Vista Media Center + Theater 550 combo questions

[moshpit]

Okay, it feels like I'm relearning my multimedia basics all over again. I'm still a total noob to Media Center and it's functions. I'm already in love with it, that much is sure. Unlike Power Cinema, it works flawlessly, never crashes, I like that. But how does one go about setting up additional codec support in it? I've noticed all my Divx/Xvid and most other codecs work in it just fine for playback, but I have not figured out how to set which of those codecs it uses for recording Live TV. Also cannot seem to get it to recognize .mkv files for playback. I still have alot to learn about it, but once I overcome these last little obstacles, I'll have completely migrated my media viewing/listening/enjoyment over to a single app instead of having to use 3 different programs to view various media types with.

[Steve N]

Try http://www.softella.com/dsfm/index.en.htm but be carefull with it, try just changing one at a time so you can go back if it screws up.

[moshpit]

Does this have a way of attaching specific codecs to specific apps? The reason is, I can play the .mkv files in Media Player Classic and even in Media Player, but Media Center just doesn't see it as a valid media file.

[Steve N]

The way I understand it, Media Center will grab the first codec in the list that it finds. If you move a particular codec up the list, that gets priority. You want to be cautious and keep track of what you change, I can't flat out predict which codec you have to move. From what you're describing, Media Player is more intelligently trying different codecs untill it gets one that works, (well in fact that's exactly what it does) while Media Center loads it's own from the first on the list and sticks with that.

[moshpit]

Okay, have the proggy open and I know which codecs have to be moved up, it's the Matroska filters that are used for playback of .mkv files. But I cannot figure out how to move anything in this. It just seems to list them, not allow them to be dragged anywhere. Going to check what the edit options hold, will edit with any results.

Edit: Nope, that didn't make Media Center start seeing .mkv files as usable files. Still doesn't register them as video. I moved the appropriate codec up in priority, but it did nothing for what I'm trying to do. I just want the files to be usable.

On the plus side, I figured out how to access the Avivo TV controls in Media Center, so can the noise filters how I like. I'm loving Media Center overall now.

Edit 2: OMG, what a DUNCE I can be... On a hunch, I wondered if just changing filename the .mkv to .avi would help at all. It now works. *slaps forehead* DOH!

[Keystone]

I use Haali Media Splitter to access .mkv files. Install that with the option for it to be used by Windows Explorer -- shell integration.

For CODECS, I use PureVideo (for MPEG2 = DVRMS playback), QuicktimeAlternative (for .mov and shell integration), RealAlternative (rare .ram files), FFDSHOW for all remaining CODECS.

With that, MCE can access and preview all of my video files and implement appropriate audio support.

[moshpit]

I use Haali Media Splitter to access .mkv files. Install that with the option for it to be used by Windows Explorer -- shell integration.

For CODECS, I use PureVideo (for MPEG2 = DVRMS playback), QuicktimeAlternative (for .mov and shell integration), RealAlternative (rare .ram files), FFDSHOW for all remaining CODECS.

With that, MCE can access and preview all of my video files and implement appropriate audio support.

The Haali Media splitter will make VMC see .mkv files? Cool! I'll give it a shot. Now that I know that you can just rename a .mkv file to .avi and any player will play it back then if you have the proper Matroska codec already installed, at least I'm functional in the mean time. I'll try this too tho, I like the idea of not having to rename files...

[Keystone]

....if you have the proper Matroska codec already installed...

Not a 'CODEC, dude, it's just a container for video, audio, subtitle, chapters, etc.

[moshpit]

Not a 'CODEC, dude, it's just a container for video, audio, subtitle, chapters, etc.

Whatever...

[moshpit]

Okay, so a container simply assigns codecs to specific tracks. So it's a CODEC CONTAINER by assinging codecIDs to each track if you want to get technical. So why didn't you just say that? Is clarity too much to ask for in your statements? Why tell me it NOT a codec as if the two are not even related without at least explaining that in fact, it facilitates codecs to do thier jobs?

[Keystone]

Why tell me it NOT a codec as if the two are not even related without...

I was just offering information and a correction. Being able to identify and access what a container contains will not enable you to play the media unless you have the appropriate CODECs installed.

Particularly with Mastroska, it's a multimedia container that is not [oops...edit] defined by any specific video or audio standard. For further background on what we are discussing:

A container format is a computer file format that can contain various types of data, compressed by means of standardized audio/video codecs. The container file is used to identify and interleave the different data types. Simpler container formats can contain different types of audio codecs, while more advanced container formats can support multiple audio and video streams, subtitles, chapter-information, and meta-data (tags) - along with the synchronization information needed to play back the various streams together.

...

Matroska / MKV (not standard for any codec or system, but it is an open standard and open source container format).

For the issue you were having in accessing .MKV files, it can be quite important to distinguish and recognise the differences between the types of containers and the media formats that such containers contain.

[moshpit]

I was just offering information and a correction. Being able to identify and access what a container contains will not enable you to play the media unless you have the appropriate CODECs installed.

Particularly with Mastroska, it's a multimedia container that is defined by any specific video or audio standard. For further background on what we are discussing:

A container format is a computer file format that can contain various types of data, compressed by means of standardized audio/video codecs. The container file is used to identify and interleave the different data types. Simpler container formats can contain different types of audio codecs, while more advanced container formats can support multiple audio and video streams, subtitles, chapter-information, and meta-data (tags) - along with the synchronization information needed to play back the various streams together.

...

Matroska / MKV (not standard for any codec or system, but it is an open standard and open source container format).

For the issue you were having in accessing .MKV files, it can be quite important to distinguish and recognise the differences between the types of containers and the media formats that such containers contain.

Which brings up the next strangeness then. Strangely, when I rename any .mkv file to .avi or .mpg, it still plays. The ONLY part of the .mkv that's hanging up being able to use them is the .mkv extension. And it almost doesn't seem to matter WHAT extension I rename it to, as long as it's a recognized extension by Media Center, it then plays the file just fine. SO, what then is the container? There doesn't appear to BE one. Almost any extension that falls under the heading of a video file works on the file BUT the one it came with. Go figure...