XBMC and Blu-ray

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Kopkiwi

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#112942 28-Dec-2012 18:38

Just updated to XBMC 12: Frodo.

Just picked up a blu-ray writer. What's the best way to rip my collection for playback in XBMC. Makemkv, rip to MKV then handbrake to h.264? I want to keep full 1080p and fullHD audio. (Yes I know about the file sizes).

jpollock

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#738195 29-Dec-2012 06:37

I leave the files as mkv. Unless you want to shrink them down, or make them available on AppleTV/iPhone/etc, don't bother to convert them. XBMC will play them back just fine.

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Kopkiwi

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#738204 29-Dec-2012 08:38

I now have the problem of the movies stuttering like hell? PC should have no problem playing them it has plenty of grunt to do it and now my audio is standard stereo rather than HD, which is annoying.

Is there a guide on setting it all up correctly and I can't even scan them to my library either?

blackjack17

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#738212 29-Dec-2012 09:21

Kopkiwi: I now have the problem of the movies stuttering like hell? PC should have no problem playing them it has plenty of grunt to do it and now my audio is standard stereo rather than HD, which is annoying.

Is there a guide on setting it all up correctly and I can't even scan them to my library either?

For the stuttering

Are you trying to access the files over network?
Have you tried playing them with VLC player (on the local computer and network computer)is the stutter still there?
Have you made sure that you have selected 5.1 (or what ever in the audio settings)?
How big are these blue ray rips by the way 13-20 gig each?

For the scan into library have you followed naming conventions? All my movies are stored in a single folder called movies which i have directed XBMC. files are then called named like this A Beautiful Mind (2001) "Movie name (Year released)"
Have you added the folder where you saved them to the library?

Also make sure that you have chosen the correct scrapper.

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Kopkiwi

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#738320 29-Dec-2012 13:50

I've put it in movie folder haven't loaded a year. But I don't even get the option to scan to library like I do for music?

Will try the other settings tonight at home

blackjack17

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#738342 29-Dec-2012 14:57

If you can see the file by going through -video - file etc but you can't see it in your library then you,

haven't updated your library. (right click on any video file and select update library),
there is an issue with your scrapper (I use TMDB and have had no issues)
incorrectly named the file

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driller2000

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#738368 29-Dec-2012 17:04

another option is to scrape them outside xbmc eg. ember media manager:

http://ember.purplepig.net/
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=116941

allows for easy modifications, it also allows other players / clients etc to utilise these same files / posters / fanart / info etc in building there database

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Kopkiwi

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#738376 29-Dec-2012 18:13

OK, so I renamed it Finding Nemo (2003) and it's showing fine under the "file" tab in my movie folder. However when I right click to 'scan to library' I don't have that option and when I right click and select movie information it says "unable to connect to remote server, could not download information" Seems it's using rotten tomatos by default and won't let me disable it?

It plays choppy as hell in XBMC but fine VLC player.

I had a look at my set up and it appears I don't have my WASAPI or whatever configured correctly, I have tried following this thread

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=146911

However people at XBMC assume you know all the lingo where to go and what to do. I got to the sound part and my system only shows DTS, Dolby Plus and Dolby Digital, no HD audio formats. My system can run them, how do I include them or get them added?

I am connected through HDMI to a Denon 3310.

jpollock

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#738478 30-Dec-2012 02:55

Because XBMC is available on many hardware and software platforms, can you provide more information?

What is the:

CPU
Video Card
OS

How is it cabled to the receiver? HDMI, HDMI + optical SPDIF?

Is the HDMI cable connected to an HDMI port in the video card/motherboard, or a DVI port?

One of the first things I always try is to download and burn a copy of XBMCUbuntu. It is a bootable CD that contains a copy of XBMC and Ubuntu. Although... While it can be great to try XBMC, if you're not familiar with Linux, you might not want to stick with it. ;) Linux audio has historically been a PITA.

Stuttering depends on the type of stutter, is it a pulldown artifact, or is it actual "I can't keep up" stuttering?

Frodo is still beta, so although it is pretty good, it isn't perfect yet. Ive seen crashes and a lot of problems with audio. You might want to downgrade to Eden and see if that works better.

Have a look in Settings->Video->Playback. Make sure that "Enable Hardware Acceleration" is enabled.
Nexy, look at Settings->System->Audio Output. Make sure you've selected Audio Output = HDMI and ticked AC3 and DTS capable receiver (assuming audio is down the HDMI cable). Same goes for the speaker configuration - set it to the number of speakers you have.

Pulldown artifacts (stuttering in long horizontal pans) are in Settings->Video->Playback, "Adjust display refresh rate to match video". However, this has been buggy in the betas; it is causing me substantial audio synch issues.

Hope this helps.

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Kopkiwi

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#738544 30-Dec-2012 11:41

jpollock: Because XBMC is available on many hardware and software platforms, can you provide more information?

What is the:

CPU
Video Card
OS

How is it cabled to the receiver? HDMI, HDMI + optical SPDIF?

Is the HDMI cable connected to an HDMI port in the video card/motherboard, or a DVI port?

One of the first things I always try is to download and burn a copy of XBMCUbuntu. It is a bootable CD that contains a copy of XBMC and Ubuntu. Although... While it can be great to try XBMC, if you're not familiar with Linux, you might not want to stick with it. ;) Linux audio has historically been a PITA.

Stuttering depends on the type of stutter, is it a pulldown artifact, or is it actual "I can't keep up" stuttering?

Frodo is still beta, so although it is pretty good, it isn't perfect yet. Ive seen crashes and a lot of problems with audio. You might want to downgrade to Eden and see if that works better.

Have a look in Settings->Video->Playback. Make sure that "Enable Hardware Acceleration" is enabled.
Nexy, look at Settings->System->Audio Output. Make sure you've selected Audio Output = HDMI and ticked AC3 and DTS capable receiver (assuming audio is down the HDMI cable). Same goes for the speaker configuration - set it to the number of speakers you have.

Pulldown artifacts (stuttering in long horizontal pans) are in Settings->Video->Playback, "Adjust display refresh rate to match video". However, this has been buggy in the betas; it is causing me substantial audio synch issues.

Hope this helps.

CPU is an Intel i3-3320
8GB of ram
Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
Graphics is just Intel HD Graphics

Only connected through HDMI from pc to amp, then amp to projector. Connected through the mother board. Seems like "I can't keep up stuttering", but plays through VLC is fine.

Everything else is ticked as you've said.

I find that it takes a good few minutes for XBMC to open, was good for Eden, but Frodo is useless.

Still doesn't explain why I can't scan to library?

Is there any other software like XBMC that plays blu-ray ISO with HD audio easy as and has the same awesome GUI with description and artwork etc?

driller2000

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#738697 30-Dec-2012 20:26

i have the same/less specs on my desktop and both vlc and xbmc play all of my files smoothly - incl high bit rate 1080p rips

given vlc plays your files fine - my guess is the audio set up in xbmc aint quite right

keep trying various options - esp the audio output device and passthrough device

also try varying your input - i am guessing it should be hdmi (?) cycle through the available options as a test

likewise check the speaker config

also in terms of the audio track you are playing - cycle through these too

apologies if i am just telling you to try all of the audio options - but depending on your gear / set up there is a right way to set it up which will play sweet - and the wrong way which manifests as bad stutters

i would recommend sticking with xbmc (possibly downgrade to eden as suggested above - as i just updated to frodo and loading of the home screen and database access seem a little slower) - as xbmc is awesome once its set up right

i believe there are other freely available alternatives which offer similar prettiness eg. plex (xmbc fork) and mediaportal (another fork)

i tried mediaportal some years ago but moved to xbmc and haven't looked back

i believe plex has its fans too...

good luck :)

driller2000

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#738725 30-Dec-2012 22:17

and a thread from xbmc forums which says it better than i did :)

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=146911

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Kopkiwi

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#738754 31-Dec-2012 00:49

You wouldn't believe it. It was as simple as my graphics card needing an update. Once done everything ran smooth. Everything has scanned to my library.

One questions for tv series. I have the shows name and in that season 1 with each episode. I get the shows plot info fine and a synopsis for each episode with picture. Can that be done for season folder so that has artwork and a plot of the season?.

Appreciate the help.