Hi,
I've become a veteran at trying different Media Center software but can not find a single prog that supports my environment and am hoping that MC may be my perfect solution. I've read the FAQ and some posts but before I download the trail I thought I'd check for comments on my requirements which are:
Hardware Setup and Support:
1) S/PDIF passthrough (for external DD/DTS decoding by Yami Amp)
2) DVI-HDMI from 6200TC (Nvidia) to the Amp to a Hitachi Plasma
3) MCE Remote Control / Keyboard (really need the 10FT I'F with the IR remote for Wife / Kids)
4) DVICO Plus DVB-T Tuner for Australia (happy to test
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=36811.0)
File Support (these are the ones that have causes me probs with other S'W - see below for comparison):
1) WMA Lossless for Audio Files (my primary Audio ripping format)
2) Muxed MPEG/DTS and MPEG/DD files (my primary Music Video Ripping format)
3) DV Type 1 & 2 in Anomorphic 16:9 - AVI container (home videos from my JVC DV Camcorder)
I have so far tried in my search:
1) Media Portal / MS Media Center - both use the Microsoft File DEMUXER which does not support DTS sound tracks in Muxed MPEG/DTS files (made from Music DVD's I own but broken up by chaper into files). This is demuxer does not have an Audio pin out for DTS pin out so will never work and is not a CODEC issue - (note: the MS DVD Demuxer obviously does support DTS and works fine).
1a) Tried using VLC (its demuxer DTS friendly) as the "video plugin" but VLC has problems with DV files and you lose functionality
2) Nero Home - plays most things but suffers from lots of annoying bugs including Video Tearing / frame dropping when compared to Showtime and their support is poor - This is my current software.
3) Seasam - DVB-T support does not work properly
Hope to be a loyal MC fan soon!
Thanks
Nathan