A decent player

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

Looking at a player for video media files, mostly captured digital TV files.

Its not as if I want something that is that unusual, just something with a
decent user interface that
does some VERY basic stuff that any decent VCR can do as easily as falling off a
log. The DVD
player isnt ideal, but much better than I have seen in any of the media players
I've tried so far.

The main lack with the few I have tried is a decent way of skipping over the ads
on commercial TV.

WMP doesnt even allow you to fast forward in dvr-ms files and even when it does
allow fast
forward, it has little control over the fast forward speed and the max is 5X,
much too slow.

Nero Showtime 2 is much better there, you do have a decent set of speeds to fast
forward
at, but the max is only 32X which is too slow for zapping over the ads and you
have to select
the speed every time you use it, much too crude. I cant get the fast reverse to
show up, tho
its listed in the config. And it wont play dvr-ms files, you have to convert
them to mpeg first,
tho that can be done fast enough so thats not a huge deal.

MPEG-VCR has a rather elegant user interface where you have a button that sets
the Fast forward and Fast Reverse speed to one of 3 alts, but you really need a
few
more steps and its no real use as a viewer since it doesnt have a fullscreen
mode.

That I'd much prefer is something like the usual slider that you can click on to
jump down the file, but with an expanded section because on a file that has an
hour or two of program in it, the ads are only a small part of the total bar.

It would be even better if there were a few buttons for a timed jump of say 3
mins,
4 mins etc so you could hit the one thats appropriate for the time of day that
the
program was broadcast for the ad break time used at that time, and then just
quickly step back and forward using FF and FR to get to the program material
start.

Must work with either dvr-ms or mpeg files because anything else is much too
slow to convert into what it can use. ts files at pinch but they are much
bigger.

Surely I cant be the only one who wants a decent user interface ?

Has the industry really concentrated on stupid skins instead ?

I'll stop howling now |-(

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

it may sound weird, but i use a modded xbox and xbox media centre to watch
most stuff i capture onto my pc, its attached to my tv, so i can just watch
it from there, it can stream across the network, so i dont need to burn
anything, only problem is updating xbmc itself when new codecs are
released. i do like how it has an audio offset button though for files
where the audio has decided to go out of sync.., also you can use the xbox
remote control to navigate, as well as create playlists and the like. I
have my xbox going to the computers in the other side of the house via a
wireless adapter, where all my cds sit in mp3 (or whatever the hell WMC
copys them as) and i can just queue them all from there...

anyway, sorry to ramble, just my setup that i'm happy with

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

SmakDaddy <archangel@engineer.com> wrote in
message news:426cfaf2@funnel.arach.net.au...

> it may sound weird,

Nope, I've been considering this approach.

> but i use a modded xbox and xbox media centre to watch most stuff i capture
> onto my pc, its attached to my tv, so i can just watch it from there, it can
> stream across the network, so i dont need to burn anything,

How do you find the image quality on a big widescreen TV ?

I find that the TV out on the PC is noticeably worse
quality than burnt to DVD. Mostly just fringing colors
on fine detail edges. Thats with a cheap Radeon 7000
chipset card which I havent tried tweaking yet tho.

And what is the story on the player in the xbox on that skipping ads ?

> only problem is updating xbmc itself when new codecs are released. i do like
> how it has an audio offset button though for files where the audio has decided
> to go out of sync.., also you can use the xbox remote control to navigate, as
> well as create playlists and the like. I have my xbox going to the computers
> in the other side of the house via a wireless adapter, where all my cds sit in
> mp3 (or whatever the hell WMC copys them as) and i can just queue them all
> from there...

> anyway, sorry to ramble, just my setup that i'm happy with

But you never said what its like for ad zapping |-(

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3d52l7F6mac9nU1@individual.net...
> I just got a DVD player that is happy to play what I write unconverted.

Now that would be nice to have, I was considering buying the same for
another room.
What brand/model? Any problems?

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

JustMe <á@á> wrote in message
news:426d9f77$0$10306$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

>>>> The main lack with the few I have tried is a decent way of skipping over
>>>> the ads on commercial TV.

> If you use a Hauppauge MediaMVP to play off your network to the TV, it has a
> (programmable via remote control) skip function that can be set in 30 second
> increments. This is neat for skipping ads as you watch.

OK, thanks, I'll give it a go.

Had DVRview suggested by the author in the DBA Owners forum.
A rather elegant viewer that plays all the formats I use except mpg
and which has a number of preprogrammed skips and you can
change the skip time by editing the registry entrys.

Not perfect tho, it doesnt have any support for dual monitor TV
out, tho it does work fine in clone mode, but the screen format
mode change only changes the monitor display, not the TV out
display and while ABC, SBS and Prime fill the widescreen TV
with the unchangeable mode, Win doesnt for some reason,
it has small vertical bars on either side of the image. Needless
to say I actually need the ads skip on Win more than Prime.

> Just another way of skinning the cat!!

I use a wire brush on the angle grinder for that myself.

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3d52emF6rbk39U1@individual.net...
>
> SmakDaddy <archangel@engineer.com> wrote in
> message news:426cfaf2@funnel.arach.net.au...
>
>> it may sound weird,
>
> Nope, I've been considering this approach.
>
>> but i use a modded xbox and xbox media centre to watch most stuff i
>> capture onto my pc, its attached to my tv, so i can just watch it from
>> there, it can stream across the network, so i dont need to burn anything,
>
> How do you find the image quality on a big widescreen TV ?
>
> I find that the TV out on the PC is noticeably worse
> quality than burnt to DVD. Mostly just fringing colors
> on fine detail edges. Thats with a cheap Radeon 7000
> chipset card which I havent tried tweaking yet tho.
>
> And what is the story on the player in the xbox on that skipping ads ?
>
>> only problem is updating xbmc itself when new codecs are released. i do
>> like how it has an audio offset button though for files where the audio
>> has decided to go out of sync.., also you can use the xbox remote control
>> to navigate, as well as create playlists and the like. I have my xbox
>> going to the computers in the other side of the house via a wireless
>> adapter, where all my cds sit in mp3 (or whatever the hell WMC copys them
>> as) and i can just queue them all from there...
>
>> anyway, sorry to ramble, just my setup that i'm happy with
>
> But you never said what its like for ad zapping |-(

oops! ad zapping isnt too hard, you can use the >I button to skip about 30
seconds, or the >> button to play at 2x (or doubles in speed every time you
press it), i dont know why, but it doesnt like to decode some codecs while
playing at faster than normal speed, so you cant see whats elapsed. i try
to remember those combinations and just not use them

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

"JustMe" <á@á> wrote in message
news:426dac44$0$5176$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>
> "Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:3d5mnbF6p6ladU1@individual.net...
>>
>> "JustMe" <á@á> wrote in message
>> news:426d9f77$0$10306$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>>>
>>>>>> The main lack with the few I have tried is a decent way of skipping
>>>>>> over the
>>>>>> ads on commercial TV.
>>>>

You may also wish to take a look at ZoomPlayer. This has a skip function
that is mouse wheel operated, after having been selected by the wheel down
button.

All in all, this is probably the most configurable player I have ever seen.
It seems to be capable of almost anything you can sensibly use in a video
player and includes support for a very wide range of formats including some
exotics.

http://www.inmatrix.com/files/zoom [...] load.shtml

Perhaps this will fit the bill for you.
Cheers.

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

"JustMe" <á@á> wrote in message
news:426dbd1c$0$10301$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>
> "JustMe" <á@á> wrote in message
> news:426dac44$0$5176$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>>
>> "Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:3d5mnbF6p6ladU1@individual.net...
>>>
>>> "JustMe" <á@á> wrote in message
>>> news:426d9f77$0$10306$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
>>>>
>>>>>>> The main lack with the few I have tried is a decent way of skipping over
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> ads on commercial TV.

> You may also wish to take a look at ZoomPlayer. This has a skip function that
> is mouse wheel operated, after having been selected by the wheel down button.

Interesting approach. Main problem is that while you can very
conveniently jump forward in 120 sec steps, which is quite good
for ads, you cant skip back in much smaller steps very easily to
get to the program segment start after a particular ad break.

> All in all, this is probably the most configurable player I have ever seen.

Yeah, cant argue with that.

> It seems to be capable of almost anything you can sensibly use in a video
> player and includes support for a very wide range of formats including some
> exotics.

Doesnt play dvr-ms files tho with the pro.

> http://www.inmatrix.com/files/zoom [...] load.shtml

> Perhaps this will fit the bill for you.

Dunno, unless I can configure the mouse wheel to just have
big and small steps and switch between them with a wheel
click, it doesnt look like it on a very superficial look.

Might be possible to setup the keys for that tho.

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

Jeff Rife <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1cdc3fd41ccffb56989cdc@news.nabs.net...
> Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.video.digital-tv:

>>> You can save a step if you save on disk as .mpg files.

>> That isnt viable, its 4:3 format.
>
> MPEG can handle 4:3 just fine.

Yes, the problem is that I dont want 4:3

> It actually can handle any aspect ratio at all, but not all
> decoders/players can deal with arbitrary aspect ratios.

I was commenting on the format of the mpg files.

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

Jeff Rife <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1cdc768887b21a24989ce3@news.nabs.net...
> Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote

>>> MPEG can handle 4:3 just fine.

>> Yes, the problem is that I dont want 4:3

> If the source was 4:3, then it seems silly to not want 4:3.

Pity that the source isnt 4:3

> If the source *wasn't* 4:3, then the MPEG file
> won't be, either, and you'll get what you want.

Wrong. When saved in dvr-ms or ts format, you dont get 4:3

When saved in mpeg format, it is.

> Pretty simple, actually.

Fraid its nothing like as simple as you claim.

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.video.digital-tv:
> > Get better software.
>
> Dont need to.

Apparently, you do.

> > There's a bunch that converts from .TS to MPEG-2
> > (by just stripping out the ATSC nulls, PSIP, etc.)
>
> What was being discussed was what format it was SAVED in.
>
> I already save in dvr-ms or ts format and convert to mpeg and dont
> get that 4:3 problem. I only get that when its SAVED in mpg format.

Here's where you need the better software. When the Fusion HDTV saves
in MPEG format, it just saves the MPEG stream stripped of ATSC info.

So, get a better recorder and you will solve your playback problems.

> Nope, not with SAVING IN MPG FORMAT TO SAVE A STEP IT ISNT.
>
> > Run it through any of:
>
> > HDTVToMPEG2
> > Fusion Converter
> > NeroVision Express
>
> Doesnt save a step.
>
> > That's all I own, but I know that other people use
> > other software that works exactly the same way.
>
> Doesnt save a step.

I don't know why you are so paranoid about "saving a step". All the
software I listed converts from .TS to MPEG at 12x real time (or better),
with no need for human intervention after it is started (and some you can
automate completely to convert right after the capture).

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/OverT [...] alLife.gif

Archived from groups: alt.computer,alt.video.digital-tv,aus.computers,aus.tv.digital (More info?)

First thing, stop adding back snipped things. It's rude.

Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.video.digital-tv:
> > If your recording software saves a 16:9 program as 4:3
> > when saving as MPEG, exactly which piece of software
> > is broken: your recording software or your player?
>
> Neither.

So, you're broken, then, I guess.

Your original postings:

Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.video.digital-tv:
|> Must work with either dvr-ms or mpeg files because anything else is much too
|> slow to convert into what it can use. ts files at pinch but they are much
|> bigger.

Rod Speed (rod_speed@yahoo.com) wrote in alt.video.digital-tv:
|> JustMe <á@á> wrote in message
|> news:426cee8e$0$10307$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
|>
|> > You can save a step if you save on disk as .mpg files.
|>
|> That isnt viable, its 4:3 format.

> > OK, then live with it and stop bitching here.
>
> I never did 'bitch here', YOU claimed that a step could be saved
> by saving in mpeg format, YOU got that wrong. Like that or lump it.

No, *I* never claimed that. Somebody else did. And, yes, you are bitching
about not being able to find player software that plays with the format
you *want* it to record in.

But, you say it won't work because "its [sic] 4:3 format".

OK, so your recording software saves in 4:3 format when using MPEG files.
This is all we know from this statement. Because of your cryptic (and
rude) responses, I had to spell out the following observations:

If the original source broadcast was 4:3, this shouldn't be a problem.
If the original source broadcast was 16:9, then your recording software
is *broken* when saving MPEG files, since it saves 16:9 as 4:3.

It's not the job of a player to fix broken recordings.

> I didnt even complain you fool. YOU clearly claimed that a step could be
> saved by saving in mpeg format, YOU got that wrong. Like that or lump it.

As you can see, I never claimed that. Somebody else did.

So, what, exactly is the problem you are having with your player software,
then, that wouldn't be solved if your recording software didn't save MPEGs
as 4:3?

--
Jeff Rife | "Wow, I've never seen you this
| bitter...I like it."
|
| -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"