The VideoLAN Forums

I'm attempting to use VLC to get a rather video-centric media center to do internet radio by adding a video stream to internet radio e.g.

cmd /c start \"VLC\" \"C:\\Program Files\\VideoLAN\\VLC\\vlc.exe\" --intf=telnet -vvv EMPTY.MPG --input-slave=INTERNET_RADIO_STATION --sout=\"#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=800,scale=1,acodec=mpga,ab=128,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ts,dst=NEW.MPG}}\"

(your probably asking why, I know, I know its a long story)

This approach is clearly a very CPU intensive solution to this problem.

Is it possible to reduce the CPU usage with the above command line but get perfect audio?

If I find the right EMPTY.MPG file would that reduce the CPU usage?

I'm currently using an episode of family guy but perhaps a steady blank screen would be better?

Many thanks for any help

Michael

If you do that with a complete interface, does it work better?

I removed the --intf=telnet so that the GUI appears.

It seemed to use slightly more CPU with the GUI.

I also tried swapping EMPTY.MPG and INTERNET_RADIO_STATION around so that the mpg is the input-slave

But that doesn't seem to work at all - any ideas?

The CPU required is for the transcoding.
If you play and not transcode, does it take much CPU?

Yes the CPU is spent transcoding.

I have managed to achieve my objectives by lowering the video bit rate and reducing the size of the video.

Thanks for your help.

michaeldjcox:
this is interesting you managed to merge the files. I've seen several unanswered questions about it.
I could not reproduce your solution, using e.g.
--input-slave=http://www.radioparadise.com/musiclinks/rp_128-1.m3u as RADIO_STATION,
a file with a 1fps frm rate that plays fine in vlc. The resulting output NEW.MPG does not have sound for me.
Do you use windows, XP ? and vlc 0.9.8a ?
Thanks!