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How to Play HD-DVD/Blu-ray (EVO/M2TS) files in MC12 using DirectShow filters

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jmone:
For those interested you can play back content ripped from HD-DVD and Blu-ray within MC12 using DirectShow filters just like other formats (eg MPG).  The purpose of this post is on how to play these files in MC12 not how to get them onto your HDD.  The content on these disks are protected and you will need to find the required ripper to get unencrypted access to the EVO and M2TS files but a quick Google will point you towards the required tools which may or may not be legal in your jurisdiction - this is up to you.  As each disk will have multiple EVO and M2TS files you will need to work out the correct order and then join these together using either "copy /b" or tools like EVOdemux or TSremux, again I won't go into how to use these but www.doom9.org has plenty of posts on these tools.

There are two file types that will be added to MC12 shortly, EVO and M2TS that contain the Video and Audio streams.  A good thread on how to play these files is at AVS http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=892527 but basically in addition to the usual filters you are going to need:
- Sonic Cinemaster Audio Decoder 4.3.0
- Haali Matroska Splitter 1.7.189.11

EVO: Enhanced VOB is a container format typically found on HD-DVD Disks that holds the Video (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1, or MPEG-2), audio (AC-3, E-AC-3, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, PCM, and MPEG-2) subtitle, etc.  Typically they contain Multiple VC-1 Video Streams, and DD+ Audio Streams.  Playing the DD+ stream is the challenging bit and as far as I know the only audio filter to be able to render DD+ and output it as DD or Analogue is the Sonic Cinemaster Audio Decoder 4.3.0.  Here is a shot of the filters used:

Filter Graph Info for EVO file with VC-1 and DD+:
    'Default DirectSound Device'
    'Video Mixing Renderer 9'
    'Sonic Cinemaster® Audio Decoder 4.3.0'
    'WMVideo Decoder DMO'
    'Haali Media Splitter'

M2TS: This is the container format typically found on Blu-ray Disks and AVCHD based camcorders (similar to the M2T file type we already have in MC12) - the TS stands for Transport Stream but I've no idea that the M2 stands for.  These can hold similar streams as with EVO but typically contain MPEG-2 or VC-1 for Video and thankfully at least one DD Audio stream as well as higher bitrate audio codecs (or PCM).  Your standard filters should play these without any problem.  Here is a shot of some of the filters I've used:

Filter Graph Info for M2TS file with VC-1 and DD:
    'Default DirectSound Device'
    'Video Mixing Renderer 9'
    'ffdshow Audio Decoder' (could be just about any DD5.1 decoder)
    'Nero Video Decoder' (could also be the 'MS WMVideo Decoder DMO' - not too many decode VC-1)
    'Nero Splitter' (could be any number of splitters)
    'File Source (Async)'

Filter Graph Info for M2TS file with MPEG and DD:
    'Default DirectSound Device'
    'Video Mixing Renderer 9'
    'ffdshow Audio Decoder' (could be just about any DD5.1 decoder)
    'nVidia Video Decoder' (could be just about any MPG decoder that likes TS)
    'Nero Splitter' (could be any number of splitters)
    'File Source (Async)'

All the best - you’re going to need a grunty PC to decode the HD Video (especially the VC-1 etc) and here is hoping we shortly see more Directshow filter support for the higher quality Audio available on these disks!
Nathan

JimH:
jmone,
Thanks very much for taking time to document this.  I've added a link to this at the bottom of our FAQ.

Matt:
Is there any way to use this configuration to play directly from the disc?

jmone:

--- Quote from: Matt on January 05, 2008, 09:02:42 am ---Is there any way to use this configuration to play directly from the disc?

--- End quote ---

If you use a prog like AnyDVD HD you get unencrypted access to the disk and hence can play individual content as if it was on your HDD so the above filters would work for playing an individual EVO or M2TS file.  If you want to play the actual Blu-ray or HD-DVD disk with navigation etc I know of no way (yet) for just using the DirectShow filters, you currently need either:
- PowerDVD Ultra
- Nero Showtime (+ Plug in pack)
- Arcsoft (soon to be released in English)
- InterVideo WinDVD Platinum
- Others??

Looks like most use PowerDVD Ultra and while there are plenty of complaints I've found it OK and use this method to make Blu-ray / HD-DVD disks to "appear" to play from MC12's Theaterview till you guys work out something better!  http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=43879.0

Thanks
Nathan

stefann63:
How can I play m2ts files AVCHD container (Canon HG10 camera files) in MC12.
Updated to MC 12.0.404 and there is no m2ts file type in Video Playback Options.
I can play those files without problems in Cyberlink PowerDVD 7.3 and it will be nice to have them organized in MC12 with thumbnails and tag's.
 

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