Yet another MKV thread - I've read them all...

[baarod]

Follow up:

WMP12 plays video, no audio at all though (from MKV files)

As Shark said . I'd expect him to know what he's talking about though.

Does it stutter? Or was that audio doing that and not video stuttering? What's the format of the audio stream? If you don't know how to tell, download this and open your video with it. http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/561353/avidemux_2.4.4_win32.exe Then press the Info toolbar button (blue ball with an "i" in it) and take a screen shot for me.

 

[Ishmael]

As Shark said . I'd expect him to know what he's talking about though.

Does it stutter? Or was that audio doing that and not video stuttering? What's the format of the audio stream? If you don't know how to tell, download this and open your video with it. http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/561353/avidemux_2.4.4_win32.exe Then press the Info toolbar button (blue ball with an "i" in it) and take a screen shot for me.

Audio Stream for the two particular MKV's I was trying is AC3. (h.264 720p TV episodes, I can attach samples if it would help/if it's permitted)

Video in WMP12 does not stutter (as it did not with Shark's codecs either). As there is NO audio with this solution, I can't tell, however with Shark's installed, the suttering was both audio and video. It seemed to be as if data was bottle-necking. For example, video would play for 2-3 mins just fine, then it would jerk and display frames of video with no audio (think flipping to random pages in a magazine), then it would play fine again for another 2-3 minutes, then repeat.

The more I think about it, the more I think it's a network issue (NIC on W7 machine maybe?)

Suggestions?

p.s.: Heading to bed for the evening, I'll pick this up again tomorrow. Thanks again all for your help!

 

[baarod]

Audio Stream for the two particular MKV's I was trying is AC3. (h.264 720p TV episodes, I can attach samples if it would help/if it's permitted)

Video in WMP12 does not stutter (as it did not with Shark's codecs either). As there is NO audio with this solution, I can't tell, however with Shark's installed, the suttering was both audio and video. It seemed to be as if data was bottle-necking. For example, video would play for 2-3 mins just fine, then it would jerk and display frames of video with no audio (think flipping to random pages in a magazine), then it would play fine again for another 2-3 minutes, then repeat.

The more I think about it, the more I think it's a network issue (NIC on W7 machine maybe?)

Suggestions?

p.s.: Heading to bed for the evening, I'll pick this up again tomorrow. Thanks again all for your help!

We're going to have to find out why you can't hear AC3 tomorrow then. As an aside, you can always use avidemux to convert just the audio to something like AAC.

 

[hevnbnd]

He has NO audio & the mkv does not play in WMC7 either... I got the same problem.... I just have the Tech Preview installed and am using optical...

 

[baarod]

I've been told that there is no 32-bit version of WMC in 7100 64-bit. Can someone verify? If that is the case then Shark was right (kinda figured he'd one-up me on this anyway!) and the only thing going for 64-bit WMC is his stuff. He still hasn't told me what MFT source he's using in place of the Haali splitter but I'm trusting him that it connects to Media Foundation natively. BTW, I tested a couple MKVs that I have here and the latest version of the DivX MKV MFT does NOT seem to be playing 5.1 AC3 even if it's the primary stream. I filed a bug report with them and am waiting to hear back...

Looks like I'll retract my recommendation for now in light of Shark's testimony and ask that you go with Sharks pack -- maybe he's got something more up his sleeve for the stuttering OR maybe it's a network issue like you said.

 

[Shark007]

maybe he's got something more up his sleeve for the stuttering OR maybe it's a network issue like you said.

ya, I have another angle to play out on this one.

Open the x64 Settings Application using a rightclick, Run as administrator
go to the MKV TAB, and select Gabest's splitter instead of Haali's

 

[Ishmael]

ya, I have another angle to play out on this one.

Open the x64 Settings Application using a rightclick, Run as administrator
go to the MKV TAB, and select Gabest's splitter instead of Haali's

Status update:

Using the above settings, everything appears to be working fine.

I am going to stick with Shark's solution unless something presents itself as a better alternative.

Thanks all for your help, Shark and Baarod. I consider this case closed. Please feel free to espouse upon the topic as you see fit. If you have any additional questions for me, or would like me to test other things, post here or drop me a PM.

Now off to figure out why WMP12 is darker then MCE during playback....

Ish

 

[hevnbnd]

Ishmael, So are your mkvs showing up in WMC7? If so where? Do you have the reg patch installed? I have just Shark's Codec pack and the Tech Preview and x64 RC7 and I can right click any mkv and open with WMC or associate the file with WMC7 and it opens but if I just open WMC I can not seem to find the files... Any help would be great. Thanks

 

[Shark007]

Although I maintain my own support forums at Shark's Forum I feel that going out on a limb to assist a new user use my codec releases is somewhat invigorating especially since this thread begins with the usual statements I see posted from the uninformed,

Allow me to translate that translation for you..:

codec pack = bad idea

Reformat and try again.

If you had bothered to read Shark007.net - x64 Components addon you would have seen as almost the 1st line posted, in bold text, The x64 Components addon requires the 32bit release to be installed as a prerequisite. That directive is in bold text for a reason . . .

hevnbnd, remove the tech preview because it isnt doing a damn thing for you. Install my 32bit release for the OS you use (please do your best to cleanup your current 32bit mess 1st), and sit back and watch some video's in x64 Media Center.

Also remember, on x64 systems, my releases will install '2' Settings Applications. 32bit and 64bit codecs each have thier own settings. (mostly) The user needs to know the target OS of the player which they wish to adjust and select the proper Settings interface for that player.

example, a default x64 installtion uses the 32bit WMP as default and MediaCenter is x64 only. So to make an adjustment to WMP you would use the 32bit Settings Application and for Media Center you would make the adjustments in the x64 Settings Application.

 

[Ishmael]

Although I maintain my own support forums at Shark's Forum I feel that going out on a limb to assist a new user use my codec releases is somewhat invigorating especially since this thread begins with the usual statements I see posted from the uninformed,


(nested quote not copied, basically says codec packs are a bad idea)


If you had bothered to read Shark007.net - x64 Components addon you would have seen as almost the 1st line posted, in bold text, The x64 Components addon requires the 32bit release to be installed as a prerequisite. That directive is in bold text for a reason . . .

hevnbnd, remove the tech preview because it isnt doing a damn thing for you. Install my 32bit release for the OS you use (please do your best to cleanup your current 32bit mess 1st), and sit back and watch some video's in x64 Media Center.

Also remember, on x64 systems, my releases will install '2' Settings Applications. 32bit and 64bit codecs each have thier own settings. (mostly) The user needs to know the target OS of the player which they wish to adjust and select the proper Settings interface for that player.

example, a default x64 installtion uses the 32bit WMP as default and MediaCenter is x64 only. So to make an adjustment to WMP you would use the 32bit Settings Application and for Media Center you would make the adjustments in the x64 Settings Application.

Shark,

Thanks again for your help with my issue! I really appreciate your hard work that goes into maintaining your CODEC packs.

The reason I did not install the x64 pack after my 2nd format/reinstall of W7 is because I had issues the first time I tried them. I was (and am) aware that they were necessary, but as I said in my initial post:

Need help.

The Problem: FRESH CLEAN install of 7 RC 7100 x64 on a formatted machine.

The ONLY things installed (aside from drivers) is Shark's Windows 7 codec pack v1.1.3 AND NOTHING ELSE (including NOT installed the x64 Vista pack).

I have installed the REG patch (attached for your review). I get the "Windows Media Center cannot find the specified file" error message, with NO PLAYBACK.


What have I done in the past?:

Above, but I've also installed Sharks' x64 vista pack as well. IF I disable AC3 passthru, it will play in MCE, but once I ENABLE AC3 passthru (for Dolby Digital), I get the same error.

...

I had been assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that it was BECAUSE of the x64 pack that I was not getting playback. That is why when I reformatted and began again, I decided to wait until after posting this thread to install the pack. The most recent pack works fine. Again, thanks for your help.

Ishmael, So are your mkvs showing up in WMC7? If so where? Do you have the reg patch installed? I have just Shark's Codec pack and the Tech Preview and x64 RC7 and I can right click any mkv and open with WMC or associate the file with WMC7 and it opens but if I just open WMC I can not seem to find the files... Any help would be great. Thanks

Hevnbnd,

Yes, the MKV's show up in WMC7. They are in the 'videos' library. I pointed the directory to a networked drive, and they appear. I DO have the reg patch installed (again, see my initial post), however, I don't know if it's necessary.

Shark, is the reg patch I posted in my initial post necessary or not?

As Shark said, remove the Tech Preview [my note, uninstall ANY/ALL other CODEC packs] and simply install BOTH of his codec packs found here (x32) and here (x64, make sure you get W7 NOT Vista).

So to summarize,

1) If you are running an x64 machine, install both of Shark's codec packs. Make sure they are from Shark's site ( Shark007's FREE Codec solutions. ).

HIS CODEC PACKS ARE NOT A BAD THING!!!

2) Install the reg. patch I posted at the beginning of the thread (if necessary, pending Shark's input).

3) Go into the settings for BOTH the x32 and x64 and make the appropriate changes for audio (DD/DTS passthru, MKV splitter, etc.). MAKE SURE YOU RUN THEM AS ADMINISTRATOR WHERE APPROPRIATE!

4) Enjoy your MKV's

Ish

 

[Shark007]

DO NOT install the reg patch. (my releases have it covered)

It installs registry keys and values that are not needed and the user has no way of removing them.

 

[smuller]

Hi Shark,

I decided to install windows 7 RTM (7127) 32 bit (instead of 64bit) and installed the Shark codecs 32 bit.

MCE is finally playing the MKV movies but there are still a few problems.

1-AVC files 90% of my movies is playing fine but the quality is just not as good as with Media Player Classic? I also installed just MPC and also using the same ffdshow but the quality is better. Feels like playing via MCE there are more blocking on the background and not as clear??

2-The other 10% are remuxes (VC1) MKV files. Those are not playing at all via MCE!!! MPC the remuxes are playing fine??

3-On the right site there is a white line showing during playback?

I am using exactly the same settings with MCE and MPC?? Or am I missing something?

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Proteus]

This of course begs the questions...when will we see an x64 version of DivX? I don't run 32-bit on anything under 2 years old now...

There are a number of very good reasons to go 64-bit. First off, its mandatory to see 4GB of RAM in a system, due to the way memory is mapped on modern systems. 4GB of RAM with a 32-bit OS? You'd be lucky to see 3-3.5GB of it.

Not to mention x64 is simply better performing, and more stable. RAM is cheap.

As an aside, I've been using the Sharky 007 packs, and they work great. I only use very few options from them though..not sure why they try to cram EVERYTHING through FFDShow if you use defaults.I'd prefer to use native codecs wherever possible, and only downgrade to FFDShow if strictly necessary.

 

[smuller]

ok, quality issue has been solved with the MCDU utility. MCE wasn't using ffdshow but another standard from Windows 7. Guess a lot of people don't know this and FFDSHOW will give you the best picture quality there is.....

The only issues left are the VC-1 encodes (remuxes untouched video)? Just doesn't play with MCE... MPC just fine. And the white line on the right side.

 

[12eason]

*adds thread to growing list of problems caused by shark007s naff codec pack*

 

[smuller]

*adds thread to growing list of problems caused by shark007s naff codec pack*

What do you mean?

 

[smuller]

Update: Clean install again (windows 7 64bit v.7127). Shark codecs made my sound config dissapear so I couldn't use this anymore. I am now trying this solution MKVs for Minimalists on Windows 7 on Hack7mc.com Installed FFDSHOW 32 and 64 bit. Everything is working including VC-1 Encodes. Only problem is that VC-1 codec is not using FFDSHOW???? So if anyone can show me how to fix this?

 

[Deemo]

Do not use codec packs. Ever. They are a waste of your time.
Do not install registry patches.

I recommend installing the 64-bit version of Haali Media Splitter. That is the only thing I have installed on my computer and I can run everything fine in both WMP and WMC.

\.

Well if you are using this and able to play mkv's larger than 5GB smoothly then I am very glad for you.

Shark007 codec pack is badass and my large files now play smoothly and look absolutely beautiful.

Highly recommended!!

 

[Ishmael]

Just a follow up...

Set up my 2nd machine with Win7 x64 final build, installing ONLY Shark's x32 and x64 codecs.

EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY!

+1 on the highly recommended.

BTW, check out DemonSeed's thread on MediaBrowser, which is the most badass plugin you'll ever find for MCE.

'nuff said.

 

[Tweek]

Now, status update:

Shark's solution works, but I'm getting some stuttering problems during playback (MCE only, WMP12 works fine).

Shark - Any suggestions?

I will wipe the machine probably tomorrow or Friday night and try baarod's suggestion as well.

Any more feedback guys?

Thanks,

Ish

MCE and WPM12 are what I'm seeing as an issue, Why not run VLC media for video and Foobar2000 for audio?

Always works for me,,...