[vdr] Re: Playing DVD ?

[Andreas Vierengel <vdr@vierengel.de>]

Am Di, 2003-08-26 um 11.18 schrieb Jörg Knitter:
> > Werner Fink wrote:
> >
> > On Tue, Aug 26, 2003 at 09:50:23AM +0200, Jörg Knitter wrote:
> > > cause the plugin/VDR to crash
> > > - 24 Bit/96 kHz PCM is not being played (e.g. Queen - Greatest video
> > hits)
> > 
> > Explain me how the hardware of the DVB card can put out 24Bit@96kHz PCM
> > on its S/P-DIF.  The DVB card supports 16Bit@48kHz or less.  The analog
> > part is very pure, therefore I use S/P-DIF only (yes this makes a BIG
> > difference on my A/V-Amplifier which also supports 24Bit@96kHz) ... but
> > for 24Bit@96kHz you need the appropiate hardware (e.g. a sound card which
> > supports this and have a slave mode S/P-DIF connector for synchronize it
> > with the DVB card).
> 
> What about downsamplling? That´s what my DVD player also does. Additionally,
> there is also no sound on the analog out of the DVBs, so this disc can not
> be played with sound.
> 
> > Then you've to modify the DVD plugin to put the 16Bit@48kHz PCM to
> > the DVB card and the 24Bit@96kHz to the sound card ... you may use the
> > bitstreamout plugin and remove the 96kHz check at the PCM check add the
> > appropiate initializations at the S/P-DIF part I've dropped and then
> > you can hope the ALSA supports 24Bit@96kHz on your 250Euro sound card ;^)
> 
> The SBAudigy is currently at around 100 Euro. But I don´t know about the
> linux driver quality...
> 
> > Nevertheless, IMHO this combination can not replace a good DVD player
> > without heavily reworking the DVD plugins and parts of the ALSA
> > libs and kernel interface for some sound cards (if you get the specs
> > >from the hardware vendors).  And AFAIK the DVD plugin is currently not
> > maintained.
> 
> What I don´t like is the fact that you now don´t only need to buy a new PC
> every 2-3 years, but also new hifi equipment. That´s also the reason why I see
> the extensible PC in the living room as a multimedia center. All people talk
> about this new digital receivers with HD recorders, but I don´t like them as
> you 1. don´t know if you can rip the stream off the HD, 2. don´t have
> features like MHP as this is in development 3. Premiere does not work, etc.. And
> all those disadvantages are caused by hard- and software limitations. That´s
> why I like VDR as it is an open system. The other guys argument that they never
> archive their videos and that they don´t need MHP...
> Second example: DivX playback. There is still no DVD player out that plays
> all DivX formats without errors. And that´s again why I like the PC solution
> and VDR.
> The only not-really-working thing on VDR is the DVD playback - and that´s
> really a pity as some hardware players still have limitations with certain DVD
> media and formats like miniDVD.
> 
> But to be really honest: If DVD, DivX etc. playback over DVBs was possible
> on windows (e.g. a working DirectShow output filter), I probably would switch,
> as the technical infrastructure is available and working. I could use
> libraries from WinDVD or PowerDVD and get near-error-free DVD Playback, I could
> play any video format on the DVBs I like (compared to MPlayer). The only
> difference would be the user interface, but with Girder you could build a similar
> environment like on VDR. But as this is not possible and VDR works well, I will
> have to live with the DVD plugin disadvantages - or buy a stand-alone just
> for DVD playback as nearly everything else works with VDR.
> Now you can start flaming ;-)
> 
> Jörg

I will never put 1 cent in windows (*flame*)
so I will buy standalone players, which are really inexpensive, so I can
afford a new one every 2 years or so. It need not to be an expensive one
since I for myself can not hear 100% of all "bits" flooding through the
cable ;) My receiver does only virtual-dolby-surround. Although
sometimes I have to switch to plain stereo, because my wife doesn't like
loud background-sounds. So "Verbotene Liebe" would not be enjoyable for
her ;)
All I wanted to say is: I can wait until linux gets ultra-high-end-hifi
ready :)

--Andi



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