All-In-One Solution (1 Viewer)

[ado_civon]

Hello,

What I'm going to ask has most probably been covered in its individual posts and discussions but I haven't come across one post to cover most possibilities when it comes to a HTPC/Home Audio/Video/Control solution.

I would like to not only use Media Portal as a HTPC setup, but as a whole in-house entertainment/media distribution application. Yes, DOH! everyone does but I'm talking about ease of use as well as versatility.

I've had a few discussions with friends as to the "best" solution for distributed audio/video throughout the house and one of the best would be to go and spend big money on an RTI system that includes HDMI Matrix Switches, HDMI to Cat6 converters for cheaper cabling, WIFI remotes, RTI remote control system that can control multiple IR & RS232 devices and so on.

But the problems remained in the cost, and well, not everyone can get their hands on the RTI software to re-program their awesome remotes just to add an additional TV.

So the next solution we had was to include a HTPC for each TV and connect every computer through a gigabit switch. Media Portal would be greatly suited for this as it has a great interface, big support base and versatility such as through plugins, skins, tools and so on. But can it be used to replace systems such as RTI?

What I would like?

• 1x HTPC at each TV (through HDMI) with possibility of a Blu-ray player in each and obviously gigabit network to a main server.
  
• 1x Server that holds all my music / movies but also is capable of receiving component output of devices such as PAY-TV (Foxtex for my case, Premiere for germany and so forth).

The server should be able to seamlessly stream the music / movies to each HTPC, also stream blu-ray movies (if only the server has blu-ray), stream any additional device connected through component to the server (PayTV).

Be capable of playing music itself (run client version also) to a multi-zone amp so that I can have something as easy to use as SONOS, I've come across a nice iPhone app too iPimp on this forum, so that's already going in the direction that Sonos handles its music playback (Great stuff there).

So far you may say; "it's possible", "i don't see a problem with that", "double DOH!"

I am wondering that if I do play a Blu-ray movie on the server that it can be reproduced on the HTPC's at 1080p (provided they are capable) and without lag? Could two HTPC's access the same movie also? I know they can for files but an actual Blu-ray disc?

The other issue: Remote Controls. I've had nothing but drama's with Silverstone junk, or should I say iMON junk!
Don't flame me on this because the discussion is not about the support of Silverstone & Soundgraph especially.

I would like a remote control that is Wi-Fi or RF capable to carry around the house and that is able to communicate via IR also for TV's and so forth. So that if I'm in any room I can pick the TV and control it, control the HTPC (send commands to media portal to play/watch or whatever) and to be able to communicate to the SERVER to Play a Blu-ray disc, to change the channel on the Pay TV Box (rs232 or IR connection) and to control a multi zone amp (rs232) to turn on a particular zone with some simple volume control.

Sorry for the long post but if you have any suggestions or solutions to some/all problems feel free to post them.

 

[druid9]

I think MediaPortal can do most of what you are after. The only issue I am unsure about is playing a blue ray disc remotely, but the rest looks simple enough.

Because mediaportal is client server, most of what you want to do is handled at the client rather than the server end.

The remot you use only need to control the client in the room that it is in, if all of the clients are running MP, then one remote should be able to control each of them.

To change volume of playback, you are simply changing volume on the client, don't need to go back to the server. Same for selecting tracks, movies, TV shows, TV channel change etc. This might be different for your set top box (in fact I am sure it is) so you might need some help from someone who has one of those. There are remote solutions which use bluetooth, which would have a greater range and don't need line of sight, that might be an option. I used to play around with using my mobile phone to control MediaPortal with Bluetooth and that worked fine, but just didn't feel right. You might want to look at Salling Software - Home for a bluetooth implementation. Someone on these forums has developed a similar sort of plugin for MP using an i-Phone I believe.

Having a HTPC in each "zone" kind of renders the multi-zone amp redundant also I think, as MP connects to the server to play tracks and outputs them locally on the client. Each zone could be playing whatever was selected on the client in that zone.

as regards the quality of output, that would be down to the capability of each HTPC client. As the data is coming across the network (preferably by Cat6 cable), the output is simply down to what the respective video cards and CPUs can process.

Going back to remotes, my harmony 525 (only infrared) can control all of the equipment in the house, a sony lcd, sony receiver, three different HTPC's (2 Asus, one Dell), a Phillips CRT television, probably even the $25 fan we bought last summer (yes, it did come with a remote). Just a matter of programming really, the logitech web site has codes for equipment from nearly all suppliers. Bit of a pain to set up, but with on button push you can turn on amp, set inputs and out puts, turn on lcd, set inputs and outputs, resume the HTPC from standby, even fire up MediaPortal if it isn't already. $75 cheap as chips. Not the best looking unit, though it does feel good in the hand, you might prefer a more upmarket unit, I think Logi have a touch screen jobby, looks very cute.

Good luck in your quest for HTPC nirvana, but take my tip, kiss the wife and kids goodbye, you won't be seeing them for a while. Also make sure you look after the WAF (Wife Appreciation Factor) if she is anything like mine she won't understand what all the fuss is about and just want to watch telly. One glitch in you hi-tech toy and she will be back to analogue on the CRT before you can blink.

 

[ado_civon]

Thanks for the reply much appreciated.

The one thing with the multi-zone amp that you said can be controlled from each htpc is not what i'm after.
As the house will have ceiling speakers for audio distribution the best and most user friendly option would have been Sonos. The reason that I am trying to bypass it is the cost factor and because I already have a main server that will sit conveniently near the rack home theater rack where i have all my ceiling speaker wire running to.

Therefore I need a multi-zone amp that can be controlled via rs232 which is not an issue to get.

Problem: How can I control the multi-zone amp and htpc server to play my music out in the alfresco area using just a remote. This is what a sonos unit is capable of doing.

I know the iPIMP software can only play and set playlists but a possibility to extend the functionality to also send a control signal to the multi-zone amp from the server would be a great addition. Is it possible though?
Maybe if i used a different remote? Logitech Harmony?
One thing to make it a little simpler (maybe), i will have a HTPC in the vicinity thats running media portal client.

EDIT:
The problem above is solved by using iPIMP and a secondary HTPC with its own server. so iPIMP will only link to a HTPC that is dedicated to AUDIO Streaming for home audio distribution.

The Advantage: 1x HTPC + 1x AMP with 6 channels could lead to be less than $1000 which compares to ONE SONOS 2ch DEVICE.

Limitation: Volume control comes from HTPC and controls all AMP channel outputs at the same volume which is not a major issue.
Am going to look into multi zone amp (plus cost) and how to control it from the dedicated HTPC that is only for MUSIC.

 

[pilehave]

Logitech Harmony can be set up to do most thing using activities, so it would be no problem to let it change zone on the amp and then control the GUI of MediaPortal after that. You can even set it up to control the amp volume (which I do) and skip the MediaPortal volume control totally.

 

[ado_civon]

hi pilehave,

can you control your multi zone amp from another room? because i'm considering to put the amp the server htpc in a rack say possibly under the stairs.

A IR transmitter could potentially do it that converts IR to RF and at the amp end RF to IR, but that means having a little IR receiver box sitting near the TV or worse, having an IR box sitting in the alfresco area.

 

[pilehave]

Harmony 895, 1000 and 1100 uses RF, and coupled with one or more RF extenders ( Amazon.com: Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender: Electronics ) you can probably use the same remote in the whole area of the house.

 

[ado_civon]

oops yeah harmony is rf

how's the harmony remote work with mediaportal? can i see music lists and so on? To manage playlists or whatever else?

This is starting to look good because i could get by without having to spend thousands on hdmi matrix switchers, hdmi to cat6 converters and so on. thanks

 

[pilehave]

oops yeah harmony is rf

how's the harmony remote work with mediaportal? can i see music lists and so on? To manage playlists or whatever else?

This is starting to look good because i could get by without having to spend thousands on hdmi matrix switchers, hdmi to cat6 converters and so on. thanks

The Harmony cannot receive info to the screen from any devices. So...if you want lists and other stuff on the screen you're out of luck...a Sono or Squezebox can do that, but they can't control anything else.

 

[jsimo01]

I did not think MP had the ability to output audio to different soundcards for multi-zone audio! Or are you able to have the audio from each zone fed back to the amp?

I use JRiver Media Center for music, mainly because it has the ability for audio 'zones' (with ASIO compatible soundcards like from M-audio) plus I can use a PDA with NetRemote to control the server and see on the PDA what is on in each zone, create playlists and change the volume etc.

I extended the NetRemote with Girder so that it can also act as a remote for MP, but still having trouble changing between clients.

You could easily run JRiver as well as MP (it is not freeware though) with NetRemote and an M-Audio 4in/4out soundcard for around £125 plus your amp. (You can also have multiple instances of WinAmp runing, though never tried this, and not sure about control.) It's gotta beat Sonos etc. hands down on price.

p.s. I bought the PDA off e-bay, pretty cheap, but should also work on Windows Mobile devices/smartphones I think. There still is not a NetRemote MediaPortal plugin though, pity!

 

[ado_civon]

I've got a PDA as well as iPod Touch, there's no problem with those.

I didn't know about M-Audio cards so thats great info and something to look into. NetRemote with Girder looks pretty good too.

If i had a dedicated Audio distribution pc that has an M-Audio soundcard together with NetRemote and JRiver Media for music, I could technically have it do my audio in the house as well as control the independent zones. I'm not too fussy about playing 1 song in all zones, but rather more fussy on being able to turn a particular zone on/off with individual volume control.

I wonder if it would be a cheaper alternative to Sonos though.
1x Global Cache WEBSITE $160 USD
1x Girder WEBSITE $100 USD
1x NetRemote WEBSITE $70 USD
1x J. River Media Center WEBSITE $45 USD
1x Sound card with multi channel output (can use onboard if no input required)

so far $400 USD without J.River and then a Media Center PC approx $300 USD and the cost of a multi zone amp...