... can't get SmartCutter working correctly

[ScanMan]

I've tried SmartCutter to cut out commercials from DVB-S2 recordings.
Hardware is Technotrend S2-3200 and soft is DVBDream.
Recorded TS-files are always ok and can be watched with sev. progs.

For testing i recirded a small TS and want to cut 3 acenes from it to a new TS.
I can tell the SC to write to a specific directory - won't do this !

I always get 3 new TS with same name and additional number in the same dir.
None of these files can be readed with any player ... !

When trying 'link' to merge the files, i will be asked for a filename.
File is written and readable .... but it's the complete source file again !

What's wrong ?

Is there any detailed help, guide, tutorial or something else available ?
The deliverd help-text is very, very poor .....
And: german translation is horrible.

Hoping to be helped soon & greetings from germany
ScanMan

[admin]

Dear ScanMan:
You must be using the portable version. It is a quick version with a simple help document. You can find a detailed help(English version) in the install version
http://www.fame-ring.com/SmartCutter1.0.exe
May be you can have it a try. Thank you.

Yes, the instructions are not very clear. The process you may take could be

Press 'Open', select a .ts .m2ts .mpg .trp .vob file
use long slider to seek
use short slider to locate frame accuratly
use '<|'or '|>'to single step forward or back
set in point by 'New Start Point'
set out point by 'New End Point'
press button 'addlist';
------------------------------------------
repeat above steps.
when all segments set, if MERGE needed, lighten the button 'link'; then press button 'Record List'. Done.

Besides posting here, you can also contact us by support@fame-ring.com or famering@gmail.com

Wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!

Best Regards,
FameRing Support Team

[ScanMan]

... this is exactly what i did.
Result is - as written before:
-> The new 'merged' file when checked 'link' is the same as the original (size differs a little)
-> and new files without checked 'link' are not readable ! Number of files = num of Start-Stop-sections.

I recorded 6 different HD-programs from ASTRA 19.2°E to TS-files with all available audio-tracks for approx. 30 seconds each:
1_arte HD.ts - 3 audio pids - ger, fre, AC3
2_Einsfestival HD.ts - 2 audio pids - ger, AC3
3_ZDF HD.ts - 2 audio pids - ger, AC3
4_Das Erste HD.ts - 2 audio pids - ger, AC3
5_ANIXE HD.ts - 1 audio pid - AC3
6_ASTRA HD.ts - 1 audio pid - AC3

Loading these files into Smart Cutter gives the following information upside left:
after every -> left above the long slider is a 'time-field' !?
1: TS, avc_decoder, 1280x720, mp3, 29.41992 -> 08:48:58:142 up to 08:49:27:562
2: TS, avc_decoder, 1280x720, a52, 29.81836 -> 04:35:43:525 up to 04:36:13:343
3: TS, avc_decoder, 1280x720, a52, 30,06055 -> 07:26:47:773 up to 07:27:17:833
4: TS, avc_decoder, 1280x720, a52, 30,06006 -> 00:22:12:405 up to 00:22:42:465
5: TS, avc_decoder, 1440x1080, a52, 30.19922 -> 04:42:05:128 up to 04:42:35:328
6: TS, avc_decoder, 1440x1080, a52, 30.19922 -> 08:40:56:082 up to 08:41:26:281

If you want, i can upload these files or send them per mail for further examination.
It's about 210 MB for all...

ScanMan

[admin]

If you want, i can upload these files or send them per mail for further examination.
It's about 210 MB for all

Dear ScanMan:
Small sample around 5MB is enough for a check.
You can use tsmuxer
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/tsMuxeR
cut the files short, pretty easy to use, though not frame accurate
You can send the small sample to support@fame-ring.com or famering@gmail.com
Thank you,
Best Regards,
FameRing Support Team

[ScanMan]

I sent you 6 small TS-files for testing.

I don't think that there's a prob with the format my DVB-soft DVBDream is delivering.
Every player on this machine can read the created files well - also Smart Cutter.
It's also not the prob to cut out scenes from several TS with different sizes.

The main prob are the created file(s) by Smart Cutter !
Size seems to be OK by parts cutted out of the original...
... but none of my players can handle them !
E.g. VLC does nothing, Windows Media Player doesn't recognize the file and PowerDVD9 quitts with an unknown error.

[admin]

Dear ScanMan:
Thanks for your sample files and detailed information.

We cutted the 1_arte HD by Smart Cutter, the result movie is played back okay with Vlc1.0.0 MpcHc1.3.1249.0 and Splash1.0.5

So as to clarify the cause of this problem, we need your help. We uploaded the cutted movie
http://www.fame-ring.com/test/1_arte.cut.ts
Please have it a try with your media players. Thank you.

If it is okay on your computer, the problem is related to usage of Smart Cutter; otherwise it is related to media player compatiblity.

Thank you, we are looking forward to your further message. In the mean time, we will check other sample files.

Best Regards,
FameRing Support Team

[ScanMan]

Your cutted TS is still playable, but very stuttering - like a fast slideshow.
This behaviour appears in all players.

An other test:
I recorded a TS with len of ~ 1 minute.
Without cutting i pressed the red 'convert current file' button.
All my players show's nearly same result: Heavy stuttering in the first 10 seconds, than playback is fluid.
NO prob's when playing the org. clip !
Org. size: 52.315 KB
Conv. size: 58.932 KB
~ 6 MB additional size ???

[admin]

Dear ScanMan:

Are you using a DXVA mode to playback H.264 video? You can identify this by observing the video filters in the media players.

This 'stuttering' looks like a 'fps change' related problem. Our developers are just working on that. We are told to release a fix version for this in one or two days. We will inform you as soon as we get that version.

Thanks for your information.

Best Regards,
FameRing Support Team

[ScanMan]

For further information - i'm using the follwing hard-/software:
- Mainboard XFX MI-A78U-8309 with onBoard GPU nVidia 8300, shared Memory 256 MB
- RAM is 2 GB DDR2 total, paired
- CPU AMD X2 5600+

OS is XP SP3, latest updates.
Installed codecs for H.264 are CoreAVC 2.0.0 and from Cyberlink PowerDVD9.
CoreAVC has CUDA-support selected for nVidia-GPU's - CL is set to DXVA.
For SD-material i use also nVidia Pure Video (also AC3).
Additional AC3-codec is AC3fFilter 1.63b.

Up to a few weeks ago i'm using my good old Nokia CRT with 22" and vertical repetiton-rate of 100 Hz. The best ever, but the tube become's older ...
Now i own a Samsumg SymchMaster 2494HS - nice, small & lightweighted - but it only supports a v-rep. of 59 or 60 Hz in HighRes !

>>> This 'stuttering' looks like a 'fps change' related problem

Normally there is no prob watching HD-material with my DVB-Soft in a window smaller than screen today. Everthing's fine & fluid.
But when sizing up to fullscreen i can wath something like a smooth buckled or egg-shaped wheel what produces something like partional 'slow-motion' or little stuttering.
Haven't had this behaviour bevor with the good old Nokia !

Suggestion:
German TV-Station's (and some other in europe) transmitt with vertical repetition rate of 25/50 Hz.
So 100 Hz of my old Nokia is an even multiplier - 59 or 60 Hz of the new Samsung is an odd multi !
And this only happens in fullscreen.
CPU to slow ? Windows-Taskmanager says load is approx. 25-30% ...

Also interesting:
German HD-Stations are transmitting in 1280x720 or 1440x1080 - my monitor-resolution is 1920x1080.
When i reduce solution downto neccessary or lower size and watch in fullscreen .... NO PROBS anymore !

So what's the reason ?
- CPU ? i don't think so...
- GPU ? Is supportet by codec !?
- Codec ? The fresh'est CoreAVC with less CPU - load...
- Mainboard ???

Never the less ... Smart Cutter produces none or less readable cuttings here ...

[ScanMan]

Edit - forgotten:

I haven't those probs with my HTPC (AMD GPU HD3200) working on a Samsung LCD-TV with 100 Hz ... !