Codec issues? please help!

[DArthur]

I haven't posted here in just about forever, but something has come up that has me pulling out what little hair I have left

Just setup a new client to replace an old extender:

Foxconn NTA350-0H0W-B-A-NA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856119050

Really a slick little PC that should be perfect for this application. Here's my problem:

When I use handbrake to convert BlueRay MKV's, some formats will play fine, and other will not. Using a default template of IPad will work great. Using High Profile or appleTV will not.

All files play fine using MS Media Player (even fairly low CPU usage at high bit-rates).

Fresh install, downloaded and installed Shark007's win7 codecs (32 bit). copied over PDVD12 codecs to correct folder under the Shark007 folder.
used Gabest setup with Shark007 utility.

Why do some of these format's play, and other don't???

running windows 7 workstation and latest (last) server and client versions of SageTV.

when I play the Ipad template generated file, a small ffdsho icon appears next to the date/time in the lower right hand corner of the screen. right clicking shows all the codecs being used. When I attempt to play the high profile video, the Icon does not show - all I get is a black screen. There is no error message, and I can stop the video.

Any Ideas where to start?

thank you,

Darryl

[BobPhoenix]

The Shark007 codec pack caused me no end of troubles. I had to restore from a 1 month old image backup just to get SageTV to play anything after installing it!!!! I would suggest you just install the codecs you need. I have the default Windows7 decoders for video, ffdshow for audio and Haali media splitter as my splitter for MKV. That is it.

[panteragstk]

+1 to that. Codec packs are the worst thing you can do when trying to get quality playback. I also use either the built in W7 decoders or the Arcsoft TMT5 decoder. Everything plays without issue.

[DArthur]

Well, I tried to roll back to an earlier check point, and now my installation is borked

before it went out, i tried just using windows 7 decoders, but they don't seem to offer hardware acceleration - CPUs we're hitting max at the higher res videos (which at least seemed to play now). I'm reinstalling windows 7 fresh and will give it another go. Unfortunately, I don't think the standard windows decoders will have the Umph to decode the AVC files. I do have the Power DVD12 Decoders (not the install). Does anyone know how to use these? using the Shark007 pack, you just copied the files to a sub directory. I know these work great, as I could play the BD rips direcectly in windows media player without maxing out the CPUs.

I'd hate to have to pay for the full install of Power DVD or TMT5 if I don't have to...

Darryl

[nyplayer]

I just installed FFDSHOW and selected hardware acceleration for H264 and VC1. No other codecs just the ones that came with Windows 7.

[BobbyDing]

My 2 cents, if it'll help...

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with my Client(s) and this is what works and plays everything so far, even 3D MKV's Bluray rips which took some tweaking. Of course our hardware in not the same, but it's worth a try. Client PC is a 2ghz dual core, asus 5450 hdmi (ati radeon), 2gb ram.

Fresh win7 install
Install Java
Image said install to separate drive.
Install Matroska Pack Lite 1.1.2 (ONLY)
Install SageTV
Upgrade SageTV
Set preferred Java Heap

VIDEO SETTINGS:

Detail Setup - Video/Audio
Renderer = EVR (try them all thought for each file type)
Mpeg2 Video Decoder Filter = Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Filter
H.264 Video Decoder Filter = Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Filter
VC-1 Video Decoder Filter = Default
Media Player for non Mpeg files = Directshow
Dscaler Deinterlae filter = Disabled
Audio Renderer = Default
Mpeg2 Audio Decoder filter = SageTV MPEG Audio Decoder
HD Audio Decoder Filter = Default
Audio Playback Delay 0

Detail Setup - Advanced
3D Acceleration = ON
Full Screen Exclusive = YES

If these settings work:
Add Plugins
Image Drive Again

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by DArthur

Well, I tried to roll back to an earlier check point, and now my installation is borked

I had the same problem after Shark007. I had to go back to an image backup I made a month before to get it back to working correctly.