JRiver Media Center Owner's Thread - Page 14

You're right I completely forgot about that...thanks!

Have a look over on the Interact forum at the changelog for the recent updates, I think it mentions subtitle fixes.

You can go back to a previous install. Go to the download link and select/ install the previous version that worked for you. I usually keep my machine set to download "stable" versions, then I read the change log to see if I want to upgrade and what other users may report as issues. Remember, these upgrades are in the "testing" mode so to speak and there may be some bugs. Forunately JRiver is quick to resolve problems when they are reported.

But is it a noticible improvement?

Please try this build (from the top of the MC16 board):
http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/...nter160176.exe

In Video settings, you can change the size of subtitles.

I'm having a similar problem - feel free to jump in here http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=66232.0

There is potential issue, however. It works fine when extracting from a complete disc copy. If you had already extracted the movie into a VIDEO_TS folder structure using something like DVD2One, the resulting mkv from makemkv gets the audio and video way out of sync if you fast forward or position the playhead. It only plays correctly if you start from the beginning and let it play.

Playing the VIDEO_TS folder works fine (without madVR, of course).

As to whether the madVR upscaling matters, there is a very noticeable difference to my eye between EVR and madVR on 480 material.

Since there is not a way that I know of to have MC16 switch resolution on the fly to play DVD material at its native size (and thus use the very good upscaler in my Denon 3311), this does mean I am reripping my DVD's

All of my DVD movies I ripped with DVDFab in the VIDEO_TS structure. I did a test earlier this morning by converting one of the movies to MKV. I didn't detect any A/V sync problems right off but I will play with the file again to see if it does by chance.

You are probably fine. I did a test on a movie I ripped "feature only" originally, and it converted to mkv and plays back fine even with fast forwarding. It appears the culprit is DVD2OneX, which I unfortunately used to strip out the feature after ripping with RipIt on my Macs. I'm guessing DVD2One somehow builds the new folder structure incorrectly and makemkv gets confused.

Just my luck - this whole HTPC experience seems cursed from the get-go. Reminds me why I have been a longtime NeXT/Mac user every time I have to go "under the hood" on a Windows machine.

Before this is was the complete failure to get the HDHomeRun Prime working - going to give up on that and send it back and just keep using the miserable Brighthouse DVR. I'll stick to MC16 for movie/TV series playback.

I would look into using it for music, but my home theater rig is not my audiophile listening environment (vacuum tube headphone system for that), so I have a hard time giving up the seamless integration and ease of use of my AppleTV/iTunes arrangement even though it does resample everything to 48k and thus buggers the sound quality.

Went this route for movies since I was unsuccessful at getting a set top box to play back blu-ray rips with equivalent quality to my Oppo. THe HTPC, MC16 and a Radeon 6570 with some minor PP adjustments seems to get there.

Sorry, Jim, no luck...

Reverting back to v16.0.128 fixed the location problem (they are now back on the bottom of the screen), and it also fixed the size of the subs (which I had not realized was also broken in 16.0.176). I can not get MC16 to recognize the forced flag like it did previously, though.
Thanks...I have posted there as well.

Yeah, things like this is always a work in progress, is why we get all geeky! .

I am still working on learning MC16 myself and thinking of springing the $50 for the program. The audio features alone are a goldmine but I am currently working on the video side right now to interface with the movies that I have on my unRAID server.

I'm thinking that I might convert all of my DVD rips to MKV so that I can utilize the MadVR filter in MC. At least in getting the best possible quality out of my DVD's because I don't want to rebuy all of them on Blu-ray.

I hear ya. I have re-bought a lot of stuff on BD since the prices have fallen - when it gets in the <$10 category at Amazon, I usually pounce. A few things I re-bought at higher prices because I really love the film.

The biggest motivation to get DVD's looking good is that there are no BD versions of a lot of stuff yet (if ever).

I am having an issue with DVD playback. I can playback BD files no trouble but I get an error when attempting to playback a DVD. Had no issue with this file in the past and it plays fine using other software players. I am using madvr and lav cuvid.
Is there something that may have changed in my settings I should ck. Thank you!

Are you using build 176?

What do you have set in Tools>Options>File Types for your .vob files (assuming you ripped your DVDs to Video_TS format)?

You can select MadVR as your Video Renderer for VOBs, but some others have posted that it is not working properly (or MadVR doesn't work with DVDs). I f this is how you setup your system, perhaps you should try and set these to "Automatic", then JRiver program will select the proper renderer for you.

Seems to be, but I find I need to set madVR into exclusive mode or else it drops frames like crazy.

As great as I find the idea that madVR and LAV are downloaded and configured automagically for you, I still think I should be able to have preference on which versions of codecs to install and also be able to tweak them if I have other preferrences...

I posted way way back up that the latest version of madVR that the system downloaded for me did not produce the image quality I have come to know with a previous version, and it was not possible to change the LAV audio filter settings that were automatically put in place by the system...

Still some learning for me to do...

You can just disable the Red October system and go back to the old DirectShow merit based system if thats what you prefer. Or mix that and use Red Octorber with additional filters (which can be the same as the internal ones, just not auto-configured).

Red October is meant as an automatic easy setup, but the possibility of setting everything up manually is not gone with it.

There is a checkbox in MadVR to set it to always start full-screen exclusive mode. I have this box checked - i see no reason to not keep it in exclusive mode.

Yes that's what I'm using, I agree, no need to have it otherwise.

In J. River Media Center you can make sure that the audio is not resampled by Windows to the default sampling rate, by using WASAPI exclusive.

I have to leave for work shortly so don't have time to browse through the threads but, I just bought JRiver MC and so far very pleased with the performance video wise using the RO HQ settings. However, since I am using the Clarkdale system with the Intel GPU I am thinking of upgrading to a better video card to make best of the video experience.

Currently I have a low-profile case, which only uses low-profile cards. I have read some of the video cards that was recommended like the nVidia GT440, GTS450 and the 550i cards are only full height cards. I may look into getting another case from either NMedia or Silverstone and transplant the system from the existing case to the new one. Either way it has to be one to where I can fit a full height card.

As for video cards, what seems to be the consensus here for a decent card that won't break the bank and that utilizes the RO HQ filters with no problems? I have read that at least a DDR5 based card is needed. I would like to be able to take advantage of all the high quality filters in MC as possible. Is the image quality better using the external card as compared to the Intel GPU?

If you are not dead set on using LAV CUVID for de-interlacing, the Radeon 6570 card I'm using is great (it does have hardware deinterlacing of it's own, although I'm not certain how to use it in RO). Since I am primarily using the HTPC as a jukebox for blu-ray and progressive/anamorphic DVD rips, I'm not concerned. I am getting video quality out of the Radeon using some minor post-processing tweaks in the Radeon Catalyst driver that is equal to my Oppo BDP-83. The HIS card I have is 1/2 height, no aux power required and passively cooled (yay!). HD audio bit streaming, scaling to fix overscan without changing resolution (like the Nvidia card did) and built in 23.97 fps that is very close without dorking with custom resolutions.

I have a GTS450 card which was nice, but even at minimum speed, the fan was just too loud in my living room at night.

Like a few on here, I think I prefer the image quality of the Radeon over the Nvidia. I recall thinking the Oppo still looked better on 1080p material than the mkv played back in RO-HQ.

I seem to recall some 1/2 height 440's, but I think they all had fans.

I'm not opposed to ATI cards as they work quite well. I read about the HIS card you mentioned on Newegg, but it uses DDR3 chips. Not sure if that will make a huge difference compared to DDR5. Plus my motherboard has the 2.0 x16 slot and seeing the cards are 2.1, I am wondering if it will work with the 2.0 slot. Dont see why it shouldn't.

I admit some days I get really tired of constantly upgrading and then the components getting outdated tomorrow.

I'll keep doing my research on the cards. Maybe if ATI has a good card in half height that would do well with HD and SD playback, then I can go either way and would eliminate me from having to upgrade the case for a full height card. HD I am not too worried about quality wise, but I would like to get the best out of my DVD's as I can.

I'm using it in a 2.0 PCI-e slot in my Gigabyte MB with no problems. Aside from not being able to use LAV CUIVID, it seems to do fine. I have the scaling options turned up in madVR and it seems to not struggle.

The problem is that hot rod DDR5 cards (whether Nvidia or ATI) tend to be full height, double wide and have fans. I have seen a couple fanless 6870 cards, but the heat sink is obscenely huge (would need extra height over a full size card and probably 3 slots in width).

I have not done the head-to-head comparison on upscaling DVD's with my Oppo yet, but there is a big difference visible between playing back VIDEO_TS rips using EVR and SD MKV's using madVR, so I'm hopeful. I'll try to do some comparisons this weekend. I still haven't permanently "installed" the HTPC into my AV rig due to having to pull Cat6 cable to hardwire my HT stuff to my Mac Pro and disk farm in the back of the house. WiFi ain't doin' it for HD files. I have all of the cable and wall plates - just need to get up in the attic and do it.

I am in the process of reripping the main features from my DVD's using makemkv presently.

Is it possible to set JRiver to pull it's library from videos available through the homegroup? I have it set so they show up in my Videos / Music folders but they are not imported.

If I understand your question - I have all my movies pulled from various computers/folders that are shared through Homegroup, but you still have to use the "import" feature in JRiver. Importing doesn't actually move the files it just gathers/links-to the meta-data and cover art and allows you to display/control everything from any computer in Theater View (or whatever view you use).

Yea, that is what I was asking. I tried importing them, even selected that folder but it did not import anything. I can view the folder in Windows Explorer and they are all there. I'll play with it some more tonight.

This is a view of the import sceen. Tools>Options>Library &Folders.

First, I would say MC16 gives me powerful way to organize and present my music collection. No other softwares are even close.

Also, theater view at 1024x768 resolution enables ipad to be a perfect remote to control MC16 via remote desktop.

I am wondering if the modification showed in the below pictures are possible by change the xml file under J River\\Media Center 16\\Skins\\Theater View\\Shared?

The original theater view



When trying to add a song/album to the current play list, theater view will goto a second page with control options on top but no song information.



When tyring to play this song directly or play next, theater view will need to open a third window.



Below is a mockup picture. In the new theatre view, when user click/select a certain song, the control button will show up under that song name. User could directly add/play/add album/etc without leaving that screen. *I would place the Genre/Album Title/Artist field under the cover art.


Last, is there an option to disable the tilt/mirror effect of the cover art in theater view?
The tilt special effect is nice but sometimes it would cause jaggies at the edge of the cover art.