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Author Topic: Customising DX Video Playback in MC12!  (Read 1551 times)

jmone

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Customising DX Video Playback in MC12!
« on: June 27, 2008, 05:27:40 pm »

The following is a guide I’m working on to add to the Wiki (will add some pics) but now the latest version is out I thought it may be useful to raise awareness of this feature.
Thanks
Nathan

Customising Video Playback

MC12 is a great piece of Software with many features and unrivalled flexibility.  Most will already know that you can assign different Direct Show Filters based of your file types (See glynor's excellent Wiki entry http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/DirectShow_Playback_Guide#What_is_DirectShow.3F_What_is_a_DirectShow_filter.3F).....But did you know you can also customise the following Playback attributes for Direct Show Video AND have these setting remembered for the next time it is played?  This is a great feature especially for these who use MC12 as their HTPC frount end to a TV as you can now tailor the playback of each (or each type) of Video to optimise this playback including:

Aspect Ratios:  While the default “Source” will be appropriate most of the time you may want to set some files to play at different Aspect Ratios.  For example some years ago many “Widescreen” presentations where in fact just standard 4:3 aspect ratios with a black bar Top and Bottom.  These days with a 16:9 display if you play these files you need to use “Crop” else you have a black boarder around the image (Top, Bottom and Sides).

Display Settings:  MC12 can now change the output signal format from your default desktop settings (eg 1920x1080x32/50hz) to a specific setting for each Video (eg 720x480x32/60hz).  While customising the output resolution to match the native format of each Video for those that want to have the HTPC "Pass-through" not "Scale", it will also solve is issue of "Judder" from mismatch timings.  The issue of Judder frequently comes up with HTPC and once source of it is that Video Media can be encoded at different frequencies (eg 23.94, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 60 etc) yet you typically have your output at only one frequencies and Judder is then introduced as the PC attempts to modify the output video stream to suit.  For example if you are in a traditional PAL country your Video Output and TV input may be set at 50Hz but you may have some NTSC (60hz) and Blu-ray/HD-DVD (23.94/24hz) material which when played judder badly (eg the PC tries to remove 10 frames per second on a 60hz NTSC Video to output it at 50hz PAL).  In MC12 you can now assign Display Settings on an individual Video file so that they are changed to suit upon playing the file.  You can now set MC12 to switch to any of the supported resolutions / frequencies that your system supports and that better suits the playback of your media.

Crop Edges:  This is another useful feature as traditionally TV's used "Overscan" where part of the picture was behind the bezel.  These days many TV's (and all Monitors) display the "Full" or "1:1 pixel" mapping resulting in some rough edges being seen (especially noticeable with older TV broadcasts).  Crop Edges allows you to slightly zoom the image out and remove these rough edges.

Zooming:  These values can also be set
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JimH

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Re: Customising DX Video Playback in MC12!
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2008, 06:06:57 pm »

Well done.  Thanks, Nathan.   8)
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jmone

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Re: Customising DX Video Playback in MC12!
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2008, 05:53:37 am »

Added to the wiki at http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Customisable_Video_Playback

Please edit (or let me know of any changes needed).

Thanks
Nathan
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