HTPC Video Player and Codecs

bucks73

I recently built a HTPC with an internal Blu Ray drive so purchased PowerDVD 10 to be able to playback Blu Ray discs.

I setup PowerDVD to be the default player in Windows Media Centre for all video files as well as the BDs and DVDs but I have run into a couple of issues.

First off PowerDVD plays the BD video just fine but theres no audio coming out at all. I tried different audio tracks on different BDs but nothing. When I play a DVD or AVI or MKV the picture and audio are both fine. Also, when I use TotalMedia Theatre 5 for the BD playback both the video and DTS audio work perfectly. I have checked all the settings in Powerdvd and cant figure it out.

Another issue I ran into is with MPEG-4 video files. I only have two of them but when playing back on PowerDVD on one the video is ok but only stereo audio and the other shows no video (black screen) and also stereo audio. WMC and VLC will both play the video on each one fine but again audio is only stereo when it should be 6 channels.

Heres details of one of the files:
*Encoded/Profile/Level.....: 2 pass/High/Level 4.1
*Type/Writing Library......: MPEG-4 AVC/x264
*Container.................: MP4
*File Size.................: 2.18 GB
*Duration..................: 1h 52mn 26sec
*Bit Rate..................: 2300 Kbps
*Bits/(Pixel*Frame)........: 0.142
*Resolution................: 1280x528 pixels
*Aspect Ratio/Frame Rate...: 2.40:1/23.976 fps
*Stream Video Size.........: 1.81 GB (83%)
*Stream Audio Size.........: 381 MB (17%)
*Audio/Bit Rate............: AAC LC/474 Kbps
*Channel(s)/Sampling Rate..: 6 channels/48.0 KHz
*Channel Positions.........: Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE

If no one has a solution to these then thats cool but I would like to hear what others are using for playback of BDs, DVDs, AVIs and MKVs in Windows Media Center. Maybe recommend players or codecs that enable playback of both video and surround sound audio.

Sorry for the long post.

Voodu Child

It would help if you told us what your sound setup is. How you are getting sound, how it is connected, what formats it supports etc.

Anyway, the place where I would start is the Windows sound setup. Right click the volume icon on your taskbar and go to 'playback devices'.

bucks73

That would have helped alright lol.

Windows 7 x64 with Tv connected via HDMI and A/V receiver via optical digital. Pioneer VSX-920 supports just about everything you could throw at it.

Been playing around with it again tonight and uninstalled all the codec packs and replaced them with the Shark007 pack and x64 add on. AVI, MKV and DVD work perfectly now in WMC.

Blu Ray for some odd reason though plays the sound fine in TMT5 but theres no audio when I use PowerDVD 10 so Im guessing its an issue with that program even though all the audio settings are set to pass through to A/V receiver.

The MP4 files too play video in WMC fine but still there is just stereo sound when there should be surround so that more likely an issue with the file type.

Voodu Child

Okay, your surround system doesnt support AAC multi-channel (very few do) so that explains the issue you are having with that particular video.

I use XBMC and it can transcode AAC multi-channel to AC3 multi-channel on the fly. ffdshow audio decoder can do the same thing (under 'output' settings), and I believe this comes with the shark pack.

Its worth noting that spdif does not support lossless audio such as DTS-HD or TrueHD as found on many Blurays. It will play the DTS core or basic AC3 just fine but not the full lossless track. So HDMI is a better option if you want to get the full audio from your Blurays.

I don't use PowerDVD or WMC but most video players have settings for sound output (passthrough formats, mixdown, etc), you should double-check all the settings. Also you should be able to see on your receiver exactly what sound format it is getting, it might help with the troubleshooting.

bucks73

Cheers Voodu,

After much playing around and googling I eventually found a setup using Shark007 that suits everything perfectly...

Apart from one file lol.

For some reason I cant get the audio on one of the MP4 files to play at all. In the file details it says the sound is 32 bit and both the options for 32 bit in Shark007 dont work for it.

Anyway, Im not bothered as everything else works perfectly now.

Cheers.