Topic: NEW: Blu-ray Menu playback support (Read 53185 times)

Hendrik · « **on:** February 28, 2018, 02:26:25 am »

Media Center 24 for Windows now has the ability to display and navigate Blu-ray Menus on decrypted Blu-ray discs.

Menu support is still under development, and while its looking pretty good in testing so far, remember that some discs may not fully work, and some interactive features specifically may have issues.

Menus are not enabled by default yet, so you must select:

Settings -> Video -> Play Blu-ray discs using Menus

Another way to access the Menu is by playing the disc in Title-mode (ie. without menus) and accessing the Playback OSD, which has a new page to restart playback using the Menus. This allows accessing the Menus on-demand when either Title Playback didn't pick the right title, or when you want to access additional content.

BD-J Java Menus

Media Center supports playback of BD-J (Java) discs. An appropriate version of Java will be automatically downloaded similar to the other playback dependencies.
This is a private copy of Java, which means that it'll not be installed in your OS, and only Media Center will know it exists and only use it for Blu-ray playback.

Remote Control Menu keys

Blu-ray Player remote controls typically have two Menu keys. One for the "Disc Menu", and one for the "Popup Menu".
Media Center handles the ordinary "Menu" key (also called "DVD Menu") as the "Disc Menu" key, which on most discs pauses Playback and returns you to the main Menu.

The "Popup Menu" key would pop up a smaller menu at the bottom of the screen which typically allows you to change audio/subtitles or use the scene selectors during playback. Unfortunately ordinary MCE remotes do not have a button for this.
Media Center introduced a new MCC command (10065) and a "learnable" button in its Remote Control configuration (Settings -> Remote Control -> Commands, Look for "Blu-ray Popup Menu") for this functionality, so you can map this to any unused button on your remote.

During Playback, you can also use the Playback OSD to open either of the two menus, unfortunately once the Menus are open, the Playback OSD becomes unavailable, and some discs do not have a way to close the Popup Menu without a Popup Menu key.

If you're playing on a PC with a mouse, you can also trigger both menus from the Right-Click context menu.

A general note on those menus: The discs themselves control which menu is available and its functionality. Media Center can only forward the button presses to it, and everything else is up to the disc. As such, not all discs contain every kind of menu, and several discs for example are known to have no Popup Menu at all.

Blu-ray Region Code

Settings -> Video -> Blu-ray Region Code allows you to set MC to be a Region A (Americas & South East Asia), Region B (Europe, Africa & Australia), or Region C (Russia & Central Asia) player. If you receive an region error during playback you will need to change your region setting to match that of the disc. FYI - Some BD Decrypters (like AnyDVD) allow you to remove region codes to avoid this issue if you have purchased discs from multiple regions.

4K UltraHD Blu-ray Support

As of Media Center 24.0.17, we're enabling experimental support for 4K UltraHD Blu-ray discs. Both SDR and HDR discs are supported, with a few limitations.
HDR discs require using Red October HQ, and manual adjustment of the HDR settings in madVR may be required for an optimal result.

On HDR discs, Menus and Subtitles will not be properly reproduced in HDR yet. This will be resolved in the future.

Limitations
- 3D is not supported, you need to use Blu-ray Title Playback for 3D decoding to work
- Secondary Video/Audio is not supported yet (Picture in Picture, Overlay Commentary tracks on some discs)
- Bookmarks and other Playback State (ie. audio tracks) is not saved/restored
- BD-J menus do not support mouse interaction, use arrow keys or a remote
- Menus/Subtitles on UltraHD HDR discs render using wrong colors

Reporting Bugs and Discs with Issues
If you have a disc that fails to play, or plays but has issues with the Menu can you please report and try the following:
- Name of Disc (and Region)
- Does the issue occur with both (Tools--> Options--> Video--> Video mode:) Red October HQ and Red October Standard
- Does the issue still occur if you delete all the folders in "C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\J River\Media Center 24\Plugins" (MC will re-download all the sub folders with default settings). Note: If you have customised any madVR Settings you will want to save the "settings.bin" file and copy it back into the madvr folder later.

Hendrik · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2018, 02:26:35 am »

Found a disc which won't work?
We'll need a Log and the information which disc exactly is failing for you - not just the name of the movie, but the actual release. Please also glance over the list of known issues, unfortunately we cannot guarantee every disc to work right out the door.

jmone · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2018, 04:00:38 am »

This is a great addition to MC! We now have easy access to all the content on a BD including:
- Correct Episodes on TV Discs
- Alternative Endings
- Bonus Content
- etc

The integration between the existing MC OSD Menu and the BD Menu makes it easy to switch between the two systems intuitively. I've so far tested this on hundreds of discs and only a few show issues (from what I've seen you just get a black screen). If you have any issues you can just use MC's traditional OSD Menu. It basically just works!

audioriver · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2018, 04:11:28 am »

Love the BD menus! Just a question, isn't it possible for MC to include and use its own Java version (only available to MC), instead of us having to install Java "globally" in the OS? It is known for various security problems after all. I guess it would increase the installer size but surely not a big problem today?

Hendrik · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2018, 04:14:40 am »

Installing Java by itself is not a security risk, since it cannot be accessed by just sitting on your harddrive. Just avoid installing the browser plugin if you're worried about that.

We are however considering doing just that, but we'll have to wait and see.

JimH · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2018, 06:39:25 am »

Thanks, Hendrik, for all the work you've done on this.

RD James · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2018, 06:42:06 am »

I believe there are portable versions of Java available which can be dropped into the same directory as the application that you're wanting to run without having to install it system-wide.
If that is the solution used, I would hope that it's downloaded as an optional component when you try to use Blu-ray menus, like many other components of Media Center.

MGD_King · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2018, 01:49:51 pm »

I cannot wait to test this feature out!!! How soon until we can get our hands on it? LOL

TheShoe · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2018, 06:52:47 am »

will menus work if i have ripped to folder structure using makemkv, or do i need to rip to ISO?

cheers

muzicman0 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2018, 09:57:41 am »

Quote from: audioriver on February 28, 2018, 04:11:28 am

Love the BD menus! Just a question, isn't it possible for MC to include and use its own Java version (only available to MC), instead of us having to install Java "globally" in the OS? It is known for various security problems after all. I guess it would increase the installer size but surely not a big problem today?

That's exactly how we do it at the software company I work at. Sooooooo much easier on the end user, and we control which Java version is being used.

MGD_King · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2018, 11:29:28 am »

Quote from: muzicman0 on March 03, 2018, 09:57:41 am

That's exactly how we do it at the software company I work at. Sooooooo much easier on the end user, and we control which Java version is being used.

The only problem I have with that (speaking from the "help desk" side of things) is that all too often the application that installed their own Java Runtime gets broken when Java magically updates itself and gets a new folder path.

muzicman0 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2018, 01:46:10 pm »

But java wouldn’t auto update. It’s not technically installed, so there is no auto update function.

eddyshere · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2018, 04:14:08 pm »

I'm waiting/asking for it since Mc 18....and now that it's finally happening I'm not ready

. I can rebuild a HTPC now...

Thank U that was the last missing piece to make JRiver tick all boxes of my wishlist.

BARRIS · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2018, 09:04:25 am »

Hello!
I've just purchased MC24 upgrade.
Will the player recognize any BluRay 4K folders? Will UHD HDR 10bit content be reproduced correctly?

Hendrik · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2018, 09:41:52 am »

UHD Blu-rays are only supported in Title Playback, meaning you won't get a menu. But they'll otherwise decode and reproduce fine. HDR requires Red October HQ to be used and a more powerful system, but otherwise works fine.

Manfred · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2018, 12:13:56 pm »

Have I missed something? I don't find the MC24 release to try out Blue Ray menu.

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2018, 12:26:06 pm »

Quote from: Manfred on April 06, 2018, 12:13:56 pm

Have I missed something? I don't find the MC24 release to try out Blue Ray menu.

MC24 hasn't been released yet. Hopefully in a few weeks.

BARRIS · « **Reply #17 on:** April 06, 2018, 12:28:15 pm »

It's a pity about UHD menu

, because Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra works with BR UHD in full

eddyshere · « **Reply #18 on:** April 06, 2018, 05:05:50 pm »

powerdvd is the ONLY offically licenced bluray software for BD-Menu and UHD menu playback (and thus has to fullfill and holds a whole list of protection mechanisms). It would take pages to explain in detail the history and technicalities of copy-protected DVD, BD and recently UHD material on a PC.

ALL other software solutions are no officially licenced players. The only one of these which as per today offers also UHD full menu support is DVDfabplayer 5 but is still full of bugs.

UHD playback on PC is really a topic per se...I can only recommend to google around.

Also we should not spend too much time posting about that...suffice to say that most of us can be thrilled that MC supports BD full menu.

...and yes I'm also eagerly awaiting first MC24 releases

jmone · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2018, 04:58:52 am »

FYI - I've tested many 100's of BD and UHD discs so far and the JRiver Team has done a great job (props to Hendrik!). It is already looking very very good for BD

and the integration with the existing MC navigation and menu system is great.

On the UHD front it is not (for now) supported but in my testing it works OK'ish on about 2/3rds of my discs. There are some visual glitches but it does works on these discs. The other 1/3 just don't work at all (just a black screen), but MC OSD Menu lets you select Title Playback and that works perfectly for UHD. From what I can tell, it appears that there is an authoring difference in the BD-J Menu code between BD and UHD BD and it also appears that it is down to what UHD BD authoring packages is used by the studios (appears to be 3 or so different packages).

Hang tight, it is worth the wait for MC 24 for us BD users.

JimH · « **Reply #20 on:** April 08, 2018, 07:36:22 am »

It won't be too long.

Domi · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2018, 07:54:10 am »

Hi,

great!!!!

I must confess that I'm waiting for this feature with great enthusiasm.

Many thanks for this new feature!!!

TheShoe · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2018, 05:04:03 pm »

does one have to rip to iso or will this work with folder structure as well?

Hendrik · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2018, 05:05:14 pm »

Folder structures or actual discs, ISOs don't actually work natively, you would need to mount them first.

JimH · « **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2018, 06:55:31 pm »

Available now from a thread near the top of this board.

jmone · « **Reply #25 on:** April 12, 2018, 08:04:12 pm »

MC24 is out and with it BD Menu Support and it's looking good!

From what I've seen the main issue is that some titles will seem to "stall" on a black screen at some time during either just before or after the Main Menu. If you get this then please post details about the disc and maybe a log. From my testing this only impacts a few % of the discs. If you do get a stalled disc, you can always use MC's Right Click on (up arrow) OSD Menu to switch to "Title Playback" and you will be good to go (sans Menu of course).

There is also some info in the OP if you get "Wrong Region" errors.

eddyshere · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2018, 03:53:35 pm »

First and as already stated. Thank you. This version really looks excellent. I had my fair play with the bluray menues which really work great.
I'm looking forward to the future development of this feature :

Audio and Subtitle selector is not active on some movies from the beginning of a multi audiotrack movie...it seems to come later during playback..

- First thing I noticed (it isn't a bug I assume just not implemented yet) when in Full menu mode for instance audio and subtitles selection is absent. ( the Madvr home cinema control panel list far less things - languages, tracks etc when in full menu mode than in the regular player mode).

Pop-up menu
When opening pop-up menu during playback how do I close it again without selecting something in it

That is all in display view....

Hendrik · « **Reply #27 on:** April 13, 2018, 04:04:43 pm »

Quote from: eddyshere on April 13, 2018, 03:53:35 pm

Audio and Subtitle selector is not active on some movies from the beginning of a multi audiotrack movie...it seems to come later during playback..

- First thing I noticed (it isn't a bug I assume just not implemented yet) when in Full menu mode for instance audio and subtitles selection is absent. ( the Madvr home cinema control panel list far less things - languages, tracks etc when in full menu mode than in the regular player mode).

You are supposed to use the menu for this right now, it has control of all those things. It is unknown if/how we implement this otherwise.

Quote from: eddyshere on April 13, 2018, 03:53:35 pm

Pop-up menu
When opening pop-up menu during playback how do I close it again without selecting something in it

If the menu has no "Back" button, the only way to get back would be to map a button to the "Popup Menu" function on your Remote, or if you have a Mouse, there is an option in the context menu.
Also refer to the Remote Control Menu keys section in the first post of the feature thread: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,114628.0.html

jmone · « **Reply #28 on:** April 13, 2018, 04:13:42 pm »

Mostly the Down Arrow will take you out of the Pop Up Menu.

eddyshere · « **Reply #29 on:** April 13, 2018, 04:16:05 pm »

OK

Am toying around with MCWS and MCC to see how I can insert the Pop-Up menu in the existing setup...I control exclusively over IP.

Hendrik · « **Reply #30 on:** April 13, 2018, 04:23:18 pm »

The MCC for that is MCC_BLURAY_POPUP_MENU / 10065. Just for completeness sake, the Disc menu can be opened with MCC_DVD_MENU / 10033

eddyshere · « **Reply #31 on:** April 13, 2018, 04:32:02 pm »

Brilliant..thanks

jb82 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 14, 2018, 08:46:58 pm »

Hendrik, do you have a roadmap for menu support for uhd and 3d BR? Will this be in mc25?

jmone · « **Reply #33 on:** April 14, 2018, 09:42:48 pm »

Quote from: jb82 on April 14, 2018, 08:46:58 pm

Hendrik, do you have a roadmap for menu support for uhd and 3d BR? Will this be in mc25?

On the UHD Front have a read of the UHD thread - https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,115314.0.html UHD Menus "mostly" work in my testing.

Hendrik · « **Reply #34 on:** April 15, 2018, 01:37:56 am »

UHD BD is scheduled to be worked on in the coming months, 3DBD is probably not going to happen for now.

jb82 · « **Reply #35 on:** April 15, 2018, 06:56:15 am »

Thanks for clarifying

TheShoe · « **Reply #36 on:** April 15, 2018, 07:39:40 am »

Quote from: Hendrik on April 15, 2018, 01:37:56 am

UHD BD is scheduled to be worked on in the coming months, 3DBD is probably not going to happen for now.

out of curiosity what makes 3DBD different in regards to menus?

jmone · « **Reply #37 on:** April 15, 2018, 04:27:07 pm »

When in Menu Mode, the libbluray library is used both for both Navigation and replaces LAV Filters for the Splitter. If I play a BD3D it does work, but only in 2D. Given part of the logic to handle reading both eyes of the MVC (BD3D) video stream is in LAV Splitter (which is then decoded by LAV Video and untimely rendered by madVR), i'm guessing MVC support is either missing in libbluray or requires work to make it compatible with LAV Video.

chris635 · « **Reply #38 on:** April 16, 2018, 04:22:50 pm »

With this enabled, while playing a blureay from my nas, the chapter menu pops up at the bottom of the screen when a movie progress's through each chapter. I know this feature is new to jriver, but is anybody else seeing this, and if not, what am I doing wrong?

apgood · « **Reply #39 on:** April 16, 2018, 06:47:25 pm »

Quote from: chris635 on April 16, 2018, 04:22:50 pm

With this enabled, while playing a blureay from my nas, the chapter menu pops up at the bottom of the screen when a movie progress's through each chapter. I know this feature is new to jriver, but is anybody else seeing this, and if not, what am I doing wrong?

I saw this as well when I watched 'In Time' on Friday night to test menu playback.

chris635 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 16, 2018, 07:11:07 pm »

Quote from: apgood on April 16, 2018, 06:47:25 pm

I saw this as well when I watched 'In Time' on Friday night to test menu playback.

So its not just me...LOL!

jmone · « **Reply #41 on:** April 19, 2018, 06:35:27 am »

I just did a quick check on a couple of dozen discs (I don't have In Time) and I'm not seeing this issue. On some discs I do see the BD GUI appear when I do a Chapter Jump but not during normal playback. If you do see the BD GUI appear during normal playback can you please list the title.
Thanks
Nathan

chris635 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 19, 2018, 11:03:12 am »

Quote from: jmone on April 19, 2018, 06:35:27 am

I just did a quick check on a couple of dozen discs (I don't have In Time) and I'm not seeing this issue. On some discs I do see the BD GUI appear when I do a Chapter Jump but not during normal playback. If you do see the BD GUI appear during normal playback can you please list the title.
Thanks
Nathan

Its not all titles. It doesn't do it with "Aliens" (My favorite), but it does with the following "Star Wars " titles. 1. A New Hope. 2. Empire Strikes Back. 3. Return Of The Jedi".

I haven't checked anything else yet.

Chris

jmone · « **Reply #43 on:** April 19, 2018, 03:44:22 pm »

Thanks Chris, I can confirm my copy of the original 3 Star Wars discs do this as well.

Hendrik · « **Reply #44 on:** April 19, 2018, 06:28:18 pm »

The popping-up chapter should hopefully be resolved in a future build. Took some digging, but I think I found it.

jmone · « **Reply #45 on:** April 19, 2018, 06:37:28 pm »

Nice work!

Also thanks for the reports, pls remember to post info on what discs cause issues

chris635 · « **Reply #46 on:** April 19, 2018, 06:50:47 pm »

Quote from: Hendrik on April 19, 2018, 06:28:18 pm

The popping-up chapter should hopefully be resolved in a future build. Took some digging, but I think I found it.

Quote from: jmone on April 19, 2018, 06:37:28 pm

Nice work!

Also thanks for the reports, pls remember to post info on what discs cause issues

Thanks for finding it!

Just post any other issues for menus here?

Chris

JimH · « **Reply #47 on:** April 19, 2018, 07:04:51 pm »

Quote from: chris635 on April 19, 2018, 06:50:47 pm

Just post any other issues for menus here?

Yes. Please do.

TheShoe · « **Reply #48 on:** April 19, 2018, 07:29:26 pm »

My first attempt - Pixar Short Film Collection Volume 2 - crashed after the menu came up and I selected the language. I started playback by opening index.bdmv and then right-clicking and selecting "Switch to Blu-Ray Menu" at which point the menu for this disc prompts to select the language.

The PC locked hard. had to power cycle it.

--

second attempt i was able to get to the main menu. from there i selected the "Set Up" menu and it displayed an incomplete set of options (there were three colored boxes with no content rendered and no way to go back; i expect the boxes were probably the various audio options available).

--

Will keep playing around. i'll capture a log file and post.

jmone · « **Reply #49 on:** April 19, 2018, 07:34:25 pm »

Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2 works for me. When I play it I get an initial splash screen to select the Language (English), press enter --> couple of splash screens --> menu loads --> play all or selecting a particular clip all works.

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Author Topic: NEW: Blu-ray Menu playback support (Read 53185 times)