Errors while scanning file from HD-PVR

[cb111]

I am getting approximately 24,000 errors while scanning a one hour TV show recorded by GBPVR from a HD-PVR.

There were a approximately 80 lines similar to:

[h264 @ 00332950]mmco: unref short failure
[h264 @ 00332950]error while decoding MB 30 6, bytestream (td)
[h264 @ 00332950]error while decoding MB 26 6, bytestream (td)

Followed by approximately 80 lines similar to:

[h264 @ 00332950]illegal short term buffer state detected
Last message repeated 1 times
[h264 @ 00332950]mmco: unref short failure
Last message repeated 1 times
[h264 @ 00332950]illegal short term buffer state detected
Last message repeated 2 times

Then followed by approximately 23,800 lines similar to:

[h264 @ 03C24010]sps_id out of range
[h264 @ 03C24010]non-existing SPS 31 referenced in buffering period
[h264 @ 03C24010]B picture before any references, skipping
[h264 @ 03C24010]decode_slice_header error
[h264 @ 03C24010]no frame!
[h264 @ 03C24010]sps_id out of range
[h264 @ 03C24010]non-existing SPS 31 referenced in buffering period
[h264 @ 03C24010]B picture before any references, skipping

The file that generates all the above errors plays without error in GBPVR and a program I wrote that uses the h264 codec from avcodec-52.dll.

ComSkip appears to be sort of working .. the graphs displayed by comskipGUI look similar to what I get when scanning mpg files from GBPVR using a HVR-1600. Examining the graph in any detail is very difficult because of the large number of errors .. a PageUp or PageDown scroll can take more than 20 seconds.

ComSkip is comskip80_023_donators
HD-PRV is revision D-2, driver is 1.0.5.301
GBPVR is 1.3.11

Are the large number of errors normal?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[erik]

The exact cause of these errors is yet unknown. Presumably a recording or transmission error which cause the h.264 decoder to get in an illegal state.
The demux in comskip has less recovery power then the demux in avcodec.dll
The number of errors depend on the file you scan.
Its still on my todo list to switch to the avcodec demux but that does not yet support live TV processing.

[Skirge01]

If I'm understanding you, there's no way to comskip files which throw these errors? I currently have 7 files (so far) which are doing this. Just wondering if there's a workaround. Thanks.

[erik]

Sometimes these errors stop comskip from doing a good job, but often everything still works despite the errors.
Difficult to predict, just try.

[Skirge01]

Thanks. The only issue then is that this almost always causes comskip to hang and never exit. Using SJQ, this prevents another recording from being comskipped, until I kill the task. Is there any way for comskip to keep an eye on itself and force an exit, with a return code, if a hang occurs?

[erik]

That would be difficult, I rather spend time (when available) at improving the demux and decoder

[Skirge01]

I certainly can understand that. I just hate having to babysit something like this. When I have a ton of shows to process and they process one and then proceed to get hung up for 8-12 hours out of the day until I can kill each process, it's frustrating. I'm all for fixing the cause of the hangs in the first place, though. Keep up the good work!