Am running WDTV (firmware v1.02.07), with an attached WD FreeAgent HDD, via HDMI connection (WD set to 1080i 50hz) to an Hitachi plasma display.

I bought the WDTV for the specific task of playing .m2ts files, ripped from my Blu-ray discs, and HD-DVD .evo files converted to .m2ts via ClownBD.

Attempted to watch a blu-ray ripped .m2ts file in full last night. In brief, the file froze three times, at different places, and playback could only be achieved again by powering down the WDTV and restarting. the file in question would only start from the beginning so I had to FF to the point where the file had frozen and picked up playback from there. The file would successfully play through and past the previous freeze point and play for about another half hour or so then freeze again, whereupon I'd repeat the foregoing process.

Anyone else experienced a similar issue with HD files? I am presuming that the problem is related to the FreeAgent HDD. Recommendations for a reliable HDD (specifically for successful and uninterrupted playback of HD files - not SD) anyone?

cheers.

Am running WDTV (firmware v1.02.07), with an attached WD FreeAgent HDD, via HDMI connection (WD set to 1080i 50hz) to an Hitachi plasma display.

I bought the WDTV for the specific task of playing .m2ts files, ripped from my Blu-ray discs, and HD-DVD .evo files converted to .m2ts via ClownBD.

Attempted to watch a blu-ray ripped .m2ts file in full last night. In brief, the file froze three times, at different places, and playback could only be achieved again by powering down the WDTV and restarting. the file in question would only start from the beginning so I had to FF to the point where the file had frozen and picked up playback from there. The file would successfully play through and past the previous freeze point and play for about another half hour or so then freeze again, whereupon I'd repeat the foregoing process.

Anyone else experienced a similar issue with HD files? I am presuming that the problem is related to the FreeAgent HDD. Recommendations for a reliable HDD (specifically for successful and uninterrupted playback of HD files - not SD) anyone?

cheers.

Hi.

First, what are you using to achieve the final .m2ts? I am going to assume you are ripping the BD with AnyDVDHD, and then demuxing the resulting .m2ts and removing things you don't need like secondary audio streams. So the HDMI cable is going straight to your TV? Sounds like the same problems I had when I was trying to use DTS-HD/TrueHD audio streams.

My process...

AnyDVDHD - rip BD
TsMuxer - Demux BD
Eac3to - strip DTS-HD/TrueHD to core DTS/AC3 tracks
Suprip - ORC .sup into .srt subs
Mkvmerge - remux into all in final .m2ts with audio, and subs

Am running WDTV (firmware v1.02.07), with an attached WD FreeAgent HDD, via HDMI connection (WD set to 1080i 50hz) to an Hitachi plasma display.

I bought the WDTV for the specific task of playing .m2ts files, ripped from my Blu-ray discs, and HD-DVD .evo files converted to .m2ts via ClownBD.

Attempted to watch a blu-ray ripped .m2ts file in full last night. In brief, the file froze three times, at different places, and playback could only be achieved again by powering down the WDTV and restarting. the file in question would only start from the beginning so I had to FF to the point where the file had frozen and picked up playback from there. The file would successfully play through and past the previous freeze point and play for about another half hour or so then freeze again, whereupon I'd repeat the foregoing process.

Anyone else experienced a similar issue with HD files? I am presuming that the problem is related to the FreeAgent HDD. Recommendations for a reliable HDD (specifically for successful and uninterrupted playback of HD files - not SD) anyone?

cheers.

I have used AnyDVD plus tsmux (and tsremux in some cases) software to rip perhaps 50 of my BDs to m2ts files keeping only the movie with the English surround audio track. I did have issues with pauses (but not lockups) in the video playback when using a Seagate Freeagent USB drive but since switching to another USB drive I'm getting smooth video playback at 1080p/24. However, I do have some small audio/video sync issues on some titles.

I have issues as well but did not want to hijack your thread so I started my own http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16680049#post16680049

Hi.

First, what are you using to achieve the final .m2ts? I am going to assume you are ripping the BD with AnyDVDHD, and then demuxing the resulting .m2ts and removing things you don't need like secondary audio streams. So the HDMI cable is going straight to your TV? Sounds like the same problems I had when I was trying to use DTS-HD/TrueHD audio streams.

My process...

AnyDVDHD - rip BD
TsMuxer - Demux BD
Eac3to - strip DTS-HD/TrueHD to core DTS/AC3 tracks
Suprip - ORC .sup into .srt subs
Mkvmerge - remux into all in final .m2ts with audio, and subs


I'm just ripping the BD using AnyDVDHD; then copying the main movie (.m2ts) file to the FreeAgent HDD for direct playback through the WDTV.

From what I can gather from your response, and those of others, my problem is a DTS-HD/TrueHD related issue and/or a FreeAgent HDD issue.

When converting my HD-DVD .evo rips as Blu-ray compatible files, using ClownBD (which incorporates TsMuxer and Eac3to in the process), the core DTS and DD streams are produced from the DTS-HD and DDP(lus) tracks. I'll watch one of my converted .evo's on the FreeAgent to see if the p/back issue repeats.

thanks all for your help.

I'm just ripping the BD using AnyDVDHD; then copying the main movie (.m2ts) file to the FreeAgent HDD for direct playback through the WDTV.

From what I can gather from your response, and those of others, my problem is a DTS-HD/TrueHD related issue and/or a FreeAgent HDD issue.

When converting my HD-DVD .evo rips as Blu-ray compatible files, using ClownBD (which incorporates TsMuxer and Eac3to in the process), the core DTS and DD streams are produced from the DTS-HD and DDP(lus) tracks. I'll watch one of my converted .evo's on the FreeAgent to see if the p/back issue repeats.

thanks all for your help.

When you say "copying the main movie (.m2ts) file" do you mean just grabbing the biggest one, and then drag and dropping it into the drive?

Try the method I use, it works.

I keep my Eac3to folder in my "users" folder, which makes it easier to CD (command for change directory) into with command line. For the core track, once you have the movie demuxed, move the .dts file into the Eac3to folder, then enter this into command line

cd eac3to
eac3to track.whatever_your_tracks_is_called.dts track.whatever_you_want__core.dts -core

it should start working and produce a track named track.whatever_you_want__core.dts, then use that to remux with the video file.

if he just copies the file, then of course there is no DTS sound because WDTV cannot extract the core, it need to be done beforehand like xjohnx suggested....

if he just copies the file, then of course there is no DTS sound because WDTV cannot extract the core, it need to be done beforehand like xjohnx suggested....

He is letting ClownBD do it, but I personally don't let any of the programs do anything other than their bare job.

@xjohnx

After a couple weeks trign a few things on my own, I stumbled upon your posting where you mention using 4 or 5 apps to rip out the true hd/etc audio tracks from some m2ts files. I'm trying to do this exact thing, though you've had better success than I have.

Have you considered writing up a quick and dirty guide for what you've done? I know what I need to do, and understand it in theory, and sometimes I'm good, but in some cases, not. I've obviously missed a few things. In some cases I can just use tsmuxer and spit out as a .ts file, and audio is good. Other times I still have no valid audio tracks.


Any thoughts?

Thanks

Rob

@xjohnx

After a couple weeks trign a few things on my own, I stumbled upon your posting where you mention using 4 or 5 apps to rip out the true hd/etc audio tracks from some m2ts files. I'm trying to do this exact thing, though you've had better success than I have.

Have you considered writing up a quick and dirty guide for what you've done? I know what I need to do, and understand it in theory, and sometimes I'm good, but in some cases, not. I've obviously missed a few things. In some cases I can just use tsmuxer and spit out as a .ts file, and audio is good. Other times I still have no valid audio tracks.


Any thoughts?

Thanks

Rob

Programs needed:

TSMuxer
Eac3to
MkvMerge

Use TSMuxer to demux the video and audio track, take the resulting audio track and move it into you eac3to folder, I keep mine on the desktop. Run cmd and cd into the eac3to folder

cd /username/desktop/eac3to

Once inside the folder type this...

eac3to filename.dts filename_core.dts -core

it will do work, and then you will ahve the file core file.

Import both the video file, and audio file into MkvMerge, and mux into a mkv. Enjoy.

I'll make a guide later tonight, been meaning to do it, but I get retty bogged down with work.

Step 1: Open TSMuxer (http://www.smlabs.net/tsMuxer/tsMuxeR_1.10.6.zip)
Add you file
Make sure both are checked
Select Demux
Select an output location
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6279/eac3coretutstep1demux.th.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep1demux.jpg)

Step 2: Demux

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/1315/eac3coretutstep2demuxre.th.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep2demuxre.jpg)

Step 3: Move .dts file into your Eac3to folder

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1603/eac3coretutstep3movefil.th.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep3movefil.jpg)

Step 4: Open command line, if you don't have it in the start menu type cmd in the run (XP), or Search (Vista/W7).

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7523/eac3coretutstep4opencmd.th.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep4opencmd.jpg)

Step 5: Change directories
do this by typing "cd" whereevertheeac3tofolderis, this is why I keep it in documents, faster.

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/8365/eac3coretutstep5cdtoeac.th.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep5cdtoeac.jpg)

Step 6: Enter core extraction command which is;



eac3to nameofdts_track.dts namecore.dts -core

Make sure you take the spaces out of the name, or you'll get the error in the next picture.
I make the names short and sinple, they are irrelevant anyway, just something like "core.dts" will work.
Incorrect file name (can't have spaces)
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1271/eac3coretutstep6nameerr.th.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep6nameerr.jpg)

Correct file name type, no spaces
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/9792/eac3coretutstep7errorco.th.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep7errorco.jpg)

Finished
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4333/eac3coretutstep8coredon.th.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eac3coretutstep8coredon.jpg)

Sorry, no more pics, Mkvmerge wasn't cooperating
Step 7: Open Mkvmerge
Step 8: Add the demuxed video file
Step 9: Add the extracted core audio file
Step 10: At a minimum give it an output name, and destination, then click "Start muxing".



Step 10 addendum, at this point you can/should

Select Language flags
fps/aspect ratio (In format specific options tab)
Add chapters, which is a whole other tutorial.
Any questions, just ask.

Ok, that all makes sense, I understood the theory, and did (pretty much) what the guide mentions, but ran into issues I didnt understand.

Step 2. I get a list of about 16 items vs two in the guide. Some items are obvious, others are not.

Biggest issue, so far, during the demux, tsmuxer stops with an error code 255.

I'll have to play around with it more in detail and see if I can sort out whats happening.

Thanks for the guide, though. It helped answer a few questions I had.

If your seeing 16 items in tsMuxer, most likely you have a M2TS file that is just copied straight from a Blu-ray and not remuxed to only contain the Video and Audio tracks. Here is a slightly easier method with fewer steps using the same basic concept... (without pictures, some actions condensed)

For this, I will use the name Movie.m2ts as the name of the m2ts file, and both video.mkv and audio.dts as the stream outputs. Contrary to what Heli Pilot said, you CAN use names with spaces, all you need to do is enclose it in quotes ("My Movie.m2ts")

1. Copy full M2TS file into the eac3to folder

2. Open a command prompt window and navigate to the folder containing eac3to and the M2TS file.

3. on the command line, enter the following command:
eac3to Movie.m2ts

You should then get something that looks similar to this:
M2TS, 1 video track, 6 audio tracks, 5 subtitle tracks, 2:09:35, 24p /1.001
1: Chapters, 44 chapters
2: VC-1, 1080p24 /1.001 (16:9)
3: DTS Master Audio, English, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 48khz
(core: DTS, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 1509kbps, 48khz)
4: DTS, Spanish, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 768kbps, 48khz
5: DTS, French, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 768kbps, 48khz
6: DTS, Italian, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 768kbps, 48khz
7: DTS, Spanish, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 768kbps, 48khz
8: AC3, English, 2.0 channels, 640kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
9: Subtitle (PGS), English
10: Subtitle (PGS), Spanish
11: Subtitle (PGS), French
12: Subtitle (PGS), Italian
13: Subtitle (PGS), English

4. Out of all this, I want the video stream ( 2: ) and the 5.1 audio stream ( 3: ), so I will enter the following on the command line:
eac3to Movie.m2ts 2: video.mkv 3: audio.dts -core

That tells eac3to that from the file 'Movie.m2ts', I want to extract stream 2 into a file called video.mkv, and extract stream 3 into a file called audio.dts. (Your stream numbers might differ) If you want to convert the audio into the ac3 format for better compatibility, replace '.dts' with '.ac3', dropping the -core switch, and eac3to will convert it for you automatically.

5. Now open MKVMerge, add your newly created video.mkv and audio.dts and mux them together into a new finished MKV file.

Ok, that all makes sense, I understood the theory, and did (pretty much) what the guide mentions, but ran into issues I didnt understand.

Step 2. I get a list of about 16 items vs two in the guide. Some items are obvious, others are not.

Biggest issue, so far, during the demux, tsmuxer stops with an error code 255.

I'll have to play around with it more in detail and see if I can sort out whats happening.

Thanks for the guide, though. It helped answer a few questions I had.


The sample file I used only had an audio, and a video track, with a BD when you demux it, it is going to display all available tracks, which includes all the video streams, language tracks, and subtitle files select only the ones you want to demux into the two files. You are basically extracting say the HD video track, and the audio track.

I assumed I just needed the highest rez video, and the audio track, so I tsmuxed that, and it doesnt error.
I just ran another attempt, and muxed it back together, and the WDTV is telling me "Undetermined 1 (Digital)" and no audio.

It has only 1 audio track, so at least I've done some part of it correctly, the wdtv just doesnt know what to do with it. I am able to use VLC to play the output file from eac3to. So I know its good, but I don't know how to tell what format it is, exactly.

I was using the -core and .dts I guess its worth a try to user the ac3 audio as a test.

I assumed I just needed the highest rez video, and the audio track, so I tsmuxed that, and it doesnt error.
I just ran another attempt, and muxed it back together, and the WDTV is telling me "Undetermined 1 (Digital)" and no audio.

It has only 1 audio track, so at least I've done some part of it correctly, the wdtv just doesnt know what to do with it. I am able to use VLC to play the output file from eac3to. So I know its good, but I don't know how to tell what format it is, exactly.

I was using the -core and .dts I guess its worth a try to user the ac3 audio as a test.

The "undetermined" is inconsequential, but you can change it in mkvmerge you can set the flag for the audio to english, or whatever language the movie is in in the bottom section of the first tab. The no sound isn't the WD, it's either what you are playing it through ie; stereo not set to optical, or HDMI, however you have it set, or it doesnt' decode DTS, yadda yadda yadda...

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3268/trackflag.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/my.php?image=trackflag.jpg)

Ok, so I now have it working if I hook the wdtv to my RSV2700 (which doesnt support TruHD) but Ive made some error and the audio vid sync is off, and slowly gets worse as the movie goes on. I've noticed the source is 23.976 and the only option I was able to see to remux was 24. I guess over time this small amount adds up.

Has anyone else seen this, and Am I doing something wrong to end up like this?

It seems like if I use my RXV1800 which does support truhd, I dont have to do any of this, but I've only got that in one room.

Is there a simple way to demux, downsample to plain stereo, and remux. For situations where I just have a WDTV hooked to a tv with no rcvr?

Ok, so I now have it working if I hook the wdtv to my RSV2700 (which doesnt support TruHD) but Ive made some error and the audio vid sync is off, and slowly gets worse as the movie goes on. I've noticed the source is 23.976 and the only option I was able to see to remux was 24. I guess over time this small amount adds up.

Has anyone else seen this, and Am I doing something wrong to end up like this?

It seems like if I use my RXV1800 which does support truhd, I dont have to do any of this, but I've only got that in one room.

Is there a simple way to demux, downsample to plain stereo, and remux. For situations where I just have a WDTV hooked to a tv with no rcvr?

Manually enter 29.976

Programs needed:

TSMuxer
Eac3to
MkvMerge



Not sure why you need the Eac3to program. My version of TSMuxer has a check box which, when you select the DTS-HD or TrueHD audio file, extracts the core dts or AC3 stream during the mux to m2ts file.

Are you converting the dts core to AC3 in that step for the WDTV?

Not sure why you need the Eac3to program. My version of TSMuxer has a check box which, when you select the DTS-HD or TrueHD audio file, extracts the core dts or AC3 stream during the mux to m2ts file.

Are you converting the dts core to AC3 in that step for the WDTV?

I'm not, but some may. I just prefer to do it myself, one less thing that could go wrong letting another program do it, but yes, I know about the check box.

I've noticed the source is 23.976 and the only option I was able to see to remux was 24. I guess over time this small amount adds up.

If you use eac3to to rip the video out into a MKV file for you, instead of tsMuxer, it will have the proper frame rate information in there already. This is why I suggested using eac3to to extract both the audio and video in one step, then you can just mux the two files together in MKV merge without having to mess with any settings.

Is there a simple way to demux, downsample to plain stereo, and remux. For situations where I just have a WDTV hooked to a tv with no rcvr?

If you want to downsample to 2ch stereo, just add the -down2 switch in eac3to. Following example from previous post:
eac3to Movie.m2ts 2: video.mkv 3: audio.ac3 -down2

Then mux the mkv and ac3 into a new mkv file with MKVMerge.

You know, I just saw that the fps was a drop down, and just never bothered to see if I could enter a #. I'm trying a run of that tonight.

There are often times it would be handy to have one downsampled, so I'll have to try that as well.

I guess there is no way to automate this, since there are so many options/questions/decisions in what to keep from the source.

So far you guys have been a great help, and I should be able to try my first conversion. I just wish USB wasnt so slow. I need to swap over to a esata/usb cabinet for this.

Rob

Well, I see to be going sideways. This last set remux plays fine in vnc, but on the wdtv, it plays audio/video in sync for about 8 secs, then crashes the wdtv. locks up solid, have to pull the power plug on it. How very odd.

You can always try remuxing the intermediate mkv and ac3/dts back into a m2ts container with tsMuxeR, or even remux the already remuxed mkv back into a m2ts container to see it that works.