Solved : AVCHD/m2ts on vista media player

[Smurkenstein]

I have a Dell XPS420 as a media player on my HD TV and I'd like to enter my HD camcorder m2ts files into vista media centres media library. I have all my other file types working - this is the missing link. Does anyone have any thoughts on how I can do this?

Google has not been my friend, and I dont want to randomly start insatlling codec packs in case they bork my entire system (but I am willing to consider any solution).

Currently, VMC reconises the folder but not the file. I tried setting VMC to use the power DVD codecs instead of the vista mpeg2 codec - but no banana (plus, when I do this VMC wont play DVDs any more). I have FFDshow and nali splitter.

I was thinking of putting the m2ts files into a mkv wrapper, but keeping them as H264 with no trancoding...any thoughts?

I thought about posting in the mediaplayer forums, but tbh, I regard this as more of a codec problem, and as file formats are commonly discussed in here, I figured this is the best place.

Thanks guys.

/edit...oh yes, I have a shiny new copy of Vegas (standard) which I got free with 50 quid cashback - does anyone know if this might have the codec I need and what would it be called and how could I implement it?

[rhubarbe]

No solution, I am afraid. This is precisely why I junked HTPC MKVII, sold all the bits for HTPC MKVIII and bought a PopcornHour for £130. It plays absolutely everything, beautfully on my HDTV. No more Mr Gates. Yippee!

[Smurkenstein]

Goddam! I will not be thwarted

Seriously, though. What did you try to get this working? Sounds like you put some considerable effort in.

I did find one report that the CCCP codec pack could confer the mystical ability to play m2ts on VMC...

I mean. VMC WILL play H.264 in an MKV wrapper (downloads - in my hands). Are the contents of a Sony m2ts the same as H.264?

[Craig_E]

Isn't the key getting them associated them with WMP, and MC will follow? That's how I assumed I got all my .mkvs and .ts files showing up in the MC interface.

My Sony SZ laptop plays AVCHD files with WMP out of the box, I have no idea what Sony have pre-installed on there. However, it's vista busines so no MC to test whether they show up there

[senu]

Originally Posted by Smurkenstein

Goddam! I will not be thwarted

Are the contents of a Sony m2ts the same as H.264?

It would seem that the AVCHD "standard" is not uniform and Sony implements it as m2ts , Panasonic and Canon MTS
Also not uniform is the encoding bitrate
The simplistic answer would be yes..until a codec incompatibiltiy proves otherwise

and thankfully HDV ( m2t) is uniform

[slowpoke]

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

No solution, I am afraid. This is precisely why I junked HTPC MKVII, sold all the bits for HTPC MKVIII and bought a PopcornHour for £130. It plays absolutely everything, beautfully on my HDTV. No more Mr Gates. Yippee!

Rhu, where did you buy one of them from?

[senu]

Originally Posted by Craig_E

Isn't the key getting them associated them with WMP, and MC will follow? That's how I assumed I got all my .mkvs and .ts files showing up in the MC interface.

My Sony SZ laptop plays AVCHD files with WMP out of the box, I have no idea what Sony have pre-installed on there. However, it's vista busines so no MC to test whether they show up there

The codec that allows you play AVCHD files on a Sony laptop is not native to Windows.
Even when you install codec like Core AVC pro.. some machine still refuse to use it via WMP or MC
A mac is way better in these circumstances

[Craig_E]

Originally Posted by senu

The codec that allows you play AVCHD files on a Sony laptop is not native to Windows.

It must be native, my laptop plays files from my Panasonic SD9 flawlessly, in Windows Media Player with no initial set up by me. No hacks or Sony specific applications needed. I was pleasantly surprised when I plugged it in

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Rhu, where did you buy one of them from?

I bought mine from www.popcornhour.com and including delivery and Duty and VAT it cost me about £135.

In AV terms it is the best £135 I ever spent, even beating the Topfield TF5800PVR into second place.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Craig_E

It must be native, my laptop plays..

Sony may have installed software which makes it appear so

[Smurkenstein]

Sony vaios seem to be able to play back using media center:

http://www.sony-asia.com/subtype/use...e=hp_en_AP_i#3

Seems to be a functions of sony's bundled software

[Giblets2]

Originally Posted by senu

A mac is way better in these circumstances

...or a PS3 for much less money.

[Craig_E]

Originally Posted by senu

Sony may have installed software which makes it appear so

Ah, I see what you mean by native now, as in built-in to windows. Like divx/xvid, of course you need a codec, and of course sony installed it. But I'm saying whatever Sony have done can be recreated on other PCs for the AVCHD clips to work with any windows app, e.g. media center.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Craig_E

Ah, I see what you mean by native now, as in built-in to windows. Like divx/xvid, of course you need a codec, and of course sony installed it. But I'm saying whatever Sony have done can be recreated on other PCs for the AVCHD clips to work with any windows app, e.g. media center.

This is true, if only we know what it is they have done....I dont exactly see them making it public knowledge
There are codecs ( CoreAVC Pro is one) which should allow you play them if installed on your system. People have had mixed results with it in that it doesn't seem to seamlessly intergrate with WMP but that could be Bill Gates fault, not the software's

Also installing the likes of Nero 8 , or Power DVD Ultra ( which I have and can play AVCHD) does not confer this ability to WMP

[Mr.Nice.Guy]

It is about time this fileformat becomes standard for Windows. I can play the file in windows but need to install special drivers etc and still I can't see a thumbnail, which would also help playing the correct file. Now I first need to click on a file before I know what it is, OK I could rename al the files but that is too much hassle.
Come on widows it would save us a lot of hassle.