Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Hi Kelley
I’m sure that all New Zealanders are extremely saddened by the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, our biggest South Island city. This is shaping as New Zealand’s worst natural disaster since 1931 in terms of the scale of damage and the loss of life. Thankfully, I do not live in or near Christchurch. However, as a small country, we all feel deeply for our Christchurch friends and fellow Kiwis.

My MUX issue pales into insignificance. However to answer your questions, I can confirm that the discs concerned are definitely U-Best VCD. They’re also listed as U-Best VCD on the kjpro.com database.

I copied the VCDs with Windows Explorer and the file type for each track is .DAT. No ripping program was used. I then imported the files into Hoster as ‘Hard Drive Files’ – video.

When loaded into the Hoster Playlist they appear as type HDVID if I use search; or VIDEO if I use the add Video Song button. Both options play the songs.

When selecting MUX, although the MUX ‘Stereo’ and ‘No Vocal’ buttons can be engaged and disengaged, they do not mute and un-mute the vocals on the U-Best tracks.

However, I also have one only locally produced New Zealand VCD imported into Hoster. MUX functions correctly on that disc. So the MUX issue only relates to the U-Best HDVID files.

I’ve experimented with the K-Lite Codec pack both installed and un-installed and it makes absolutely no difference. This indicates that when K-Lite is installed, ffdshow audio decoder is not functioning because its tray icon does not appear in the task bar.

I unsuccessfully tried to play a track direct from the VCD Disc via Hoster’s play customer ‘Disc’ function. The track appeared to ‘import’ ok but playback sound comprised screech sounds as opposed to music.

Today, I also used Microsoft Update to install the newly released Microsoft Win7 Service Pack 1. Unfortunately MUX still won’t function correctly.
I even uninstalled my version of Hoster (4.22) and demo’d the latest Hoster Demo to see if could get MUX to work properly on a couple of U-Best VCD tracks imported into HosterDemo. No joy.

It looks like there’s a rogue problem on my Win7 laptop. Thanks Kelley and Roy for attempting to help me resolve this issue.

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

BEECEE,

I do not believe the issues you are having is with your computer but rather the problem lies within the U-Best VCDs. See the posts associated with this link http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?...ighlight=UBest

I have 3 U-Best DVD's and cannot get them to play proproperly by copying in Windows Explorer, infact I cannot see the individual chapters in explorer and must use IMTOO DVD Ripper to see the chapters and rip them. When I rip and save as a .VOB, the file plays in Hoster for about 5-6 seconds, stops and delets itself from the play list. ???? When I rip and save as MP4, the file plays with no vocals and the Mux button has no effect which is fine with me. Most singers know the song already and don't need the guide vocals. (I suspect U-Best uses some sort of special software to prevent us from importing. Possiably for anti-piracy.)

If you have IMTOO DVD Ripper, you might try ripping a file or 2 and saving as MP4 and see if that has an effect. You can also use Windows Live Movie Maker to convert a file or 2 to MP4. See if changing the file type by one of the two afore mentioned methods has an effect.

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

BEECEE,

Try listening carefully to the U_Best VCD .DAT files while playing.

Use a Mix console (or unplug the left/right speaker cables) and mute the left channel. If you hear the vocals on the right, then mute the Right channel. If you hear vocals on the left, this proves the vocals (and probably music) are recorded STEREO... NOT Karaoke Multiplexed.
:e :r

Our Mux works only when the vocals are on ONE channel only, along with the MONAURAL mixed music on the same channel, and the MONAURAL music only on the other channel. We "bridge" the music only channel to both L/R speakers when you select "No Vocals", and you have set the file property for Mux to "Vocal on Left" or "Vocal on Right", depending on the file.

Let us know what you find. :w

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Chad, I brought this up in our Engineering meeting this week. Here are the answers I was given, based on our experience and knowledge of PC computer technology.

1. The Graphics card memory management is not set up to perform on the extended desktop. If you start a video in Hoster's Show Display, then click and drag it to the second monitor, the video stops playing if the memory management (Graphics card driver/hardware) cannot transfer to the second monitor.

2. If you move the Show Display to the second monitor, THEN play the video, if the Graphics card can play on the second monitor it will. If not, get another Graphics card.

3. What Graphics card are you (Chad) running and what software driver version is installed?


We are doing some deep diagnostics in our code, and are finding that recent Windows upgrades are more sensitive to:

1. How many folders deep a file is stored

2. How long the path name is to the file

3. How many files are in the same folder

We are working on extending our code support, but... it also is limited by how much memory you have in your computer. An XP system with 1GB may not cut it any more. Don't know for sure, but we're testing this also to make an educated SWAG.

The recommendations we can make right now are to; 1) keep your files in SHORT named folders not more than 4 levels down, and 2) have at least 2GB RAM in your computer, NOT shared with video (i.e. Graphics card must have its own video memory).

More to come...

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Admin,

Please see Posts 30 and 37.

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

OK, I did. Are you addressing my post to Chad above? I'm confused by your answer. Please state it clearly, not implying something I must "read between the lines". :)

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

After using Kelly fixes, it seems to have fix the problem! I can't tell u how happy I am! Kelly thank u so much, I have been searching for an answer to this forever. I'm on cloud nine

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Chad,

You're Welcome! I'm glad that the fix worked for you!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Admin,

My bad for not going into more detail. Since Chad is up and running now with the fix he and I will need to keep in mind what you and the engineers have recommended in the event we are not able to play .VOB files. I might be prudent to add the below to the FAQ's with regards to the issue.

Quote: The recommendations we can make right now are to; 1) keep your files in SHORT named folders not more than 4 levels down, and 2) have at least 2GB RAM in your computer, NOT shared with video (i.e. Graphics card must have its own video memory).


Thanks!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Admin,

I apologise for the delay in responding. Since my last post on this U-Best VCD issue, I resorted to completing a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate on my laptop (twice) including all Microsoft updates and ensuring that all recommended Windows 7 settings for Hoster have been implemented. I’ve also experimented with the numerous settings combinations of various codec packs, making sure to never have more than one codec pack installed at the same time because of possible conflicts.

In short, the Hoster MUX functionality will not work for the U-Best VCDs on my particular Asus N50VC notebook in the Windows Ultimate environment. As mentioned in post no. 33 of this thread, those identical U-Best VCD tracks installed on my desktop running XP Pro work flawlessly with the Hoster MUX functionality. These VCDs are definitely multiplexed and most of my VCDs have the vocals on the right channel.

The only key point of difference that I notice when playing any VCD tracks in Hoster is that ffdshow audio decoder launches in XP Pro, but it doesn’t launch at all in Windows 7 Ultimate. I’ll try and upload a screen-print of the XP Pro ffdshow audio decoder configuration window so that you can see evidence of how these files successfully play in Hoster via XP Pro via a decoder called ‘libmad’.

Only 10 of my 500 karaoke discs are VCD, the rest are CDG. To be honest I hardly play any of the VCD tracks, but I was hoping to get all of my Karaoke stuff digitised through Hoster. So for me it’s more of a frustration about not being able to figure out the problem, as opposed to VCDs being a major component of my collection.

I think it’s a codecs issue somehow linked to Windows Media Player. Probably some simple setting but I can’t resolve it. If there is a solution, that would be great. If not, so be it, life goes on :)

Thanks for your time and advice. Hoster is the best!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

BEECEE,

I have looked at each Decoder (codec) for all the Formats listed in ffdshow audio decoder configuration in the K-lite codec pack and noticed the following:

libmad Decoder is only an option for the MP3 and MP1,MP2 formats. The default decoder for these 2 Formats in Win 7 appears to be libavcodec.

Your attachment from ffdshow audio decoder configuration for Win XP shows : Input description: 44100Hz, stero 224 kbps mp2 (libmad).

Recommend opening the ffdshow audio decoder configuration and change the MP2 Format Decoder to libmad (double click on libavcodec) and attempt to play your U-Best VCDs and see what happens.

Beyond that I am out of ideas as I do not have any U-Best VCDs to attempt to duplicate the problem.

Hope this works!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Hi Ken,

Yes, I've already tried changing MP1, MP2 format to libmad. Still no luck. Thanks for your perseverance anyway. I've appreciated your advice.

Brian

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Brian,

I'm not going to give up on this, this is a problem that begs to be solved. It just may take a day or week :)

Can you scan or take a clear picture of one of the VCDs and upload so that I may try to locate a duplicate copy and try to whip this?

Thanks!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Ken,

I admire and appreciate your desire and patience to try and solve this Windows 7 mystery.

As requested, I've uploaded a scanned copy of one VCD along with copies of the front and back cover of the CD jewel case. The VCD concerned is listed on the kjpro.com web-site per the following link.

http://www.kjpro.com/browse/tracks.php?DiscNo=VUB54

Thanks again mate!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

BEECEE,

I finally located and ordered a disk that appears to be a duplicate of yours (the pictures you sent), from OZ Karaoke. They are located in your part of the world so I expect it will take a week or two to get to me. Will keep you posted!

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Ken,

I didn't want you to go to the added expense of purchasing the identical VCD to try and replicate the problem. Mate, this is humbling. Can you PM your shipping address and I'll happily post it to you and you're most welcome to keep it.

FYI - I've just looked back on some of my paperwork and I see that I purchased the U-Best VCDs, my original JVC Karaoke player plus a bunch of other CDGs back in 1999 from Music House Karaoke Center, Torrance, California - on-line purchase of course. It's amazing to reflect on how the prices have dropped significantly between then and now - thank goodness. And of course technology has signifcantly improved too :)

Regards,

Brian

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Brian,

There are a few songs on the disk that I don't have so oredeing is not a problem. Especially when the prices are much lower than they used to be! Like I said in the previous post, I speculate it should be here in a week or 2 since it is coming from Australia (did I spell that right?).

Ken :)

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Brian,

Turns out it will cost more for OZ Karaoke to ship the disk from Australia than what I paid for it.:e

Darn oil prices!:m

I shall keep looking!:)

Ken

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Ken - I've sent you a PM.

Brian

Re: Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop
 

Brian,

Have you sent the disk yet?