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pyTivoX

347K views 1K replies 205 participants last post by  elmeng 
#1 ·
pyTivoX is an Apple Mac OSX application that lets you view movies that are stored on your computer via your Tivo.

It provides both pyTivo and streambaby, and all necessary support applications/libraries.

You can read more about it and download it at http://pytivox.googlecode.com/

It has a very simple user interface, and 'just works'.

And yes, it's entirely free. No registration required. Source code available on the same web page.
 
#128 ·
Yeah, this was an "Audio/Video" dir I had underneath the /Applications in the Finder GUI. It translated to a colon in the shell. I moved back to regular /Applications and it worked. After that it was all about issues with streambaby, which I've been posting in that thread. I made the change that he talked about (the not autodeleting previews thing) and so as long as I never click 'Restart' in your app it won't overwrite that file, right?
That is correct. Restart will re-write the config file. Otherwise, nothing else will. The newest beta (1.1b4) fixes the 'autodelete' bug too btw...
 
#131 ·
the shared libraries should work with this update, although kearygriffin is probably going to post a new release of his code, after which I'll integrate it and put up another beta..
And I actually just made the autodelete code a little smarter so it won't fail on recursive symlinks, and also should be faster/use less memory in general. (It was brain-dead in many many ways... ;-) The new version should be up tonight.
 
#132 ·
And I actually just made the autodelete code a little smarter so it won't fail on recursive symlinks, and also should be faster/use less memory in general. (It was brain-dead in many many ways... ;-) The new version should be up tonight.
So can I re-enable autodelete in the next release?
 
#134 ·
I like the addition of the option to stream and/or have stuff in the Now Playing list. I wonder if there would be value in being able to assign a specific share as streamed versus in Now Playing (or both) rather than having it a global setting. I have some shares that make sense as folders in Now Playing and a couple that really make more sense as streaming.
 
#135 ·
I like the addition of the option to stream and/or have stuff in the Now Playing list. I wonder if there would be value in being able to assign a specific share as streamed versus in Now Playing (or both) rather than having it a global setting. I have some shares that make sense as folders in Now Playing and a couple that really make more sense as streaming.
Hmm.. I guess I can add a type called 'video - stream' , 'video -download' , and 'video both'.. or.. ermm.. trying to figure how to do this while keeping the interface basic and simple..

Edit: Ok, just added video:stream, video:pytivo (and the old video setting will apply to both). Not sure it's a good idea yet... but we'll see -- can always back the changes out if people seem confused... Trying to keep this program *VERY simple*. If you generally want to play with more advanced values, you may want to edit the files in
~/Library/Application Support/pyTivoX/
and avoid hitting the 'restart' button (that overwrites them).
 
#136 ·
Geez,
It seems I'm jumping back into the SA TiVo world at the right time - the availability of these features on MacOS is very nice, and you've done a great job simplifying and implementing them. Hat tip to you my good man.
 
#138 ·
Ok, the next beta is up, with the latest streambaby code, some new icons for the buttons, and the ability to select videos that are only streamed or only downloaded... Bug reports appreciated...
It's working well for me. And I like the selection drop down. I agree that you need to keep it simple, and I think you found a good balance by setting a default that is easy for a beginning user.

I also like the APPLY button instead of RESTART. I know RESTART is technically right, but APPLY makes me feel like the program actually saved my changes.

Did you change something with the network detection stuff? Before this beta I used to have to restart pyTiVoX a couple of times before the shares would show up in the NP list. Now it seems to work consistently on the first restart.
 
#140 ·
To contribute about the use of a colon...

Colon was the separator used in the Mac OS before OSX -- it goes back to the implementation of HFS (Hierarchical File System) which began back in version 4 of the operating system if I recall correctly (about 1989)
More like version 3 of the OS, circa 1986. System 3.2 was the first stable HFS release back then...it was widely used in my Mac lab in college. :)
 
#141 ·
Ok, the next beta is up, with the latest streambaby code, some new icons for the buttons, and the ability to select videos that are only streamed or only downloaded... Bug reports appreciated...
OK, that was my first dumb question in that did pyTivoX come with streambaby or was it expecting to already by in the Applications folder. I think you're telling is that it's baked in, especially since I have it working now on my G4 Leopard Server.

Unfortunately, a dual-G4 450 Mhz Mac makes a really slow transcoding machine. A test MKV video I ripped does stream correctly but the Mac can't keep up with it in real time. :(

Still waiting for Apple to upgrade the Mac Mini so I can buy a new cheap server....
 
#142 ·
Did you change something with the network detection stuff? Before this beta I used to have to restart pyTiVoX a couple of times before the shares would show up in the NP list. Now it seems to work consistently on the first restart.
Nope, nothing changed in the network detection stuff. Not really sure why it's consistently working (also, not really sure why it didn't work before...)
 
#143 ·
OK, that was my first dumb question in that did pyTivoX come with streambaby or was it expecting to already by in the Applications folder. I think you're telling is that it's baked in, especially since I have it working now on my G4 Leopard Server.

Unfortunately, a dual-G4 450 Mhz Mac makes a really slow transcoding machine. A test MKV video I ripped does stream correctly but the Mac can't keep up with it in real time. :(

Still waiting for Apple to upgrade the Mac Mini so I can buy a new cheap server....
Yep it's built-in (the main selling point of pyTivoX is that it's trivial for people to use. Just download, install, and run).

That said, if transcoding is very slow, may I suggest you use the pytivo mode instead? (check under now playing). While it won't let you fast forward into sections you haven't downloaded yet, it will not skip due to slow conversions -- it will just take longer to download if the conversion is going slowly...
 
#145 ·
Hello,

I have some dvdrips on my mac. I play them on the mac and the audio/video is perfectly in sync.

When i watch them on the tivo using pytivox the audio is out of sync by about 1.5 seconds.

Any ideas?
Well, it sounds like it might be an issue with the underlying 'pytivo' server, but before we go any further, can you elaborate a little more:
1) what kind of mac
2) what format did you rip it to? mkv? mp4? vob? avi? other?
3) Do you know what video encoding was used? (h.264? xvid? mpeg-2?) at what bitrate?
4) Do you know what audio encoding? (ac-3? mp3? aac?) bitrate? was it variable?
5) are you using the streambaby option in the beta? (under showcases) or the pytivo (under now playing..) to access the movie...
6) When you play it on your mac, what tool do you use...?

(often when files are 'converted' around, audio/video sync issues can happen -- pytivo has to convert your rip to a valid mpeg-2 that tivo accepts, so the conversion might be a problem... but some more info would help first. This may just be an encoding that ffmpeg does not work well with for converting...)

I did a quick perusal of the pytivo boards for similar problems, and found many similar queries:
pytivo support boards. Mostly it sounds like some formats are problematic for ffmpeg (the underlying converter).
 
#146 ·
Yep it's built-in (the main selling point of pyTivoX is that it's trivial for people to use. Just download, install, and run).

That said, if transcoding is very slow, may I suggest you use the pytivo mode instead? (check under now playing). While it won't let you fast forward into sections you haven't downloaded yet, it will not skip due to slow conversions -- it will just take longer to download if the conversion is going slowly...
pytivo does transcoding on the fly from the Now Playing list? I have to try that!
 
#147 ·
pytivo does transcoding on the fly from the Now Playing list? I have to try that!
Ermm, it does transcoding on-the-fly from your media folder and downloads to the now playing list (so is that a yes or no to your question?).

If you want something that transcodes on the fly from your now playing list to your media folder, that's what iTiVo is for...
 
#148 ·
Well, it sounds like it might be an issue with the underlying 'pytivo' server, but before we go any further, can you elaborate a little more:
1) what kind of mac
2) what format did you rip it to? mkv? mp4? vob? avi? other?
3) Do you know what video encoding was used? (h.264? xvid? mpeg-2?) at what bitrate?
4) Do you know what audio encoding? (ac-3? mp3? aac?) bitrate? was it variable?
5) are you using the streambaby option in the beta? (under showcases) or the pytivo (under now playing..) to access the movie...
6) When you play it on your mac, what tool do you use...?

(often when files are 'converted' around, audio/video sync issues can happen -- pytivo has to convert your rip to a valid mpeg-2 that tivo accepts, so the conversion might be a problem... but some more info would help first. This may just be an encoding that ffmpeg does not work well with for converting...)

I did a quick perusal of the pytivo boards for similar problems, and found many similar queries:
pytivo support boards. Mostly it sounds like some formats are problematic for ffmpeg (the underlying converter).
Thank you for your response - Here are the answers:
1 - i am using an intel imac(2.2ghz, 4gb ram)
2 - .avi
3,4 - The audio/video specs:
  • AUDiO......[ MP3 48000Hz 112 kb/s CBR (2 chnls) * * * * * * * *
  • LANGUAGE...[ English * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • ViDEO......[ 757 kbps XviD 23.976 FPS * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • Q. FRAME...[ 0.177 bits*pixel * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • RESOLUTiON.[ 664 x 268 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • DAR........[ 2.478 (57:23) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
  • SUBS.......[ None * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • FiLES......[ 1 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • SiZE.......[ 701 MB * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  • SOURCE.....[ DVD

5 - I am using pytivo under 'now playing'
6 - It plays perfectly using quicktime and vlc on my imac

Hopefully this is helpful!
 
#149 ·
God bless you, sir. I spent forever trying to get pyTivo running, with no luck. This will save me so much time transcoding files in VisualHub.

Great work! :up:

The only issue I've noticed is that AAC audio files don't play correctly, but TiVo Desktop has the same problem.

Thank you!
 
#151 ·
Is there a way to stream widescreen content as is and not have it stretch to go full screen.

When i use mac2tivo it streams widescreen content as is.

Sorry, for the elementary terminology. I am not incredible familiar with aspect ratios and such.
Hi gu, I'm still trying to figure out an answer to your audio delay question, I haven't found anything useful, but I'm really not that familiar with pytivo... hoping someone else (like wmcbrine) might have a lead..

As for the widescreen, if your file has the correct aspect ratio setting, pyTivo is supposed to correctly scale the film (i.e. you're not supposed to get stretching). I believe it just accepts the setting you have on your tivo (16:9 or 4:3). Are you seeing this with all files ?
 
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