Comskip works great, commercials not cut

[downingjosh]

First, I want to say what a really great program this is. I used to use BeyondTV but it started getting flaky on me, so I switched to WMC 7 (I plan on getting a CableCard tuner soon anyway). I use VAP to process the recordings after WTVRenamer renames the files and WTVConverter converts the .wtv files to .dvr-ms (I'm using VideoReDoPlus, not TVSuite4). I was using VAP version .67, but upgraded to .72 in an attempt to resolve my current issue.

Here are the machine details, if needed:

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
Core2 Quad q9650 2.8 GHz
4 GB DDR2 800 MHz
Sound Blaster Audigy 4
Hauppage 2250 dual QAM tuner
ATI Radeon 4850 1 GB

I noticed that the VRD scans were cutting out a portion of my shows (typically before the first commercial) far too frequently for my tastes. I enabled Comskip scans in an attempt to resolve this. The Comskip scans are accurate, but the auto-cutting isn't happening.

The process seems to be hanging right after the scan is completed in most cases. Other items get processed, but the videos remain in the list (no AWAITING CUTS note next to the name) and the cuts are not made, nor are the videos moved. Stopping and restarting VAP has no affect, nor does moving the files out/back into the folder and re-running them (or resetting the files via the GUI). The .EDL and .VPRJ files are created and I can perform the cuts manually in VideoReDo (and the cuts are accurate).

Here is a log segment of the most recent set of 3 files processed:

5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM log file C:\Users\Josh\AppData\Roaming\VAP\VRDAutoProcessLo g.txt is too large to display.
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM Only new log events will be displayed.
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM All log events will still accumulate in the log file
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM No command line arguments found
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM Started program -- VideoReDo-AutoProcessor - Ver. 0.72
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM Using configuration/data file: VideoFileManager.xml
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM VRD install folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoReDoPlus\
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/6/2011 3:35:19 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM 0 file ignore keys were read
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Metadata-based templates:
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Output Folder = "E:\Current T.V. Shows\{title}\
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Output file = "{title} - S{seasonnum}E{epnum} - {eptitle}"
5/6/2011 3:36:24 PM Title = "Series no Season folder"
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM 0 file ignore keys were read
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Metadata-based templates:
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Output Folder = "E:\Current T.V. Shows\{title}\
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Output file = "{title} - S{seasonnum}E{epnum} - {eptitle}"
5/6/2011 3:37:22 PM Title = "Series no Season folder"
5/6/2011 3:37:35 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 3:37:35 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: The Dr. Oz Show_KMGHDT_2011_05_03_14_58_00.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 3:37:35 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 3:37:35 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 3:51:38 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 3:51:39 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: The Dr. Oz Show_KMGHDT_2011_05_03_14_58_00.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 4:07:45 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\The Dr. Oz Show_KMGHDT_2011_05_03_14_58_00.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 4:07:45 PM Started file move: The Dr. Oz Show_KMGHDT_2011_05_03_14_58_00.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 4:07:45 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 4:07:46 PM Move/delete operation completed: The Dr. Oz Show_KMGHDT_2011_05_03_14_58_00.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 4:36:57 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 9:17:42 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 9:17:42 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/6/2011 9:50:44 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms

In the case of the Dr. Oz show, the folder was created in E:\Current T.V. Shows\, but the video was not present in the folder and the original video was placed in E:\Processed\ as it should have been. The other shows (House, The Voice, & Fringe) had their .EDL & .VPRJ files created, but no cuts were made nor were the files moved out of their original location in E:\Renamed\.


Am I missing something here, or is something not working as-intended?

[dlflannery]

Doesn't sound like it's working as intended. Just as a test, add QSF to your default configuration, keeping all else the same, and see if works correctly.

Also just as a test, try not moving the completed input files, keeping all else the same (i.e., no QSF).

Is this happening for all input files of the same type?

Did this problem start just with Ver. 0.72 or when you switched from VRD AdDetective to ComSkip?

[downingjosh]

It started when I switched to Comskip scans. I only checked the box for "Use ComSkip Ad Scans" and made no other changes.

I've just enabled QSF and get "ERROR: Can't apply QSF filter: 1280x720".. I have not created any manual QSF filters under "Advanced Configuration".

5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM 0 file ignore keys were read
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Metadata-based templates:
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Output Folder = "E:\Current T.V. Shows\{title}\
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Output file = "{title} - S{seasonnum}E{epnum} - {eptitle}"
5/7/2011 12:21:02 PM Title = "Series no Season folder"
5/7/2011 12:21:33 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:33 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:33 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:33 PM Started QSF, input: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:34 PM Using filter dimensions from MediaInfo: 1280 X 720
5/7/2011 12:21:37 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 12:21:37 PM VideoReDo said: ERROR: Can't apply QSF filter: 1280X720
5/7/2011 12:21:37 PM Started QSF, input: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:38 PM Using filter dimensions from MediaInfo: 1920 X 1080
5/7/2011 12:21:38 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 12:21:38 PM VideoReDo said: ERROR: Can't apply QSF filter: 1920X1080
5/7/2011 12:21:38 PM Started QSF, input: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:21:39 PM Using filter dimensions from MediaInfo: 1280 X 720
5/7/2011 12:21:39 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 12:21:40 PM VideoReDo said: ERROR: Can't apply QSF filter: 1280X720

I got this when I first started using the program but didn't both with the QSF; I've found it to be minimally useful on digital recordings (it was very much needed on analog). If there is something I can do to get QSF working for this test, I'd be happy to try it.

I'm running the videos with QSF disabled and "Move Processed Inputs" also disabled. I'll report back once it finishes.

[downingjosh]

Same as the initial situation, though the shows have "AWAITING CUTS" as their status. I've just de-selected "Auto cut...", closed the program, reopened it, re-selected "Auto cut...", closed it, reopened it and started the process again without "Move after cuts" selected.

[downingjosh]

The first of the three shows scan has completed and shows its status as "AWAITING CUTS". My impression is that, like VideoReDo scans, the autocuts should happen before moving on to the next video file. Below is the VideoFileManager.xml as it sits right now:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<VideoReDo_Auto_File_Processor>
<ConfigurationItems>
<TransferDirectory>E:\Renamed\</TransferDirectory>
<InputDestDirectory>E:\Processed\</InputDestDirectory>
<QSFDestDirectory>E:\qsf\</QSFDestDirectory>
<FinalDestDirectory>E:\commercial cut\</FinalDestDirectory>
<AutoAdScan>true</AutoAdScan>
<OutputType>1</OutputType>
<DefaultDoQSF>false</DefaultDoQSF>
<DefaultDoAdScan>true</DefaultDoAdScan>
<DeleteInputFiles>false</DeleteInputFiles>
<MoveInputFiles>false</MoveInputFiles>
<UseComSkip>true</UseComSkip>
<OutputProfile>(not set)</OutputProfile>
<ProfileExtension>NA</ProfileExtension>
<DoTvdbSearchOnReset>true</DoTvdbSearchOnReset>
<DisplayOnlyUnfinishedFiles>false</DisplayOnlyUnfinishedFiles>
<DoMpeg4Chapters>false</DoMpeg4Chapters>
<GenApOptionsFile>false</GenApOptionsFile>
<StopMonitoringOnBadTvdb>true</StopMonitoringOnBadTvdb>
<TvdbWebSite>theTVDB.com</TvdbWebSite>
<NoTvdbSearches>false</NoTvdbSearches>
</ConfigurationItems>
<VideoFileData>
<FileName>Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms</FileName>
<Length>6789875320</Length>
<Status>1</Status>
<DoQSF>false</DoQSF>
<DoAdScan>true</DoAdScan>
<Blocked>false</Blocked>
<DoPostProcess>true</DoPostProcess>
<IsWtvAvc>false</IsWtvAvc>
<Width>1280</Width>
<Height>720</Height>
<Profile>default</Profile>
<OutputExtension />
<DoChapterMarks>false</DoChapterMarks>
<HaveMetaData>true</HaveMetaData>
<Title>Fringe</Title>
<SubTitle>The Day We Died</SubTitle>
<Description>Peter faces his destiny; a beloved member of the team meets an untimely death.</Description>
<Genre>Drama#General#Series</Genre>
<EpNum>22</EpNum>
<AirDate>2011-05-06</AirDate>
<MovieYear />
<SeriesID />
<ChannelNumber>31</ChannelNumber>
<CallSign>KDVRDT (KDVR-DT)</CallSign>
<RecordingTimeDate />
<Actors>Anna Torv#Joshua Jackson#John Noble#Lance Reddick#Blair Brown#Jasika Nicole</Actors>
<SeriesTitle>Fringe</SeriesTitle>
<IsEpisode>true</IsEpisode>
<Directors />
<SeriesGenre />
<Producers />
<ShowingBits />
<MpaaRating />
<TvRating />
<StarRating />
<PartCount />
<PartIndex />
<SeasonNumber>03</SeasonNumber>
<DetectionTime>634403131256814884</DetectionTime>
</VideoFileData>
<VideoFileData>
<FileName>House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms</FileName>
<Length>6790006822</Length>
<Status>4</Status>
<DoQSF>false</DoQSF>
<DoAdScan>true</DoAdScan>
<Blocked>false</Blocked>
<DoPostProcess>true</DoPostProcess>
<IsWtvAvc>false</IsWtvAvc>
<Width>1280</Width>
<Height>720</Height>
<Profile>default</Profile>
<OutputExtension />
<DoChapterMarks>false</DoChapterMarks>
<HaveMetaData>true</HaveMetaData>
<Title>House</Title>
<SubTitle>Changes</SubTitle>
<Description>A lottery winner experiences partial paralysis while looking for a long-lost love; medical licenses are jeopardized when Cuddy's mother (Candice Bergen) threatens to sue the hospital.</Description>
<Genre>Drama#General#Series</Genre>
<EpNum>20</EpNum>
<AirDate>2011-05-02</AirDate>
<MovieYear />
<SeriesID />
<ChannelNumber>31</ChannelNumber>
<CallSign>KDVRDT (KDVR-DT)</CallSign>
<RecordingTimeDate />
<Actors>Hugh Laurie#Lisa Edelstein#Robert Sean Leonard#Omar Epps#Jesse Spencer#Peter Jacobson#Olivia Wilde</Actors>
<SeriesTitle>House</SeriesTitle>
<IsEpisode>true</IsEpisode>
<Directors />
<SeriesGenre />
<Producers />
<ShowingBits />
<MpaaRating />
<TvRating />
<StarRating />
<PartCount />
<PartIndex />
<SeasonNumber>07</SeasonNumber>
<DetectionTime>634402828072054690</DetectionTime>
</VideoFileData>
<VideoFileData>
<FileName>The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms</FileName>
<Length>9681524744</Length>
<Status>1</Status>
<DoQSF>false</DoQSF>
<DoAdScan>true</DoAdScan>
<Blocked>false</Blocked>
<DoPostProcess>true</DoPostProcess>
<IsWtvAvc>false</IsWtvAvc>
<Width>1920</Width>
<Height>1080</Height>
<Profile>default</Profile>
<OutputExtension />
<DoChapterMarks>false</DoChapterMarks>
<HaveMetaData>true</HaveMetaData>
<Title>The Voice (US)</Title>
<SubTitle>Blind Auditions, Part 2</SubTitle>
<Description>Vocalists perform for the judges.</Description>
<Genre>Music#General#Series#Reality</Genre>
<EpNum>02</EpNum>
<AirDate>2011-05-03</AirDate>
<MovieYear />
<SeriesID />
<ChannelNumber>9</ChannelNumber>
<CallSign>KUSADT (KUSA-DT)</CallSign>
<RecordingTimeDate />
<Actors />
<SeriesTitle>The Voice (US)</SeriesTitle>
<IsEpisode>true</IsEpisode>
<Directors />
<SeriesGenre />
<Producers>Carson Daly</Producers>
<ShowingBits />
<MpaaRating />
<TvRating />
<StarRating />
<PartCount />
<PartIndex />
<SeasonNumber>01</SeasonNumber>
<DetectionTime>634402834892184690</DetectionTime>
</VideoFileData>
<AutoCuts>
<FileName>House – S07E20 – Changes</FileName>
<TimeStamp>2011-05-07T12:41:15.9132193-06:00</TimeStamp>
<OutputType>1</OutputType>
<Folder>E:\Current T.V. Shows\House\</Folder>
<Waiting>true</Waiting>
<DoPostProcess>true</DoPostProcess>
<OriginalInputExt>.dvr-ms</OriginalInputExt>
<Profile>default</Profile>
<OutputExtension />
</AutoCuts>
</VideoReDo_Auto_File_Processor>

and the corresponding log file from this session:

5/7/2011 12:49:29 PM Started program -- VideoReDo-AutoProcessor - Ver. 0.72
5/7/2011 12:49:29 PM Using configuration/data file: VideoFileManager.xml
5/7/2011 12:49:29 PM VRD install folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoReDoPlus\
5/7/2011 12:49:29 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:49:29 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:49:56 PM Stopped program
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM log file C:\Users\Josh\AppData\Roaming\VAP\VRDAutoProcessLo g.txt is too large to display.
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Only new log events will be displayed.
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM All log events will still accumulate in the log file
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM No command line arguments found
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Started program -- VideoReDo-AutoProcessor - Ver. 0.72
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Using configuration/data file: VideoFileManager.xml
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM VRD install folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoReDoPlus\
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM 0 file ignore keys were read
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Metadata-based templates:
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Output Folder = "E:\Current T.V. Shows\{title}\
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Output file = "{title} - S{seasonnum}E{epnum} - {eptitle}"
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Title = "Series no Season folder"
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:05:24 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:05:24 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms

[downingjosh]

Houston, we have progress.

The videos are now getting auto-cut. There was a delay with the first video; its auto-cuts didn't start until the 2nd video's ComSkip scan was completed. The 2nd & 3rd videos did auto-cut right after their adscan completed, so perhaps that was just a fluke?

Here is the log of this most recent run:

5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM log file C:\Users\Josh\AppData\Roaming\VAP\VRDAutoProcessLo g.txt is too large to display.
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Only new log events will be displayed.
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM All log events will still accumulate in the log file
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM No command line arguments found
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Started program -- VideoReDo-AutoProcessor - Ver. 0.72
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Using configuration/data file: VideoFileManager.xml
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM VRD install folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoReDoPlus\
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:50:18 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM 0 file ignore keys were read
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Read 0 input filename metadata parsing template(s)
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Read 3 title translation data lines
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Metadata-based templates:
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Output Folder = "E:\Current T.V. Shows\{title}\
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Output file = "{title} - S{seasonnum}E{epnum} - {eptitle}"
5/7/2011 12:51:14 PM Title = "Series no Season folder"
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM theTVDB metaData search succeeded for: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 12:51:24 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:05:24 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\House – S07E20 – Changes.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:05:24 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:34:35 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\The Voice (US) - S01E02.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 1:34:35 PM Started auto-cuts, input: House – S07E20 – Changes
5/7/2011 1:34:38 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 1:36:53 PM VideoReDo completed manual cuts on: House – S07E20 – Changes
5/7/2011 1:36:58 PM Started auto-cuts, input: The Voice (US) - S01E02
5/7/2011 1:37:00 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 1:43:47 PM VideoReDo completed manual cuts on: The Voice (US) - S01E02
5/7/2011 1:49:03 PM Started ComSkip detection followed by autocuts, input: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 2:03:54 PM VideoReDo completed ADSCAN on input: E:\Renamed\Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died.dvr-ms
5/7/2011 2:03:57 PM Started auto-cuts, input: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died
5/7/2011 2:04:00 PM VideoReDo said: INFO: VideoReDo version 2. 5. 6. 512 - Oct 23 2008
5/7/2011 2:06:25 PM VideoReDo completed manual cuts on: Fringe – S03E22 – The Day We Died

I'll try them again with "Move Processed Inputs" enabled and see if it continues to work.

[dlflannery]

I found the problem - it occurred when you used ComSkip and did not do QSF or moved (or deleted) the input file. The attached test exe, VAP073T1, should fix it. Expand the zip and sub the .exe file for your current one. I tend to always use QSF so testing without using it had received too little attention.

You seem to be having another problem related to QSF dimension filters. VAP uses MediaInfo to get the width and height of the input file. If it gets dimensions it uses them in a QSF filter. Apparently mediaInfo is returning incorrect values for some of your files. Thus if you want to use QSF on those files you will have to set up dimension filter match strings in Advanced Configuration (which will override the mediaInfo values). Or, since you don't think you need to QSF, the attached exe should work OK without configuring QSF in the process flow. (Dimension filters only apply to QSF ops.)

[downingjosh]

Works like a charm, thanks! I'm not sure what's going on with the QSF, but I'm not worried about it either. When I run a manual QSF on these files, very few if any errors are detected, so I don't bother with it.

Do you have a way of accepting donations? I'd love to contribute to your continuing work on the project.

[dlflannery]

.......Do you have a way of accepting donations? I'd love to contribute to your continuing work on the project.

No I accept praise and adulation instead!

[dlflannery]

I've deleted the VAP exe attachment from this thread. Please download the 0.73 release, which incorporates the fix.