mkv playback using mce

[Jag]

Dear fellow forum users, i'm probably not the only one having this issue: how to correctly playback mkv's using media center in the RC1 version. It seems to be getting harder every new build.

In build 7100, mce will playback mkv files and audio works fine, but i have three issues:
- it will use it's own h264 codec. After skipping it will start to stutter, which is only solved by restarting it.
- vs filter won't install, saying the dll was loaded but the call to the dllserver failed. In 7068 it worked, and the haali splitter would load vsfilter. But the subs wouldn't show (they did in 7000)
- it will load up may instances of haali after playing a mkv in mce

Of course i could use Media player classic instead of mce, but i really like mce for playing video files (remote control!). Is there anybody who has got it to work properly?

 

[johngalt]

At the top of the forums, there is a section for sticky posts - there you'll find a very nice thread dedicated to not only playing .MKV in MCE but also how to get embedded subtitles files as well as .SRT subtitles files working.

http://www.sevenforums.com/media-ce...ayer-center-problems-mkv-files-srt-files.html

 

[YupYup]

I still prefer MPC and you can use your remote with it. Configuring MCE Remote for Windows Media Player Classic - AVForums.com

 

[johngalt]

Yupyup - can MPCE also grab feed from your TV tuner card? I have the latest DL'd from betanews but have not actually played around with it yet....

And I am performing a clean install of the RC (Finally!) in a couple of hours....

 

[YupYup]

No idea never tried it, the wiki says "MPC supports playback and recording of television if a supported TV
tuner is installed." whatever that means.

 

[johngalt]

supported...hmmm

I think I am gonna be doing some serious playing this weekend

 

[Jag]

Thank you all for your answers! I'll continue to use MPC from time to time, but using the remote for selecting and playing videos and having a resume option are good features.

I've installed the latest version of CoreAVC (1.9.5) with a newer version of Haali and also the latest vsfilter. And now subs are loaded again. Still a lot of instances of Haali in the systray though, but that's ok.

I also used MCDU to replace the microsoft h264 codec. It worked and it started using CoreAVC, only recorded tv wouldnt play. I switched to ffdshow (rev 2936) using different settings for mpeg2 decoding, but still no cigar. I reverted back to the microsoft codecs, using MCDU: but still a video decoder error when trying to play recorded tv. Also: at any setting it will now use ffdshow to decode h264 mkv's, except when i disable the codec in the ffdshow configuration: than it will use coreavc. It seems i've disabled the microsoft codecs for good

Is there someone who succeeded in getting MCE to use ffdshow for both live tv/recorded tv and mkv/h264 playback?

 

[Jag]

Ok, i used another Win7 install to take another try on mkv playback in mce and this time it works. What i've done:

1. Install visual C++ 2008
2. Install latest version of Haali
3. Install ffdshow rev 2936
4. Install vsfilter 2.39
5. Install Media control 6.0
6. Make sure ffdshow settings are correct for media control
7. Apply registry hack for replacing default codec with ffdshow for DivX/h264
8. Install black theme
9. Install Media Browser

Now ffdshow is loaded for playback of divx and h264 encoded movies and the microsoft codec is used for live and recorded tv (which still work ). Haali media splitter is used and subs are loaded by vsfilter. And i can use the remote for changing audio track or subtitle language, thanks to HKeleher for posting about Media control! And i really like the Media browser plugin!









The only problem remaining is Haali which leaves icons in the sys tray: