I have searched through these forums and found a lot of information on Media Servers.
But what I cannot find is the dummy version to setting up a complete system.
My current setup;
Computer in home office used to rip movies with DVDfab to a eSATA connected TowerRAID
I own a WD TV Live that I am using to show pictures and home movies on our TV from the office computer
While the WD TV will stream the movies from the TowerRaid, the play back is VERY jumpy. And a little cumbersome for the average user.
I have also downloaded the 30 day trial of Cinemar and their DVDlobby. I am not married to Cinemar yet and any suggestions would be appreciated. I am looking for a end user system that will allow my wife to be able to search, browse, etc with ease. She is my test subject as she is the typical end user who needs everything in a pretty KISS environment. This looks to be a promising setup but I am struggling with what needs to happen to put it all together.
I also like this program because of its ability to expand and be controlled by a iPad or iPhone. I can see a lot of clients liking these options.
My steps;
Rip the movies with DVDfab (I am new to the software so still in the learning curve)
Put them on the TowerRAID
Import them into Cinemar DVDLobby (Still VERY new to Cinemar)
Then I run into my road block......
Do I need another computer at the TV to act as a client to Cinemar to stream the movies?
Would it make more sense to have the TowerRAID connected to this computer and just rip and copy new movies to it?
When I rip a DVD movie I get the following files;
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
VTS_01_4.VOB
VTS_01_5.VOB
When I rip a Blu-ray movie I get a bunch of folders and files.
I have always kept iso images as my backup file for everything (program CD's). As I get more into this whole media server gig, I am learning that a iso is too large and includes a lot of data that the movie does not need. So I have been ripping the 'Main Movie Only' to the TowerRAID to save space. But then when I watch a DVD movie, by playing the first movie file VTS_01_1.VOB, I get a little jump when the program starts to play the next file VTS_01_2.VOB.
And I do not know where to even start to play a Blu-ray.
So my questions are;
1) How do I, if I can, rip movies, DVD & Blu-ray, to a single file so I can still access them and stream them to our man cave TV?
2) Do I need another computer at the TV for Cinemar and what other options will allow the end user the ability to search and browse movies with a pretty interface that includes cover pics and movie info?
3) How do I control the office computer from the man cave if a second computer is not needed?
4) A description of the current files being written to my HDD when using DVDfab. And is there a different way to rip the movies with DVDfab to a single fie, and still only rip the main movie (see #1 above)?
5) 3D will be in my future but for now I am not including it, but what do I need to be aware of so when I take that jump I am not buying all new software and hardware (other than the TV)?
The end result to this will also be a system that I can pitch to clients to install in their home theaters.
Other info;
This was a great read for me but was still missing some key info how-to-build-a-dvd-server
I have also looked into Popcornhour, but not sure if it would work for me.
The end user interface that I am trying to copy is Kaleidescape
This is a great site videohelp and has helped a lot.
But what I cannot find is the dummy version to setting up a complete system.
My current setup;
Computer in home office used to rip movies with DVDfab to a eSATA connected TowerRAID
I own a WD TV Live that I am using to show pictures and home movies on our TV from the office computer
While the WD TV will stream the movies from the TowerRaid, the play back is VERY jumpy. And a little cumbersome for the average user.
I have also downloaded the 30 day trial of Cinemar and their DVDlobby. I am not married to Cinemar yet and any suggestions would be appreciated. I am looking for a end user system that will allow my wife to be able to search, browse, etc with ease. She is my test subject as she is the typical end user who needs everything in a pretty KISS environment. This looks to be a promising setup but I am struggling with what needs to happen to put it all together.
I also like this program because of its ability to expand and be controlled by a iPad or iPhone. I can see a lot of clients liking these options.
My steps;
Rip the movies with DVDfab (I am new to the software so still in the learning curve)
Put them on the TowerRAID
Import them into Cinemar DVDLobby (Still VERY new to Cinemar)
Then I run into my road block......
Do I need another computer at the TV to act as a client to Cinemar to stream the movies?
Would it make more sense to have the TowerRAID connected to this computer and just rip and copy new movies to it?
When I rip a DVD movie I get the following files;
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
VTS_01_4.VOB
VTS_01_5.VOB
When I rip a Blu-ray movie I get a bunch of folders and files.
I have always kept iso images as my backup file for everything (program CD's). As I get more into this whole media server gig, I am learning that a iso is too large and includes a lot of data that the movie does not need. So I have been ripping the 'Main Movie Only' to the TowerRAID to save space. But then when I watch a DVD movie, by playing the first movie file VTS_01_1.VOB, I get a little jump when the program starts to play the next file VTS_01_2.VOB.
And I do not know where to even start to play a Blu-ray.
So my questions are;
1) How do I, if I can, rip movies, DVD & Blu-ray, to a single file so I can still access them and stream them to our man cave TV?
2) Do I need another computer at the TV for Cinemar and what other options will allow the end user the ability to search and browse movies with a pretty interface that includes cover pics and movie info?
3) How do I control the office computer from the man cave if a second computer is not needed?
4) A description of the current files being written to my HDD when using DVDfab. And is there a different way to rip the movies with DVDfab to a single fie, and still only rip the main movie (see #1 above)?
5) 3D will be in my future but for now I am not including it, but what do I need to be aware of so when I take that jump I am not buying all new software and hardware (other than the TV)?
The end result to this will also be a system that I can pitch to clients to install in their home theaters.
Other info;
This was a great read for me but was still missing some key info how-to-build-a-dvd-server
I have also looked into Popcornhour, but not sure if it would work for me.
The end user interface that I am trying to copy is Kaleidescape
This is a great site videohelp and has helped a lot.
