I'm gradually moving all of the machines in my house to use the Library Server/Library Client relationship. It's especially sweet since I got my new MacBook Pro (Core i7 2.8GHz)! I'm easily able to run MC15 in Parallels and use my laptop as a Client.
However, I'm having difficulties determining what filetypes should 'just work'. Here's what I've discovered so far...
THE SETUP:
- MC15 (recent build) running under a Parallels VM with Windows 7 as the GuestOS. (It also happens to be my BootCamp partition).
- Latest CCCP and QuickTime are installed on the VM.
THE OPTIONS:
On the HTPC (Library Server)--
* "Share your library, playlists, and view" - enabled
* Default port: 52199
Advanced settings - "Respond to auto-detection requests" - enabled
Authentication is enabled w/username & password
(Although I wouldn't guess that it's relevant in this thread, DLNA Server and DLNA Renderer are also enabled. I'll eventually get to working my iPhone into the equation...)
On the MBP (Library Client)--
* Library Server is disabled (as are all of the DLNA options)
* "Automatically sync changes..." - enabled
* "Play local file..." - enabled
* "Show playback zones from the server..." - disabled
* Don't convert audio
* Don't convert images
* Don't convert video
VIDEO:
AVI (Xvid/MP3): plays fine w/'automatic'
FLV: plays fine w/'automatic'
MKV: plays fine w/'automatic'
MOV (H264/AAC 2ch): plays fine w/'automatic'
MP4 (H264/AAC 2ch & DD): plays fine, but see below...
M4V -- a video from the iTunes store does not work. MC throws an error saying it can't play the file. The filetype is set on the client to use the QuickTime engine.
Notes: Getting MP4 files to play required some experimenting on the client. The 'automatic' filetype setting didn't work. What I had to do was use "JRiver Video Engine (DS filters)", then manually specify the Haali Media Splitter as the Source AND enable Haali Media Splitter (AR) and ffdshow Audio Decoder as other filters in order to get all of the stream functions working (subtitles, alternate audio tracks, etc.)
AUDIO--
AC3: plays, but see below...
APE: plays fine w/'automatic'
APL: FAIL--throws an error about checking the file location. Plays fine on the server.
WAV (DTS): digital static, but 'plays' w/'automatic'
M4A: plays fine w/'automatic'
M4P: looks like it plays, but no sound. The filetype on the client is set to use QT.
MP3: plays fine w/'automatic'
WMA: plays fine w/'automatic'
Notes: my AC3 files when played with the playback method set on 'automatic', tried to open the file on a webpage with a QT object, then crashed MC. If I set the playback method to "JRiver Audio Engine (DS filters)", then it plays back fine, but MC hangs when trying to advance to the next track.
Any thoughts as to why the AC3 & APL files won't work properly?
SUGGESTIONS:
- If Library Server is enabled, DISable all of the Library Client options (unless it's possible to do both at the same time--but why would you?)
Best,
Brad