MediaPortal Install Guide - Page 35

Yep, did all the updates to the OS as recommended, and then did this:

Haali Media Splitter: The de facto video file parser. Direct download link: Haali Media Splitter.

ffdshow: Download the latest and greatest build from here: ffdshow SVN builds, e.g. ffdshow_rev2405_20081201_clsid.exe. Run the installer to install and configure the video and audio decoders.

AC3Filter: For those that use SPDIF out on your systems, this is the best-performing audio decoder. Get it here: AC3Filter. Download and run the installer. Once it's installed, run it's configuration (in your Start Menu) and enable the "Use SPDIF" checkbox if you plan to pass-through all AC3 and DTS to your receiver.

MPC Video Decoder: The best, free DXVA-capable H.264/AVC/VC-1 decoder. Direct download link to version 1.2.908.0: MPC Video Decoder.
Download the zip file to a safe location.
Create the following folder under your Program Files: C:\\Program Files\\MPCVideoDecoder.
From the zip file you downloaded extract MPCVideoDec.ax to C:\\Program Files\\MPCVideoDecoder.
From the Start menu select Run and type in the following command: regsvr32 "C:\\Program Files\\MPCVideoDecoder\\MPCVideoDec.ax". You should get a pop-up message telling you the filter/file was registered successfully. That means the decoder is installed and registered on your system.
Now that the decoder is registered on your system it has to be configured for DXVA. Get RadLight Filter Manager here: RadLight Filter Manager. Run it, and under DirectShow Filters select "MPC - Video decoder" and hit the Property Page button. Now in MPC Video Decoder's properties, go to the Codecs tab and enable all of the check boxes, particularly "H.264/AVC (DXVA)" and "VC1 (DXVA)".

All ecept the AC3filter which I don't use (at least for now).

After installing all that is that I tried playing back some .mkv files and had Media Player crash on me...

What if you try MPC-HC as the player - http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/

Does that work?

I'll give it try. But in any case, I proceeded installing stuff, and it seems not only VLC works, but also Media Portal plays all of them just fine now it seems! Don't know why media player crashes though...

Now I have an non-mediaportal related problem... stuttering is awful on wi-fi! (works fine if I connect it through cable)... Doesn't hapen on a laptop located at the same distance as the HTPC, so trying to figure out what's wrong...

That worked great for me, thanks!

Hi guys,

Hoping you can help me out, I'm a little stuck with my install (Win7 64bit, ATI 4330 HD)

I followed the instructions on the first page of the thread to a T, and when I went in to the configurations, ffdshow didn't show up as a selection. I made sure to install the latest x64 driver from the site. When this didn't work, I uninstalled all the codec and tried to use the SAF package, which made ffdshow available in the drop down and I used the MPC option for DXVA.

The problem I'm running into is MP seems to be having trouble playing 1080p WMV files.. the audio syncs up nicely but I'm getting green pixelization on the video. I thought it might be a problem with the video itself, but I played it previously in WMP with the shark007 codec pack and it worked just fine.

Is there something obvious I could be missing?

Thanks

Just in case anyone has the same problems I had above, I went ahead and uninstalled SAF and installed the new version of Shark007 with the x64 plugin (and MPC by itself) and it seems to have eliminated the video issue.

under the Videos tab in Media Portal / Video Player / I have the AAC Decoder in there - What should i use .. here are my options:

ffdshow Audio Decoder
InterVideo Audio Decoder
MPC - MPA Decoder Filter

Thanks yall !

You could just try them and see which you like best, but I'm pretty sure I'm using ffdshow.

whats the default player MP uses to play movies?

It has its own internal player. You can specify an external player if desired, but the internal works great for me.

thats what i thought .... Ive noticed i get better playback with the internal but some movies don't show the subtitles in them with the internal player .... But when i point it to VLC it works fine ! hmmmm another thing to add to the WTF list LOL Thanks for the response !

I was going to install Mediaportal to try out on my main computer to control the HD Homerun. However, looks like Mediaportal doesn't support Windows XP Pro 64-bit version, only works on 32 bit version of XP

Oh well, guess I will go back to configuring GB-PVR!

Did you try turning subtitles on / off while the movie is playing? I believe the default key is L but I may have changed mine so check MP config, General, Keyboard shortcuts, and look for Fullscreen Video - Enable subtitles in the list.

Well I still seem to be having a few issues, if anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it.

1) I have my setup done the way daMaster suggested, but I am not getting any audio out from my spdif output from my htpc to the receiver, on any of my rips. Are there specific options I need to choose inside the AC3Filter configuraiton tool? I have hdmi out to the tv, so if I use the hdmi option of my Radeon 4670 I get sound, but it is only 2 channel for the tv. I want the spdif to work so I can get the full 5.1 sound.

2) I ripped a few of my kids tv series dvd's (Scooby Doo, etc...) and kept the vob files. When I play the files, the video is fine, but there is no audio. No audio through either the receiver/spdif or through hdmi to the tv. I read somewhere I could just keep the vob files, when ripping with dvdshrink, but is this not the case?

TIA!!

You need to change the default sound device to spdif output from the hdmi sound device in the sound control panel. Lets get that working then we'll focus on the vob files. They should play fine, we just need to configure the codecs correctly. Good Luck.

duff99,

Thanks for the tip. I had it set that way but was still having issues. I went away for work and when I got back, and booted it back up, it seems to be working now. I didn't change anything, and I had rebooted many times before posting, so not sure what made it work all of a sudden.

Another question though, if you don't mind. I have been trying to get the remote working as well, but I am really struggling with it.

I have an antec fusion black case, that has imon built in. I didn't install the iMedian software, just the imon manager. I set up my harmony as a mce remote, then when I installed mediaportal I set it as a MCE remote. Thing is, the only thing that works is the arrow keys and then enter button. Play, ffwd, rewind, etc... do not work.

I searched and found the irss software, so I installed that plugin. It said to de-select mce as the remote in the mp configuration tool, so I did that. Selected both input and output in the irss for the mce remote. Now from what I read, this should have just made everything work. So I fire up Mediaportal again, and still no dice. Just arrows and select/enter. It doesn't appear that there are very good instrucitons/tutorials on how to set up IRSS so not sure if I am missing steps.

Any ideas on how to get a Harmony working, using iMon IR receiver with Mediaportal? Thanks everyone. This noob has been learning a ton, and will hopefully soon be able to contribute to others as well.

Thanks!!!!

rsmclay,

I assumed that you were always getting sound to your TV. When rereading your original post and reply I now gather that you were just testing if it could output sound and temporarily tried HDMI sound.

On one one of my machines I use spdif. It was working fine. Then I threw in a 4550 and all of a sudden I had no sound to the receiver. To top it off the digital output had disappeared from the sound options. I ended up fixing it by changing a option in the bios. I was thinking that you had a similar issue.

Long winded explanation aside, does it work with DD and DTS in the windows sound control panel. If it works then there is a setting problem with AC3Filter. I use FFDShow so I'm not that familiar with AC3Filter just make sure anything that says bitstreaming is checked.

As for your remote I never had good luck with the antec stuff. I got a couple veris add in units for my parents because they use XP. I managed to program enough buttons to make it usable in the Imon control panel. For me though I just gave up and used a cheap MCE remote receiver. (Since I was using Win 7) Your best bet is to try the actual MediaPortal forums. I'm pretty sure you'll find a post that covers your problems.

Good Luck.

duff99,

I am getting sound, but think there are still some issues. It isn't showing as DTS or DD in my receiver, and the sound is hit or miss on whether I can make out voices. I ripped all the movies, with keeping the HD sound plus the core, so I was assuming that I could get the DD or DTS to register, but have not. I will check the BIOS for a setting then.

As for the remote, I will do just that and head on over to the AVSforum. It seems as though this will be the last factor on the WAF. We watched a movie last night, and other than the difficulty with the audio, she was happy - except for having to use the keyboard.

Thanks everyone!!!

Got an Acer Revo 3610 here.. (Ion+ atom 330 + 2gb + win7).
Nothing...
I tried a lot of configurations/setups (MPC-HT +xvda, Gom, ffdshow, etc etc) but there's no way to get rid of stuttering in 1080p mkvs and even some 720p...

nvidia chipset and video drivers are obviously the latest, and memory video size is set to 512mb..
the only thing I didn't tried is flashing a newest bios (cause i didnt' find it -.-)

any suggestion?
I'm going crazy..

Are you using CoreAvc to decode mkv files?

I tried a search, but I must be looking for the wrong words as I came up empty.

I've just reinstalled MP from Win XP Pro to Win 7 Ultimate. I was wondering if it is possible to reconfigure the MCE remote settings so that when I press "Start" on the remote it starts MP instead on WMC. Do I need to use EventGhost or similar? Once I am in MP everything works fine with the exception of Guide which will also start WMC.

EventGhost will definitely do it, there may be a reg hack as well.

...
you think things may go better using a clear coreavc install?
I tried coreavc 2.0 pro before (I reinstalled 2 times win7 cause of "dirty" filters/tests/etc etc), but nothing happened... prolly because other filters messed up everything..

I don't have Win7 or the Acer Revo but did find this thread: 1080p MKV on $180 Aspire Revo R1600-U910H Nettop + Win7 MCE + CoreAVC 2.0 + MyMovies
interesting... especially the discussion on performance using internal Win7 codecs and DXVA!

great thread... thank you very much1!!!!!

I am having an issue with media portal. I used it for about 1.5years then I got windows 7 and have been using media center. I was trying to go back to media portal but am having huge issues with tv tuners. When setting up tvserver it sees my tuners but it will NOT find any channels. Is there a setting I need to change somwhere ? i am using KWORLD ATSC TV Stick UB435-Q.

Forgive me if this has been asked but a quick search didn't turn up anything. When watching videos from my HD, using MP internal player, I'm not getting any kind of play/pause type menu that you normally see at the bottom of the screen. Is there supposed to be one or is the only way to pause, start, stop, etc. thru the keyboard shortcuts? Also I have no exit button to click on. So far the only way I have been able to exit is to use the esc key several times. Can anyone shed any light on this? Am I missing something? Thanks.

Try moving your mouse to the top of the screen - the controls should appear up there, including exit.

Yea thanks. I think I finally got something. However even though MP is a great tool, I think the video is a little brighter and crisper using SM Player. Does anyone else find that to be true, or is there something I might need to fine tune in MP?

I haven't, although honestly the convenience of having it all in MP has caused me to not try other players very much. What codecs are you using in MP?