Comskip Changes

[carterbunch]

I have a script that used to add chapter markers to recordings. It is not working any longer and I think I have narrowed it down to an API call that has been removed.

I used to call this API
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.ffmeta

and it would return the comskip.ffmeta data that I would use to mark chapters in my recordings.

Is there a new API that I could call or a setting that restores this API or another location in the File JSON structure where I could grab this information?

[chDVRuser]

I never used that API, but it works for me on v2023.12.20.1953

Are you sure the recording you're trying to get it for was comskipped?
If yes, look for the video.ffmeta file in your Logs\comskip\ID directory

Appears it also works for these
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.edl
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.ffsplit
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.vdr
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.txt
http://channelsDVR:8089/dvr/files/ID/comskip.log

[racameron]

@chDVRuser

Are you sure the recording you're trying to get it for was comskipped?

TVE recordings that use the new "smart detection" (look for [ADS] entries in the logs) have not actually been processed by Comskip, and therefore the files you are expecting do not exist.

However, regardless of how the commercials were detected (Comskip or the new smart detection), if you retrieve the JSON data for a particular file you'll find a "Commercials" array that will tell you where the markers are.

[beyo77]

Ah, so that's why comskip log are missing.Never heard of smart detection.

As for the markers what are they marking? Segments without ads, segments with ads included until next mark? It is not the same as those in ffmeta file.

@carterbunch what tool are you using to insert marks to video? is this replace the need for eDL?

[chDVRuser]

@beyo77

Never heard of smart detection

BETA: Smart Commercial Detection for TVE & Pluto

With v2021.12.22.0148 we are testing a new smarter commercial detector, which works on some streaming channels. Instead of using comskip to scan video, this new detector uses a more traditional approach similar to how Pi-hole works. We can detect patterns on some channels where the advertising content comes from a different place. I have tested this with some Discovery channels on TVE, and some of the channels on Pluto. Share your own experiences below. Log output for traditional comskip: 2…

@beyo77

As for the markers what are they marking?

Commercial START and END in seconds, same as edl file

@beyo77

It is not the same as those in ffmeta file.

ffmeta file is generated by comskip and marks Commercial START and END & Program START and END in timebase 1/100 seconds (.01 seconds)

[beyo77]

So I ask again here - what are markers in the API marking? why there is a single value in array element?

[chDVRuser]

0 : Commercial block 1 START
1 : Commercial block 1 END

2 : Commercial block 2 START
3 : Commercial block 2 END

4 : Commercial block 3 START
5 : Commercial block 3 END

6 : Commercial block 4 START
7 : Commercial block 4 END

8 : Commercial block 5 START
9 : Commercial block 5 END

edl file same, just flattens out the blocks
Commercial block 1 START \t Commercial block 1 END
Commercial block 2 START \t Commercial block 2 END
Commercial block 3 START \t Commercial block 3 END
Commercial block 4 START \t Commercial block 4 END
Commercial block 5 START \t Commercial block 5 END

[beyo77]

I found answer to my other questions about manually edited commercials. Seems there is a request
http://localhost:8089/dvr/files/<ID>/comskip/info?source=local&apply_edits=true%22 that reference each block in "Blocks" keyword. I assume each block is one of the rectangles that appear after pressing "Re-edit commercials". I am making a script that generates when THE SHOW starts and end as it is information required to cut videos.