[Chivs]

Announcing the availability of the TheaterTek software DVD player from TheaterTek Inc. through Immersive Inc.


- TheaterTek DVD has been designed with the Home Theater enthusiast in mind. It incorporates many features not available in other DVD players, and is optimized for the ultimate DVD playback experience.

Based on the highest quality decoders from Ravisent Technologies, TheaterTek DVD provides both Dolby Digital and DTS SP/DIF passthru. All operating systems above Win98SE are supported, as are the majority of audio cards inluding the Sound Blaster Live series and the M-Audio 2496 series.


- Although all the features of the player are available by using the mouse and keyboard, the user interface has been created with remote control as a primary consideration. Therefore keyboard shortcuts, or ‘hotkeys’ are implemented for every feature of the player so that Pronto users and home theater integrators can customize their remotes for the player.


- TheaterTek DVD incorporates complete Aspect Ratio Control. This is done on-screen in real-time and can be saved on a per-DVD basis for optimum tweaking. Common aspect ratios such as 4:3, 16:9 and 2.35:1 can be pre-defined for any movie, and the player will dynamically switch between aspect ratios when the DVD content changes. This is particularly advantageous for proponents of constant height, variable width, as the screen will be adjusted dynamically between a chapter menu and the 2.35:1 movie for example. Users of anamorphic lenses need not worry, as the Aspect Ratio controls allow perfect expansion to counteract the squeeze.


- A built-in Movie Start feature is also incorporated. When the first chapter of the movie begins, select the Movie Start option and the player will remember the start of the film. There's no need to be totally accurate, and the next time the movie is played, it will jump straight to the beginning. It even remembers the audio preference such as DTS over Dolby Digital.


- On screen graphics are an integral part of the player, and are designed to take away the 'computer' look of software players and present a professional STB-like appearance. The movie progress bar is an example of this. Using the Info feature, or when pausing playback, a progress bar appears onscreen to show elapsed time against the movie length.


- Auotomatic blanking is built in allowing the non-black surrounding areas of the movie to be blanked out. This is a dynamic feature which even takes into consideration the anamorphic squeeze. Blanking color can be customized so users of HDTV's can watch a 4:3 movie with a soft gray background to prevent burn-in.


- Full control of the video settings is presented through graphical on-screen sliders. Depending on graphic hardware, Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Saturation and Gamma can be controlled directly within the player. Video settings are even associated with each DVD, so for example gamma compensation for dark movies will be re-applied whenever the movie is played.


- Taking the video settings one step further, optimum scope calibrated settings for the ATI Radeon card are built into the player by default. These are thanks to the gratious generosity of Cliff Watson.


- SP/DIF support across all popular audio cards includes both AC3 and DTS passthru. Windows 2000 requires SP2 for SP/DIF support.


To summarize the major features:


· High quality graphical on screen display (OSD)

· Complete aspect ratio control, including automatic aspect ratio switching

· On screen movie progress bar

· Full screen operation

· Automatic blanking

· Automatic DVD-ROM PC application suppression (PCFriendly)

· Set Movie Start feature to allow jumping directly to the start of the movie

· On screen video controls

· Pre-calibrated optimum video settings for popular video cards

· DVD specific video preferences, aspect ratio preferences

· Automatic video card optimization

· Dolby Digital and DTS SP/DIF support

· Bookmarks

· Parental control




TheaterTek DVD will be available in approximately 10 days through Immersive Inc. for $69.95 and a link to a pre-order page will be posted shortly. Please note this is a pre-order, not a pre-buy, and credit cards will only be charged on shipment.


In addition, a separate support forum will also be available.


Regards,

Andrew Chilvers

TheaterTek Inc.

 

[adaseng]

hmmm,


I wonder how this will compare to the latest windvd which many of us are happy with currently.


is there any comparison between the two software?


in addition, a lot of us are trying to get windvd to play movie previews and some dolby, dts and thx robot trailers that are stored in the pc harddrive before the start of a movie; unfortunately windvd won't allow that, can this be done with this software? if not, can this feature be added?


anyhow, this sounds promissing, can't wait for the review.


since cilff is involved with this, maybe he can comment on this or let immersive gives us a little more preview/review!


thanks


seng

 

[thorr]

A few questions:


The video filter is based on the Ravisent engine. What about the audio filter? Is it WinDVD based?


What operating systems does it support with full S/PDIF support?


Will there be a trial version?


What real advantage do I have with this over the coming ATI player when it finally supports DTS when used with YXY?


$70 is way expensive! Will there be a discount for AVS members?

 

[RTK]

sounds interesting.


before i shell out 70.00 id like to see it first.


are you planning on releasing a demo or crippled version?

 

[Hugh Magoo]

I guess we are all under arrest.


Has this player been tested with a Game Theater XP for S/PDIF passthrough. Does it offer any 5.1 software decoding?


I suppose there will be no free trial?


Does the player use the latest cinemaster engine that uses DXVA iDCT? The one that is used in Cineplayer 4.0?


I'd be very interested to hear some comparisons.


The user interface sounds much better than any other players. I have seen. Although I have not tried the Zoom Player front end out yet.


thanks for the info.

 

[Karnis]

OK guys, the new sheriff has arrived. I've been beta testing this player for a few weeks and I must say this is the most HTPC friendly player to date. All the features Andrew mentioned work as advertised, plus it's simple to set up & use. I dumped WinDVD after ONE HOUR OF TESTING. Many familiar AVS Forum members had a hand in helping develop this player, take it from yours truly you will be quite pleased with the results. It has the video and audio quality of the ATi 4.x player (Ravisent decoders) without all the bugs, quirks etc that made that player such a headache.

To offer my opinions:


It smokes WinDVD in PQ and SQ, regardless if you are using a Geforce or Radeon card. It is equal to, and perhaps a tad better than the ATi player. I don't use P-DVD so I can't comment. I'm told that it is the equal of P-DVD for video based material, which is the best. I just tested "Peter Frampton LIve" with zero jaggies!


quote:"What real advantage do I have with this over the coming ATI player when it finally supports DTS when used with YXY?"


The real question is: will it ever? This player takes full advantage of the advanced DVD features of the Radeon cards NOW, with built in aspect ratio control that works beautifully! And yes, DTS!!

The ATi player will never be geared towards the HTPC user as much as it is geared toward the desktop user.


No more wacky color control issues. No more setup questions having to use DVD genie and guessing the correct settings, it's all done automatically. It's like using a HQ STB. If your drivers support overlay interlacing, you can run it at 1080i timings.


Price: I'd like to make this comment...many of us have paid $50 bucks or so for other software DVD players, not nearly as feature rich as the ITT player. Some have paid an extra $20 for DTS decoding built in. Many forum members have said many times they were willing to pay extra$$$ for YXY. Is YXY worth $20? IMHO, you better believe it! Aspect ratio control is a crucial feature for HTPC use, and it is MUCH easier to use built in to the ITT player.


I don't know what the plans are for demo versions at this time, so I can't comment.


What I can say is this is RIGHT NOW the player to have for HTPC enthusiasts, bar none. You don't have to wait around for ATi to get their act together. Excellent PQ and SQ, built in aspect ratio control, pre-calibrated color controls that really work, features specifically designed for and by HTPC'ers, high quality video based deinterlacing, and much, much more.

You will not be disappointed!


Sorry for gushing, but I really like this product. Very well thought out with attention to detail for HTPC'ers!!

 

[xcel]

Hi Seng:


___Your DILA is going to love this player


___I have to thank Andrew for inviting me to beta test this new player some three weeks ago.


___Let me just say that the TheaterTek player was created for HTPC’ers by a tried and true HTPC’er. If nothing else, you will find the new TheaterTek player to be equal to the ATI 4.1 player in PQ w/ the sound setup ease of WinDVD across all major OS’s (Win98 SE – Win XP) to date. Simply put, this is the ATI player’s PQ without the hacks we have all had to endure in the past plus DD/DTS capability from many of the most recommended sound cards we use today. The coding that went into this player far exceeds anything you have seen to date from any of the big three including ATI, Intervideo, and Cyberlink in the three or so years I have been using SW DVD players. There are not nearly the configuration options that you would normally use/see (case in point: Cyberlink’s PowerDVD configuration screens, WinDVD’s adjustments menu, or ATI’s wondering overlay adjustment controls) because everything has been setup for the best possible PQ to a HD display from your video card of choice. Even the scoped output is complete for the Radeon in particular. This is all accomplished without screwing around in the menu’s w/ WavOut/DirectSound audio type selection’s, Skin choices (you will find out why this is a moot point very soon ), video configurations that not only work across all the major OS’s, but hold there configuration defaults and even hold there configurations per title as you set the particular title up if you choose to change the defaults, and finally, the OSD is simplistic yet informational enough for anyone to use. As far as the aspect ratio control feature of the player which is what I am truly excited about, Jim Ferguson had a major input and believe me, nothing anyone of us have seen to date even comes close …


___I will wait to hear from the audiophiles of the group once they pick up the player for the sound reviews as I am not an audiophile but once you use it, I don’t think you will be looking at the players we use today in quite the same light. WinDVD, PowerDVD, and the ATI player were hacked and converted from players created for 17 and 19†PC monitor viewing to the big screens many of us use today. The TheaterTek player on the other hand was created for the big screen via HTPC right from the start. You will know that it was built as a professional level player from the second it launches your DVD of choice to when you are viewing the films credits as they scroll down your screen!


___Boy is this going to be fun


___Good Luck


___Wayne R. Gerdes

___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.

___ [email protected]

 

[Lester Jacobs]

One feature that I haven't seen mentioned:


Can it play MPEG files? Assuming all other features work as advertised, the ability to playback MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 files would make this product a killer one as I would then only need one product on my HTPC to satisfy all of my video playback needs.



Cheers

Lester

 

[Cliff Watson]

Hello,


Just a quick comment because I have a full nights work ahead of me.


I’m currently using the TheaterTek DVD player under Windows XP (Home Version) using the new Delta 410 (Theater) soundcard with WDM drivers and get perfect AC-3/DTS pass-thru.

â€is there any comparison between the two software?â€


Seng, There is no comparison.

 

[Tivolicious]

You don't know how hard it was trying to advise someone today who was looking at DVD players I think that my lip is still bleeding from biting it.


Thank god you announced. Now I can spread the word.


Congrats. I love to see products by forums members for forum members.


-Steve

 

[jidelite]

So do we still have forum members under NDA with ATI still testing a new ATI player?


jidelite

 

[PVR]

## All operating systems above Win98SE are supported


Does that mean that Win98SE is supported

or only WinME, Win2K and WinXP?


The old ATI 4.x player had problems with new

DXVA drivers on cards like the Radeon.

Will the TheaterTek player work with the

latest DXVA radeon drivers?

 

[johnwcookjr]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.


I've been holding out, using my old tried and true Mpact2 3DFusion for months now, waiting for the Sheriff to arrive.


I tried the ATI route with all the add-on tweaks and 3rd party programs for audio and video support and always found myself frustrated by all the hacking required just to watch a DVD on my NEC.


Count me in, sounds like the best $70 I'll have ever spent.



Will the Nightingale Pro6 audio card be supported?


I'm assuming no other programs whatsoever are required to deliver the goods as promised (no DVDGENIE, POWERSTRIP, YXY etc.), correct?


Thanks, John

 

[xcel]

Hi PVR:


___I did not test Win98 SE myself but the TheaterTek player worked great under Millennium and XP. I was using the latest official ATI 6.13.3276’s on a PCI based Radeon retail for some of the compatibility testing and they worked as advertised


___As an edit, John: You will not need DVD Genie nor YXY but you will still need PowerStrip for custom T&R’s. This player cannot do everything just yet …


___Good Luck


___Wayne R. Gerdes

___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.

___ [email protected]

 

[johnwcookjr]

As a marketing concept for the finished CDROM, a grouping of good quality convergence, color and greyscale images directly retrievable from the onscreen menus would be awesome.


John

 

[luvmytivo]

What I'm about to say may upset PQ geeks and small children - so beware. Given the decent PQ of most (if not all) of the software based players compared to a non-PS DVD player, my biggest concern isn't, and never will be features - it's stability.

Seiously - if I see a touch of combing here or there, a dab of posterization for a few seconds, or even a slightly muddy washed out scene - I really don't care as long as the @$# thing plays. I built my theatre for a bunch of people to sit around in and watch movies (gasp), not so I could sit alone in the dark and tweak. If this new Sheriff can deliver a stable picture, with no stutters or audio dropouts, I really don't care what it costs.

That being said, I'd have to try it before I'd shell out anything to be sure that it is stable enough for a movie marathon, so a demo version is key.

 

[rebe1]

Any of you beta testers try the flag demo/portion of Video Essentials? Any improvements?? I'm at a point of chucking the whole HTPC for DVD playback for a Panasonic RP56 or Skyworth 1050P, but this thread just postponed that purchase for now

 

[xcel]

Hi Darren:


___This player is as stable as WinDVD 2.6.4-2.8 IMO under both XP and Millennium vs. the somewhat finicky ATI player by the many posts we have all read. I really did not have any trouble with the ATI player after the reg patches became available myself so who knows but I will not be launching the ATI player again for my own DVD viewing if that means anything.


___I do want to mention that both the ATI Radeon and the Nvidia GeForce2 GTS’ HW acceleration features are not being used under Windows 2000 and Win XP currently so you will see higher than normal CPU utilization numbers but nothing that will drop a 600 MHz PIII to its knees. I would say maybe a 450 to 500 MHz PII/PIII under XP would be the drop dead minimum vs a PII 333 - 350 with any of the other players under 98 SE/Millennium. I believe most of us have that amount of CPU capacity currently or at least the upgrade would be minimal to get there. The only way to truly wreck the player that I saw was to cycle through the various menu’s w/ shortcuts very fast. This is nothing I would do under normal circumstances but it is something that should be mentioned. Karnis saw a slight pause when moving around the menu’s under the Radeon’s and asked if I saw the same which I did. Again, when you are moving around the menu’s, a slight pause for the overlay to initialize without a menu is nothing to worry about. Under the GeForce, the pause was non-existent that I could tell.


___To answer your question, I feel it was an improvement vs. the ATI player in terms of both stability and not having to have a secondary or tertiary player installed for those just in case times. Does this mean it will work with every DVD title or those yet to be released? Of course not as I am sure there will be some poorly mastered DVD’s that can kill this player just like any other but not with the 10 or so titles I ran though it as well as SPR SE which the player got a pretty good going over again and again with my own personal HTPC.


___Good Luck

As another edit, I can see myself getting roasted in the next few weeks because of this thread but that is how much I have enjoyed this player w/ all of its utility and ease of use. Will it work on a VIA chipset based KX133 w/ an 800 MHz Duron, 64 MB of PC100 SDRAM, Creative TNT2 Ultra, and a Turtle Beach SC? I have no idea but on a std. ASUS CUSL2 ([email protected]) w/ an M-Audio AP2496, PCI based Radeon and an AGP based GeForce2 GTS under both XP and Win ME as well as an ECS K7S5A using a 1.4 GHz T-Bird w/ an M-Audio AP2496, Creative Live Value II, and its onboard sound, HiPix DTV200, as well as a GeForce2 GTS, it worked great for the few DVD’s I ran through them. Until the 1.4 GHz T-Bird on the ECS burned up for the second time that is


___Wayne R. Gerdes

___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.

___ [email protected]

 

[Yvonus]

Ok this looks real cool. Just as we did for DScaler, it's cool to see products done by htpc enthusiasts out there, and AVS members so that they are well aware of our requirements, wills and such.


However, and I hope this will disappear from my mind soon, I'm a bit doubtful about seeing such a supposed top-notch commercial app doing better than any player out there. I sincerely hope it'll be as you say !


Regarding the price, I've gone the PowerDVD route for more than a few monthes now, and paid something like 30 or 35$. Even more without knowing yet how the thing performs, I think I'll be somehow reluctant to send more than 70$ into this.


Could we setup a rebate for ... let's say AVS posters who are > 800 posts (I don't say this because I've just stepped beyond this number of post )


Regarding the non-computer looking interface, I think this is a great thing. I'm using PowerDVD with the "submarine" skin and sure it doesn't look "computer". However, most user-contributed skins around on PowerDVD site are attempts to clone Winamp or a basic set-top dvd player .. quite sucks. So I hope there will be innovation on this part.


Jim was in the "circuit" for the AR module so I'm quite confident it's gonna be cool. But, as we (tried to) did for DScaler, please try to keep it simple. The "Source aspect ratio+Display screen aspect ratio" point of view is simple and intuitive to use.


What about region-coding ? This might sound akward as you are for sure on the legal side (Dolby licensing, CSS protection and such..) but I'm an European who jumped in the dvd wagon in october 97 so I've started with region 1 only, and now, I'm almost a region-2-only buyer. I'd like to say that not having a multi-region solution would be definitely a no-go for me.


Anyway, I hope we'll be able to try that new tool soon.


One last note regarding remote controling this app .. please publish the WM_COMMANDS numbers to that it'll be gonna easier to do a Girder group.

 

[power]

i knew something good was coming! Good work Beta testers. I am anxious to buy this player. If you guys say this player is king, it's official