Question about the comskip feature

Channels DVR Server
#1

I am posting this here because it's not an issue per se, but I am curious about the implementation bf the comskip function in your DVR.

I noticed the recording doesn't have the chapters marked in the video file itself. I opened it in videoredo to verify. Unless you apply the curl application to the DVR, there isn't an edl file in the folder. Is there an edl file that is hidden by default that the DVR uses to give you the ability to skip commercials?

In case you're wondering why I am asking: I currently use Emby for all my video watching because a) I can sync my watched status to Trakt. b) I have a mix of ripped TV shows and recorded TV shows so they are all in one place. c) There is an Emby app for Windows 10 (to use on my laptop) and on Android so I can use it on my tablet and phone.

Currently I am recording with the Channels DVR and running it through MCEBuddy to remux to mkv and create the chapter markers in the video file itself. By doing this I am able to use MrMC with the Emby extension and then I can do one button chapter skipping (since MrMC won't read the edl file over http so the chapters have to be in the video file itself).

If Channels DVR were able to mark the chapters into the video itself, I could cut out the MCEBuddy step and just point an Emby folder at the Channels DVR folder.

Is there a way to do this what I am talking about?

#2

The video recording file is in the raw format used by the broadcast and HDHR, and does not support chapter markers. We store the markers in the DVR database entry for the recording along with the metadata like the airing info.

The only way to add the markers is by remuxing into a different container like mkv. This is not something the DVR can currently do. You may be able to find some other software that can add markers, or use ffmpeg to do that yourself (see https://github.com/erikkaashoek/Comskip/issues/32#issuecomment-149066215). You can fetch the markers either by poking at the DVR api or by enabling the option to emit edl files.

1 Like
#3

Awesome! Thanks for that data. I didn't realized that the raw broadcast formats didn't support chapter markers. That makes sense now.

Yeah, looking for a simpler way to do what I want to accomplish because I feel like MCEBuddy is overkill for my needs and I am considering moving over to Linux so I would have to create a script to do what MCEBuddy does now. I am not really well educated in scripting although I have been reading a lot about it.

Thanks again!