[mythtv-users] Commercial Flagging after Transcode

[Mark]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf
> Of Michael Wisniewski
> Sent: Friday, 11 March 2016 9:51 AM
> To: Discussion about MythTV
> Subject: [mythtv-users] Commercial Flagging after Transcode
> 
> Hi!
> 
> I'm having a problem trying to do commercial flagging on a transcode.  After a
> recording job runs, I have it run the commercial flagging and then a custom
> script that transcodes the mpeg2 to a h.264 mpeg4 file.  You can see the full
> script here....
> 
> http://pastebin.com/GveHsDft
> 
> In particular, I have a question about these two lines:
> 
> mythcommflag --chanid $CHANLID --starttime $STRTTIM --gencutlist

MythTV can maintain in its database (amongst other things obviously) two sets of flags (relevant to your post). The first is commercial boundaries (set of start and end flags) commonly called the commskiplist. It is usually created by mythcommflag but there are other ways. The second is cut boundaries (set of start and end flags) commonly called the cutlist. It is usually created by copying the commercial boundaries (commskiplist) to the cutlist using --gencutlist switch or can be created / edited using the editor while viewing a recording in mythfrontend, but again there are other ways.

Although I thought the --gencutlist switch applied to mythutil not to mythcommflag? Maybe it is undocumented feature of mythcommflag? I don’t specifically recall. What version MythTV are you running?

Importantly, if your commskiplist is empty or wrong then using this switch will result in a cutlist that is empty or wrong. Also note that editing the cutlist does not update the commskiplist.

> mythtranscode --chanid $CHANLID --starttime $STRTTIM --mpeg2 --
> honorcutlist --outfile $MYTHDIR/$MPGFILE.tmp
> 

When using mythtranscode to transcode, it can optionally remove the cutlist from the transcode output. The --honorcutlist is the switch to achieve this. Depending on your setup once you transcode your original file might be irretrievably destroyed and / or overwritten.

> When it runs these commands, does it export the mpeg2 file with the
> commercials already removed?

Assuming that running mythcommflag with the --gencutlist switch is valid (which I can't confirm), then essentially yes assuming that the original commskiplist was generated and accurately marked the commercials intended for removal.

> Or, does it export the mpeg2 file as the
> original and puts the cutlist in a file alongside the mpeg2 file?

mythtranscode will create a new file. It may or may not overwrite your original file depending on your specific setup and script. Full disclosure: I didn’t read your linked script. There is no text file containing the cutlist generated by default, it is all stored in the mythtv database.

> 
> Going through mythweb, I see the commercial flag for the recorded
> programs, but when watching it through a Kodi frontend, I see no dialog
> recognizing commercials.

Kodi doesn't understand anything to do with mythtv commskiplist or cutlist, it just plays the file as it currently is.

My two guesses would be:
a) using mythcommflag with --gencutlist is invalid therefore your cutlist is empty therefore your transcode output is the full file.
b) your commskiplist is empty or incorrect to begin with therefore your cutlist is empty / incorrect therefore your transcode output is the full file.

Easiest way to check the commskip list is to play a recording in mythfrontend, press 'e' to bring up the editor then press 'z' to import the commskiplist into the cutlist editor and check it there. When you exit it will give you the option to save the cutlist or discard changes.

> 
> Thanks in advanced!