Media Portal Configuration/Tweaking Questions (1 Viewer)

[diabloblanco]

I just installed Media Portal on my new HTPC (quad core / 4 gb / 5 TB / Zalman HD160XT case) and I already like it better then the stuff I've played with in the past. I just had a couple questions and was hoping I could tweak things to run a little smoother.

1. Can I remove Icons from the original display/main window? I want to use my HTPC primarily to hold all of my digital copies of my DVDs and CDs in my entertainment center. I'm not using it as a tuner or DVR. I don't need any of the TV related functions and would like to remove them from the GUI/Portal displays. Can I add Icons?

2. I've been a winamp fan for years and years. The plugins do all kinds of slick stuff that I personally really like. Accurate crossfading, sound normalization, etc.. Does Media Portal use it's own integrated MP3 player to play music and CDs? If so, are there any plugins that handle crossfading and sound normalization? (stabilizing the sound is key.. We have a $10,000 mp3 jukebox at work and the thing doesn't adjust the sound volume from one song to the next.)

How about with video? Is there any way to configure Media Portal to keep the output volume of one video/movie to the next at the same level? Or to auto-adjust the output volume based on what's going on? Say in a action movie.. the gunfights are always really loud and the dialog is quiet. My TV will adjust this on the fly, but my HD projector won't (audio is pumped through a receiver/amp). If not.. please add this to a wish list somewhere..

3. Are there any external programs for adding bulk video or music and databasing them? Say I want to add 100 CDs to the portal and want cds covers, etc to be included in the list? How about movies? (can I pull more info about the movies and add that to search options in the portal somewhere?) I own almost 2000 DVDs. It would be great to transfer all my DVDs to digital format and put them on the portal box and have them be completely searchable by all types of entries. Actors, Directors, Year, Genre, Rating, etc..

I appreciate any replies I get.. I'm a big fan of Media Portal and have already told several friends about it. I'll post pics of the hardware in action once I get it up and running perfectly.

Thanks!

 

[Ur[s]uS]

doing much the same

i'm using xface skin, but if you access mediaportal configuration and the plugins option, you will be able to right-click and change where the different menu options appear
you can keep some on home screen (dvd, videos, photos) and turn off others (my radio, my music) and put others into the plugins section (my tv, settings)

no idea about normalising music with MP, but i use replaygain with my flac tracks - however, i play them through squeezebox and squeezecenter, so not much help to you here

no idea about bulk ripping/database service for your dvds