..My current dvds will play avi movies from a usb stick device, only. Is there a stand-alone dvd (not require a computer) that plays avi, mkv and various other formats? I have seen some things online but am not physically able to go to a store to ask questions or to see it. I would appreciate any information you can give me about this
Looking for DVD that plays various video formats
- Thread starter joglaze
- Start date
Solution
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
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Hi.
1) On computer your issue is that of software. Programs like THIS which include the media player (WMPC-HC) and coded support work great:
KLITE STANDARD-> https://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_standard.htm
KODI-> https://kodi.tv/
KLite requires you have the proper media player set as default. If it doesn't happen by DEFAULT when you install then you can right-click the video and assign it manually (any video of that extension will then launch with the WMPC-HC player. Such as *.mov, *.mkv etc)
KODI is launched as a program, but you must setup the folders through it which can include NETWORKED drives like the WD MY CLOUD (which works great).
**KODI is a good idea to try on a PC because you can get used to the interface and see if you like it. I have mine linked to my WD MY CLOUD (attached to the home router) and files on my PC. I plan to buy a standalone mini-PC to replace my broken WD player.
2) Standalone is a bit different. Most do not have great support for different types of containers and codes. ROKI is an example of one with limited support. Most do.
In fact, newer BluRay players and other devices are adding methods to make ripped movies unplayable such as the Cinavia audio watermark. Even if you rip your own media.
a) Western Digital - worked awesome but these aren't sold any more.
b) various x86 solutions with KODI installed.
I'll post this for now and try to give more advice.
1) On computer your issue is that of software. Programs like THIS which include the media player (WMPC-HC) and coded support work great:
KLITE STANDARD-> https://www.codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_standard.htm
KODI-> https://kodi.tv/
KLite requires you have the proper media player set as default. If it doesn't happen by DEFAULT when you install then you can right-click the video and assign it manually (any video of that extension will then launch with the WMPC-HC player. Such as *.mov, *.mkv etc)
KODI is launched as a program, but you must setup the folders through it which can include NETWORKED drives like the WD MY CLOUD (which works great).
**KODI is a good idea to try on a PC because you can get used to the interface and see if you like it. I have mine linked to my WD MY CLOUD (attached to the home router) and files on my PC. I plan to buy a standalone mini-PC to replace my broken WD player.
2) Standalone is a bit different. Most do not have great support for different types of containers and codes. ROKI is an example of one with limited support. Most do.
In fact, newer BluRay players and other devices are adding methods to make ripped movies unplayable such as the Cinavia audio watermark. Even if you rip your own media.
a) Western Digital - worked awesome but these aren't sold any more.
b) various x86 solutions with KODI installed.
I'll post this for now and try to give more advice.
- Sep 7, 2013
- 25,977
- 860
- 120,140
"Looking for DVD"
A DVD is the disc, you mean you're looking for a DVD Player my friend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
photonboy -- the OP said he/she wants something that doesn't need a computer, so not a DVD drive & not player software.
A DVD is the disc, you mean you're looking for a DVD Player my friend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
photonboy -- the OP said he/she wants something that doesn't need a computer, so not a DVD drive & not player software.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
1) WD
- drives like the following model were GREAT.
- support included
container: mkv, mov, mp4, avi, iso
(I could play DVD ripped to ISO file which had menus so worked just like DVD inserted to DVD player. I used DVD Decrypter and Imgburn to put my sisters kids DVD collection on the WD TV Live Hub which I had but which broke)
audio: vorbis, aac, mp3, dts hd
video: mov, matroska, H264
I'm missing some but basically it played everything I could find. Problem is NEWER players are often limited to H264, AAC, MOV and a few other codec/container options. May not have DTS or MKV even.
2) So what?
I'm currently investigating THIS and similar models:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dArTrO-i_8
My requirements list is similar to my above post. I don't care much about 4K, though I do want H265 video decoding, and a good remote control.
Summary:
I hope this gets you started, but unfortunately I don't have an exact model to recommend. Make a LIST of your "must haves" and "wants" such as:
a) video codecs
b) containers (including ISO)
c) audio codec
d) DLNA support (i.e. can connect to a WD MY HUB. most or all should have this though it may not work well on some)
e) Remote control (and how well it works)
To be clear, you are NOT going to find good support in a BluRay player due to Cinavia, and the fact that they just don't seem to want to have good codec support (probably mainly a customer support issue).
The ONLY way to get full support in one device is to build your own PC but that's expensive and not really ideal in terms of ease of use either.
I'm still investigating a cheap PC with BluRay drive but KODI has limited support with BluRay, and currently there is no NETFLIX support so it's not simple to navigate between this. For example, if you boot to KODI (based on Linux) you have to get out of KODI and navigate to the NETFLIX app somehow. Just not ideal yet though may get there in the next year of so.
- drives like the following model were GREAT.
- support included
container: mkv, mov, mp4, avi, iso
(I could play DVD ripped to ISO file which had menus so worked just like DVD inserted to DVD player. I used DVD Decrypter and Imgburn to put my sisters kids DVD collection on the WD TV Live Hub which I had but which broke)
audio: vorbis, aac, mp3, dts hd
video: mov, matroska, H264
I'm missing some but basically it played everything I could find. Problem is NEWER players are often limited to H264, AAC, MOV and a few other codec/container options. May not have DTS or MKV even.
2) So what?
I'm currently investigating THIS and similar models:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dArTrO-i_8
My requirements list is similar to my above post. I don't care much about 4K, though I do want H265 video decoding, and a good remote control.
Summary:
I hope this gets you started, but unfortunately I don't have an exact model to recommend. Make a LIST of your "must haves" and "wants" such as:
a) video codecs
b) containers (including ISO)
c) audio codec
d) DLNA support (i.e. can connect to a WD MY HUB. most or all should have this though it may not work well on some)
e) Remote control (and how well it works)
To be clear, you are NOT going to find good support in a BluRay player due to Cinavia, and the fact that they just don't seem to want to have good codec support (probably mainly a customer support issue).
The ONLY way to get full support in one device is to build your own PC but that's expensive and not really ideal in terms of ease of use either.
I'm still investigating a cheap PC with BluRay drive but KODI has limited support with BluRay, and currently there is no NETFLIX support so it's not simple to navigate between this. For example, if you boot to KODI (based on Linux) you have to get out of KODI and navigate to the NETFLIX app somehow. Just not ideal yet though may get there in the next year of so.
photonboy
Titan
- Jun 20, 2006
- 21,567
- 13
- 85,015
FYI, but for DVD and BluRay I use mainly:
1) DVD Decrypter
2) Make MKV
3) Imgburn
4) Handbrake
5) MKVtoolnix (to remove unwanted audio or subs from previously made video)
I haven't tested ISO support for BluRay (again WD player broke) but I would use MakeMKV to rip the entire movie, untouched with chapters. Then I would drag into Handbrake (which can queue multiple files) and compress suitably.
*Not only do some players not support certain codecs but when they do they may not support the latest PROFILES of those. For example, with H264 my Samsung BD player will show the "Normal" profile up to I think version 4.1.
(I encountered a few videos that MakeMKV could not handle because the video segments were abnormally scrambled in position on the disc)
TESTING with a small video file is a good idea to experiment with compatibility, size, quality etc.
1) DVD Decrypter
2) Make MKV
3) Imgburn
4) Handbrake
5) MKVtoolnix (to remove unwanted audio or subs from previously made video)
I haven't tested ISO support for BluRay (again WD player broke) but I would use MakeMKV to rip the entire movie, untouched with chapters. Then I would drag into Handbrake (which can queue multiple files) and compress suitably.
*Not only do some players not support certain codecs but when they do they may not support the latest PROFILES of those. For example, with H264 my Samsung BD player will show the "Normal" profile up to I think version 4.1.
(I encountered a few videos that MakeMKV could not handle because the video segments were abnormally scrambled in position on the disc)
TESTING with a small video file is a good idea to experiment with compatibility, size, quality etc.
Phontonboy: That's a lot of information and I appreciate it. Since I am almost 70, I was looking for a "magical" device just to plug into the tv and play avi and mkv for the grandkids. I'll look into all you have suggested. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this and for all you posted.
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