Looking to join MP, need help with few questions (1 Viewer)

[mamexp]

Hi all, and happy new year!

I've been building htpc since last year and have gone thro a few different setups. None have satisfied my needs. The reason i havent tried MP because i bought MCE2005 and thought its probably the same.... :sorry:


1. What does MyDVD/MyVideos use to play DVDs? or is it actually integrated with its own playback program? what about codec... or is there an option to choose playback programs to use? like TheaterTek or Zoomplayer?

2. Basically just as the aboved questions, but in short term, can i use video processing like FDDshow and pureVideo with MP? probably in MyDVD/MyVideos? Having ability to enhance video playback is very very nice.

3. Does MP support MCE remote? What about other remotes comes with tuner cards as a package? I know these cards are supported but does it support the remotes as well?

4. Currently i'm using MythTV but not satisfied due to lack of video processing support (pure playback quality) and compatibility with other windows based computers.

5. Will MP support HD content in near future? (playback HD-DVD, Blue-Rays, ....)

6. How does MP support programs information? Any fee associated? Does program info work with ATSC?

7. Can i choose what codec to use for recording?



My goal is to have one backend+ frontend computer which handles all recording and time shifting as well media storage and multiple frontend computers which can watch TV live and accessing all media files on the backend computer. Having looked over all MP features on the front page, i realised there are something called TV-engine? and TV-server? Are they the backend that i'm looking for? Are they seamlessly working with the MP front end? Beyond TV has something like that but unfortunately it does not work perfectly (tv recording crashes...etc)


Thank you very much for your time.

 

[Spragleknas]

Hi, and welcome!

1. Everything played in MP uses VMR9 (or EVR - experimental). What codecs (SD/HD/audio) and audiorenderer can be set in setup.exe for my video/TV/DVD. You can use 3. part apps - see setup.

2. FFDShow postprocessing (and other kinds/types of filters) can be done in TV, video, DVD etc. Again, see setup

3. MP supports a variety of remotes, and even more if you use and-81 IR-server suite - with lots of options. IR-blaster etc. is off course also supported. MCE remote is recommended by many.

4. Eh... well... (Is this a question?)

5. HD is supported in TV and videos, but not (yet) when it comes to HDDVD or BluRay.

6. I don't understand what you are asking. EPG?

7. (I don't think so. You record raw stream, or you might compress it.)

TVE3 (server and client) is still beta, but doing well.

Please read wiki (see signature).

 

[mamexp]

Thank you

6. How does MP support programs information? Any fee associated? Does program info work with ATSC?

ATSC = HD over the air. Programs info = program list.

From your response i will certainly install MP soon. I'm setting up another HTPC with bigger storage space.

 

[Spragleknas]

Programs info = program list.

---> EPG?

For the U.S I am not sure what is used nowadays...


ATSC support: Again: WIKI
TVE2: http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/Supported_TVCard_ATSC
TVE3: http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/TV-Engine_0.3/tvcards

 

[Andrew H]

SchedulesDirect.org is the premier source for USA EPG. There's a plug-in that replaced the one ZAP2IT used before they closed. SD is $20/year for the subscription. I can't say enough about how great it is to use the EPG to record shows and the data about the program is then placed into the MP database - associated with the recorded tv when you're scrolling through them.

The only EPG shortcoming is when an affiliate REbroadcasts a show... the choices include: "this show every time on this channel" which you can see my point. Oh well... you simply delete the identical show, should your affiliate do this. MPs schedule 'filtering' is not NEARLY as developed as MythTV.. a buddy of mine uses Myth and has shared this with me.

Personally I use the MyTV that's INSIDE the MP release but I understand the TVE3 is a stand-alone server that multiple clients can access... as you can tell, a bit more advanced than I'm used to. I have the ATi HDTV-Wonder and the Hauppauge 1600 and absolutely love the functionality MP integrated with the Hauppauge's remote! I had been using the ATi RW-II but wanted an IR solution... boy am I glad! The ATi wasn't NEARLY as developed.

You will find that you can NOT assign seperate players to various formats. MP uses an all or nothing solution on video files. Basically you can select one external player for DVDs, one for videos (.avi, .mpg, .mov, etc.) and only their internal player for TV. I'm using their internal player for ALL because the interface was clunky getting 'out' to PowerDVD... but I may have jumped to a conclusion.. your results may lead you differently.

 

[mamexp]

So if i choose TheaterTek for video/DVD playbacks, MP will get out to windows screen and open such program? What happens if i stop watching? will it automatically go backs to MP front end screen?

About EPG, i'm from Canada. So what is the source of EPG? any cannucks here?