VOB/MPEG/AC3 support

[mvallevand]

VOB/MPEG support in mvpmc can be implemented in two ways, native mode and in emulation. The following summarizes some differences between the two.

1. Native mode. Native mode means having mpvmc accessing files directly from a file share (ie Windows share, NAS) using mpvmc's Filesystem menu option. VOB files show up as individual files and they can be selected and played. DVD specification mpeg's should be fine subject to to AC3 issues later.

PROS

- mvpmc has direct access to the file can controls file positioning, pause, mute etc.
- selection of multiple audio and subtitle streams is possible.
- remote control option to resync a/v
- not as susceptible to PTS timecode problems as GBPVR
- stable.

CONS

- shares must be configured manually using linux syntax in the dongle.bin.config file. This can be challenging.
- linux file system display not familar
- all file types mixed a la Windows Explorer (for me a PRO)

2. Emulation mode.

Emulation mode is simply your GBPVR server streaming the VOB/MPEG file to mvpmc without transcoding. If this doesn't work, it might be possible to rename the VOB to MPG

PROS

- works with existing setup files.
- excellent GBPVR user interface.

CONS

- selection of multiple audio and subtitle streams is not yet possible
- remote control option to resync a/v is not implemented.
- emulation mode still going through testing.

3. AC3 Support in VOB/MPEG streams

There is a seperate thread on this forum for AC3 audio but to summarize, it really is only available to those users who (1) have audio passthru configured in mvpmc, (2) for those who have a newer model MediaMVP or those who have applied the SPDIF mod (recently documented by jksmurf) and (3) your MVP would then need to be hooked up to a stereo. If not the AC3 stream is decoded in software and the MVP processor is not fast enough to keep up so the file is not playable.

After all this the audio is guaranteed to be out of sync so no money back. May be ok for Ashley Simpson and Milli Vanilli videos, foreign films and animation, some documentaries, and perhaps children's videos. It likely will be possible to improve this

This probably only works for MPEG-PS type files, I don't have any MPEG-TS files with AC3 to test.

In emulation mode because the audio stream currently cannot be selected, any MPEG audio stream in the file will automatically be selected.

Martin

[johnvk]

1. Native mode.
CONS

- shares must be configured manually using linux syntax in the dongle.bin.config file. This can be challenging.
- linux file system display not familar
- all file types mixed a la Windows Explorer (for me a PRO)

Hi Martin,

Don't know whether you would like to receive some feedback on this, but I would LOVE a native implementation to play VOB's. Preferably enhanced to play also the menu's so that I can play my self created home video DVD's. Second best option could be that after finishing a VOB, subsequent VOB's are played automatically.

A for configuring the shares, this is a one-time only setting which should not be that hard one properly described on the wiki.

For the non familar display of the linux file system, this could indeed be a major disappointment. But, if mvpmc is enhanced by a small "DVD-player" application whose purpose is only to play VOB's (placed in a directory structure), then the (linux-)path to that structure could be a configuration setting.

John

[mvallevand]

Don't know whether you would like to receive some feedback on this, but I would LOVE a native implementation to play VOB's. Preferably enhanced to play also the menu's so that I can play my self created home video DVD's. Second best option could be that after finishing a VOB, subsequent VOB's are played automatically.

John, feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

The native VOB support is there (and I believe it even works from GBPVR) the problem is the audio sync. Native mode already has a play all option (on the menu key) if the vobs are isolated in one folder but I'm not planning on implementing native DVD menus. Anyone with the desire and programming expertise is welcome to try. For fun, one day I might try and emulate an KISS network DVD player, if the audio sync issue is ever resolved, but no guarantees.

A for configuring the shares, this is a one-time only setting which should not be that hard one properly described on the wiki.

I think you would be surprised what many people consider to be hard, especially configuring the mvpmc side.

For the non familar display of the linux file system, this could indeed be a major disappointment. But, if mvpmc is enhanced by a small "DVD-player" application whose purpose is only to play VOB's (placed in a directory structure), then the (linux-)path to that structure could be a configuration setting.

I think the native file system display and navigation on most devices is weak. Selecting MP3's on my DVD player is a real pain. GBPVR provides one of the nicest interfaces I've seen, and I'm personally torn between it and Escient's as my favourite.

When mvpmc moves to new hardware platforms this won't be an issue. Already on the MG-35 I can launch its DVD player for ISO's etc, and it does give the menus etc. The issue here are more related to the mvp.

Martin