XBMC Media Center : Setup Guide, Knowlege Base & Support - Page 9

I tried it out yesterday, not sure if I like it yet.

One thing I did when I started putting my movies on my WHS was create folders based on type of movie. I mean my action folder has more than 100 movies in it without individual folders, some sub-folders for movie series aka Die Hard has a folder in Action with all its movies in it.

I did it like this, as I am using WD Live media streamer throughout my house and it is the easiest way to navigate movies.

Now since I redid my avr room I am getting a dedicated HTPC for it, while still keeping all my movies on my WHS.

I found out yesterday that XBMC does not need each individual movie to have it own folder which is great for me, except I already converted 25% of my collection into folders.(I found a script to do it easily)

Also the XBMC scrapper can be changed (But I do believe that you said the default scrapper on XBMC is not as good)

XBMC can change backdrop posters and covers.

I do like the trailer download of MCM, but XBMC sees it a movie being in the same folder. ( I know I can download trailers through XBMC, but I believe it stores them in a data file)

Anyways I am new to HTPC interfaces, I have been using WD-Live for the past few years.

I have multiple backdrops for most of my movies.

Can XBMC rotate them ?





Seems a little laggy when doing things. Has anyone seen this ?

Does it have Blu Ray Case wraps for the posters ?

OK, so I am coming from the original XBMC on Xbox.... I always used File View for both movies and TV, and my file structure was very simple - all movies were in one directory (mostly ISO files), TV shows were in a TV folder and then subfolders for each TV show.

And I was able to scan the entire movie folder with XBMC and it would find cover art, ratings, plot, etc.

Now with XBMC on Windows, it seems I get the cover art if I stay in File view mode, but I cannot see anything else (plot, ratings). If I switch to Library Mode, I see the metadata like plot and ratings, but no cover art.

I'm open to changing up my file structure to use Media Center Master or another program if needed. But it seems like XBMC itself found ALL of the info as it used to on Xbox, but limits what is displayed in each view (file vs library). So you can no longer view all info in file mode?

Very cool, I'm looking forward to the XBMC Netflix guide.

Question, will DSPlayer even be relevant if/when XBMC officially releases with full HD Audio bitsreaming support? That after all is the main reason why many people are using the DSPlayer build. I understand that going with the DSPlayer build gives the user control over the decoders used for video playback, but if HD Audio bitstreaming via ffdshow was the big reason for use then DSPlayer loses some of its luster.

I would definitely be very curious to see comparisons of PQ with DSPlayer vs the XBMC renderer

Thanks. I know in the past the XBMC renderer has never been the strong point when it comes to PQ, so I would expect DSPlayer/EVR renderer to be superior.

Just so I understand, while the build in XBMC player doesn't bitstream HD audio, it will still downsample and play a MKV that contains DTS-HD or TrueHD audio track, correct?

...but too bad the DSPlayer is very unstable..

For those using an intel GPU (such as the core i3/i5) and DSPlayer, you will encounter issues with h264 and VC1 content if you use FFDShow or MPC Video Decoders. I put together a quick writeup on how to set up and use the Arcsoft Video decoder w/ Intel GPUs and VC-1. This should work with the DSPlayer as well since it is a DirectShow player:

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2011...-an-intel-gpu/

I feel very stupid but everytime i try to use ds player, the buttons on the OSD do not work anymore??....

us based and netflix subscriber come on in!

so i grew some hair, and installed the netflix addon... wow, absolutely horrible PQ!. i have a 13mb connection too. wtf.

I'm having some issues after using Media Center Master. I'm using XBMC Dharma. I did have it setup so XBMC was getting movie/tv info but decided to try MCM. Looked good and I got all my movie/TV info setup. Started XBMC and now I have a few issues that were not there before. First of all I can't add direct links from the Home page for Movies and TV shows. Under the Skin options the option to turn them on is grayed out. So now I have to go in through the Videos tab off the main page. I can see everything but Library mode is grayed out and I can't figure out how to get it back. Any ideas?

You don't have any content specified as movies then. You have to go into Videos, select your movie directory(s). The using the Context Menu (C on keyboard) do a Set Content. Set the type to Movies.

Ditto for TV Shows, you need to specify the directories for that.

Unfortunately you have to specify a scraper doing these steps. I haven't figured out a way to get XBMC to just use the NFO files and JPGs in the folders vs. not using the scrapers yet. I am using MyMovies to populate that info.

Ok, that worked. I didn't set the content on purpose so the meta data would not be downloaded since I was getting that info from MCM but it looks like you have to get it to make the home page links and library mode to work. thanks.

So I'm a little confused. How do you know if the meta data your gathering is from MCM or from the scrapers built into XBMC?

I don't know, that's a good question. I tried to disable all my scrapers, but you can't disable the default one. So I just loaded the MyMovies scraper so at least all the data is coming from the same place.

You also have to consider what if you want it to scrape if metadata doesn't exist or to fill in missing pieces.

I read somewhere that metadata is preferred, but I know for a fact the MovieDB scraper updated the thumbs in the DB over the ones I had in the directories.

anyone??... when i install the ds player, it seems that the pause play and fast forward buttons along with the audio settings and video settings none of these buttons on the On Screen Display work... is that correct?? I have tried multiple ds player builds and all seem to have that symptom...

After trying out a myriad of different HTPC front ends, I was completely disappointment.

Like Most HTPC users, my box has:

Lots Movies in various SD and HD formats
Connected to a 1080p tv
A video card that streams HD audio to a high-end reciever/sound system
TV tuner card for OTA

XBMC absolutely nails most of this, and is truly heads&shoulders above the competition.

I'm very excited about HD bitstreaming support, and what appears to be PVR functionality.

Thanks for a great product!

First, thanks again for the guides GreenEyze.

I think I am making the switch from WMC to XBMC.
Got it installed and I like it a lot.

I already have all my meta data for everything from WMC that I got with MCM.


However, when I add to the library XBMC seems to want to scrape for the info.

I have MCM running with this as per the guide
XBMC
-> Create movie.nfo.nfo metadata for XBMC

I thought this would some just import all the data to XBMC so it would not have to do anything.

I don't want XBMC downloading anything it does not have to.

Also... the one part of the guide I disagree with in the MCM section
Renaming tab
-> Select Rename folder during fetch & Rename files too

Movies Tab
-> Deselect "Ask for IMDB ID on unknown results"

I spend the time meticulously naming and storing my files. I don't want any other programs altering it. ...I really don't even need this program running in the background at all times. If I get a new movie I put it in the directory and simply run MCM and get the metadata. I could see if new files were being added all day long but who realistically does that? Also don't understand the not being asked for IMDB info if it does not know it?

Anyway....back to my question.
How do I stop XBMC from what will surely be hours of time.... to just use the metadata and artwork I already have that I got previously with MCM?

Provided each movie is in its own folder, XBMC will look in the folder first for existing metadata and use it. If there is nothing in the folder, it will scrape.

So your telling me if my data that I had from WMC is there (that I got from MCM) it will use it...
If that is the case shouldn't it be very fast in doing so?
Everything thing is there.... like I said I was running WMC in full force.
It is taking time like it is scraping from the net.....

actually... just messed with it again... it literally says at the top of the screen. 'Downloading content from the internet'