Vob & Mpg not playing on ext. desktop

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by kelleykd01

MTU Admin:

Your Welcome!

New discovery, some of my U-Best .VOB files still will not function properly, even with the fix. They will start, Hoster will count down for about 6 seconds then it is as if the song finished and it auto deletes from the playlist. I'm scratching my head on that one as all the Pioneer DVD Library files (also .VOB) play flawlessly. (I have even tried to rerip the files using IMTOO DVD Ripper.) Until I figure that one out, I have converted the files to .WMV. However the multiplexed tracks did not convert properly (When the Mux button is pressed the music track is no longer audiable and the only thing that is audible is the melody being represented by a midi instrument.).

BEECEE's problem was with the Mux button not functioning properly.

BEECEE keeps referenceing U-Best, VCD files.

I am not aware of any U-Best VCD type files other than .VOB.

I need a little more info on the U-Best VCD type files.

Hope BEECEE excaped the earth quake in New Zeland!

BEECEE:

Are the U-Best Disks, DVD or VCD?

What are the File Type Properties of the files while they are on your DVD/VCD?

What are the File Type Properties of the files now that they are on your hard drive?

How did you move the video files from the U-Best disks to your hard drive?
Did you just copy the files using Windows Explorer?
Or Did you rip the files using a DVD Ripper program?
If so, then what was the program?

Have you attempted to load a song directly from the disk?
If so, did the Mux Button work?

Please start one of the Videos in hoster as you normally would (from your hard drive) then explain exactally what happens when the Mux button is activated.

After doing the above try loading one of the videos directly from the DVD/VCD, start it and attempt to use the Mux botton and explain exactally what happened.

(*NOTE* Sometimes it takes my computer up to 5-6 seconds for the vocals to stop or to start on multiplexed disks. I do have a few files, about 75, that if the Mux button is pressed.... the music track is no longer audiable and the only thing that is audible is the melody being represented by a midi instrument. These are the tracks that I have converted from .VOB to .WMV)

I just found a U Best VCD in my collection. When I open it in Windows Explorer There are 7 folders, 1 is named MPEGAV when this is opened there are all the files with a .Dat extension, I have tried just a couple of these files copied to the hard drive and loaded them into Hoster playlist and they played fine including the Mux control. I then tried playing them directly of the VCD they still played fine.

Regarding the DVDs, I have some DVDs that I also ripped with IMTOO DVD ripper. The problem with some DVDs they were not originally designed to play in Karaoke players, they do not always record the Lyric on one track. If you were to play them in a DVD player you get a menu at the start giving you an option to play the full song or just as Karaoke. Now they don't always record the lyrics on a single track as with CD+G, but put two versions on the disk both recorded in stereo one with lyrics one without. Hence on mine I just ripped the ones without lyrics so the mux button has no effect.
I don't know if this is the case with the UBest DVDs
Now on the ones I Ripped ( Not UBEST) when you open IMTOO DVD Ripper there is an Audio window to the top left with a drop down arrow. If you click the drop down arrow it may show more than one choice of audio to choose. On mine it gave two choices and if I RIP with the first one it is the full stereo and the other choice is without lyrics.

After double checking my VCD it is not "UBest" but "Best of the Best" so could be different to what you were asking.

[KenKelley]

Roy,

Thanks for the input!

I too have no problems with the Mux button while playing Pioneer DVD (.VOB) files as well as VCD (.DAT) files copied straight from the DVD/CD through Windows Explorer. If I rip the same files using IMTOO Ripper then the Mux button becomes useless as the ripper does not rip all the audio tracks.

The U-Best DVD files I have do not want to copy over the same as the Pioneer and I want to find out what is a little different. They do rip and convert to MP4 and play ok except one of the tracks is missing rendering the Mux button useless (I do get the music and video tracks but no guide vocals) which doesn't bother me.

I suspect the problem BEECEE is having is due to Ripping VCD (.DAT) files with a Ripper Program rather than copying them with Windows Explorer. Doing so will more than likely drop one of the audio tracks thus rendering the Mux button useless.

Hopefully BEECEE wasn't affected by the earth quake but I can see on the news that a protion of New Zeland is a mess.

[BEECEE]

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.

[KenKelley]

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.

[admin]

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.


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.

[BEECEE]

Originally Posted by admin

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.


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.

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!

[KenKelley]

Originally Posted by BEECEE

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!

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!

[KenKelley]

Originally Posted by BEECEE

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!

BEECEE,

I received the disk last night and did a quick test.

The Mux Button has no effect but for some reason, I don't hear the vocals!

Just the music and a midi player in the background for the melody.

(Admin, the above results are the same regardless of which version I use)

This being 2 extremes we will need to take this a little at a time and try to match Codec settings.

I shall send a couple of .jpeg's tonight for FFDSHOW (video and audio).

When you installed Win 7 on your computer did you update the Bios?

Also, what version of Hoster are you using?

What region is your CD Rom drive set for?

Thanks!

[BEECEE]

Hey Ken - I've copied the text below from post no. 41 of this thread. Mate, we appear to be experiencing the same issue with these U-best VCDs in the Windows 7 environment.

Originally Posted by BEECEE

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.

FYI - part of my previous troubleshooting also included downloading the latest trial version of Hoster 4.32 (plus latest K-Lite codecs) on my son's late model Toshiba Qosmio laptop with Windows 7 Home 64 bit installed. Same issue/symptom with U-best (yes - all Microsoft updates done, all recommended Win 7 Hoster changes done).

In my circumstance, XP Pro is the only OS that plays these imported U-Best VCD tracks properly, with and without vocals.

I won't be upgrading to Hoster 4.32 but I am definitely going to purchase Hoster 5 once it is launched. Can't wait

Cheers.

[KenKelley]

Brian,

I have figured out how to get the U-Best files to play properly in Hoster with Windows7 however it requires a conversion process.

I utilized GSpot to determine what Codec(s) that the U-Best video files required to be played. According to GSpot both Video and Audio require the MPEG 1 Codec.

Hoster appears to be flexible with the Video Codec but utilizes the AC3 Codec for Audio. The AC3 Codec is what the Mux Button reacts to.

With that being said, the U-Best disks would require a conversion to a desired (what I used = .avi) video codec and AC3 Audio Codec.

I must say the videos play wonderfully (the video looks almost as good as being played straight off the disk) and Hoster does what is expected (the Mux Button works without flaw) after the files are converted to .avi (video codec) with AC3 (audio codec).

I am not sure why these files play in Win XP without the conversion??? I ran into the same problem with my DVD Video files when I upgraded to a Win 7 laptop.

I will send my results to Admin to see what can be done, if anything, without going through a conversion.

I can say that Microsoft has done a lot with Win 7 in a step toward "Seamlessly" eliminating Direct X (checkout the forums) and it appears that some of their product (which interacts with Hoster) is not acting the same in Win 7 as it did in Win XP (or even Win Vista for that matter).

One more thing, the conversion took less that 5 minutes (with a second party software) for the disk you sent me after it was copied to my hard drive.

MTU continues to produce a great product and Hoster 5.0 is excellent!

If you would like for me to send the procedures to convert the U-Best video files let me know. I have Microsoft "Word" and can send in that format or in a "Word Pad" file or post it here. Let me know which is preferrable.

I don't give up! It just takes me a little while to dig, learn, and then discover an answer.

Thanks!

Ken

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by KenKelley

I am not sure why these files play in Win XP without the conversion??? I ran into the same problem with my DVD Video files when I upgraded to a Win 7 laptop.

Probably something to do with Microsoft locking their codecs in Windows 7 media player so they are not accessible outside of it.
You can read something here about it http://windows7news.com/2009/03/27/m...-in-windows-7/

[KenKelley]

Originally Posted by Roy Dennis

Probably something to do with Microsoft locking their codecs in Windows 7 media player so they are not accessible outside of it.
You can read something here about it http://windows7news.com/2009/03/27/m...-in-windows-7/

Thanks Roy!

I took a look at the article and it says pretty much the same as I have read else where. The last scentence however I'm inclined to disagree with as the initial problem on this thread "Vob & Mpg not playing on the ext.desktop" I suspect may be related to digital media rights as I could not use any other 3rd party software to play DVD files on the extended desk top (WMP worked great with a warning that DVD files may not be suported) until I adjusted the filters with GSpot (something that may be above the heads of most users). DVD piracy being a mega ilicit business this may be Microsofts' way of helping to deterr it.

Again it looks like Microsoft has taken something that works great (from our perspective) and is trying to improve it..... Why fix what isn't broke? $$$?

Ken

[BEECEE]

Originally Posted by KenKelley

Brian,

I have figured out how to get the U-Best files to play properly in Hoster with Windows7 however it requires a conversion process.

Ken - Thanks for your patience and dogged determination for figuring out a workaround to get these U-Best VCD's to play properly in Hoster. There's no way that I'd have been able to resolve this because I don't have your technical ability.

Yes, please do share your 'conversion workaround' via the forum, including how and where to obtain the necessary software. There may be others in the same boat.

I do have access to MS Word (Hoster songbook is printed in that format ).

Cheers mate.

Brian

[KenKelley]

1

[KenKelley]

Originally Posted by KenKelley

Brian,

I have figured out how to get the U-Best files to play properly in Hoster with Windows7 however it requires a conversion process.

I utilized GSpot to determine what Codec(s) that the U-Best video files required to be played. According to GSpot both Video and Audio require the MPEG 1 Codec.

Hoster appears to be flexible with the Video Codec but utilizes the AC3 Codec for Audio. The AC3 Codec is what the Mux Button reacts to.

With that being said, the U-Best disks would require a conversion to a desired (what I used = .avi) video codec and AC3 Audio Codec.

I must say the videos play wonderfully (the video looks almost as good as being played straight off the disk) and Hoster does what is expected (the Mux Button works without flaw) after the files are converted to .avi (video codec) with AC3 (audio codec).

I am not sure why these files play in Win XP without the conversion??? I ran into the same problem with my DVD Video files when I upgraded to a Win 7 laptop.

I will send my results to Admin to see what can be done, if anything, without going through a conversion.

I can say that Microsoft has done a lot with Win 7 in a step toward "Seamlessly" eliminating Direct X (checkout the forums) and it appears that some of their product (which interacts with Hoster) is not acting the same in Win 7 as it did in Win XP (or even Win Vista for that matter).

One more thing, the conversion took less that 5 minutes (with a second party software) for the disk you sent me after it was copied to my hard drive.

MTU continues to produce a great product and Hoster 5.0 is excellent!

If you would like for me to send the procedures to convert the U-Best video files let me know. I have Microsoft "Word" and can send in that format or in a "Word Pad" file or post it here. Let me know which is preferrable.

I don't give up! It just takes me a little while to dig, learn, and then discover an answer.

Thanks!

Ken

Brian,

I errored above with .avi, it should have been MPEG2. (was a bit exausted while putting the note togeather)

I have created and attached instructions as to how I converted the files. Had to use 2 files as one file was too large to upload.

I recommend you review them a couple of times before attempting to convert.

Hopefully this works for you.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

Thanks!

Ken

Ken

[BEECEE]

Originally Posted by KenKelley

Brian,

I errored above with .avi, it should have been MPEG2. (was a bit exausted while putting the note togeather)

I have created and attached instructions as to how I converted the files. Had to use 2 files as one file was too large to upload.

I recommend you review them a couple of times before attempting to convert.

Hopefully this works for you.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

Thanks!

Ken

Ken

Ken,

Awesome job with the troubleshooting. You've definitely gone above and beyond the call of duty and I appreciate all that you have done to research and deliver a proven workaround, along with easy to follow instructions.

As expected, the trial version of IMTOO Video converter provides limited functionality. I can't justify outlaying US$45 (at this time) to upgrade to the fully functioning version of IMTOO just to convert a small bunch of around 140 Ubest .DAT files to MPEG2. However, I am happy that the cause of the Ubest VCD issue is not some unknown random problem with my laptop. You've provided a solution for my future consideration. In the meantime I've still got reliable XP Pro on my desktop PC to play these VCDs through Hoster.

Regards,

Brian