INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: MGD_King on December 02, 2003, 03:19:46 pm
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This probably isn't the place to ask this, but I'm wondering if there's been any status update to the DirectX Host plugin. The plugin page says that it's still in Beta mode. Is it anywhere near completion yet? Is it stable enough to use?
Thanks in advance.
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Don't mean to be redundant, but I thought I should post this where it applies.
gwiz - what's the DX plugin?
NILA,
MC has apparently incorporated a DX plugin option that will allow users to use DX plugins to perform audio editing within the app. From what I understand, it is a little bit buggy (I plan on tinkering around with it tonight). DX plugins are audio plugins (and there are lots) used for editing audio for things like effects, eq, output, maximizers, compressors, etc...basically any sound editing tool you could think of (provided you have the plugins (I DO)). If MC can get this working right, I think it would open the door to an amazingly large new group of potential users. The ability to edit your audio files in one application without having to bounce back and forth between sound forge or wavelab (or whatever wave editor) to make modifications would be, in my mind, ideal if not unprecedented.
VST is another type of audio plugin. While offering the same basic principle of audio editing, VST plugins are much better at real time editing. I was just curious about how much effort and planning has gone or is going into making this work?
The link to the DX plugin for MC (keep in mind that this is merely a plugin to allow you to use DX plugins and not a DX plugin in itself) is:
http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/downloads/mcplugins.pl?type=5&start=0&end=10&page=1 (http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/downloads/mcplugins.pl?type=5&start=0&end=10&page=1)
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I'm a little fuzzy on all of this...does the plugin enable DirectShow filters? If so then FLAC playback through MC should be possible (I haven't gotten very far on the flac plugin to date). It is not explicitly stated in the plugin description.
Here's a good link on what exactly DS is...
http://www.gdcl.co.uk/dshow.htm
10-27
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I'm a little fuzzy on all of this...does the plugin enable DirectShow filters? If so then FLAC playback through MC should be possible (I haven't gotten very far on the flac plugin to date). It is not explicitly stated in the plugin description.
Here's a good link on what exactly DS is...
http://www.gdcl.co.uk/dshow.htm
10-27
Xen, I think you're getting confused with DirectX, the display plugin from Microsoft. The DirectX Host plugin is exactly that, it's a host which allows you to use other audio plugins. It's really sweet but you have to have other plugins, and some of them you have to buy, so it's a two-edged sword.
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Here's part of the reason...
excerpt from link
"...and available separately for free download from Microsoft (as part of DirectX)"
So you see, DirectX is all encompassing. Run dxdiag to see what exactly DX is comprised of. Admittedly, I didn't see DirectShow listed...adding to the confusion.
10-27
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Xen, you're right, I had forgotten about the DirectX support for audio. I'm not sure how it works, but I know that's what the host uses, or at least that's what it says. ;)