Unable to record from www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ with Replay media Catcher

[Charlezz]

Hi. Just captured a stream and watching/listening to it in the Appian FLV player, all is well. Watching/listening this FLV file with VLC player is a problem, because the sound stutters every half a second. (Picture is a bit better, especially smoother panning, but contrast is worse than Appian's player)
Worst thing is that when I try to copy this FLV file to DVD with ConvertXtoDVD, the stuttering is exactly the same as heard with the VLC player, so the problem must be in the FLV file, alas. Any suggestions? :confused:

I tried with a smaller file to first convert FLV to WMV. That worked, although the pitch of the sound was a bit lower. But with a large file (1.1 GB) the converter stops after 15 minutes or crashes. :mad:

[Jeff Lenney]

Hi Charlez,

Which version of Replay Media Catcher are you currently using? Please check and let us know, as it DOES make a difference.

Also, with regards to the 'stuttering' issue, does this happen with EVERY video you record, or just certain ones? If it's certain ones, are they from a specific website or video format?

At any rate, let us test this from our end as well, specifically Can you please provide me with the URL of the videos you're trying to record, so I can trouble shoot the issue?

[Charlezz]

Hi Jeff.
I’m using the newest version of Media Catcher, 3.01, with all updates of plugins.
Since I’m new to capturing streams, I can only say that ALL streams from one particular site have this problem. Since this is a brand new streaming service, using Flash 10, it’s probably easy for you to analyse and solve this problem.
Fortunately the site has a stream test file, located here:
Berliner site : http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/
Click on the right: "Digital Concert Hall".
Then "how ik works"
Then "go to stream test".
All bandwiths give the same error.
My own saved captured file is located here:
http://www.divshare.com/download/6338947-c43
so you can check to see if I did something wrong.
Well, besides illegally saving a stream of course.. ;)

I really hope that you guys can fix this problem, you have no idea how cool it is to be able to save and watch these concerts......

Greetz

[flvrec0r3r]

I am probably wrong, but those files look like progressive downloads. Technically, it's not streaming. The HTTP server just uses the same HTTP 1.1 technology that allows resuming broken downloads to deliver the file. Sort of like if you move the slider to the middle of a video in the background the request is just "I have part of the file and want to resume downloading here (in the middle)." Anyway, here is one video, I think...
http://bphil.vo.llnwd.net/o29/newsletter/20081221_NL_Teaser_MahlerIII_H264_960x540_1300kbps .mp4 Just right click the URL here and choose file save as may work.

Beautiful quality and music!

[Charlezz]

Hi flvrec0r3r,
Since I’m really a newbie at capturing video, I will not disagree with you about the definition of “streaming”. ;)
Your video both looks and sounds great, if my captured results were that good I never would have been on this forum in the first place.
Two problems though:
1) you seem to have made a recording from the archives I think? When I try that, resolution is small, 640x360 but yours is 960x540. How did you do that?
2) Media Catcher does not catch this trailer on my system. After several reboots and positive thinking, no result yet.
But as long as YOU have made a perfect copy of this piece of concert, there is still light at the end of the tunnel for ME.... :D

Who wouldn’t like Mahlers 3d.... One of my all time favorites, together with Bruckners 8th.

Thankz and greetz

[flvrec0r3r]

1) you seem to have made a recording from the archives I think? When I try that, resolution is small, 640x360 but yours is 960x540. How did you do that?I probably just stumbled on a download link from the archives by accident.


2) Media Catcher does not catch this trailer on my system. After several reboots and positive thinking, no result yet.I am unable to navigate the site very well due to a language barrier. I also could not record any streams. Consider my earlier outcome just luck and see what others have to say about capturing the streams.

[Charlezz]

Ah, OK, so you just downloaded some material instead of capturing a stream. No wonder you doubted the existence of any stream at all.... Some people have all the luck. :) Glad you give this reaction.
Can’t you reproduce my stream capture by going to the Berliner site : http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/
Click on the right: "Digital Concert Hall".
Then "how ik works"
Then "go to stream test"
I can easily reproduce my sound-corrupted stream savings, all tests give the same result..... alas.
You can compare your result with my streamtest here:
http://www.divshare.com/download/6338947-c43

Greetz

[flvrec0r3r]

Can’t you reproduce my stream capture by going to the Berliner site : http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/
Click on the right: "Digital Concert Hall".
Then "how ik works"
Then "go to stream test"OK, got it. My bandwidth and computing power limit my captured stream to Brahms Sinfonie 960x540 1300kbps 192aac. That's what the test stream is designed to do, check to see which quality the end user can properly stream. That information was from the filename and seems accurate after checking with Mediainfo (http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/). This is a very similar stream to typical Hulu style AVC H.264 + AAC. It is @ 25 fps which makes no practical difference for watching or converting the stream. In general it is a difference between European PAL and USA NTSC video.
You can compare your result with my streamtest here:
http://www.divshare.com/download/6338947-c43That file seems damaged. In trying to convert it I reached a damaged frame very early in the stream and conversion halted. Try to download that stream again if you have the bandwidth and CPU to do so.

I'd recommend, only from personal experience and preference, that during the test you right click and choose "Delete Recording" for streams other than the one you want. The test serves up several Hi-def streams at once. This completely overwhelmed my PC. You may have better luck.

[Charlezz]

Hi flvrec0r3r

OK, so you got that test stream too, this piece of a Brahms symphony and YOU had a good result. I use a 20 Mbps connection so I have no trouble with the 1280x720_2100kbps stream. Using a quad Q6700 Core 2 processor with 4 GB RAM I don’t have any speed problems.
Fortunately you warned me that I was in fact getting more than 1 stream, so I deleted all streams but one. Actually I was under the impression that MediaCatcher, like some download accelerators, was using more than one connection to be sure of a complete and accurate resulting mediafile. :D
That information solves another issue: Why I always get the error message that another file with the same name is already in the folder. That’s the result of course of the first completed stream having confisquated the right filename, the other two streams cannot save themselves under the same name therefore....Isn’t this an issue that Applian (MediaCatcher) should solve??

To my great regret, even after killing all other streams and completing the download, I still get these sound corrupted files as a result. Can’t the region I’m in be the problem (Netherlands)? Using 50 Hz, PAL, etc??
Is there any way to analyse my corrupted file to find an answer to my sound-problem?
Is there some kind of test site (e.g. Applian's?) where you can easily do some testing on different kinds of streams to help solve problems?
http://vimeo.com/hd HD videos can be saved effortlessly with perfect picture AND sound...
I hate paying $ 99 for a suite that does not work correctly on my system..... :mad:

Thnx for the help and useful info!

[flvrec0r3r]

I am a little stumped or overwhelmed.

Scroll up and reply to Jeff Lenney's questions. Quote part of the post so the answers stay inline (and he may flag replies to his posts so he'll see it).

He was onto something that you've indirectly answered. What sites, does this occur every time, etc. I suspect he has a better answer than my guesses.:)

[Charlezz]

Hi Jeff Lenney

As suggested by member flvrec0r3r, here are the answers to your 3 questions, as exactly as I can describe them

1) Which version of Replay Media Catcher are you currently using? Please check and let us know, as it DOES make a difference.
I’m using the newest version of Media Catcher, 3.01, with all updates of plugins.

2) Also, with regards to the 'stuttering' issue, does this happen with EVERY video you record, or just certain ones? If it's certain ones, are they from a specific website or video format?
http://vimeo.com/hd HD videos can be saved effortlessly with perfect picture AND sound.
The problem is with all videoformats from http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/, the Digital Concert Hall


3) At any rate, let us test this from our end as well, specifically Can you please provide me with the URL of the videos you're trying to record, so I can trouble shoot the issue?
Testcase for me is the Streamtest at this site.
Go to the Berliner site : http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/
Click on the right: "Digital Concert Hall", then "how ik works", then "go to stream test". All 3 stream speeds have the same problem, which can be heard at this saved file, located here: http://www.divshare.com/download/6338947-c43
flvrec0r3r told me that this test serves up several Hi-def streams at once, so he advised me to kill 2 of the 3 streams. Unfortunately that did not solve the stuttering in sound.
It did solve another issue: Why I always get the error message after finishing a capture that another file with the same name is already in the folder. That’s probably the result of the first completed stream having confiscated the right filename, so the other two streams cannot save themselves under the same name...
Shouldn't MediaCatcher capture just ONE stream??

BTW, after searching for other HiDef streams I stumbled upon the site of the Metropolitan Opera, where a couple of streams can be seen as a free trial.
http://www.metoperafamily.org/met_player/index.aspx A Move Media Player is installed as a plugin into Firefox to watch this stream. Unfortunately MediaCatcher could not intercept this stream. Is this a new kind of stream that MediaCatcher does not support?

I really hope that you are able to reproduce this stuttering problem, so I can soon see and save a lot of concerts...
If you need any more data or you have anything to try or test, please let me know.

Greetz

[Tasha Heinlein]

Media Catcher is not working on this site. All of the files that I have captured have errors. It might be possible to add an extension name and get the files to play, but it obviously might have some issues. The best suggestion would be to use Replay Video Capture (http://www.applian.com/replay-video-capture/index.php). I would suggest the same for the Opera site. Move Player has been around for quite some time. Stream Capture programs are not compatible with this Player.

Best Regards,

Tasha Heinlein
Applian Technologies, Inc.

[Jotaro]

Wow, just like that? Dead end?

I have the same exact problem.
But anyway, Applian's FLV player was able to play the .flv file without audio hiccups, HOWEVER, the converted files (into ipod) inherit the sound skippings.

[Jotaro]

Wow, just like that? Dead end?

I have the same exact problem.
But anyway, Applian's FLV player was able to play the .flv file without audio hiccups, HOWEVER, the converted files (into ipod) inherit the sound skippings.

Here's info for the file with the hiccup

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : [email protected]
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Muxing mode : Container [email protected]
Duration : 7mn 39s
Width : 672 pixels
Height : 378 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive

Audio
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Duration : 7mn 39s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Video delay : 45ms


Here's the one withOUT hiccups:

Video
Format : VP6
Duration : 5mn 19s
Bit rate : 600 Kbps
Width : 672 pixels
Height : 378 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 15.000 fps
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.157
Stream size : 22.9 MiB (88%)

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Duration : 5mn 19s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Video delay : 38ms
Stream size : 2.44 MiB (9%)

[Jotaro]

I wonder:

What if I use Media splitter to split the audio from the video > convert the audio > rejoin converted audio with video, would work...

[Charlezz]

Hey Jotaro

Thnx for thinking with me.
Glad I'm not the only one with this problem, but sorry for you of course... :rolleyes:

It was clear for me to stop this thread because the team didn't seem to be able to recreate the problem and only suggested to use the Applian FLV player that I don't like. Applian Techies couldn't convert the captured video's either but they didn't think that was a problem (?) so I was at a dead end.

Only today I saw that there was a new version of Media catcher, 3.11, and being open-minded ;) I tried again to capture the German Berliner demo, and guess what? Perfect sound!! :D
And conversion workes flawlessly too with the newest 3.60 version.
No idea what has changed though, but now I don't have to use Jaksta anymore and stick to the Applian Suite.

Congratz to the Applian Techies....

Greetz from a happy Charles