[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.

[Smurkenstein]

Originally Posted by senu

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

I couldn't get this to work

Also installing Vegas doesn't provide the codecs in an accesible way

You can force vista media player to use the power DVD codecs - but it just hangs

[rhubarbe]

Have you tried Nero Showtime 4? I believe it is available as a trial inside Nero 8. It works for me on my office PC: I can't get anything else to play .MTS or .M2TS files.

[senu]

Nero Showtime is part of Nero 8 ( Its not a trial ) but may need free activating later
The Problem is that you cant get WMP to use the codecs even though you can play mts files in these other applications

[s3marc]

Here is my 2p worth on this stuff......

yesterday I wanted to look at some of the MTS footage from the SD9 thread, so I loaded the trial Nero 8 (show time 4) and all i got was a black picture..... tried WMP11 and all I got was a black screen.

So I loaded k-lite , h.264 codec and ffshow and WMP11 would play the 25p 1080 footage fine - it looked very good. however the 50i footage was shearing and pixelating badly. also required ffshow to be running and another server (sorry cannot remember what it was)

this morning i un-installed k-lite and put the latest panasonic HD Writer 2.5e on my machine (as I just took delivery of my SD9) - the AVCHD player included with this is at best rubbish and only displays 8 frames per second.

BUT.........
Nero 8 (show time 4) now plays both the 25p and 50i at 30fps and look fantastic. So - I guess the panasonic HD writer disk includes the necessary codecs to play MTS files properly.


So if you are having problems... you need to get yourself a copy of HD Writer and install it by the looks of things.

[rhubarbe]

You did reboot the machine, after installing all that lot last night, didn't you? Otherwise, it may only have been this morning that the softwares started to use the correct codecs....

[s3marc]

Hi rhubarbe,

pretty sure it was rebooted in between....... Its a bit of a minefield - trouble is trying to do one thing at a time and seeing what happens , that with a reboot between adds hours to doing anything

[Craig_E]

Originally Posted by s3marc

yesterday I wanted to look at some of the MTS footage from the SD9 thread, so I loaded the trial Nero 8 (show time 4) and all i got was a black picture.....

I get this every time I load Nero on my work PC for the first clip I play. If you press stop and then play again, it'll work. I think it could just be a problem with loading the first clip properly on slower machines.

However, the combination of ffdshow, the splitter etc didn't work on my PC at home, nor did CoreAVC. I have an old version CoreAVC working on my media center PC for mkv/.ts, and don't dare rock the boat on that one

Seriously, the best thing to play stuff back seems to be a PS3, although I still can't get it to work over the network as Senu suggested.

[Paul_Morris]

By coincidence, I have been working on the same conumdrum today in getting the Sony M2TS files being played in Vista Windows Media Player 11.

Previously, like other members, one was getting sound but no picture. I too have looked in the past at codecs from Cyberlink with no success.

In the last few moments, I have download the free full codec pack from K-Lite see:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm

Installed it, ensuring all other windows were closed down ensuring that M2TS files were associated with Windows Media Player and that my current version of ffshow was uninstalled (The program will give you the option to do this).

Clicked on a M2TS file and hey presto, one now has this file playing in Windows Media Player! (Please note, the picture has quite a few jaggies when displayed in half-screen size but these are virtually eliminated when one views in full screen. I am running this on a 2GB HPM3075. Not sure whether increased memory and processor power would help).

Now my last wish is to be able to play the same M2TS file in slow motion. Media Player (as with MPEG2 files) doe not allow you to play in slow motion. This only seems to work if I make the file a DVD (VOB) but then of course I'm losing quality of picture in converting to the Sony High Quality MPEG2 (8Mbps). Anyone got any ideas on how to get the slow motion working?

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by Paul_Morris

In the last few moments, I have download the free full codec pack from K-Lite see:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm

Thanks! I had tried many things and could never get AVCHD clips to play consistantly (and not at all in WMP). I downloaded the K-Lite codecs, and they now play fine in WMP.

[Giblets2]

Thanks from me too Paul!

Only one thing, is anybody else getting a blocky mess that freezes quarter way through with any interlaced clips?!!!

[s3marc]

I found WMP11 too slow for processing interlaced clips - Nero show time 4 seems to use a much quicker codec and plays interlaced clips smoothly.

[senu]

I may be a bit slow here but why would anyone need to use WMP?
Even as a media server software it does have alternatives

[Craig_E]

Get it working in media player, and it'll work in media center, which is a great interface.

[Smurkenstein]

Originally Posted by Paul_Morris

By coincidence, I have been working on the same conumdrum today in getting the Sony M2TS files being played in Vista Windows Media Player 11.

Previously, like other members, one was getting sound but no picture. I too have looked in the past at codecs from Cyberlink with no success.

In the last few moments, I have download the free full codec pack from K-Lite see:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...Codec_Pack.htm

Installed it, ensuring all other windows were closed down ensuring that M2TS files were associated with Windows Media Player and that my current version of ffshow was uninstalled (The program will give you the option to do this).

Clicked on a M2TS file and hey presto, one now has this file playing in Windows Media Player! (Please note, the picture has quite a few jaggies when displayed in half-screen size but these are virtually eliminated when one views in full screen. I am running this on a 2GB HPM3075. Not sure whether increased memory and processor power would help).

Now my last wish is to be able to play the same M2TS file in slow motion. Media Player (as with MPEG2 files) doe not allow you to play in slow motion. This only seems to work if I make the file a DVD (VOB) but then of course I'm losing quality of picture in converting to the Sony High Quality MPEG2 (8Mbps). Anyone got any ideas on how to get the slow motion working?

Thanks - it works - VMC and WMP - and now my media centre is complete - it plays everything

VMC and WMP dont seem to handle moving scenes as well as power DVD - I suspect there is an interlacing problem and its not clear to me if the decoding is hardware (nvidia gpu) or software driven - but there is a control centre for this codec pack - so I shall have a play and try to optimise.

It would be good if a moderator could add solved to the thread title - thanks again

[Smurkenstein]

Originally Posted by Craig_E

Get it working in media player, and it'll work in media center, which is a great interface.

Aye, media center is very cool - I'm uber impressed - even the wife likes it!