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[stevemac]

Hi,

Still learning about DLNA & need some advice

Current Set up
Media Server Details
-------------------
Win 7 x64
MC 17.0.165

DLNA Config
-----------
Audio - Always Convert: Encoder is Uncompressed - 24 bit
Video - Convert unsupported formats: MPEG2/DVD PAL Stream (if set to never convert the WD unit cannot play my movie collection at all)
Advanced - DLNA checked, DLNA Extra checked, Log File Requests checked

File formats
-----------
Movies stored as VIDEO_TS (via AnyDVD & My Movie Collection)

WD TV Live Details
------------------
Firmware 1.08.17
Network is wired

When I play a movie with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack (haven't tried DTS yet) I only get 2 channel on the WD TV Live unit.  I have tried a few different Video encoder settings in the DLNA server profile, but cannot get the additional audio channels.  As a test I converted one of the movies to .MKV (Video MPEG-2, Audio AC-3).   All audio channels are present when playing the file on the WD unit (from the MC Server)

So......
 - Should the WD TV Live unit play DVD rips without conversion (i.e from files in the video_ts folder)?  I don't think so but would appreciate confirmation from someone with similar set-up
 - Do any of the DLNA Video encoders output the AC-3 stream?
 - Any thoughts on how I should configure the DLNA server profile?

It's not too much work for me to convert my video library to .MKV & happy to go down this path if there isn't an alternate solution

Thanks,

Steve

[bob]

The video conversion settings aren't applicable when playing an aggregate DVD (VIDEO_TS). This is because all DLNA video devices are supposed to play mpeg2 video so they are unconverted.
JohnT will have to fill us in on the current state of stream selection from aggregate DVD's.

It does appear now that mkv's with version >=17.0.165 work fine with the WDTV (just remuxing I assume). You could try with one and see how it works out..

[stevemac]

hi Bob - thanks for the reply

The WD unit definitely handles DVD movies converted to .MKV.  All audio channels are present

If I don't enable video conversion in the MC DLNA Server config the WD unit isn't able to play the aggregate DVD (WD presents the unsupported file message).  When conversion is enabled the aggregate DVD plays but is 2 channel.  This suggests MC is doing something to the data being presented to the WD unit

Cheers,

Steve

[bob]

Steve,
Does the filetype for the DVD's show as ifo in the MC database?

[stevemac]

Hi Bob,

Checked the MC database.  The filetype is set to ifo

thanks,

Steve

[bob]

I don't get that at all since MC explicitly turns off conversion for the ifo "file type".
What are your advanced settings?
Re-check your video conversion settings, do you possibly have 2 servers with different parameters or is an instance of WMP services running?

The options when playing an unconverted aggregate DVD are limited. The main audio track is used, it's not selectable and the only way to do subtitles is via .srt/.sub files in the same directory as the DVD and that only works on devices that support separate subs (the WD doesn't support separate subs).

Probably the best option for now anyway is to re-mux them to mkv's...

[stevemac]

Hi Bob,

Advanced Settings
 - DLNA checked
 - DLNA Extra checked
 - Log file Requests checked

Currently only 1 DLNA Server configured
WMP services are disabled

I'll try to perform some more testing.  Not sure if it's relevant, however the PC MC is installed on is configured for 2 channel sound.

I've started converting to mkv.

Thanks for your input,

Steve

[stevemac]

Well not sure what fixed it, but an aggregate DVD is now playing with all audio channels to the WD TV Live unit via DLNA. 
I removed aggregate dvds from the library
I enabled multichannel audio on the PCs sound card & updated the audio settings in MC to use direct sound digital output. 
updated the DLNA server settings for video to convert unsupported video
Imported one aggregate movie & it played successfully

I then returned all settings (aside from the DLNA Server conversion) to their original settings.  The movie still plays with all audio channels

Will be doing some more testing to try & work out what was happening & import the remaining aggregate dvds. 

All devices had been power reset / rebooted and MC version updated between not working and working so have no idea what addressed it

[bob]

What build are you currently running??

[stevemac]

hi Bob.  Sorry for not listing it in the earlier post.  Now on 17.0.172.  Also I didn't check that it was still an issue before I started changing settings.

cheers,

Steve

[bob]

I think we've figured this out. The DVD needed to be re-parsed after the change the was made in 17.0.168 in which MC chooses the default soundtrack. Removing an item from the database and reimporting it should fix the problem.

[stevemac]

Hi,

I reimported the collection last night & checked about 6 movies.  Multi-channel audio available on all of them via DLNA to the WD TV live device.

Thanks for sorting this out,

Steve