Media player - WTV file support

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Felicks

62 posts

Master Geek

#115331 22-Mar-2013 09:34

I haven't found any recent posts on this subject so I'll start a new one.

I want to buy a small media player that supports WTV files. Just about everyone other format is supported by most players, but WTV for whatever reason, always seems to be left out. Whats with that??

I have a lounge HTPC that already streams WTV files to an Xbox in one room and I have also been using a laptop with Win7 MCE in another but frankly, that's a waste of a laptop. It also means it has to constantly be moved disconnected etc.

I don't need wireless as I already have a wired system (although it could be a handy I guess). I particularly like the WDTV Live models and even the Philips ones. WD have firmware updates but I don't know about Philips.

Ideally, if not already, WTV files may be supported in the future by these manufactures but seeing it doesn't appear to have happened already, I'm not holding my breath. Its not as if these files have just come out.

Can anyone advise of a similar Media player with WTV support or advise why these files seem to be left out constantly?

Cheers.

..the tread goes around that far for a reason!

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davidcole

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#785344 22-Mar-2013 10:17

They're generally left out cos they're a proprietary container format only used by MCE.

Most other PVR programs store the raw TS (transport stream), but Microsoft in their wisdom have wrapped it in a container format. I believe you can get some tools to extract it out, and it's like a file copy - as in there's no transcoding needed.

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mm1352000

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#785394 22-Mar-2013 12:23

Can anyone advise of a similar Media player with WTV support or advise why these files seem to be left out constantly?

It is proprietary as David said, and it also may contain DRM. The additional DRM was part of the reason for the migration from DVR-MS. If there is DRM then you may struggle to extract the contents. WTV is literally the last container format I would want to use. WMC may be easy to setup but things like this are deal breakers for me.

Dratsab

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#785431 22-Mar-2013 13:43

Can't see it having DRM unless it's from a paid service. Have you tried right-clicking on the recorded file to see if you have the option to convert it to dvr-ms format?

You may also want to check out MC-TVConverter...

davidcole

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#785433 22-Mar-2013 13:47

Dratsab: Can't see it having DRM unless it's from a paid service. Have you tried right-clicking on the recorded file to see if you have the option to convert it to dvr-ms format?

You may also want to check out MC-TVConverter...

Yeah I wouldn't have thought any of the NZ based recordings would have drm in them. Maybe a no broadcast or no keep flag.

mm1352000

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#785440 22-Mar-2013 14:06

I was speaking in general terms. In other words, WTV supports DRM and therefore supporting it requires more effort and money than other formats. For the end user, certain operations may be prevented, restricted or otherwise managed.

There was a thread on GZ not so long ago talking about issues streaming HD recordings with certain equipment. My point in saying this is that although the content is not encrypted, there are flags set in the broadcast meta-data that some software and hardware don't ignore. WMC and/or WTV may not do much with those flags now but I know from my experience with BDA and PBDA coding that all the structures are in place to lock down such content if MS decided to do it. They already do this with "free" TV in the US.

So to reiterate, my comment is about WTV in general and from the perspective that the players (like WDTV live) are not specifically designed for the NZ market where recordings can be format shifted. I'm not saying that you can't format shift NZ recordings.

Regs

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Snowflake

#785601 22-Mar-2013 18:02

handbrake will support conversion of non-DRMd WTV files now.

Question: why do you need a media player with WTV support? Do you just have a back-catalog of WTV files (in which case convert and move on), or are you currently generating them inside an MCE box (perhaps check out MCE Buddy for automated format-shifting)?

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Felicks

62 posts

Master Geek

#785880 23-Mar-2013 13:44

My main HTPC records essentially all of the TV that we watch and that using Win7 MCE. So its all in WTV files and they are constantly deleted / over written by newer programs etc etc. I am using BigScreen EGP with 4 tuners and a terrestrial HD signal. I designed it from ground up - all works really well, unsurprisingly, I don't want to mess with it! (Converting to other formats etc)

In addition, the WTV files plus various AVI's etc are watched in two other rooms - separation from the kids! So that's why I want to retain the original format basically.

Judging by what everyone wa saying, I just went out and bought a WD TV Live and will just have to hpe they released a firmware update...one day. I have sent a message to WD.com - no reply yet but I'm guessing they won't be giving me what I'm hoping for.

Out of interest, my PS3 is connected to the HTPC also. And while it actually found the Media Centre automatically and can play the HD WTV files, it is very choppy in that it pauses every 3 seconds or so for 1 - 2 seconds (making it unwatchable). Conversley, its plays SD WTV recordings fine which is interesting.

Appreciate the feedback guys, cheers.

Mattv

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#786043 23-Mar-2013 19:55

Why not buy another XBOX 360? Seems the best solution in your situation.

LimitlessLED

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#786124 23-Mar-2013 23:41

WTV is my primary MCE7 consumption in my household. I consume 4 to 8GB WTV recorded files a lot.

I use Xbox360 to play WTV
I also use Ceton Echo to play WTV,
and I also use AirVideo on all my ipads to play WTV files.

I do not bother watching WTV on my android tablets, because I find that the iPad3 has a more crystal clear picture.