MP not using correct audio renderer

[flexi]

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2.0
MediaPortal Skin: default
Windows Version: XP-SP2 (auto update)
CPU Type: P4-3GHz
HDD: 160GB SATA
Memory: 1GB
Motherboard: Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
Motherboard Chipset: Intel 875P
Motherboard Bios: newest (stable release)
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 6600GT
Video Card Driver: newest
Sound Card: Terratec Auron 7.1 Space
Sound Card AC3: yes via SPDIF
Sound Card Driver: newest
1. TV Card: no
MPEG2 Video Codec: PowerDVD 7.2, nVidia PureVideo Platinum
MPEG2 Audio Codec: PowerDVD 7.2, nVidia PureVideo Platinum
Satelite/CableTV Provider: no
HTPC Case: no
Cooling: CPU,NB,GPU Watercooled
Power Supply: Enermax 465W
Remote: IR-Trans
TV: no
TV - HTPC Connection: no

Hi I am new to MediaPortal. I have installed the latest version on a freshliy setup WinXP-SP2 machine over the weekend.

Unfortunately I am experiencing some strange behaviors of MP when selecting audio renderers for video and DVD playback. I have configured MP to use AC3-filter as audio renderer since not every audio renderer does support the SPDIF output of my Terratec soundcard.
AC3-filter is configured to use the SPDIF output and to show its icon in the system tray when running.

MP is correctly using AC3-filter when playing radio or music (AC3-filter icon is shown in the system tray.
However when playing movies or DVDs I get no sound and the AC3-filter icon does not show up in the system tray.

I have no audio problems when using BSplayer, PowerDVD or WMP11. AC3 and DTS is working perfectly.

Even stranger is the fact, that when I configure MP to use BSplayer to play movies I get no sound too! AC3-filter is not showing up in system tray.

When configuring a stereo setup sound is working, but AC3-filter is still not showing up in system tray. Therefore I suspect that MP is not using the configured audio renderer at all to play movies and DVD, but instead uses the MP built in renderer.
Is there any way to easily verify which a/v renderes MP is using at runtime?


What is wrong? Have I miss configured or forgotten something? I have searched this forum for a solution but so far without success.

Any help is appreciated!
Thank you very much!

Flexi

[gemx]

It seems as there is problem with codec priorities (merits).
You could this tool DirectShow Filter Manager and see which codec will be used and you are also able change the priority

[flexi]

@gemx: Thank you very much for your suggestion.


I did check my filter merit settings yesterday. AC3-Filter has the highest priority. So I guess it should work fine.

I did some other tests with the filter merits, setting both nVidia video and audio decoder to the highest priority. While BSplayer used the correct codecs according to the merits MP did not. For me it seems that MP is always using MPA and MPV during video and DVD playback.

I will try to de-register MPA & MPV this evening and see what happens.

Maybe I just do not understand correctly how things work , but what is the point of the MP audio/video renderer settings, when MP is using decoders according to filter merits?

Thank you very much!


@ MP Delveloper Team: for MP! It is amazing what you have accomplished so far!

[flexi]

I have found another thread in this forum:
http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/wr...ck-t11952.html

It seems that I am not the only one having this problem. Unfortunately there is no solution in this thread either. Hopefully de-registering MPA and MPV does help as a workaround.

[Beesoc]

Hey flexi,

You can try to force AC3-Filter in post processing for movies and TV in "Post Processing".

In the MP configuration click on "Movies" and then select "Movie Post Processing". You want to add "AC3 Filter Audio decoder". It might be named something slightly different but should at least have both audio and decoder in the name. (sorry, I don't personally use AC3 Filter) Double click it so that it gets added to the box on top. Make sure it is checked. You are now forcing MediaPortal to use AC3 Filter for audio.

Complete the exact same steps above in the "Television" section and AC3 Filter will be used with TV in MediaPortal as well.

As I mentioned, I don't use AC3 Filter but have used this method successfully with ffdshow and MediaPortal.

You should be all set after that. Hope it works for you.
Beesoc

[flexi]

Sorry for the late answer. I had to prepare for an exam.

Using AC3-Filter in pre-processing does not help.

In the mean time i was able to get movies up an running.

Unfortunately I still have problems with playing DVDs.
I either get good sound (DD5.1 or DTS over SPDIF) and a crappy stuttering image or I get a good picture but crappy sound (stereo).

If I configure MP to use PowerDVD7 A/V-decoders or nVidia A/V-decoders I get a crappy stuttering picture. Both video decoders are set to use Hardware Acceleration (disabling HW acceleration does not change the behavior however).

If I configure MP to use MPV as Video decoder and AC3-filter as audio decoder I get a nice picture but only Stereo Sound. (MPA does not recognize my SPDIF output therefore I have to use AC3-Filter). Within AC3-Filter I use the same settings as for playing movies which is working fine)

Playing DVDs either with PowerDVD or nVidias PureVideo Player works flawlessly with both, HW acceleration enabled or disabled.

Suggestions?

Is there a way how I can check which decoders, demuxers, filters MP is using on runtime?

Any help is appreciated.

[Paranoid Delusion]

download graphedit.

run MP in windowed mode with movie playing, launch graphedit, file\connect to remote graph, select the last (usually) file and it will show the video\audio path being used.

[Brudertac]

I too have the same Problem. Even with the lastest SVN i cannot use another Audio Codec than MPA. I have unregistered MPA Codec but then another unwanted codec is used. And not the wanted Nvidia PureVideo...

With this Problem i have an Audio-Sound Problem. On all Movies (mpg, divx) i can hear a deep hum. It comes from my Subwoofer. But only when watching "Movies" not on TV or DVD. (On TV or DVD Nvidia Purevideo is used correctly)

Does anybody else have something like this ?

[gusangora]

I tried this, Graphedit says to select a remote filter graph to view but there are no files listed! The window is empty.
I have several media files which have problems in MediaPortal, either sound or video, but GraphEdit indicates the correct codecs however MP doesn't play them (either not at all, or incorrectly). These same files play correctly using Windows MCE (Vista Home Premium).
Any further ideas?

[flexi]

I have solved my problems.

Someone else within this forum posted that he had video-scaling problems when using Anti-Aliasing.

I was on a point to try everything. So I disabled Anti-Aliasing in nVidia Control Panel and guess what, since then everything is working fine.

I can use either nVidia PureVideo A/V decoders or the ones from PowerDVD.