Is this module related to Channels? On my 8 core MacPro it uses 400% of my CPU. Just wondering if this is optional?
That’s the hardware transcoder. It would only be in use if you were transcoding live TV or recordings for playback through the web UI.
It’s also not normal for it to be using 400% cpu. Can you screenshot the Activity Monitor? Does it show any ffmpeg processes running?
I switched to software and ffmpeg is at 450%. Since the channels-dvr is on a MAc server, i need to figure out a method to send you a screen shot.
What are the specs/model of the mac? What version of macOS is installed?
shift-command-4
Channels at rest:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lhyz6rh05cex97c/Channels%20at%20rest.png?dl=0
Channels with hardware decoding:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a1lbzglzaldeej8/Channels%20hardware%20decoding.png?dl=0
Channels with software decoding:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bwajya2ex8o4ek7/Channels%20Software%20decoding.png?dl=0
MacPro Early 2008 spec
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f64h9irfn9w4dmi/MacPro%202008.png?dl=0
Thanks. Looks like overall CPU usage is still on 60% even though it says the encoder is using 400%
What does the CPU field on the DVR’s Settings tab say?
Okay it looks like that CPU does not support QuickSync, so hardware encoding is not possible. The DVR should not be showing the hardware option- that is a bug.
as an IBM Mainframe System Programmer, I love finding bugs. Helps developers in resolving issues before production.
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This is fixed in v2017.02.22.0443. Thanks for reporting.
I seem to be having similar issue here. Just recently over the last week or so maybe, I have very high CPU usage for VTEncoderXPCService. Just for a single video playing through web view I am getting over 300% and up to 400%. I have macOS Sierra 10.12.6 on a 2.3QC 2012 Mac Mini with 16GB Memory and SSD with library stored on an external USB 3.0 HDD. Doesn't matter if I have the Setting for quality lowest or highest and it is set to hardware encode. 
I am not sure but it also seems that this is causing the playback to buffer as the encoding cannot keep up maybe? I can’t remember where to get logs from if you let me know I will post those asap. It is 1220am EST and I will be hitting the sack in about 1 hr. So if I miss you then I will respond tomorrow.
Hmm, this could happpen if something else was the Hardware transcoder like Remote Desktop. You could switch to software transcoding instead, or reboot and see if it fixes itself.
Could you explain more about if it was something else? I will switch to software and see what happens. I believe I have eliminated any other software that it could be by shutting everything down except channels Web playback and it would be the only thing running and also stop if I stop channels playback. I have also restart a few times as well. I’ll update more with software transcoding results.
Open Terminal and run this command:
curl -XPOST http://127.0.0.1:8089/hls/hwaccel
Then copy/paste the new “HWE” message that show up on the Log tab.
The only thing that comes up is true on the next line right in front of the next line's Command Prompt. Sorry if I am not understanding what to do here.
I also can now no longer playback in web due to this issue...
As soon as I play a video, at the bottom it just says transcoder finished and then spins for a while and then errors with what you see there.
Plex is running right now but CPU usage is as you see here...
Actually... digging a little more. My Channels Folder of media is magically empty. In this picture you can see that the Channels folder is selected and there is nothing in there. This drive is 5TB. There is nothing in the trash.
I don't know WHAT is going on.
You need to check the Log tab of the DVR. It should show some “HWE” messages after you run the Terminal command. It will also show error messages about why playback is not working.
It sounds like your DVR drive got disconnected or is failing.