Streaming only binary data

[chay]

Hello!

I'm trying to use VLC to stream binary data. The file I'm generating contains data in the format needed by a motorola box (it just contains titles and authors for music).
The command line I'm using is:

Code: Select all

cvlc -vvv test1.dump --sout '#std{access=file,mux=ts,dst="output2.ts"}'

But VLC reports:
es demux error: cannot peek
...
this does not look like an MPEG PS stream, continuing anyway
(It is not, is just a binary data file)
...
garbage at input, trying to resync...
...

I found this post:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59000&p=196844&hili ... ta#p196844
So I use the --sout-all option, but the same error arise.

I'm using VLC 1.0.2 Goldeneye on ubuntu (didn't compile it, just the provided binary).

What am I doing wrong?
Is VLC capable of make a stream of data only?
where should I read more information about it?

Any help will be much appreciated.
Regards!

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC cannot stream a file if it does not recognize the file format. There is no way around this. VLC needs to know the timestamps of its payloads to stream at the correct speed.

[chay]

Thanks Rémi.

That's bad news for me.
Is there a way to make a valid mpeg with no video/audio but with data and then stream-it with vlc?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC can stream MPEG-PS and MPEG-TS files as long as it finds the clock reference.

From the error message, it seems your file is not a valid MPEG stream at all.

[chay]

Yes, it is a binary in the format specified by ATSC Standard A/56. The box eats that encapsulated in a mpeg-ts format (streamed).
I must send the message, but don't know how to encapsulate that inside a mpeg.
Thanks again!

[samfrog]

Are you able to get this work? I am facing the same problem. can I use VLC to stream any raw data? Thanks

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Again, VLC cannot stream "raw" data. This is simply impossible. VLC needs to extract timing information from the input file, which means it needs to know the file format.
Otherwise, there is no way to multiplex data and blast the UDP packets at the correct rate.

So you'll need to write a demux plugin for the file format (or get someone to do it for you).