HuskerOmaha's Basement Theater ++ - Page 11

yep.. switched to xbmc a few months ago from mediaportal.. xmbc rocks - no problems with dxva hardware acceleration with the radeon 3450 video card.. how do you backup your blue rays? I use anydvdhd and then makemkv or just leave them in mts format and play them that way

What are the computer specs?

On the 3 HTPC's I run, I just use Win7's MC.

looking good!

Nice!
You might need a tripod for the camera though.


Mike

I back up mine using Another EAC3to GUI Plus. Since you already have AnyDVD HD and makemkv you should give it a try. Once I insert the Blu-ray, it is only 3 clicks until the movie is ripping. I like it because it is easy, I can convert any HD audio track to lossless multichannel FLAC, and it allows for subtitles to be placed within the image area. You can keep the original HD audio track instead.

Doesn't Ripbot264 re-encode and compresses the video? Are you keeping the HD audio track? How long does it take? I prefer not to re-encode and compress my Blu-rays. It takes about 45 minutes with my 4x Blu-ray player to back them up. Those with faster drives can do it in under 20 minutes.

First let me say you've got a nice HT coming along there.

As far as suggestions for high WAF colors, I suggest a satin finish caramel color for the walls, it has a high WAF and reflects much less light than say a semi gloss "off white" like you were considering. I had it in the last house and went with a satin finish Blue/gray color on 3 walls, light gray on the TV wall in this house to mix up the colors a little bit and open up the space since it's a small house and the living room is my "Home Theater experience" room.

I'm curious what programs/steps you're using to rip your BD's into a playable format on your HTPC and how they play back.

Currently I have AnyDVDHD and PowerDVD9 that came with my BD drive and it sucks.

I'd also be interested in seeing some screenshots of what XBMC looks like and how it navigates if you've got time.

Thanks and good luck on finishing out the room.

-IndySSD

Indy - Check out http://xbmc.org/ - they have a skin and screenshot section. For me, I rip the blu ray with anydvdhd and either leave it in the ropped structed and play the m2ts files directly via xbmc or I use makemkv to put a mkv container togehter.. either one plays directly in xbmc.

Wow, you have a nice rack!

(I just don't get to use that phrase as often as I'd like)

HuskerOmaha-
A bit off-topic, but I love the dog....we've got a GSD who's gonna turn two in March. They're a handful when they're young, but awesome dogs.

The basement looks awesome too! It's going to be a nice space when you're finished.

Best way?
Hire someone!

Sorry.
I actually have done some painting myself in various homes, but dont' have an opinion.

Back to house prep for the game...

Mike

I just used about a 2" brush - spraying would be the best if you don't want brush marks, but personally I don't mind them as long as they're uniform - adds a little old world charm. ;-)

Hey Greg

I just purchased a onkyo receiver looks like yours. I have not really messed with it yet but was wondering if there was a setting to pass audio through the HDMI cables through the receiver to my HDMI splitter.

ATS Acoustics' prices seemed not too bad when I checked before - not sure how much the shipping would be though. Bryan Pape I believe also will sell and ship, can PM him for prices.

Great job so far! can't wait to see it completed.