pyTivo Discussion Forum

[wmcbrine]

The default versions of ffmpeg that come with Ubuntu won't work for pyTivo. Support for needed codecs was stripped, to avoid patent issues. However, you can get a working ffmpeg with just a little effort, depending on which version of Ubuntu you're using:

9.10: As with 8.10/9.04, the working version is in the mainstream repos, but (according to this HOWTO post in the Ubuntu forums) with the label "extra", instead of "unstripped".

8.10 or 9.04: The working version is in the mainstream repos (in universe or multiverse), but with the label "unstripped". Select all the "unstripped" packages to install.

8.04: To get a working version, you first need to add the "Medibuntu" repository to your sources. See here for instructions. Then, just upgrade (if you already had ffmpeg installed), or install the ffmpeg package.

More info later.

[bgiannes]

The best way is to:- http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=786095

This howto works the best, the thread is also kept up to date

It works every time....


The only addition would be that the ubuntu location of ffmpeg file after the build is NOT where pytivo looks for it, so after you follow the howto then do this.

cd to the /ffmpeg folder then

cp ffmpeg /usr/bin/ffmpeg/ffmpeg

you may need to over write the old ffmpeg, if you have an old install. As the purge command did not remove the old file for me....

then your good.....

[wmcbrine]

If you do choose to build your own ffmpeg, I'd urge you to install it in the default /usr/local/bin rather than /usr/bin, which is normally reserved for package-managed binaries. Then just point to it in pyTivo.conf:

[Server]
ffmpeg = /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg

I would really discourage overwriting package-managed binaries with user-compiled ones. It confuses the package managers, and it's not necessary -- that's what /usr/local is for.

But you may as well remove the system packages of ffmpeg if you build your own.

[windracer]

I just put the ffmpeg package on hold so it doesn't update itself. But yeah, /usr/local is probably the better way. Maybe at one point I'll actually switch to that.

[gonzotek]

I've been working on this page:
http://pytivo.armooo.net/wiki/UbuntuInstall

I merged in some of the comments from this thread, hope that's ok. Does anyone know how to get the main pages modified (for instance to update the download links for this page when it's ready?)

[rdian06]

[gonzotek]

Thanks, he's already PMd me

[bgiannes]

another great resource is here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ffmpeg

there is alot of detail on this page.




(i have had problems with these method, but i thing they work for 99% of people)


note: in my #2 post that build method works in Jaunty 9.04 a6, nowever ffmpeg don't use as much cpu as it should, sometime at low at 1%....

for me the build method is the only way to get x264 working....

[bgiannes]

i looked at the wiki page, looks good.

I think some of the older builds of python less then 2.5.2, (correct me if i'm wrong) don't have ssl socket turned on. If this is the case python will need to be purged reinstalled or rebuild w/ ssl on, if not the "send to" tivo commands will not work.

[bgiannes]

have a look at this howto, spells it all out


http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1117283