TIMECODE Display & .mts files

[cinciphotog]

I am trying to find a way to view/log .mts files created from my Panasonic, AG-HMC80 camera. The VLC player plays these raw video files smoothly, however in the video production world we need to be able to log the clip name and timecode. Same is true for television news photographers, editors, reporters and producers.

Is there a way to display the timecode? The clip name is nice to have at the start of the clip but is it possible to have it stay on throughout the entire video as well? Other time-related information would be nice such as total clip duration, and control time from start to finish. But again most importantly is that I need to be able to view TIMECODE and CLIP NAME. Thanks for advice

[Lotesdelere]

Is there a way to display the timecode?

Not with version 1.1.x:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=78404
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=87146

But it should work with version 1.2 so you may want to try a VLC 1.2 (Trunk) nightly build.

[Elijah]

Is there a way to display the timecode?

Not with version 1.1.x:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=78404
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=87146

But it should work with version 1.2 so you may want to try a VLC 1.2 (Trunk) nightly build.

Extremely helpful post! I did both workarounds (setting demuxer to FFMpeg and the 1.2.X) and they work great. I prefer using 1.2.X because it appears pretty stable and the seek controller also displays timecode when you hover over it!

Works pretty awesome now (for my Canon HF10 .MTS files) and is a feature I too just thought would get fixed so I never reported it (which it did, since "someone else" reported it!).

tldr;

Because of this, I just donated $20 to VLC (even though I despise PayPal)!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Works pretty awesome now (for my Canon HF10 .MTS files) and is a feature I too just thought would get fixed so I never reported it (which it did, since "someone else" reported it!).

tldr;

Because of this, I just donated $20 to VLC (even though I despise PayPal)!

We are pleased about this report of 2.0 working...

Thanks for the donation.

[codyds]

Works pretty awesome now (for my Canon HF10 .MTS files) and is a feature I too just thought would get fixed so I never reported it (which it did, since "someone else" reported it!).

tldr;

Because of this, I just donated $20 to VLC (even though I despise PayPal)!

We are pleased about this report of 2.0 working...

Thanks for the donation.

Having great results on most of my .mts and .mpg MPEG2 TS files displaying runtime in version 2.0.1. However, I cannot get a runtime display on files that have more than about 51mbps bitrate, which is a bit of an issue as I have many files pushing upwards of 100mbps. Any workarounds or fixes possible or known?

[nkoriyama]

Can you show us the logs when you play the file you cannot get a time?
Please open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you start the playback and then paste the full resulting log here or on Pastebin.com.

[codyds]

Can you show us the logs when you play the file you cannot get a time?
Please open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you start the playback and then paste the full resulting log here or on Pastebin.com.

The log below is for a clip encoded just above the bubble, at 52mbps, for test purposes. It is encoded with identical settings, other than bitrate, to a working 50mpbs file.

main debug: adding item `52HD.mpg' ( file:///Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg )
qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: file:///Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1
main debug: processing request item: 52HD.mpg, node: null, skip: 0
main debug: resyncing on 52HD.mpg
main debug: 52HD.mpg is at 0
main debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for '52HD.mpg'
main debug: Creating an input for '52HD.mpg'
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\DTOQC1~1\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg' gives access `file' demux `' path `/Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg' file='Q:\TEST\TC Test\52HD.mpg'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.174 ms - Total 1.174 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.174 ms)
main debug: creating access 'file' location='/Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg', path='Q:\TEST\TC Test\52HD.mpg'
main debug: looking for access module: 3 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `Q:\TEST\TC Test\52HD.mpg'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.184 ms - Total 0.184 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.184 ms)
main debug: Using stream method for AStream*
main debug: starting pre-buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 31250 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 4 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.098 ms - Total 0.098 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.098 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.052 ms - Total 0.052 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.052 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg' file='Q:\TEST\TC Test\52HD.mpg'
main debug: looking for demux module: 55 candidates
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
ts debug: calculated bitrate (55391219bit/s) is too low or too high. min bitrate (500000bit/s) max bitrate (55000000bit/s)
ts debug: PATCallBack called
ts debug: new PAT ts_id=1 version=1 current_next=1
ts debug: * number=1 pid=480
ts debug: PMTCallBack called
ts debug: new PMT program number=1 version=0 pid_pcr=4096
ts debug: * es pid=4096 type=2 dr->i_tag=0x11
ts debug: * es pid=4096 type=2 fcc=mpgv
main debug: selecting program id=1
ts debug: * es pid=4097 type=6 dr->i_tag=0xa
ts debug: * es pid=4097 type=6 dr->i_tag=0x5
ts debug: found language: eng
ts debug: * es pid=4097 type=6 fcc=302m
filesystem warning: unimplemented query 4097 in control
main debug: using demux module "ts"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 126.094 ms - Total 126.094 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 126.094 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in Q:\TEST\TC Test
main debug: looking for decoder module: 31 candidates
main debug: no fetch required for (null) (art currently (null))
avcodec debug: libavcodec initialized (interface 0x360a64)
avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering
avcodec debug: allowing 4 thread(s) for decoding
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (MPEG-1/2 Video) started
avcodec debug: using slice thread mode with 4 threads
main debug: using decoder module "avcodec"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 5.204 ms - Total 5.204 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5.204 ms)
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpegvideo"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.440 ms - Total 1.440 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.440 ms)
main debug: looking for decoder module: 31 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "aes3"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.102 ms - Total 0.102 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.102 ms)
ts debug: DEMUX_SET_GROUP 0 00000000
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\DTO QC 1\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.luac
main debug: no meta reader module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.106 ms - Total 1.106 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.106 ms)
main debug: `file:///Q:/TEST/TC%20Test/52HD.mpg' successfully opened
main debug: Buffering 0%
packetizer_mpegvideo debug: size 1920x1080 fps=29.970
main debug: Buffering 10%
main debug: looking for text renderer module: 2 candidates
freetype debug: Using Times New Roman as font from file C:\Windows\Fonts\times.ttf
freetype debug: using fontsize: 2
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.362 ms - Total 1.362 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.362 ms)
main debug: Buffering 20%
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
swscale debug: 32x32 chroma: YUVA -> 16x16 chroma: RGBA with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.028 ms - Total 1.028 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.028 ms)
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
main debug: Buffering 30%
yuvp debug: YUVP to YUVA converter
main debug: using video filter2 module "yuvp"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.008 ms - Total 2.008 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.008 ms)
main debug: Deinterlacing available
main debug: deinterlace 0, mode blend, is_needed 0
main debug: Opening vout display wrapper
main debug: looking for vout display module: 6 candidates
main debug: Buffering 40%
main debug: Buffering 50%
direct3d debug: creating Vout EventThread
direct3d debug: DirectXCreateWindow
main debug: looking for vout window hwnd module: 2 candidates
qt4 debug: requesting video...
main debug: Buffering 60%
main debug: Buffering 70%
main debug: Buffering 80%
main debug: Buffering 90%
main debug: Stream buffering done (300 ms in 29 ms)
qt4 debug: Video was requested 0, 0
main debug: using vout window hwnd module "qt4"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 25.029 ms - Total 25.029 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 25.029 ms)
direct3d debug: created video sub-window
direct3d debug: Vout EventThread running
direct3d debug: disabling screen saver
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1936x1118 window
direct3d warning: trying surface pixel format: YUY2
direct3d debug: selected surface pixel format is YUY2
direct3d debug: Using D3DTEXF_LINEAR for minification
direct3d debug: Using D3DTEXF_LINEAR for magnification
direct3d debug: Direct3D scene created successfully
direct3d debug: Direct3D device adapter successfully initialized
main debug: using vout display module "direct3d"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 50.503 ms - Total 50.503 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 50.503 ms)
main debug: A filter to adapt decoder to display is needed
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 18 candidates
swscale debug: 1920x1080 chroma: I422 -> 1920x1080 chroma: YUY2 with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.229 ms - Total 0.229 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.229 ms)
main debug: Filter 'Swscale' (02302280) appended to chain
main debug: original format sz 1920x1080, of (0,0), vsz 1920x1080, 4cc I422, sar 1:1, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0
main debug: removing module "freetype"
main debug: looking for text renderer module: 2 candidates
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1920x1075 window
freetype debug: Using Times New Roman as font from file C:\Windows\Fonts\times.ttf
freetype debug: using fontsize: 2
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.151 ms - Total 1.151 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.151 ms)
main debug: creating audio output
avcodec debug: using direct rendering
main debug: looking for audio output module: 2 candidates
aout_directx debug: Opening DirectSound Audio Output
main debug: End of video preroll
main debug: Received first picture
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: Speakers (Razer Megalodon)
aout_directx debug: using device: Speakers (Razer Megalodon)
aout_directx debug: found device: DELL U2410 (Intel(R) Display Audio)
aout_directx debug: found device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 24.624 ms - Total 24.624 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 24.624 ms)
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: output 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'f32l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'s16l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
audio_format debug: f32l->s16l, bits per sample: 32->16
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.971 ms - Total 1.971 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.971 ms)
main debug: conversion pipeline completed
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 2 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.192 ms - Total 0.192 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.192 ms)
main debug: input 's16l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo debug: format: 48000 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32
scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search
scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1440.000 stride_in, 1440 stride_out, 1152 standing, 288 overlap, 672 search, 2400 queue, fl32 mode
main debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.224 ms - Total 0.224 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.224 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'f32l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
audio_format debug: s16l->f32l, bits per sample: 16->32
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.068 ms - Total 0.068 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.068 ms)
main debug: conversion pipeline completed
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'f32l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: conversion pipeline completed
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'f32l' 52800 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "samplerate"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.070 ms - Total 0.070 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.070 ms)
main debug: conversion pipeline completed
main debug: End of audio preroll
direct3d debug: Created 304x69 texture for OSD
main debug: Post-processing available
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 235 ms
main warning: audio output out of sync, adjusting dates (79293 us)
main warning: not synchronized (79293 us), resampling
main warning: buffer too late (78880), up-sampling
main debug: auto hiding mouse cursor
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=8
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=9
main debug: auto hiding mouse cursor
direct3d debug: Created 96x96 texture for OSD
main debug: auto hiding mouse cursor

[nkoriyama]

Code: Select all

ts debug: calculated bitrate (55391219bit/s) is too low or too high. min bitrate (500000bit/s) max bitrate (55000000bit/s)

I remembered I put the validation check for some broken files.
Why I set the max value as 55Mbps, because 40Mbps (Blu-ray Disc's Max bitrate) + some buffer.

We can change the max value.
But it is set in the source code, so we have to recompile.

[codyds]

Code: Select all

ts debug: calculated bitrate (55391219bit/s) is too low or too high. min bitrate (500000bit/s) max bitrate (55000000bit/s)

I remembered I put the validation check for some broken files.
Why I set the max value as 55Mbps, because 40Mbps (Blu-ray Disc's Max bitrate) + some buffer.

We can change the max value.
But it is set in the source code, so we have to recompile.

That makes sense. I deal in a lot of Mezzanine level encodes pushing close to 100mbps and might have some future needs for beyond, but I know up to 100mpbs would give me a lot of flexibility in the near future. If this is a change that is made whenever it is most feasible on your end, it would definitely give me some relief from crossing platforms. Thanks for your help in answering the "why" in the meantime!

[mrplinsky]

Hello to everybody, I'm new in the forum.
As I can see it's possible to have a timecode viewer on VLC while playback with .mts files. This is fantastic.
But I can't figure out how to do it.

I'm using VLC 2.0.3 on debian wheezy...

Can you help me? (like press that key or install that plugin... )
Thank you in advance.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Activate the text filter with $T

[mrplinsky]

Thank you Jean-Baptiste,
I tried:

$ vlc --sub-filter "marq{marquee=\$T}" name_of_the_file.mts

The output is the relative time of the clip (current time position on duration) and not the timestamp of the file, which is the time when the file was shooted... This is what I'm looking for...

Searching around, it seems that this "metadata" is written in every frame of the .mts

[to be continued]

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

I don't think MPEG-TS carries that information in the first place. You could infer a very aprroximate time from the EPG informations if they are included. VLC does not do that and probably never will.

[codyds]

Code: Select all

ts debug: calculated bitrate (55391219bit/s) is too low or too high. min bitrate (500000bit/s) max bitrate (55000000bit/s)

I remembered I put the validation check for some broken files.
Why I set the max value as 55Mbps, because 40Mbps (Blu-ray Disc's Max bitrate) + some buffer.

We can change the max value.
But it is set in the source code, so we have to recompile.

I was hoping 2.1 might implement this but no luck. Any chance it could get implemented in the future? We would be eternally grateful to say the least!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Sorry, but what is the use case of over 55mbps ?

[codyds]

I deal with a lot of mezzanine level encodes for digital media providers. Typically the video is required to be about 80mbps, so the total can hit 90 on multi-channel audio.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Maybe as an option then.