The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => Game Show Channels & Networks => Topic started by: tvmitch on April 10, 2019, 10:46:04 PM
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Sorry if this belongs in another location and please feel free to move the thread if so.
For those of you who use Buzzr’s online stream on their site or on Pluto: do you have a method of recording video from the stream at set times, sort of like a crude DVR? Is there software available to do that?
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I'm interested in this as well. Doing screen capture from their website isn't cutting it.
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I have seen software that allows you to capture streams directly, and you could potentially set that up to run as a scheduled task, but there are a whole lot of "if"s in there, up to and including "do they even work with Buzzr."
I remember at one time we were able to extract the standalone Buzzr stream (though I think it's since changed from the information I have) so that would be a big step forward if that is still doable.
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I was doing it that way before I had access to an OTA affiliate.
Assuming you're on Windows, all you really need is the ffmpeg command line program (https://ffmpeg.org/) which works great for this.
Install that, and then place this .bat file in the folder where it installed: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BhhX4xRZNpMsfjrVeReGnCe2MRK3Ju8t/view?usp=sharing
Feel free to edit the file to change the filename and length of the recorded file. I have it set at an hour right now (plus some padding), but it can be set for any length.
Then use either the Windows task scheduler or a 3rd party scheduling program to run the .bat file at whatever time you choose, and voila, you have an excellent quality recording of Buzzr's stream.
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Thanks Greg!
I'll take a look at the software you were using - I was trying something similar with a couple of other tools and wasn't happy with the results. I set up a virtual machine to run the capture software, but I had to keep the stream up in the VM at all times.
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Thanks Greg!
I'll take a look at the software you were using - I was trying something similar with a couple of other tools and wasn't happy with the results. I set up a virtual machine to run the capture software, but I had to keep the stream up in the VM at all times.
Cool. I updated my original post because I realized I had the wrong program listed, so make sure you refresh.
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That was the sort of solution I was thinking of; well played! Is that the current Buzzr stream URL or is that a redirect of some kind? My Plex channels stopped working at some point (not that it matters so much now that Pluto carries it, but yanno) and I think I need to update the URL.
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Assuming you're on Windows, all you really need is the ffmpeg command line program (https://ffmpeg.org/) which works great for this.
Off-topic departure:
I need to record some 4k material from one of my screens, but ffmpeg won't give me more than 10FPS, even if I use a version compiled with nvidia flags. And OBS has been a giant pain for my use case. What might you suggest as a dedicated box for encoding?
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That was the sort of solution I was thinking of; well played! Is that the current Buzzr stream URL or is that a redirect of some kind? My Plex channels stopped working at some point (not that it matters so much now that Pluto carries it, but yanno) and I think I need to update the URL.
The current streaming URL is in the .bat file I shared.
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The current streaming URL is in the .bat file I shared.
Right, but that is the direct one straight to Buzzr and not a redirect or anything that you might have set up, yes?
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The current streaming URL is in the .bat file I shared.
Right, but that is the direct one straight to Buzzr and not a redirect or anything that you might have set up, yes?
Right, yes. That's straight from Buzzr.
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Right, yes. That's straight from Buzzr.
Awesome, thank you sir!
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Very cool - it works like a charm!
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Oh, I made a batch file that can Buzzr with a timestamp added so I don't worry about overwriting. While my file uses Streamlink, ffmpeg is incredibly versatile.
Timestamp for Windows batch. Add %dtStamp% to the filename somewhere to get the timestamp.
SET HOUR=%time:~0,2%
SET dtStamp9=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_0%time:~1,1%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
SET dtStamp24=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
if "%HOUR:~0,1%" == " " (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp9%) else (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp24%)
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Oh, I made a batch file that can Buzzr with a timestamp added so I don't worry about overwriting. While my file uses Streamlink, ffmpeg is incredibly versatile.
Timestamp for Windows batch. Add %dtStamp% to the filename somewhere to get the timestamp.
SET HOUR=%time:~0,2%
SET dtStamp9=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_0%time:~1,1%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
SET dtStamp24=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
if "%HOUR:~0,1%" == " " (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp9%) else (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp24%)
Awesome -- this was also super helpful. I stuck this ahead of the ffmpeg line in the batch file, and then changed the file name to Buzzr_%dtStamp%.mp4, works like a charm.
I am having a weird issue with the batch file and Task Scheduler. No issues setting up the task, no issues when I manually kick off the task in Scheduler. When Scheduler kicks it off , I see the window open and start but within 3-5 seconds it shuts down, no file generated.
My first instinct was that it's a write permission issue, but I've given full access to all users to the folder at every level up to root, and the batch file. I also tried toggling between 'Run When User is Logged in' and 'Run when User is or is not Logged in', selected 'Run with highest priviledges', tried different configuration profiles.
Same result - when kicked off manually, or immediately in Task Scheduler, it works perfectly, when scheduled it kicks off but stops after 2 seconds.
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Oh, I made a batch file that can Buzzr with a timestamp added so I don't worry about overwriting. While my file uses Streamlink, ffmpeg is incredibly versatile.
Timestamp for Windows batch. Add %dtStamp% to the filename somewhere to get the timestamp.
SET HOUR=%time:~0,2%
SET dtStamp9=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_0%time:~1,1%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
SET dtStamp24=%date:~-4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%
if "%HOUR:~0,1%" == " " (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp9%) else (SET dtStamp=%dtStamp24%)
Awesome -- this was also super helpful. I stuck this ahead of the ffmpeg line in the batch file, and then changed the file name to Buzzr_%dtStamp%.mp4, works like a charm.
I am having a weird issue with the batch file and Task Scheduler. No issues setting up the task, no issues when I manually kick off the task in Scheduler. When Scheduler kicks it off , I see the window open and start but within 3-5 seconds it shuts down, no file generated.
My first instinct was that it's a write permission issue, but I've given full access to all users to the folder at every level up to root, and the batch file. I also tried toggling between 'Run When User is Logged in' and 'Run when User is or is not Logged in', selected 'Run with highest priviledges', tried different configuration profiles.
Same result - when kicked off manually, or immediately in Task Scheduler, it works perfectly, when scheduled it kicks off but stops after 2 seconds.
Yeah, I've had weird issues with Windows's built in task scheduler. I ended up using a third-party program: https://www.splinterware.com/products/scheduler.html
It may need to be configured to run the .bat file as an administrator too (or set the .bat file itself to always run as administrator).
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Thanks everyone. The Windows solutions look great and ingenious. Unfortunately, the main computer in my home is my iMac. I do think I have an old Windows box laying around somewhere, this will give me reason to fire that up...
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Thanks everyone. The Windows solutions look great and ingenious. Unfortunately, the main computer in my home is my iMac. I do think I have an old Windows box laying around somewhere, this will give me reason to fire that up...
All of this should work on a Mac as well, in roughly the same way: install FFMpeg (it exists for the Mac), set up the script / batch file, schedule tasks. The devil will just be in the details of how those things are done on a Mac as opposed to Windows.
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All of this should work on a Mac as well, in roughly the same way: install FFMpeg (it exists for the Mac), set up the script / batch file, schedule tasks. The devil will just be in the details of how those things are done on a Mac as opposed to Windows.
Nice, thanks. I will check it out. Assumed it was Windows-only.
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All of this should work on a Mac as well, in roughly the same way: install FFMpeg (it exists for the Mac), set up the script / batch file, schedule tasks. The devil will just be in the details of how those things are done on a Mac as opposed to Windows.
Yeah, the details were a pain with Win10. It's pretty slick when it's up and running.
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The scripting is fairly straightforward for Mac (and probably also Linux) folks:
#!/bin/bash
ffmpeg -re -i https://buzzr.global.ssl.fastly.net/out/u/buzzr_hls_4.m3u8 -ss 00:00:00.0 -t 01:04:00.0 -c:v copy -c:a copy Buzzr-$(date '+%Y%m%d_%H%M%S').mp4 -y
Just save that to a file, chmod 700 it, and run it from your Terminal.
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The scripting is fairly straightforward for Mac (and probably also Linux) folks:
#!/bin/bash
ffmpeg -re -i https://buzzr.global.ssl.fastly.net/out/u/buzzr_hls_4.m3u8 -ss 00:00:00.0 -t 01:04:00.0 -c:v copy -c:a copy Buzzr-$(date '+%Y%m%d_%H%M%S').mp4 -y
Just save that to a file, chmod 700 it, and run it from your Terminal.
Is there functionality in the UI akin to Scheduled Tasks in Windows, or would you need to set up a cron job from the command line if you wanted to do it on a timer?
(Heck, is there functionality to handle the chmod from the UI? There's got to be, right? Now I wanna set this all up on my Mac just as proof of concept.)
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So I'm fooling around here and the script above is throwing an error on me:
Unrecognized option 'i https://buzzr.global.ssl.fastly.net/out/u/buzzr_hls_4.m3u8 -ss'.
Error splitting the argument list: Option not found
Is it possible something needs to be in quotes somewhere in that command line? (Also, does the resulting file land in your home directory?)
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Possible dumb question -
Have you checked the spacing in your script? -i designates the input file. It's not seeing the '-' and doesn't know what to do with just 'i'
The file should drop to the same directory as the batch file unless you get fancy and specify another file path in the script.
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Possible dumb question
When it comes to me and Unix, there is no such thing. :)
Have you checked the spacing in your script? -i designates the input file. It's not seeing the '-' and doesn't know what to do with just 'i'
Yeah. that's what I thought that meant. I'm using TextEdit and originally it tried to save it as an RTF; maybe a rogue control character has broken spacing. Lemme type it manually to make sure it goes in clean.
....yep, that was it. It's doing something now that looks oddly like recording. I'll come back in four minutes (I did munge the length for testing) and see what I have. :)
The file should drop to the same directory as the batch file unless you get fancy and specify another file path in the script.
Great, thanks!
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Yep, that worked. The file is in my root user folder, but no matter. Now to figure out Automator just on principle. (Also maybe make FFMpeg compress the file a little? Four minutes was 75 meg.)
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My guess aligns with yours - saving it as an RTF file likely reformatted the text even though it looks the same on the screen.
Glad to help out!
I appreciate Greg sharing - he did the hard work!
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How frequently does Buzzr miss timing cues? I had the stream set up 90 sec early for Password Plus and the file was missing the first 1 minute. By the time they got to CS they were back on the half hour again.
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How frequently does Buzzr miss timing cues? I had the stream set up 90 sec early for Password Plus and the file was missing the first 1 minute. By the time they got to CS they were back on the half hour again.
I notice it a lot on DVRing. I’ll set up a recording for SP for two minutes before the scheduled start and I still occasionally miss the first 30-60 seconds.
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Seems like I can only record from a Roku, which I do not have. If there were a way to record on PC, that'd be great.
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Seems like I can only record from a Roku, which I do not have. If there were a way to record on PC, that'd be great.
The directions above are for PC.
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Weird random question - about once a week I have a stream end prematurely. I can't seem to correlate it to anything - it's never the same day, time, or at the same place in the stream. I've checked the modem log files and there don't appear to be any events that would trigger a loss of connection. Anyone else experiencing this?
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Seems like I can only record from a Roku, which I do not have. If there were a way to record on PC, that'd be great.
The directions above are for PC.
I'm sure the way above works, I'm just not that technologically advanced..maybe write all the steps in one message?
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I'm sure the way above works, I'm just not that technologically advanced..maybe write all the steps in one message?
He did.
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Resurrecting this because with the Whew! addition, I may be interested in exploring it further:
in the two years since, has the recording mechanism changed? Do we have a useful stream URL we can use?
(I wonder if a Plex server can be set up to do it. That would far and away be the most convenient solution for me.)
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Resurrecting this because with the Whew! addition, I may be interested in exploring it further:
in the two years since, has the recording mechanism changed? Do we have a useful stream URL we can use?
(I wonder if a Plex server can be set up to do it. That would far and away be the most convenient solution for me.)
Recording the network stream in VLC still works for me just fine:
https://buzzrota-web.amagi.tv/playlist480.m3u8
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Recording the network stream in VLC still works for me just fine:
https://buzzrota-web.amagi.tv/playlist480.m3u8
That is about which I am speaking. I'll go from there. Thank you sir!
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Hmm. You have any luck using VLM to schedule things?
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Hmm. You have any luck using VLM to schedule things?
Nah. I just let it run until I manually stop it, and then use MP4 Splitter to carve out the episodes I want to keep.
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Nah. I just let it run until I manually stop it, and then use MP4 Splitter to carve out the episodes I want to keep.
Yeah, that's about as far as I got too. Not optimal but it'll suit; I'm still researching ways to schedule the process.
What're you using as a splitter?
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Nah. I just let it run until I manually stop it, and then use MP4 Splitter to carve out the episodes I want to keep.
Yeah, that's about as far as I got too. Not optimal but it'll suit; I'm still researching ways to schedule the process.
What're you using as a splitter?
I use NextPVR, which is actually designed to work with TV tuner devices and antennas, but there's an option for using an M3U playlist for IPTV channels. Bonus is you can subscribe to TV listings and schedule recordings like an actual DVR.
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I use NextPVR, which is actually designed to work with TV tuner devices and antennas, but there's an option for using an M3U playlist for IPTV channels. Bonus is you can subscribe to TV listings and schedule recordings like an actual DVR.
I had no idea NextPVR did that for IPTV. I have it installed in two places (using my network tuner - basically I'm planning for the day Windows Media Center finally breathes its last breath) and will be investigating that. :)
Is there a URL I have to extract from the above or will that work straight up?
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I use NextPVR, which is actually designed to work with TV tuner devices and antennas, but there's an option for using an M3U playlist for IPTV channels. Bonus is you can subscribe to TV listings and schedule recordings like an actual DVR.
I had no idea NextPVR did that for IPTV. I have it installed in two places (using my network tuner - basically I'm planning for the day Windows Media Center finally breathes its last breath) and will be investigating that. :)
Is there a URL I have to extract from the above or will that work straight up?
What I had to do was make a separate M3U playlist with the Buzzr feed listed in it, upload that to Google Drive, and point NextPVR to the direct file URL.
You're welcome to use mine if you want: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1YN103ZXkkQMvpGbbFQvIyuTgt12ohLZv
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What I had to do was make a separate M3U playlist with the Buzzr feed listed in it, upload that to Google Drive, and point NextPVR to the direct file URL.
You're welcome to use mine if you want: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1YN103ZXkkQMvpGbbFQvIyuTgt12ohLZv
That's where I thought things were going when the m3u8 didn't want to import straight up.
So using your file, NPVR is sitting on "Downloading m3u" and not showing me the channel or the option to save. What you did is about what I figured would need to be munged, so I wonder what NPVR is hung up on. Maybe I'll upload that to my own web space and see if a more direct URL will help.
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Yep, finally got it, at least the m3u part, so that NPVR will like it. How are you getting your XMLTV listings? (I do have a Schedules Direct subscription, is it possible to pull from that?)
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Yep, finally got it, at least the m3u part, so that NPVR will like it. How are you getting your XMLTV listings? (I do have a Schedules Direct subscription, is it possible to pull from that?)
Yep. I've used programs that scrape Zap2It for XMLTV listings, but Schedules Direct is easier and only $25 a year. Doesn't really matter what Schedules Direct lineup you use as long as it's one for your time zone that has Buzzr in it.
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Yep. I've used programs that scrape Zap2It for XMLTV listings, but Schedules Direct is easier and only $25 a year. Doesn't really matter what Schedules Direct lineup you use as long as it's one for your time zone that has Buzzr in it.
(Apologies for asking so many questions, but you're being so damn helpful. :)) Can I use JSON listings or do I need to subscribe an XML one? KCOP out of LA has Buzzr on DT2 so it should be easy to find.
EDIT: Answered my own question. JSON ho! All set up. :)
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Yep. I've used programs that scrape Zap2It for XMLTV listings, but Schedules Direct is easier and only $25 a year. Doesn't really matter what Schedules Direct lineup you use as long as it's one for your time zone that has Buzzr in it.
(Apologies for asking so many questions, but you're being so damn helpful. :)) Can I use JSON listings or do I need to subscribe an XML one? KCOP out of LA has Buzzr on DT2 so it should be easy to find.
EDIT: Answered my own question. JSON ho! All set up. :)
Awesome, will be interested to know how your first scheduled recording goes.
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Awesome, will be interested to know how your first scheduled recording goes.
Well, I ran a couple of practice shots today - as long as I schedule within the NPVR client, it works a treat. Using Kodi as a front-end (with the NPVR add-in) throws an error that I am clearly not the only person to have seen and doesn't have an obvious solution online, so I may just need to go with NPVR for now.
The big question will be if one or both machines I am testing on will be able to come out of sleep to deal with a scheduled recording. We'll know the answer to that in about fifteen minutes. :)
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Answer: great success! They wake to record just fine, and it saves a .ts file that I can then copy off wherever I need it and convert and split as desired. (I could probably leverage MCEBuddy to convert that to an MP4 and trim
ads BUZZR logo breaks automagically I wanted to, and then I would just need to split.)
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So I've been trying the VLC method myself and I feel like it only works when it wants to. Last night, I tried to record BUZZR's Password Triple Shot last night & all I got was the first 15 minutes of Password Plus. Has this situation happened to anybody else, and if so, any tips on how to remedy this problem? At this point, I'm praying there'll be a "matrixwipe" type of YouTuber out there that will post the Labor Day Eve Whew! marathon and beyond there.
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Don't use the most recent release of VLC. I had similar issues with newer versions of VLC. I'm not at my PC at the moment, but I think the release I use is 3.08.
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Bumping to ask if anyone still uses VLC to record the Buzzr stream.
I had been using it fine up until five days ago when all of the sudden the stream link no longer works on my PC. It's still works fine in browser (with a plugin) and on VLC on my iPad, but I can't get it to stream through VLC on the PC anymore which is the primary way I stream and record. Other stream links, like those for The Barker Era, also still work, just Buzzr stopped all of a sudden. Wanted to know if it was me. Maybe I'll try shifting to ffmpeg, but I did enjoy how simple VLC was for me.
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Bumping to ask if anyone still uses VLC to record the Buzzr stream.
I'm using it as I type this... though it, for some reason, wasn't working for a brief period last night. Rebooting my laptop got it working again, so maybe check to see if you need to either reboot your PC, or run updates on it?