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[godavego]

Here is what I would like to do, but there are a couple of features missing from MC that prevent it.

Media/Control Server:
MC Library Server
MC UPnP Server
All my media files (music, photos, video, and DVD)

HT HTPC:
MC connected to the library server
Audio source for multiple zones
DVD Playback from library server or local DVD drive
Photo and video viewing

Family Room HTPC:
MC Connected to the library server
DVD Playback from library server or local DVD drive
Photo and video viewing

Kid's Room PC:
MC connected to the library server
DVD Playback from library server or local DVD drive
Photo and video viewing

Roku Soundbridge (2):
Garage and kitchen playback

Unfortunately, there is one or two missing features from MC that are preventing me from doing the above.

1) DVD Playback from library server.  I can't do this.  If I could set an external command line when Play is selected, then I could launch TheaterTek for DVD playback.  However, I would rather stay in MC.  I understand that the DVD systems do not work with library files, but would it be possible to have the MC client be copying the VOBs from the library to the local drive for playback?  Then I would be playing from the local drive and get the benefits of buffering VOB content.

2) Support for ffdshow.  On my 100" screen with DLP pj, ffshow makes a big difference in picture quality.  As much as I want to stay in MC, I can't bring myself to give up TheaterTek yet.

What are the chances for MC12?  MC11.2?

[JONCAT]

In the last 20-30 builds I saw some kind of delay issue arise with Lib. Server and dvd playback but I get instantaneous playback if I just map the network drive.

I use FFDshow and the newer NVidia DVD codec. Actually, MC is the only you can use this codec on an x64 system. ZoomPlayer, the built-in Nvidia player (name?), and others won't allow it.

I did see some icompatabilites arise with FFDshow but could be due to x64 (after a week multiple instances of FFDshow would load and crash MC). But now I have 2-3 versions I am testing and things look good so far.

Dr. C

[godavego]

How did you get things to work with the library?  Even if I map the drive, the library server exposes the files via an ip address and port.  It doesn't use the mapped drive.  Are you setting things up on the clients with two open libraries -- one via the library server and the other through the mapped drive?

Where are you adding ffdshow to the video pipeline?  There isn't a setting in MC for that.  With TheaterTek, I put in ffdshow with a few standard settings, and I forget about it.  My current HTPC hasn't crashed in months.

BTW, I have the nVidia codec.  It's not the latest, but I will get the latest if that is what I need to do this.

[JONCAT]

First you need to have the drives previously shared on the network (sounds like they are right now).

Then, you need to go into My Network Places>Entire Network>YourWorkgroup now you can right-click on the drive and choose to map it. Asign it a drive letter, then tell MC to import from that mapped drive letter.

I haven't tried the lib. server in a while, but it should would make things easier at times like if you are constantly importing new files.

You can use either NVdvd codec. There is a Microsoft Preferred Video Decoder Checkup Utility (or somethng like that) to see which one is the default your system is using, it's let's you set it as such too.

I just tell FFDshow upon install to associate itself with certain file types. I just use  it for anything other than dvd and it pops up in the tray when I play an avi in MC for example. I haven't tried using it on a client that is being served an avi though, not sure how that would work. Video isn't my strong suit.

Dr. C

[godavego]

I understand how to map a drive, but my understanding is that MC will get very upset if there are multiple libraries pointed to the same set of files.  In my case, I will have at least five instances of MC running.  If all of them are trying to update tags/files, it could be very bad.  There are many posts in this forum discussing corrupted files when there are multiple libraries.  That's why I wanted to use the library server.

I can try your ffdshow suggestion, but I'm not sure if this will work.  For ffdshow to process the video stream, it needs access to the raw video from the dvd.  Associating ffshow with the VOB will put it first in line.  Plus, ffdshow is a DLL (at least the one I have is) so it needs a process to launch into.

Ultimately, I'm looking to build something like http://www.kaleidescape.com/, but without the $26,000 price tag.  If I use cases like http://www.atechfabrication.com/HTPC_cases.htm for the HTPCs, then everything will look great and be totally silent.  The way I see it, launching a DVD from a library server and ffdshow are about the only things stopping me.  It won't be perfect, but it will get me a long way towards what I'm shooting for.

My other option is to use something like MainLobby, but MC is so close that I had to ask.