravo, Fonceur, I will now try putting GC through it's paces, perhaps even with a back-to-back recording. CPU usage is very nice, much lower than VLC.

As for why I'm seeing the problem in Analyze... I do have a dual-core cpu, and I wonder about some sort of race condition - perhaps you are unable to change the filename from your test dump to the real filename because the filter is still in use somehow? Perhaps some sort of sleep to let things finish up before trying to change the filename?

Thanks again, and let me know if I can be of help in testing.
B.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by poobah

I had tried changing the value in the grafcorder.exe.config file.

That file is only used for the default values, the current values are in User.config, somewhere in C:\Documents and Settings\...

I've just tested it in BTVE, and it works just fine there too (although an option to block the original recording for cloned tuners - ala Firewire - would be very nice) so long as the Analyze checkbox is off.

Hmm, that sounds like a timing issue. Since you are running in Cloned mode, with Analyze on, the original file and the dump file end up being the same...

CPU usage is very nice, much lower than VLC.

Keep in mind that VLC does a lot more than simply dumping to a file...

As for why I'm seeing the problem in Analyze... I do have a dual-core cpu

I run it on a core 2 duo myself... If you don't actually need the Cloned tuner, you should probably delete the virtual capture device and recreate it with the"Save as" instead...

[poobah]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

That file is only used for the default values, the current values are in User.config, somewhere in C:\Documents and Settings\...


Hmm, that sounds like a timing issue. Since you are running in Cloned mode, with Analyze on, the original file and the dump file end up being the same...


Keep in mind that VLC does a lot more than simply dumping to a file...


I run it on a core 2 duo myself... If you don't actually need the Cloned tuner, you should probably delete the virtual capture device and recreate it with the"Save as" instead...

I doubt the GC problem is a cloning issue - the behavior occurs on the command-line with no filename contention as in the cloned case.

As to why I'm using the cloned tuner, it's because I do still record some analog programs, and use that same cable box for livetv, and I wanted the scheduling conflict recording that a cloned tuner provides.

B.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by poobah

I doubt the GC problem is a cloning issue - the behavior occurs on the command-line with no filename contention as in the cloned case.

Hmm, that's true. Since I don't feel like digging in the DirectShow library to figure it out, I guess this will have to do for now...

[richt]

Fonceur,
I have been using BTV-E in a firewire recording mode for a while and decided to try out the GRAFCORDER as VLC was not 100% reliable. I am however having more problems with grafcorder than VLC but I think I might have a clue aboout what is going on. Hoping you can help.. Here is the background.
I have a working graph and can use graphedit to produce a file.
When I use grafcorder .03 and BTV-E 1.15, grafcorder logs the following error.

10/23/2007 10:28:02 PM Starting GrafCorder C:\Utilities\GrafCorder\Firewire-1.GRF 11:01:55 PM W:\Video-W\BTV\Faith _ Fame-(Audio Adrenaline)-2007-10-23-1.mpg
Invalid output file path W:\Video-W\BTV\Faith _ Fame-(Audio Adrenaline)-2007-10-23-1.mpg
10/23/2007 10:31:44 PM Starting GrafCorder
Not enough arguments

I was wondering about the SPACES in the filename as it is being passed to grafcorder. Is it possible that the spaces are causing the error? I have scheduled a few more recordings for tonight that hopefully will not have spaces in the file names and will update the thread in the morning.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by richt

I am however having more problems with grafcorder than VLC but I think I might have a clue aboout what is going on.

Actually, that sounds just like poobah's issue... Launch GrafCorder with the default dump file and disable the "Analyze", that might solve the problem.

[richt]

Well, you were right as usual. Guess I should have read a little better. While I am on the subject of me not quite getting the whole picture, I am having problems making a clone'd tuner work. When I create the clone, it simply doesn't get used. The clone is of course tied to a real tuner and the program does record, but just on the real tuner and not the clone.

Here is what I want to accomplish.
I have a real tuner on which I am basing the clone. The real tuner is connected to my STB via S-Video and can record that way.
I would like to set up recordings so that BOTH the real tuner AND the clone record the same program. The reason for doing this is 2-fold. From time to time I may watch the program while it is recording and the real tuner recording simply does that better. If I am going to save the recording, the clone / firewire recording is better to use later on as it might be smaller or be HD depending on the source program.

Up to now, I have simply tied the firewire to my real tuner and let it generate the 2 recordings. The problem with this is the firewire stream gets written with an MPG extension and not TP. As a result BTV does not play the file until I change the extension. When do this, the file plays but I lose the show info that was added in by BTV-E. I sometimes also have to run a quickfix on the files as the time seems to be a bit off. I assume this is due to the information being embedded in the file and the extension not matching the file type.

Also, when I create the clone I rename the tuner, select TP as file type and select the appropriate line up before clicking on the CLONE button. If I use BTV-E to go back and look at the cloned tuner, the lineup is not shown as being associated with the tuner. I then use BTV-E to edit the cloned tuner and add the lineup.

Any ideas about what I am missing here?

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by richt

Also, when I create the clone I rename the tuner, select TP as file type and select the appropriate line up before clicking on the CLONE button. If I use BTV-E to go back and look at the cloned tuner, the lineup is not shown as being associated with the tuner.

Are you rebooting after adding the cloned tuner, but before checking it?

[richt]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Are you rebooting after adding the cloned tuner, but before checking it?

I re-tested making sure to reboot and while I now do see the lineup associated with the tuner, it is still only recording via the S-Video input and not the firewire - grafcorder tuner. Checking the log, it appears that BTV-E didn't pick up anything to record. I will keep testing, but also appreciate any suggestions.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by richt

Checking the log, it appears that BTV-E didn't pick up anything to record. I will keep testing, but also appreciate any suggestions.

Make sure to schedule the recording jobs on the Firewire tuner (and to have it monitored by BTV-E), not on the original tuner... While jobs on the Firewire tuner will trigger both recordings, the ones on the original tuner will not...

[dvrnewbie]

Hi Fonceur, I don't think I've got the graph set up properly. I get the error msg, "The graph can't play". I tried capDVHS and it works fine as far as being able to record the stream from the SA3250HD.
I noticed that when I run graphcorder, I don't see the device ID associated with the panel device...see attached.
I've also attached the Graphcorder log and my DOS capture of the channel.exe command that shows I am successfully able to reference the device ID (dev. # 2) and change the channel on the STB.

Any help is appreciated since it seems VLC stopped working for me as well.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by dvrnewbie

Hi Fonceur, I don't think I've got the graph set up properly. I get the error msg, "The graph can't play".

Yes, the first step is making sure that GraphEdit can properly record with it. Make sure that CapDVHS or VLC are not using the Firewire port at the time, as I don't think they would play nice together.

Have you tried rebooting? From time I can't use the Firewire port unless I reboot the PC...

You are using Tim Moore's channel.exe to change channels, but are you using his driver too (not sure if FireBus shows up with his or if this is the other driver from another company)?

[dvrnewbie]

Did a reboot and went back into Graphedit and the play button worked without issue. Ran grafcorder and finally was able to create a test capture.

Fonceur, YOU DA MAN !

Hopefully, this will work better than VLC.

Thanks again

[jrandeck]

I'm trying out grafcorder for the first time, but I'm getting an access denied error on startup Maybe it's having trouble creatng the output file? I don't know why it would be having a problem, though, I'm using XP and logged in with an administrator account.

I can run my graph from gaphedit and it dumps to the default file, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

I'm attaching some screen shots of the error, the grafcorder screen that comes up, and the error I get (2-3 times) when I close grafcorder.