HTPC Build

[Jim Tressel]

I found a tool called AnyDVD that rips HD-DVD's, but it breaks them out into a bunch of .EVO files.  Using eac3to extract the audio and video streams right now and I think I'll have to run them through ChapterGrabber after before I can Handbrake them into a single .mkv.  If there's an easier way, let me know.

[Troyer]

JT - Take a look for BackupHDDVD.  Not sure if it's still around though.

I haven't used it, but that's the only tool I have.

[Jim Tressel]

I fingered out a way to do this.

1) Use AnyDVD to extract the .evo files from the HD-DVD
2) Use eac3to to extract the audio and video files from the .evo files
3) Use txmuxer to remux the audio and video into .m2ts
4) Use ChapterGrabber to convert chapter timing from 24fps to 23.976fps
5) Use Handbrake to encode .mkv

Result: 4gig, sexy-ass 1080p with DTS audio.  It takes about 3.5 hours a movie, but with that many extra steps it's not too bad.

[BCBrent]

http://www.mediabrowser.tv/

I played around with this one, looks pretty decent and everything.  Have you guys ended up using something different (sort of hard to tell with all the links being thrown around).

My only concern and I don't know if I am the only one running into the problem has to do with sound in WMC.  I've encoded some dvd's into mkv files, which works fine, but the sound quality when played in Windows Media Player is better than when played in WMC (in WMC it just sounds a bit muted).  I tried some of the settings in WMC to make sure it is calibrated for use through the speakers on the TV, but that didn't seem to help any.

[Varg]

No idea man, what kind of audio output are you using? I would think it wouldn't matter if it works well in WMP, but it might be that you have to set the correct TYPE of output in WMC. Dunno. I am using HDMI to the TV that does a passthrough to my stereo and am not having any issues. Also, are you using windows 7? I have found that the windows 7 version of WMC is FAR better than the Vista version.

Also, there is an independent volume control inside WMC. Make sure that is turned up.

[BCBrent]

Yeah I am using Windows 7, and that volume is turned up.

My speaker setup is the same as yours, HDMI to the TV that is connected to 5.1 stereo system. I tried searching via the web and I can't find much, so this must not be a common thing.

Admittedly, I don't have the best sound card in this laptop, so that may have something to do with it.  It is just weird that it sounds different in WMP.  Oh well, I'll check a couple other things.

[Varg]

Tivo is supposed to announce a new box next week, I love my SD Tivo box, it works flawlessly and is very slick. Hopefully they come out with something that ties in to what we have been playing around with here.

[Reddawn]

What Blu-ray players would you douchenozzles recommend? I am thinking of jumping on that train.

[Varg]

PS3.

I keed. If you have Netflix sub i would get one of the Samsung ones with the built in Netflix viewer thing-a-bobber. Got my dad one for Christmas and its really nice.

[Reddawn]

I want to see the reviews for MLB2K10(360) and MLB:The Show(PS3) before I decide on getting a PS3. There hasn't been a good baseball game for PC/360 in years and I love me some fucking baseball.

[Jim Tressel]

Don't be a hoser.  Build an htpc and pop in a $100 br drive.  All-in-one solution.

[Reddawn]

spend 250 or 500...hmmmm

[Reddawn]

I ended up getting a Samsung BD-C6500. It's freakin sweet. It does all the online shit, Blockbuster, Netflix, Pandora, Youtube and USA Today but whats even better is this fucker will play just about any kind of video. I just burned my Iron Man x264 MKV onto a Dual Layer disc and WHAMMO it worked perfectly. I am copying some 1080i rips onto my 1GB external drive and see how it handles those.

[Reddawn]

I downloaded a 12gb H264 rip of Star Trek...will see if the player chokes on that 12GB cock

[Reddawn]

I can also stream right from my pc to the Bluray player....suite!