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More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 24 for Linux => Topic started by: rudyrednose on September 28, 2018, 11:30:56 am

Title: Considering MC24Linux. What works and what doesn't yet coming from Windows MC ?
Post by: rudyrednose on September 28, 2018, 11:30:56 am
Greetings,

Long time JR user on Windows, I am now fed up with the incessant updates and reboots required by Windows 10 (multiplied by 10 computers).

We run a 24/7 Win10 MC24 server and a bunch of Win10 tablets and computers and HTPCs, all MC24 clients of the server.
For all practical purposes, only Chrome and MC are used on the HTPCs.  We are cord cutters.

Beside the server library (local videos, audio, photos), a pair of HDHomeruns HDHR4 allow for up to 4 OTA ATSC TV channels.

Would we still be able to pull TV on a Linux client through the (Windows) MC server  ?

I am looking at first replacing Win10 with Debian-Jessie-AMD64 on the client HTPCs, of which 3 use Red October std and one uses RO-HQ.  The latter also does 3D with audio to a Steinberg UR824 directly driving amps.

The server will remain Windows 10, as it is a workstation running a bunch of other software.

So, starting from MC 24.0.52, what part of the MC24-Windows that I know and love still does not work on Linux ?

Cheers.

Title: Re: Considering MC24Linux. What works and what doesn't yet coming from Windows MC ?
Post by: Awesome Donkey on September 28, 2018, 12:13:50 pm
I don't have a list handy (nor do I have much time) but I do know MC for Linux/Mac lacks support for the Television stuff. There's a chance it never will (due to lack of drivers for TV devices on Linux, as far as I know).

Also, MC for Linux/Mac doesn't have support stuff like madVR (since it's Windows-only), so videos may not look as good as they do on Windows.
Title: Re: Considering MC24Linux. What works and what doesn't yet coming from Windows MC ?
Post by: rudyrednose on September 28, 2018, 01:30:01 pm
... but I do know MC for Linux/Mac lacks support for the Television stuff. ...
Thank you for the very fast reply !

However, suspecting as much, I wrote that the MC server machine will remain Windows based.

So would this work ?  A client Linux MC going through a Windows based MC server to :
- access live TV
- browse the TV guide
- specify recordings
- watch pre-recorded TV programs

In my understanding, it is the server that talks to the HDHR4 tuners...

Cheers.
Title: Re: Considering MC24Linux. What works and what doesn't yet coming from Windows MC ?
Post by: mwillems on September 28, 2018, 02:21:34 pm
TV support, audio inputs (i.e. WDM driver, ASIO line in, etc.), CD ripping/playing, and a few other things aren't available for linux.  You may also struggle to get all your media keys/remote buttons working depending on the linux desktop you install.

Thank you for the very fast reply !

However, suspecting as much, I wrote that the MC server machine will remain Windows based.

So would this work ?  A client Linux MC going through a Windows based MC server to :
- access live TV

No, a linux client can't access live TV even from a windows server.

Quote
- browse the TV guide

Nope, ditto

Quote
- specify recordings

Also nope

Quote
- watch pre-recorded TV programs

Yes, you can do this because the recordings are just like any other video file.

Quote
In my understanding, it is the server that talks to the HDHR4 tuners...

You're generally right, but there's no UI "plumbing" in MC for linux for TV because its not supported, so it just never shows up as an option in the UI.  It's a bummer because several models of networked TV tuners just expose a video stream that I'm fairly sure MC could play if I could figure out the right way to pass it in (i.e. HDHomerun tuners work fine with VLC or even just a web browser on linux, so there's no driver barrier, the streams are there, I just can't get MC to display them)

So if you need TV support in MC you're stuck on windows, and the last word I heard was that general Linux TV support was unfeasible.  My ecosystem is 90% linux, so I've just carved out the TV recording/live viewing and use a different program for that, and just use MC for everything else.
Title: Re: Considering MC24Linux. What works and what doesn't yet coming from Windows MC ?
Post by: rudyrednose on September 28, 2018, 03:25:36 pm
Oh, I am sorry to read this.
Guess I will have to endure a few more years then check back...

Thank you very much mwillems, as usual you are a mountain of useful information  ;D