A few questions

[existny]

First, my setup:

Q9550
HD4870
Sony Blu-Ray
Pioneer DVD Reader/Writer
245BW 24" Samsung LCD Monitor
LNT 4065 40" Samsung LCD TV
Vista 64bit

Now for my questions

1) How can I tell whether my blurays are playing at 1080p? Both of my screens are widescreens, but I have two black stripes at the top and bottom when I play Jumper or a Few Good Men (the only 2 blurays I've tried) on both my LCD and TV. I use POWERDVD Ultra 8. Is there anyway I can tell what resolution it's at?

2) To switch between my TV and my LCD, I have to go through a burdensome number of steps: I have to set my display settings and my sound settings. Is there a good way to setup "profiles" on my desktop so that with the click of my mouse I can be in TV (sound via HDMI) mode and with another click I am in LCD (sound via speakers) mode? It really moots much of the functionality if I have to fiddle with settings every single time I switch between the two.

Thanks for all you help!

 

[nitrobass24]

1) How can I tell whether my blurays are playing at 1080p? Both of my screens are widescreens, but I have two black stripes at the top and bottom when I play Jumper or a Few Good Men (the only 2 blurays I've tried) on both my LCD and TV. I use POWERDVD Ultra 8. Is there anyway I can tell what resolution it's at?



Thanks for all you help!

1. You set the resoluiton on your video card for your television/monitor. Also you will have black bars on a lot of newer movies because they are shot in a wider format than 16:9.. i beleive its 2:35:10?? but anyways its a wider format so you will have bars nothing to be alarmed about.

 

[Javabri]

First, as mentioned...you need to set up your graphics card so it is outputting the correct resolution.

2ndly, you need to check the content to check the encoding. Depending on the s/w player (Arcsoft, Cyberlink, etc.), this is found in different places. you will need to do some research on your player to see how to turn on/off the encoding info.

 

[existny]

Thanks for the replies. I don't currently have a bluray movie, but I will try to turn on encoding info next time I play a movie.

Can anyone help out with my second query? Thanks again!

 

[Ripskin]

Honestly I dont know of any computer based way to do that, but I wouldnt be too surprised if there is a way.

However the most simple way would be to get a quality universal remote and set up a macro on it.

The macro will be when you push Watch DVD (for example) your TV is changed to the video input and your reciever is changed to whatver is used for audio. There are quite a plethera of choices for you to pick from as far as the remotes go, Logitech has some neat ones.

I did programming for a home theater company for years based on the Phillips Pronto serries, loved them but if you only have a few sources it can be a hefty investment.

For me personally my reciever's video quality maxes at componant, so my HTPC is run directy to the TV on DVI (for now), the Wii & PS2 are switched through the reciever, audio is either composit for the wii or optical for the PS2, and digital coax for my HTPC.

I do all my switching by hand, since on the tv its hit input and arrow to one of 3 options, and push whichever source I am using for audio. 3 button pushes So a remote is not something I am after right now. Take a look around at whats available and see if you think its worth it for your needs. You might end up just getting used to the current way you have to do it and not need to get a universal.

 

[existny]

Ripskin, is there a remote that would allow me to set a macro for my computer and TV? Or do remotes work just with components? I am somewhat light on components -- all I have is a cable box -- the intention was for the computer to handle the rest. If I can use the remote in conjunction with my PC, then we're talking. If I could, say, program it to switch my sound settings and video settings automatically, then that would be very, very useful.

Last night, for example, I wanted to pop in a DVD. To do that, I had to change the source on my TV by clicking the "source" button on my remote some 3-4 times, change the audio output on my PC by double-clicking the "sound" icon and then right-clicking HDMI and selecting "set as default." I have a shortcut set up for switching between me displays, so the only remaining step was to press "alt-f1" two times to get the picture on my TV rather than Monitor. If I wanted to continue to surf the web while watching my movie, I would have to go to display setting and manually extend my desktop onto my monitor. Now, when I switch back to my monitor, the display defaults to 1024 x 768, which looks atrocious on 24", and I need to switch my sound back to speakers. This is WAY too much work to watch a single dvd. There has GOT to be an easier way!

 

[dandirk]

Oh my.... complicated question that once you get into it is not that bad just hard to write down...

I am going to break this down to 2 parts... PC and components...

Part I PC control via remote

1. First thing, connecting a remote (any remote) to your PC. There are a number of USB IR receivers available. The cheapest and most usually recommended is the one you get with a MCE remote. A receiver is just that, it receives the ir signals from your remote and inputs them to your PC, sort of like a mouse or keyboard. Any IR remote will work, just depends on the what kind of remote you need/want.

2. Second thing, software that can listen for IR commands from the receiver and perform actions based on those commands. Most front end software systems (MCE, MediaPortal, Meedio etc) have plugins that will listen to IR commands and allow setting of navigation/play buttons within the front end app. Honestly if you are fairly new to HTPC I would go with MCE until comfortable. Now you mention the ability to control other computer aspects (resolution, displays etc). There are other pieces of software out there that specialize in IR commands and execution. The last one I worked with was Girder, it could do almost ANYTHING based of an IR signal: start an app, send a command to an application etc. Though I would start with looking at all the apps you are working with and see if they have IR or MCE plugins for easier configuration. Girder is powerful but last I looked it was fairly complicated to learn how to use.

Part II Components

Essentially control of these is solely based on the type of remote you get (at least the easiest way, you could use an IR receiver with an IR blaster aka sender). Learning remote is essential but these days almost ALL remotes have some sort of learning capability. If on a budget you can use a basic learning remote but you would have to press 1 button for each command because most remotes have very limited macro ability.

To do everything you want with 1 button (both PC and component), would require a larning remote with macros. These remotes are fairly expensive, ranging anywhere between $60-70 to $400. Harmony remotes by logitech are probably the most popular that you can also get at Best Buy.

A Macro remote would be able to control ANY ir device (within range) in virtually any combination. Turn TV on, Set Source to TV, Turn on Stereo, Set Stereo to TV etc...

Hope that is a good start... You have to combine every aspect to create a proper integrated solution. AKA Use macro remote to set the componts AND also connect to PC with proper software to do that side of things.

 

[Javabri]

Thanks for the replies. I don't currently have a bluray movie, but I will try to turn on encoding info next time I play a movie.

Can anyone help out with my second query? Thanks again!

Hmm, there is a solution on the way for this very thing.

MSI has a new motherboard out call the MSI Diva (aka MSI 7411). It comes with a built in 5.1 amp card that allows you to run your speakers directly to your HTPC. For this to work though you may need two HDMI inputs on your TV.

When you are watching TV, you source the picture and audio from your HDMI 1, Cable Input or TV Tuner. If you are watching content from HTPC, you source the input from HDMI 2 or Component Video.

Other options are dependent on how you have things set up...

Cable box ---> AVR ----> TV
HTPC ----> AVR ----> TV

This puts your AVR as the central swithcing device for audio and video. This would allow you to drive all your audio through the AVR and then it just a matter of setting up your AVR so that it knows where to pull source conent from and display on TV.

You could also do the remote programming option mentioned above

 

[existny]

Thank you to both.

I run Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra 8 for my blu-rays and DVD. I prefer to port sound through my LCD TV speakers because, although I own pretty good PC speakers (Logitech z-2300), they are positioned for awkward listening when I'm using my TV. Does the logitech harmony allow for complex macros that control my display settings/sound settings? Will it play nice with Cyberlink PowerDVD? Should I look into using different blu-ray software? If so, I'm guessing that's a pretty good solution, if I can get a model for under $200.

 

[dandirk]

Harmony should be able to perform more then enough steps in a macro to configure your TV and PC. They do have a $150 dollar model but you could probably get a better one on e-bay for under $200. You would have to do some research on the memory and macro limitations to be sure, though I think the last limitation I saw a year or so back for a expensive remote like these were 100 or so commands... trivial.

Macros are just command steps, if you can do it with your current remote you can do it with a macro able remote, just remember that it does take time to complete the macro, just like manually so don't expect 1 push instant magic. Though sometimes you can save time with what are called "Discrete" codes. Some devices have these codes that perform a certain function that normally would take 2 codes (button presses) to perform. EXAMPLE: Power button, each time you press the power it toggles off/on, there COULD be the option of using a discrete ON code and a discrete OFF code. Inputs are another example: Many times you have to press INPUT+1 or INPUT +2 but there could be a discrete code for each so you only have to send 1 code instead of 2... REMEMBER not all TVs have discrete codes for everything it really depends on model, check out http://www.remotecentral.com/ for reviews and codes.

My macro remote takes about ~4 seconds to: Turn TV on, change to proper input, turn on stereo, change to proper input on stereo, turn on DVD player and then display the custom "activity" screen for that setup (buttons on any of those devices that I may need)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=992983

The post above talks about a remote system for $20-25 bucks that controls PowerDVD, this might be the easy way to go for official support. Just be sure to check out focus problems mentioned in the post as well.

Again I am almost positive that if you setup MCE you should be able to control cyberlink with a generic IR receiver and macro remote. But for about the same price you could go with an officially supported cyberlink remote system (remember you can learn the codes from the official cyberlink remote to your macro remote)


As for sound, I have a stereo system with believe it or not is fairly easy. With TV speakers you will have to use either HDMI sound like mentioned but you could possibly get away with using an audio in, but beware I have heard that blu-ray could restrict resolution if you don't have a 100% digital path from PC to TV, though I don't know much about this I have not made the blu-ray jump yet.

 

[Javabri]

Agreed, Harmony remotes are pretty nice and should be able to handle the set ups if I uderstand how your original set up is configured.

 

[existny]

I would essentially need the remote to control (1) computer settings such as display settings and sound output, (2) computer software: Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra 8, and (3) my TV.

My setup is as follows

PC < DVI < MONITOR (with sound from logitech speakers)
PC < HDMI < LCD TV (with sound from LCD TV)

If I understood the above post correctly, I can buy a dedicated Cyberlink PowerDVD remote, and then also buy a macro remote, and train the macro remote to perform the functions of the PowerDVD remote? Also, it seems that the logitech harmony has no problem interfacing with my computer? Does it come with a USB IR receiver? Is this something I would have to buy separately (if so, I'm guessing it's cheap)?

 

[dandirk]

1. Yup macro/learning remotes are universal. Since they can "lean" the ir codes of virtually ANY ir device, the receiving device (TV, Stereo etc) does not know or care which specific device the codes can from. This way you can merge 2, 3,4 + remotes all into one because of the learning capability.

IR codes are just a string of letters and numbers, for every command/function there is a code assigned to it. The receiving device needs to know what to do with each code or it will just ignore the code and do nothing.

So yes you can get a cyberlink remote (Which comes with a usb receiver it looks like on their site) and then learn the codes of the remote to your macro/learning remote at the cyberlink receiver will NOT know the difference just that it is getting the codes it wants.

2. Changing PC settings with remote: This will be tricky. You will need some sort of IR software that can perform actions/commands based on ir codes received by the usb IR receiver. The cyberlink remote receiver probably has software so it can control the cyberlink application. It is possible that this software may also be able to change your display settings etc as well but I highly doubt it.

You will have to do 1 of 2 things:

1. Probably what I would do since it seems you are using your desktop PC to view movies instead of a dedicated HTPC.

Figure out a way to automate (without remote) the manual steps that you have to perform before starting cyberlink and watching a move. This could possibly be done via .bat and registry changes... Powerstrip is an application that can change display settings and create quick "profiles", this could be useful in creating this type of automated system. You would create a .bat file that runs powerstrip to the appropriate profile, then do what ever change to sound on the pc you need, then start cyberlink... You click the file and everything changes for you and starts cyberlink.

2. Use another IR software like Girder to automate the manual processes that you have to perform. Chances are you would have to come up with some of the same stuff as in Option #1 but be able to press a button on the remote to "start" it...



I have a dedicated HTPC so there may be similar ways to do this but I do know know of them.

 

[Javabri]

Is there a reason you just don't use the LCD TV as both monitor and TV? I understand that when using the TV for a monitor, you cannot watch the TV, but if you are the only user, does it matter?

What else is connected to the TV?

It looks like you are essentially, dual screening the PC content. You should be able to set each screen resolution independently (provided your GPU can handle it).

Dandirk is right though, teaching the remote to do PC functions may prove to be challenging. MCE is remote friendly, but the DT environment is not.

 

[existny]

Noobie question: what's MCE? The other items all seem like software (girder? Powerstrip?).

I use my computer for everything, including web surfing and work. I don't feel comfortable using my tv for those things.

Thanks again everyone! Looks like I need to explore some automation options before splurging on an expensive remote.

 

[Javabri]

MCE = Media Center Edition

This is probably overkill for an answer and you probably know most of this already, but just in case

Originally released in 2005 for Win XP, it was a 10' interface (remote control driven) application that ran on top of Win XP. You could easily access photos, music, etc. all with a remote control. Therefore, if you set up your PC as a Home Theater PC (HTPC) and were running MCE with a remote control, you could do all sorts of whiz bang stuff connected to a TV in the livingroom.

Vista's version of MCE has added more functionality and cool toys.

This along with cool linux versions of media s/w (Myth TV, Sage TV, etc.) are making HTPCs a much more viable solution for PCs in the living room.

When you add things like a TV Tuner card to the PC, you can watch, record, pause TV just like a DVR.

The HTPC can be your DVD/Blu Ray player
The HTPC can be a music jukebox
The HTPC can be a cool internet content access box
The HTPC can be your photo library for all your personal photos

It can do a lot of very cool stuff.

Do a google image search on MCE and you should find several screen shots to give you an idea of what it looks like.

If you are running Vista 64, depending on whether you have basic, premuim or ultimate, then you may already have it on your PC. MCE comes with Premium and Ultimate.

 

[sabregen]

Thanks for the replies. I don't currently have a bluray movie, but I will try to turn on encoding info next time I play a movie.

Can anyone help out with my second query? Thanks again!

just do what I do...use your TV as your monitor...it is an HTPC, after all