MediaPortal - do I have to register all the codecs ??

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aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#24779 2-Aug-2008 15:18

I cannot get HA to work and this is the main focus of my "HTPC work" at this stage.

I realized that in MP Configuration window, under "Direct Show Filters", there is none of the codecs I installed. But when I go to MP Configuration -> television and try to select the codec for H264, the list is quite generous, due to all the codecs I installed so far trying to get one of them to enable HA...

I currently use the Cyberlink PDVD8 codec in the drop-down list for "Television". I tried to register this with regsvr32 "...path...", I got a message saying "success" but the codec still does not show in the "Direct Show Filters" screen.

The manual (http://www.team-mediaportal.com/manual/MediaPortal/Configuration/Filters) shows a screen capture with many other codecs, I have only:
- MPA Decoder
- WinDVD7 Decoder Filters
- Monogram AAC Decoder Settings
- MPV Decoder
- Video Renderer Settings (where you select VMR9 or EVR)

Is this the reason why I do not have a decent CPU load? (I am running on 45-50% on TV3 and 40% on all other channels, good picture quality, occasional jitter / "stepping" effect on TV3 - some days better than others...).

mobo Intel DH55PJ, RAM: 4GB RAM, Nova-T 500 HD + Avermedia Trinity tuner card, Geforce 520 video, 120GB SSD Sandisk + 640 WD + 1000SG, Win7 Home Prem 64-bit, Media Portal 1.15.0; BTC 9019URF Cordless Keyboard, Panasonic 55" (HDMI cable), HTPC Case Silverstone Grandia GD05B.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#153633 2-Aug-2008 17:25

Are you using a trial version of PowerDVD8? & what version of MP are you using? RC1? RC2? I would recommend you totally uninstall MP & your entire library of codecs -don't install any codec packs: just what you need & try the latest versions.

If you are still having issues, you may want to consider a total reinstall of your OS. The reason, you appear to have had a number of unrelated issues that could be caused by a corrupt -partial or otherwise- install/update or config problem. Sometimes, for unknown (at least by me) reasons, an OS installation can go wrong & it will cause more issues the more you install.

If you have image backups of your boot drive, you could try an earlier version ( a good reason why everyone chould have image backup software). I would go right back to your earliest, activated image & reinstall from there.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but that is my 2 cents worth. Hope you get it sorted.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#153642 2-Aug-2008 18:19

I am using RC1 and PDVD8 is a trial version. I also have Cyberlink codecs supplied with PowerCinema 5.1 as well (bundled with the tv tuner);

Should I understand there is no need to register the codecs or to do anything else with them after installation in order to get them listed under "DirectShow Filters" in MP Configuration window? They should just appear there after they are installed? No need to play with "merits"?

I found a freeware application called DSFMgr (Direct Show Filters Manager) able to list all the codecs installed and to change various settings (if available) and merits. Would you say it is an useful application?

You are right about the re-install... this option was "on the table" since a long time ago, considering the number of problems I run into and not being able to fix them so far...

Thank you.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#153753 3-Aug-2008 10:30

With the trial version of PowerDVD you are required to manually register the H.264 codec, which you have done according to your first post.

You may want to try RC2 as a last resort, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

kiwijunglist

2881 posts

Uber Geek

#154036 4-Aug-2008 15:05

Hi

I feel your frustration!!

Load Mediaportal configuration
Select television
Then open the page with the codecs
Then open the little box next to H264
You should see powerdvd8 listed there
If you can select it then mediaportal will be using that codec
To get hardware accleration in vista with mediaportal i think you need to enable EVR renderer.

I have the same motherboard as you and use onboard the ATI HD3200. I was using Vista 64 Sp1 Ultimate. I was never able to get hardware acceleration running smoothly. I tried everything. I had the full version of powerdvd ultra 8 (latest 1830 build) The problem centers around EVR not working on my setup. If you can run EVR you might be ok. However i could not get it working

If you want a free codec for hardware accleration you could try the media portal home cinema standalone codec pack... as mediaportal is a 32bit application, you need to download the 32bit (x86) version.

However i tried XP Pro SP2 and got hardware acceleration working for mediaportal TV now.
Last time i tried it didn't work in XP, it may be the fact that last time i used SP3 and this time im using SP2.
In XP you don't need to use EVR for hardware acceleration.

Check my other post.
I have heard that installing too many codecs can screw up hardware accleration,.
bc if you get a filter inbetween the data stream and the h.a. codec it can make dxa impossible.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154058 4-Aug-2008 17:17

One other thing you could try is to use Graphedit to determine what codecs MP is actually using.

Open MP in windowed mode & start media playback. Open Graphedit & click on 'file>connect to remote server' & click on address. This will show the codecs being used.

This won't fix the issue with HA, of course. kiwijunlist is spot on with the assertion regarding codecs. You could also try uninstalling ALL codecs & reinstalling ONLY those required for MP. But that is all time spent. Guess it comes down to how much more time you are prepared to try & rectify the issue(s); or just reinstall.

And get some image backup software, it is one of the best pieces of software a tweaker can have.

aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154183 5-Aug-2008 07:55

Thank you all!

This looks like a lot to check, which is good news, as improves chances to actually find what's wrong. I will try Graphedit first. Can I make changes in the "processing chain" using Graphedit, or it is just giving me an image of what's going on? Should I use ffdshow after that, to actually alter settings in the way the codecs are used?

I will then uninstall the codecs, especially all the "free" codec packs I found on the net. What should I put back? I have the PowerCinema codecs, and the PowerDVD8. I will see what other codecs are confirmed as working on other forums...

Just one more thing: when open MP windowed, does it matter if I watch tv or watch recorded tv or HD clips stored on HDD? I assume the results would be different, as it processes the stream using a different approach.

kiwijunglist

2881 posts

Uber Geek

#154459 5-Aug-2008 20:50

If you want to stay with vista and get hardware acceleration the first thing you need to do is to enable EVR. If you can't get EVR working then I would guess you have almost zero chance of getting hardware acceleration working properly. Also there are known compatability problems between mediaportal and EVR when the OSD is active. The reason why i went back to XP was because i could never get EVR working properly.

PS - AUCKLANDER: You might want to try the MPC-HC standalone filter, i posted instructions in the freeview forum. It also gives hardware acceleration on TV1-3, but unfortunately doesn't work with C4

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154554 6-Aug-2008 09:09

EVR is enabled in MP config window. If I switch to the DMR9 option, the CPU goes to 90%, so the EVR does make a difference. What is the OSD you refer to? ("On Screen Display" ??)

Do you use on board graphics? There is no video card in your sig, and you have the same mobo as mine. Do you get good reception and recording on TV1, 2 and 3 ?? No "stepping effect" on TV3? In XP SP2 ?? It sounds too good. How is the ticker tape during the news in the morning?

I got the video card as lots of users said there is no way to get proper deinterlacing with the ATI HD3200 chip. I can go back to XP if this is going to solve all the problems...

I also read that the latest update for PowerDVD8 really makes a difference, apparently it fixed the de-interlacing issue when using the on board HD3200. Can you please confirm there was an improvement after applying the PDVD8 patch? I applied the latest update but there was no diference, as I am using an nVidia card.

kiwijunglist

2881 posts

Uber Geek

#154678 6-Aug-2008 16:22

Hi,

In answer to your questions.

OSD - On Screen Display. Whenever i had EVR (Vista 64) going i had terrible flicking with OSD active. Also had frequent crashes in mediaportal.

Yes, I am only using onboard ATI HD3200

For TV Quality - In vista, TV was slightly jerky at times. Now it seems really really good and smooth. I havn't watched any ticker tapes, so I don't know what they are like. If i have mediaportal in a window the cpu useage is only about 10-20% max.

I didn't try PDVD8 prior to the patch, i installed then updated to 1830 straight away. So don't know if the patch helps or not.

However everything is perfect. The codec doesn't work properly with C4/TVNZ6/TVNZ7, i get sound, but a garbled picture with lots of green. If i turn off hardware accleration under the PDVD8 options in mediaportal rc2, then i can decode C4/TVNZ6/TVNZ7 however with the lack of H.A. it gets a bit jerky at times.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

kiwijunglist

2881 posts

Uber Geek

#154791 6-Aug-2008 22:14

I just installed ATI Catalyst 8.8 Beta for XP drivers (ATI Drv 8.52)
I can now view C4/TVNZ6/TVNZ7 with the PDVD8 Ultra 1830 Codec in MP RC2
with hardware acceleration on all channels and no green screen.
However i now get a sort of stuttering problem.
The audio continues to go but the video gets stuck in an endless 0.5sec loop,
if i timeshift fwd it goes back to normal. This happens very occasionally.
I also get occasional little isolated glitches in a small section of the screen that last for 0.5 sec.
Is this the suttering problem you describe?

I found it was worse when i turned on de-interlacing on in the television settings in MP RC2
(Note i am not talking about hardware accleration deinterlacing which is in the pdvd settings in MP RC2)

I didn't notice these problems when i was use ATI Catalyst 8.457 Suite from the gigabyte site.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154913 7-Aug-2008 12:27

I was under the impression EVR is not available under XP.

I installed the MPC-HC codec but it did not work for me. When launch MP, it draws the frame of the window and freezes. The inside of the window shows whatever was on the desktop in that area, before launcing MP.

However, I have too many problems and long history of install / uninstall codecs, applications and tweaks, so a complete re-install is scheduled for the near future. Too many things working OK for everyone else are not working for me...

Did you find RC2 better than RC1? I installed RC2 two weeks ago but I had to revert to RC1 due to some issues ("vol down" was working OK, but not "vol up"!).

kiwijunglist

2881 posts

Uber Geek

#154916 7-Aug-2008 12:31

aucklander: I was under the impression EVR is not available under XP.

I have never tried EVR under XP.

I have read that if you install either .NET 3.0 or .NET 3.5 framework it adds EVR to XP.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.