dual language DVB Broadcasts

[Doom9]

I'm wondering: I know there are certain TV stations that are available in multiple languages, and I have at least one from my Astra/Hotbird setup where I can actually switch audio (Euronews via Hotbird). Is it possible to capture the entire stream from that station (obviously, having news in multiple languages isn't so great.. but if it's a movie that's available dubbed (ugh.. I hate that.. number one reason I don't watch movies on TV) and in English, that would certainly be interesting. So are there stations that are broadcasting in dual (or more) language and is there a way to capture both languages at the same (using a DVB PCI card)?

[DAvenger]

I think that depends on the viewer/capture software. Technically, it should be pretty much possible.

I've also seen few channels broadcast multi-language in the same audio stream - putting them in a left/right channel of the stereo stream.

P.S I am using SkyStar 2 and DVBViewer 2.0 R2

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by Doom9
So are there stations that are broadcasting in dual (or more) language and is there a way to capture both languages at the same (using a DVB PCI card)?

There are lot of channels available in dual language. Have a look at www.satcodx.com or www.lyngsat.com !

For the capture, the program Skyview by Marfi is able to caputre in MPEG TS format, that is with all the available audio tracks. It can save files either in MPEG or in PVA format. It's based on Marfi's DirectShow source filter SkyAVC. Another interesting feature is the PIP function. But it works only with Technisat SkyStar2 cards.

The English page is here: http://www.cait.com.pl/dvb.php?sect=eng

[Hackbart]

The DVBViewer is able to support:
1. language switching while tv/radio, DVD and video playback
2. some broadcasters are using the stereo signal to send some dual language - the next release is detecting these channels and offers to do some realtime left/right channel to monoaural audio conversion
3. an additional plugin also offers to write almost every video/audio station on one transponder in the same time. Just to avoid tons of functions and switches inside the main program its outsourced into one freely available videorecorder plugin (similar to the Audiorecorder plugin which is able to convert MP2 Radio stations into Wav, OGG or MP3)
4. Multicasting TV/Radio is also available:

http://www.dvbviewer.com/images/mactheme.jpg

Cheers
Christian

[Doom9]

are there any free-to-air channels on Astra/Hotbird that are dual language? The SS2 doesn't have a CI interface and I don't feel like paying extra either (except if there were a way to get a bunch of US channels but so far I think that's too much to hope for).

@Hackbart: You might want to mention that AC3 support is a feature of the full version only on your website (advantages of the full version).. I've tried about everything until I found a guide that said AC3 was not supported in the Technisat edition of DVBViewer.

@MrDarcy: I already know of those sites but they are, well, a design and usability nightmare, especially satcodx.

[Hackbart]

This is correct, the Technisat version does not handle AC3. This is caused by the Sourcefilter which is distributed there. In the fullversion you can either use the SkyAVC or the DVBViewer Sourcefilter. Both are supporting AC3 very well.
Multilanguage Channels on Astra (with seperate Pids) are:

ZDF (Stereo/AC3)
Pro7 (Stereo/AC3)
Sat1 (Stereo/AC3)
Arte (German/French)

i suppose there are a couple of others which also send two or more audiopids.

On Hotbird 13° you might receive also these dual language stereo mixed mode channels.

Christian

[DAvenger]

Originally posted by Doom9
(except if there were a way to get a bunch of US channels but so far I think that's too much to hope for).

On Astra, there is only CNBC (apart from the financial news, they broadcast Conan and Leno shows every weekend). There used to be Fox also but it's gone now.

[Doom9]

@MrDarcy: Is there a useful manual for SkyViewer? I installed it, did a channel search and while it found a lot of channels, I seem to be unable to view anything. I have tried every program to support the SS2 card and besides the default DVBViewer, I only got ProgDVB to halfway work (it doesn't yield any channels on Astra... whereas DVBViewer seems to prefer Astra over Hotbird channels).

Seems to me a guide site is already required just for viewing DVB-s, let alone capture and process it.

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by Doom9
@MrDarcy: Is there a useful manual for SkyViewer?
...
I only got ProgDVB to halfway work (it doesn't yield any channels on Astra... whereas DVBViewer seems to prefer Astra over Hotbird channels).


SkyView GUI is a nightmare :(.
Unfortunately I didn't find a guide, but if you have some confidence with satellite "language", it's not difficult to understand how it works.

On DVBN forums there is now a long thread about SkyView: http://forums.dvbnetwork.com/viewtopic.php?t=15834
(but I think to remember you need to register)

Here you can find guides about other DVB programs: http://multidec.host.sk/en/ (and a lot of software too)

Your problems with ProgDVB can depend on DiSEqC settings. Check the DiSEqC menu and have a look at ProgDVB manual at http://www.progdvb.com.

Bye!

[ermannob]

Originally posted by Doom9
are there any free-to-air channels on Astra/Hotbird that are dual language? The SS2 doesn't have a CI interface and I don't feel like paying extra either (except if there were a way to get a bunch of US channels but so far I think that's too much to hope for).


The lack of CI interface can be solved using ProgDVB and a plugin called PoorMan's CAM. I'm not sure it's legal (due to decrypt algos patents)... Anyway, with PoorMan's CAM and a Phoenix interface you can use your regular smart card to view channels you paid for.

[stax76]

is this a solution with the card actually pluged in some kind of hardware device or are you talking of a pure software solution? In case you are talking about a SoftCam then this is not very helpful since the the algo interesting for him is not cracked yet (I case I'm violating forum rules please somebody let me know, I guess dvbn is a more appropriate place to discuss this kind of topic)

[Doom9]

@MrDarcy: I didn't want to believe it but you're correct.. since my standalone receiver has hotbird as sat 1 I put hotbird on the first LNB channel which was my mistake. Now if somebody knows how to switch between the two available audio channels or even better, capture them both at the same time I'm all ears (I also got skyview working now..).

[ermannob]

Originally posted by Dolemite
is this a solution with the card actually pluged in some kind of hardware device or are you talking of a pure software solution? In case you are talking about a SoftCam then this is not very helpful since the the algo interesting for him is not cracked yet (I case I'm violating forum rules please somebody let me know, I guess dvbn is a more appropriate place to discuss this kind of topic)

Poor Man's CAM is a software plugin for ProgDVB (and MultiDec too). A Phoenix is a hardware interface where you have to insert your regular smart card. The Phoenix interface is connected to pc's serial port.
I just took a look at the readme right now... Poor Man's CAM supports only SECA.

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by Doom9
@MrDarcy: I didn't want to believe it but you're correct.. since my standalone receiver has hotbird as sat 1 I put hotbird on the first LNB channel which was my mistake. Now if somebody knows how to switch between the two available audio channels or even better, capture them both at the same time I'm all ears (I also got skyview working now..).

Happy to know I helped you :-).
To switch between audio channels: in SkyView click the little "L" icon in the bottom left corner; in ProgDvb enter Channel Property end select a different audio PID.
To capture multiple channels: in SkyView you need to activate the MultiPID recording funcion. This can be done with right-click on the SkyView icon (satellite dish) in the traybar, select Options (or maybe Settings... now I'm at work and I don't remember exactly :) ), then Tools and finally Activate Multipid recording. Here you can choose which PIDs you want to capture, Activate them and Start recording, either in separate files or in a multiplexed one. Another option here is to record the whole stream from the transponder. I suggest to deactivate video rendering while recording to save CPU.
Sorry if I reported something wrong, but on this PC I can't install SkyView because my boss wouldn't agree....

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by ermannob
I just took a look at the readme right now... Poor Man's CAM supports only SECA.

....and Nagravision too. But always with a regular subscription.

It could be interesting to know if these plug-ins are legal or not. Someone thinks yes because they works only with a legal smart-card. Someone thinks no because this software didn't pay rights to the Conditional Access provider, like decoder's manufacturers have to do.

[Doom9]

@MrDarcy: thanks for the tips. I'll try tonight.

The Phoenix interface is connected to pc's serial port.Eww.. that option just died. I'll reactivate the serial interface over my dead body.

[Doom9]

@MrDarcy: I'm afraid I can't quite find that menu you've mentioned.

Right click on the dish, then Settings, then I have either Utility & Settings or Options, but I can't find a Multipid recording function in either of those menus.

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by Doom9
@MrDarcy: I'm afraid I can't quite find that menu you've mentioned.

Right click on the dish, then Settings, then I have either Utility & Settings or Options, but I can't find a Multipid recording function in either of those menus.

Sorry, you're right. I didn't remember the correct sequence.
It's: Right-click - Settings - Utility & Settings - Show Multirecorder
You can also reach quickly the same windows clicking the "i" (Info) blue icon in the bottom left corner of the main screen, and then choose che "Cache" tab.

[Doom9]

@MrDarcy: I was already there before.. but even if I add the proper audio and video PIDs, activate it, make sure the video and audio shown is the proper one.. whenever I start to capture (single stream, all separate, or TS).. I get 0 byte files.

Are there any alternatives for the SS2?

As for PIDs:

ZDF (Stereo/AC3) 120/125
Pro7 (Stereo/AC3) 256/257
Sat1 (Stereo/AC3) 1792/1795

To those using SkyView: SkyView uses Hex Numbers by default. And in the MultiPid Recorder there's no way to use non-hex numbers. Fortunately, the Windows calculator (in scientific mode) can handle both Hex and Decimal numbers.

[stax76]

you could ask the author at dvbn, there is a very big topic about his soft. You know probably already SkyAVC which is the core of SkyView expires always after 3 months?

[Doom9]

dvbn = ? forums.dvbnetwork.com?

BTW.. I got AC3 from the 3 listed channels using ProgDVB. And for some reason DVB Portal now also works. The SkyAVC filter is the latest version which came out only a little more than a week ago.. not a chance it has run out. I have at least two DVB programs working that rely on that filter.

[stax76]

yes, I meant dvbnetwork.com, happysat's site

[MrDarcy]

Originally posted by Doom9
whenever I start to capture (single stream, all separate, or TS).. I get 0 byte files.



Hi,
this is very strange. I just tried ZDF on Astra 19,2 East and everything is fine. I managed to record both single streams (Audio, Video, AC3) and MPEG TS.
But MPEG2Schnitt doesn't accept these elementary streams, why?

I experienced a 0 byte recording file on the italian pay-tv channel Sky 16:9, but I solved renaming the channel to "Sky 16-9". It seems that ":" in the channel name, thus in the recording file name too, awakes a bug in SkyView.

EDIT: Tonight I'm doing several tests and sometimes the recording doesn't start. Maybe there is something wrong in this version. I solved this way: Deactivate, remove selected PIDs, switch to anoterh channel and then back to this one, add PIDs again, Activate. Here, it worked.

[eb]

@ Doom 9,

This is my second post on this nice /my everyday lecture/ forum and this way I want to thank you Doom 9 for such big work, 90% of my knowledge is going from this site and now I will try to pay back some of it.

Doom 9 wroteTo those using SkyView: SkyView uses Hex Numbers by default. And in the MultiPid Recorder there's no way to use non-hex numbers. Fortunately, the Windows calculator (in scientific mode) can handle both Hex and Decimal numbers

There is no need to use calculator, when you are in Multirecorder section then click on any "grayed" field and all numbers will be converted to Hex or to Dec, and of course latter it is possible to input numbers in mode that you prefer.

General note about SkyView and Multirecorder:

Multirecords can be done only from the same transponder, I'v got 17 separated audio and video PID records at the same time.

SkyView record modes:

From normal mode you can record as MPEG or PVA having choise to select
audio PID, at the same time you can set subtitles page and this will be recorded separatly as .txt file.

In Multirecorder mode you can record independently of normal mode but from the same transponder another up to 16 audio and/or video PIDs separated to every individual PID or all selected PIDs together as one .ts stream/file , OR you can record ALL Transponder DATA as a one stream/file.
This description about SkyView recording possibilties is not completad all another record ways.

Greetings

eb

[Chisum]

@doom9
If you are looking for a program, that captures all PIDS of a stream and works with skystar 2, you can try TSReader. There is a light version with some reduced abilities. Another possibility -but only for the hauppage nova card is DVB-S from Majoor on majority.nl. And WinSTB is supposed to capture the whole transportstream, which in my opinion always meant including all PIDS of this stream, even teletext PIDs for subtitles, if there are.

[cofferscuffs]

Originally posted by DAvenger
On Astra, there is only CNBC (apart from the financial news, they broadcast Conan and Leno shows every weekend). There used to be Fox also but it's gone now.

well, there's always the feeds from usa. so thats sports and news and occasionally the odd time where you can catch abc etc. but you need a motorised dish though :)

[jurij]

Since Sky (italia) seca2 has now been hacked by yanksee, can i record 2 audio strams in progdvb?

[Doom9]

Since Sky (italia) seca2 has now been hacked by yankseecough cough.. hacked? Time to revisit the forum rules.

And ProgDVB was never able to record more than one audio stream at once.

[jurij]

i have a Hauppauge Nexus which should be compatible with Skystar1.
Is thee a tool that will let me to record both audio pids?
i think that Skview only supports skystar2 :(((