Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Progress Update
In the prior post, I mentioned that one of the things I was working on was researching "Front-End" software. I looked at a few, and have pretty much settled on Meedio. It is now installed and I'm in the process of configuring it for my setup. Here's a few screen shots of the basic look & feel:
There are several different themes/skins for it and a lengthy and growing list of plug-ins to add functionality. These screens show the basic default skin, and the basic "out-of-box" functionality. I'll be spending a lot of time in this area for a while to come.
I also mentioned DVD playback, and that I was current using Zoomplayer. I ran in to a couple of difficulties with Zoomplayer and while it's very powerful and configurable - it just turns out to be a little more cryptic than I'm comfortable with and I don't want to spend the time necessary to tweak it and get it just right. So, long-story-short, I've pitched Zoomplayer and opted for TheaterTek - An also powerful, very configurable, commercial product. While it costs a little more, it is much more user-friendly, and stable. I'll also be spending time here to integrate it with Meedio and getting the FFDShow (postprocessing) working right.
For the last few days, I've been working with the MX-800 universal remote. I'm working on macros ... etc to get the button pushes minimized with the goal of high WAF (and also high MLAF). Remember that WAF stands for Wife Acceptance Factor and as you might imagine, MLAF stands for Mother-in-Law Acceptance factor. While both are very important, the WAF is absolutely essential. So far, everything is working really well except for the On/Off of the audio component. Actually it's the ON that is proving to be a problem. When processing the macro, OFF consistently work, but ON seldom works. It's a little wierd, as ON/OFF on this device is a toggle of the same button and sends the same IR signal to the processor. I'm really scratching my head on this, but will keep working for it.
Like I said before, a lot of try this and try that -- then tweak this and tweak that -- really the "funnest" (there's that word? again) part.
There are several different themes/skins for it and a lengthy and growing list of plug-ins to add functionality. These screens show the basic default skin, and the basic "out-of-box" functionality. I'll be spending a lot of time in this area for a while to come.
I also mentioned DVD playback, and that I was current using Zoomplayer. I ran in to a couple of difficulties with Zoomplayer and while it's very powerful and configurable - it just turns out to be a little more cryptic than I'm comfortable with and I don't want to spend the time necessary to tweak it and get it just right. So, long-story-short, I've pitched Zoomplayer and opted for TheaterTek - An also powerful, very configurable, commercial product. While it costs a little more, it is much more user-friendly, and stable. I'll also be spending time here to integrate it with Meedio and getting the FFDShow (postprocessing) working right.
For the last few days, I've been working with the MX-800 universal remote. I'm working on macros ... etc to get the button pushes minimized with the goal of high WAF (and also high MLAF). Remember that WAF stands for Wife Acceptance Factor and as you might imagine, MLAF stands for Mother-in-Law Acceptance factor. While both are very important, the WAF is absolutely essential. So far, everything is working really well except for the On/Off of the audio component. Actually it's the ON that is proving to be a problem. When processing the macro, OFF consistently work, but ON seldom works. It's a little wierd, as ON/OFF on this device is a toggle of the same button and sends the same IR signal to the processor. I'm really scratching my head on this, but will keep working for it.
Like I said before, a lot of try this and try that -- then tweak this and tweak that -- really the "funnest" (there's that word? again) part.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
I'm Gonna Be Tweaking For A While
Just when I thought I was pretty much done -- The tweaking has begun, and it's gonna be a lot of fun, but will take a while. For me, it's the "Funnest" (I know, that's not a real word) part of all and IMO worth reporting on.
I've got the HTPC feeding the display video in its native resolution of 1280x720. At that resolution, the WinXP desktop exhibits significant overscan (that means some of the Windows desktop extends beyond the edges of the visible screen - both vertical and horizontal) To address that, I've used a "freeware" piece of software called Powerstrip. It works like a charm, allows me to define a custom resolution of 1248x702 which gives me 1:1 pixel mapping with no overscan. This was an issue that I was aware of from reading the AVS fourums, and Powerstrip was the recommended solution -- works like a charm. A great piece of software that works especially well with the Radeon family of video cards (9500 series and up)
I picked up a Home Theater Master MX-800 remote control off EBay, and will begin to integrate it over the next couple of week as my one universal remote. It is both RF and IR and very programmable and powerful. Once I have it completely programmed, the operation of the whole Home Theater setup including the HTPC should have a very high "WAF". A high "WAF" was one of the initial goals of the project.
Oh yeah, "WAF" is an acryonym for Wife Acceptance Factor.
I have installed both Musicmatch Jukebox and Windows Media Player 10 on the HTPC. I have always been an MMJB fan, but the new WMA 10 is very very nice. I have a platinum acct for MX radio with MMJB and I really like some of the features like "Artist on Demand". Audio quality of both players through the Linn system is awesome. I will likely leave both players on the HTPC, and only time will tell which I settle on. The integration of the new WMA 10 with Microsoft's new online music service is also very nice. I'm currently using the integrated sound capabilities of the ASUS P4C-800E motherboard and feeding the audio to the Linn system digitally via the integrated SPDIF. Both PCM and Dolby 5.1 is being fed as required. At this point, I've found no reason to use a 3rd party sound card. If that changes, I'll be looking a MAudio and RME for solutions.
My other focus on the project right now is researching "Front End" Software. There are severak to choose from, ranging in price from "free" to $100. The ones that have my attention at this point are Mainlobby ($60), Power Cinema ($50), J River Media Center ($25), and Meedio ($30). Most all of these products has a trial capability, so I can give them each a try at no cost before making a decision. I will probably start that sometime this weekend. Meedio which is the newest offering looks really good and I'll probably start with that. I'll report more on this later.
Currently DVD playback is pretty awesome, but can be much better. I'm now using WinDVD codecs and a freeware player called Zoomplayer. I have downloaded the latest Sonic filter pack codecs and will used that with either Zoomplayer or Theatertek. Both players are very good. Zoomplayer is freeware ($20 support donation) and is pretty cryptic, but very powerful and capable. Theatertek is comercial ($70) - also very powerful/capable, with a much more friendly user interface. If I can assure that the player is transparent to the user (mainly wife - remember WAF) I will likely stick with Zoomplayer and save $50. I will also implement FFDShow (freeware I think) and should end up with a very hi-quality DVD playback capability.
That's pretty much it for now -- I'll update as progress is made.
I've got the HTPC feeding the display video in its native resolution of 1280x720. At that resolution, the WinXP desktop exhibits significant overscan (that means some of the Windows desktop extends beyond the edges of the visible screen - both vertical and horizontal) To address that, I've used a "freeware" piece of software called Powerstrip. It works like a charm, allows me to define a custom resolution of 1248x702 which gives me 1:1 pixel mapping with no overscan. This was an issue that I was aware of from reading the AVS fourums, and Powerstrip was the recommended solution -- works like a charm. A great piece of software that works especially well with the Radeon family of video cards (9500 series and up)
I picked up a Home Theater Master MX-800 remote control off EBay, and will begin to integrate it over the next couple of week as my one universal remote. It is both RF and IR and very programmable and powerful. Once I have it completely programmed, the operation of the whole Home Theater setup including the HTPC should have a very high "WAF". A high "WAF" was one of the initial goals of the project.
Oh yeah, "WAF" is an acryonym for Wife Acceptance Factor.
I have installed both Musicmatch Jukebox and Windows Media Player 10 on the HTPC. I have always been an MMJB fan, but the new WMA 10 is very very nice. I have a platinum acct for MX radio with MMJB and I really like some of the features like "Artist on Demand". Audio quality of both players through the Linn system is awesome. I will likely leave both players on the HTPC, and only time will tell which I settle on. The integration of the new WMA 10 with Microsoft's new online music service is also very nice. I'm currently using the integrated sound capabilities of the ASUS P4C-800E motherboard and feeding the audio to the Linn system digitally via the integrated SPDIF. Both PCM and Dolby 5.1 is being fed as required. At this point, I've found no reason to use a 3rd party sound card. If that changes, I'll be looking a MAudio and RME for solutions.
My other focus on the project right now is researching "Front End" Software. There are severak to choose from, ranging in price from "free" to $100. The ones that have my attention at this point are Mainlobby ($60), Power Cinema ($50), J River Media Center ($25), and Meedio ($30). Most all of these products has a trial capability, so I can give them each a try at no cost before making a decision. I will probably start that sometime this weekend. Meedio which is the newest offering looks really good and I'll probably start with that. I'll report more on this later.
Currently DVD playback is pretty awesome, but can be much better. I'm now using WinDVD codecs and a freeware player called Zoomplayer. I have downloaded the latest Sonic filter pack codecs and will used that with either Zoomplayer or Theatertek. Both players are very good. Zoomplayer is freeware ($20 support donation) and is pretty cryptic, but very powerful and capable. Theatertek is comercial ($70) - also very powerful/capable, with a much more friendly user interface. If I can assure that the player is transparent to the user (mainly wife - remember WAF) I will likely stick with Zoomplayer and save $50. I will also implement FFDShow (freeware I think) and should end up with a very hi-quality DVD playback capability.
That's pretty much it for now -- I'll update as progress is made.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
It's Pretty Much All Done - Just A Little Tweaking Remains
Mark from Audio Concepts came over today and we got all of the audio components re-installed an connected. All video from the SAT/OTA receiver, XBox, and HTPC are connected directly to the Samsung display. The audio from the above sources along with the DAS (Digital Audio Server) is connected directly to the Linn AV5150 processor.
And, another big WOW - everything works as planned.
About all that remains is some tweaking, primarily on the HTPC. This will take some time and is probably not worth reporting on, or reading about. Pretty dull, but fun(for me) stuff.
This will likely be my last post to this blog, unless of course something earth shattering, or even report-worthy comes up.
And, another big WOW - everything works as planned.
About all that remains is some tweaking, primarily on the HTPC. This will take some time and is probably not worth reporting on, or reading about. Pretty dull, but fun(for me) stuff.
This will likely be my last post to this blog, unless of course something earth shattering, or even report-worthy comes up.
It's been great fun and I learned a lot along the way!
Friday, September 03, 2004
Progress Is Being Made & The WOW Factor is Huge
I've been so distracted watching the thing that I've neglected to report on progress. We got the Samsung display installed and running off the old antenna in time to watch the last week of the Olympics in HD --- WOW is it ever awesome.
Last week, Friday I think, we got the new dish and the new antenna installed and everything connected. Called DirecTV to activate HD and found out that they were running a special and my first six months of HD are FREE -- Wow, that's very cool. Discovery HD just blows me away. Haven't watched a lot of HDNet or HDMovies yet, but what I've seen is great, oh yeah, and did I mention WOW.
The XBox is connected and all of the games I have run at 480P resolution and it is excellent. The wide screen itself is a major improvement. There are a few games out at 720P and 1 or 2 at 1080i - Hopefully I'll get to try one of those before too long. For the benefit of those who don't know, standard definition television is broadcast in 480i (interlaced), 480P is a step up and non-interlaced. True High Definition is 720P and 1080i currently and eventually 1080P.
Well, this whole thing started as my HTPC project, and finally now I can get back to it. This is where the tweaking and the fun stuff really starts. The HTPC is in the cabinet as you can see below and is connected to the display. The video signal connection is from the DVI port on the ATI 9600XT to the HDMI port on the Samsung display via an DVI/HDMI adapter. The native resolution of the Samsung DLP display is 1280x720 and I want to have the HTPC output at that resolution so no scaling is required. I struggled for several days to get that to happen, and as of this morning, thanks to a new set of ATI Catlyst drivers we have success. The HTPC is sending a 1280x720 signal to the Samsung and full integration of the HTPC can now proceed. This is where all the tweaking comes in and I'm raring to go.
Just a quick sidenote, the audio amps are still out for upgrade and due to some schedule conflicts, mostly mine, we will not re-install them until next Wednesday. So audio is currently fed from the Sony STB directly to the Display. The sound is actually not at all bad.
So here's the promised picture. The Sony STB has been moved from above the center channel speaker to the inside of the cabinet. It's on the top right. The XBox is in the cabinet - lower right. The HTPC (looking quite large) is on the center shelf on the right of the cabinet. It's also pretty junky in there - I'll have to clean that up one day.
W O W
Last week, Friday I think, we got the new dish and the new antenna installed and everything connected. Called DirecTV to activate HD and found out that they were running a special and my first six months of HD are FREE -- Wow, that's very cool. Discovery HD just blows me away. Haven't watched a lot of HDNet or HDMovies yet, but what I've seen is great, oh yeah, and did I mention WOW.
The XBox is connected and all of the games I have run at 480P resolution and it is excellent. The wide screen itself is a major improvement. There are a few games out at 720P and 1 or 2 at 1080i - Hopefully I'll get to try one of those before too long. For the benefit of those who don't know, standard definition television is broadcast in 480i (interlaced), 480P is a step up and non-interlaced. True High Definition is 720P and 1080i currently and eventually 1080P.
Well, this whole thing started as my HTPC project, and finally now I can get back to it. This is where the tweaking and the fun stuff really starts. The HTPC is in the cabinet as you can see below and is connected to the display. The video signal connection is from the DVI port on the ATI 9600XT to the HDMI port on the Samsung display via an DVI/HDMI adapter. The native resolution of the Samsung DLP display is 1280x720 and I want to have the HTPC output at that resolution so no scaling is required. I struggled for several days to get that to happen, and as of this morning, thanks to a new set of ATI Catlyst drivers we have success. The HTPC is sending a 1280x720 signal to the Samsung and full integration of the HTPC can now proceed. This is where all the tweaking comes in and I'm raring to go.
Just a quick sidenote, the audio amps are still out for upgrade and due to some schedule conflicts, mostly mine, we will not re-install them until next Wednesday. So audio is currently fed from the Sony STB directly to the Display. The sound is actually not at all bad.
So here's the promised picture. The Sony STB has been moved from above the center channel speaker to the inside of the cabinet. It's on the top right. The XBox is in the cabinet - lower right. The HTPC (looking quite large) is on the center shelf on the right of the cabinet. It's also pretty junky in there - I'll have to clean that up one day.
W O W
