Recommended DVD software for a home theatre PC?

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

Mr_Sukebe

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Chaps,

Any thoughts on recommended DVD software?
I've just got a new PC which has twin DVI outputs, i.e. one each for my TFT and projector. More to the point, it's about quiet enough to not annoy me during films, unlike my old PC.

Last night I briefly tried Theatretek demo with FFDshow on my PC, but it was far from the most stable app I've ever seen. Having said that, looked stunning when it was working.

Any recommendations for software at a sensible price.
 
I use Zoomplayer. Tried using theatertek but had lots of problems with it. Plus I prefer the fact that Zoomplayer is much more tweakable and able to use other codecs than nvidia. Zoomplayer + Dscaler5 + ffdshow results in fantastic image quality.
 
Thanks for the replies so far.

Have to admit that I'm even more confused now.
Since then I've been reading about Windows MCE, which appears to include DVD playback.

So do I:
1. Use my existing copy of WinXP and add Zoom player?
2. Buy Win MCE, which is not much more expensive and seems to have some interesting additional functionality, which I may use at a later date?

One question relating to MCE. From what I've read, it doesn't appear to be capable of upsampling DVDs. Is that true?

Thanks again.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Thanks for the replies so far.

Have to admit that I'm even more confused now.
Since then I've been reading about Windows MCE, which appears to include DVD playback.

So do I:
1. Use my existing copy of WinXP and add Zoom player?
2. Buy Win MCE, which is not much more expensive and seems to have some interesting additional functionality, which I may use at a later date?

One question relating to MCE. From what I've read, it doesn't appear to be capable of upsampling DVDs. Is that true?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

you can run theatertek from inside MCE, I would also recommend the mymovies plugin for it, cracking bit of software.
 
Apparently you can use Windows Media Player Classic to play DVDs in conjunction with ffdshow... saves forking out for Theatertek! :eek:
 
I bought TheatreTek, best $69.99 I spent!

Superb for DVDs with FFDShow, and it can't be beaten for playing HD transport stream stuff..
 
mpc can indeed play dvd's with ffdshow. it can do damn near everything theatretek can, and for free. i'd never pay for theatretek, put it that way lol
 
james.miller said:
mpc can indeed play dvd's with ffdshow. it can do damn near everything theatretek can, and for free. i'd never pay for theatretek, put it that way lol
Click to expand...

buying the purevideo decoders direct instead of TT(TT comes with them) could be an option, especially if you have an NV gfx card

If you want high def you really do need purevideo (or dscaler etc if you can be bothered tweaking). As far as I know these are the only two ways of properly (ie non bob/weave techniques) de-interlacing 1080i.
 
mcmad said:
you can run theatertek from inside MCE, I would also recommend the mymovies plugin for it, cracking bit of software.
Click to expand...

mymovies version 2 has just been released
 
Yeah I run theatertek on mine, it's excellent.....far better interface and picture quality than other i tried (on my system anyway)....
 
I recentlyish built a HTPC for my Sanyo Z4 PJ, and tried many many DVD/Media programs..

For the best PQ, you really are looking at Zoomplayer/FFDShow for DVD's. You can use the NVidia Purevideo Decoders, I've tried them, but they do not give as good results as FFDSHOW with resize/NR/Sharpening filters applied.

I am now building a library of HiDef films, and Zoomplayer is just so configurable, which for the array of file formats, is a godsend, using the above mentioned DSCaler5 decoders from Zoom player gives superb HD playback..

However, setting up ZP/FFDSHOW/DSCALER etc is not easy, but it does give the best results..

I've tried TheatreTek, and this isn't bad, but it isn't flexible enough to allow all the decoders/muxers/etc/etc for playing absolutely everything with the best PQ...

for a front end, I use media-portal, a free MCE type interface, www.team-mediaportal.com , you can set this up to use an external DVD/Video program, I have set it up to use ZP, so I have a nice interface to browse my collection, and ZP for the awesome PQ..

If you look on AVSForums and the HiDef forums, most people are using Zoomplayer/Dscaler5/FFDSHOW, and for good reason....
 
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