Newbie: Playing files recorded from digital box

[Hugh]

Sorry - couldn't find it anywhere.
I have a DigiTV box (http://www.nebula-electronics.com/) which records the digital tv stream in some form, which I guess is MPEG2ish.
(I'm not really good at all those variations.)
I move the recorded file to the Mac (OSX 10.3, now 10.4) and try VLC (7.2). Black screen. Messages as below.
Also; quicktime doesn't have the codec; mplayer does play it, although the sound drifts away from the picture.
I would much prefer to use VLC, as I do for everything else (thanks guys!), so any advice would be well good.
TIA
Hugh.

Messages:
Lots of "main warnings"...
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout warning: early picture skipped (47721810388)
main warning: vout warning: early picture skipped (47721810337)
main warning: vout warning: early picture skipped (47721810325)
main warning: vout warning: early picture skipped (47721810314)
main debug: decoded 108/108 pictures
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main debug: 480 loops consuming user: 6282, system: 1011
main debug: dumping stream ID 0x0 [OK:0/D:12002]
main debug: seekable stream, position: 25607298/1943757678 (-:--:--/-:--:--)
main debug: dumping program 0x0, version 0 (partial)
main debug: ES 0xbe, stream 0xbe, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xe0, stream 0xe0, fourcc `mpgv', selected [OK:11804/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xc0, stream 0xc0, fourcc `mpga', selected [OK:194/ERR:0]
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_system"
main debug: unlocking module "ps"
main debug: unselecting ES 0xe0
main debug: unlocking module "libmpeg2"
main debug: thread 26484736 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:203)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpgv', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: unselecting ES 0xc0
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG Audio layer 1/2) stopped
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
main debug: thread 26098688 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:203)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: unlocking module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: unlocking module "ugly_resampler"
main debug: unlocking module "coreaudio_resampler"
main warning: vout warning: early picture skipped (47721499862)
coreaudio debug: reverting to format: [44100][lpcm][30][4][1][4][2][16]
main debug: unlocking module "coreaudio"
main debug: unlocking module "trivial_mixer"
main debug: no more selected ES
access_file: closing `/:///Users/hg/import/The Bill 20-00 26-Aug.mpg'
main debug: unlocking module "access_file"

[zorglub]

Hello,

Could you upload a sample movie to

ftp://streams.videolan.org/incoming

so we can have a look at it ?

[Hugh]

The file is 1.8Gig.
I tried to start it, but it has put zero length (The_Bill_20-00_26-Aug.mpg).
I found a smaller one, but it is still 1.29GB.
I discovered that this one actually plays a bit, but seems to only show the key frames (as best I can tell). The sound breaks up the same way.
The end of the message log for that one (Borat's\ Television\ Programme\ 21-30\ 20-Aug.mpg) is below.
Anyway, I've left it uploading, but my home link is slow; it is ETA 15:30 hours.
Shall I kill it?
Try to create a new smaller file?
Best
Hugh

main debug: 256 loops consuming user: 9901, system: 1320
main debug: dumping stream ID 0x0 [OK:0/D:6402]
main debug: seekable stream, position: 13674904/1393169846 (-:--:--/-:--:--)
main debug: dumping program 0x0, version 0 (partial)
main debug: ES 0xbe, stream 0xbe, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xe0, stream 0xe0, fourcc `mpgv', selected [OK:6289/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xc0, stream 0xc0, fourcc `mpga', selected [OK:109/ERR:0]
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_system"
main debug: unlocking module "ps"
main debug: unselecting ES 0xe0
main debug: unlocking module "libmpeg2"
main debug: thread 27276800 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:203)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpgv', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: unselecting ES 0xc0
ffmpeg debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG Audio layer 1/2) stopped
main debug: unlocking module "ffmpeg"
main debug: thread 27002880 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:203)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: unlocking module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: unlocking module "ugly_resampler"
main debug: unlocking module "coreaudio_resampler"
coreaudio debug: reverting to format: [44100][lpcm][30][4][1][4][2][16]
main debug: unlocking module "coreaudio"
main debug: unlocking module "trivial_mixer"
main debug: no more selected ES
access_file: closing `/:///Users/hg/import/Borat's Television Programme 21-30 20-Aug.mpg'

[Hugh]

I am worried about the big file, but will leave it running.
I guess you can kill it if you need to.
I also have created a new file (Soccernight 00-03 03-Sep.mpg).
46 secs, but still 22Meg.
It has the video jumping problem (about every .5 sec, still picture in between), and doesn't do any sound at all.
Below is the message window contents.
Best.

main debug: no usable vout present, spawning one
main debug: looking for video output module
main debug: probing 5 candidates
macosx debug: using OpenGL mode
main debug: using video output module "macosx"
main debug: looking for text renderer module
main debug: probing 3 candidates
freetype debug: Using fontsize: 36
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: got 1 direct buffer(s)
main debug: picture in 704x576, chroma 0x49343230 (I420), aspect ratio 4:3
main debug: picture out 704x576, chroma 0x59555932 (YUY2), aspect ratio 4:3
main debug: looking for chroma module
main debug: probing 7 candidates
main debug: using chroma module "i420_yuy2_altivec"
main debug: indirect render, mapping render pictures 0-7 to system pictures 1-8
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 26338304 (video output) created at priority 37 (src/video_output/video_output.c:472)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (52332)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main debug: stream periodicity changed from B[1] to B[2]
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (3462)
main warning: late picture skipped (3505)
main warning: late picture skipped (3514)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (43711)
main debug: stream periodicity changed from P[5] to P[3]
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (104515)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (-3106)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2935)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2925)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2919)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2915)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (24026)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (104817)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (17142)
main warning: late picture skipped (17163)
main warning: late picture skipped (17168)
main warning: late picture skipped (17174)
main warning: late picture skipped (17179)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (105074)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2663)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2617)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2611)
main warning: late picture skipped (-2605)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (17484)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (105312)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (-4637)
main warning: late picture skipped (-4598)
main warning: late picture skipped (-4590)
main warning: late picture skipped (-4584)
main warning: late picture skipped (-4579)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (19408)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (105360)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (17989)
main warning: late picture skipped (18014)
main warning: late picture skipped (18019)
main warning: late picture skipped (18024)
main warning: late picture skipped (18028)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (104626)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (15787)
main warning: late picture skipped (15809)
main warning: late picture skipped (15815)
main warning: late picture skipped (15820)
main warning: late picture skipped (15825)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (112946)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (5896)
main warning: late picture skipped (5941)
main warning: late picture skipped (5946)
main warning: late picture skipped (5951)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: late picture skipped (26008)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (-440000)
main warning: late picture skipped (108543)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main warning: backward_pts != current_pts (40000)
main warning: vout synchro warning: pts != current_date (40000)
main debug: 43 loops consuming user: 17217, system: 4042
main debug: dumping stream ID 0x0 [OK:0/D:1077]
main debug: seekable stream, position: 2224380/23232212 (0:00:06/0:01:09)
main debug: dumping program 0x0, version 0 (partial)
main debug: ES 0xbe, stream 0xbe, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xe0, stream 0xe0, fourcc `mpgv', selected [OK:1073/ERR:0]
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_system"
main debug: unlocking module "ps"
main debug: unselecting ES 0xe0
main debug: unlocking module "libmpeg2"
main debug: thread 27001856 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:203)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpgv', 2 PES in FIFO
main debug: no more selected ES
access_file: closing `/:///Users/hg/import/Soccernight 00-03 03-Sep.mpg'
main debug: unlocking module "access_file"
main debug: pes: 1 packets
main debug: data: 1 packets
main debug: buffers: 2 packets
main debug: freeing info structures...
main debug: thread 26516992 joined (src/input/input.c:373)
main warning: late picture skipped (4961)
main warning: late picture skipped (5009)
main warning: late picture skipped (5013)
main debug: garbage collector destroying 1 vout
main debug: unlocking module "i420_yuy2_altivec"
main debug: unlocking module "freetype"
main debug: unlocking module "macosx"
main debug: thread 26338304 joined (src/video_output/video_output.c:511)

[Hugh]

Another reply to myself.
Just tried with 8.0.
Same behaviour.
I should have said:
I'm running on a PBG4 at 667MHz.

[Hugh]

Yet another reply to myself, with some more information.
The VLC (wxWindows 7.2) behaviour on XP (Pro with SP2) is exactly the same as the Mac.
The XP problem is not so important, as the box comes with pretty high quality software by the normal standards for this sort of thing.
But it would be really good if it could work, because the DigiTV box is really impressive. I have the USB version, and I know others who have the PCI version and have made it the tuner for their PC-based PVR.

[krikkew]

Sorry to see this thread die. I'd also love to be able to play my recordings with something else than Nebula sw, especially now when Nebula has stopped further development and seems to be practically out of business.

[mdc124]

I have the nebula tv card pci - and this works:

download the latest Digi-TV software, on the options tab use the 'DVD authoring tool compatible' option - this will play directy in vlc

hope that helps.

[mdc124]

Sorry to see this thread die. I'd also love to be able to play my recordings with something else than Nebula sw, especially now when Nebula has stopped further development and seems to be practically out of business.

http://www.nebula-electronics.com/news/changes.asp

http://www.nebula-media.com/

Maybe not fully out of business?