High Definition Playback Guide

Is anyone else having playback problems with Episode 3 MKV? I have several other HD (720p, 1080i and 1080p source) MKV files for movies that play no problem over my PS3 or straight from my computer. However, with the MKV file for episode 3, during the studio scenes, I get major artifacts. Whenever something moves the outline of whatever object is moving turns into blocks. This only happens while in the studio. The rest of the scenes play fine.


I've used CCCP for the past 3 years and always update to the newest version. I have an i7 @ 3.2ghz and a GTX 285 so my hardware specs should be more then enough. This is the first MKV file that I have come across where my PS3 nor my computer can not play properly.

The TS files played just fine.

Does anyone else get the artifacts during the studio scenes with their PS3 or computer?


BTW, for PS3 users, to easily stream almost any kind of video file install and use PS3 Media Server. http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/ You would need a 100mb network connection for 720p and a gigabit connection for high bitrate 1080p videos. Wireless does not work very well for HD videos, but SD videos should work just fine over wireless. Also, you will need at least a Core 2 Duo or better processor to stream HD content as this media server transcodes in real time.

No setup is needed. Just install the program and start it. Then go to videos on your PS3 and it should be display on your list of available media servers. Find your video and enjoy. It should take you less than 5 minutes to from install to streaming.
 
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Please keep maximum size, maximum quality streams coming our way. When I'm watching this in 10 years on my superMaxHDmegaUltra3D screen, I still want it to look good :) (for reference, look at your porn AVI's from 1999.. looked good then, but now?)

If you don't have a machine that can play it, don't project that others have no interest in higher quality than you can handle.

Want to make the 1080i look even better? The deinterlacing to use with VLC is ... LINEAR. As it says, new frame material is being generated in a "smarter" way than Bob.

http://wiki.videolan.org/Deinterlacing#Linear

My machine is "only" a 2.13GHz Core2Duo. Sure, I have a GTX275 now, but it was great on my "old" 8800GTS before that.

Anyone who claims that 1080 source material doesn't look any better than 720 needs their eyes checked. I'm using a tiny, budget 1080p 37" LCD and it is night and day for me. If you are using a 720 (or less) monitor, then well you fall under the category above of people who should not dictate the quality of those with better equipment.

Finally, a question from a Canadian... Why is BBCHD only in interlaced format?
 
Three more things...

1. Thank you so much to the poster about the "skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding" note. I have always had stutter problems in VLC with big files (which work fine in XMBC). I've tried the other settings too, but still find XMBC is the only program which never skips a beat for me. Too bad it doesn't have the linear deinterlacing.

2. Thank you so much to those responsible for ensuring we have access to the highest quality files available!

3. How is the Polar Special available in 1080p if BBCHD only supports 1080i?
 
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chris311 said:
Is anyone else having playback problems with Episode 3 MKV? I have several other HD (720p, 1080i and 1080p source) MKV files for movies that play no problem over my PS3 or straight from my computer. However, with the MKV file for episode 3, during the studio scenes, I get major artifacts. Whenever something moves the outline of whatever object is moving turns into blocks. This only happens while in the studio. The rest of the scenes play fine.


I've used CCCP for the past 3 years and always update to the newest version. I have an i7 @ 3.2ghz and a GTX 285 so my hardware specs should be more then enough. This is the first MKV file that I have come across where my PS3 nor my computer can not play properly.

The TS files played just fine.

Does anyone else get the artifacts during the studio scenes with their PS3 or computer?


BTW, for PS3 users, to easily stream almost any kind of video file install and use PS3 Media Server. http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/ You would need a 100mb network connection for 720p and a gigabit connection for high bitrate 1080p videos. Wireless does not work very well for HD videos, but SD videos should work just fine over wireless. Also, you will need at least a Core 2 Duo or better processor to stream HD content as this media server transcodes in real time.

No setup is needed. Just install the program and start it. Then go to videos on your PS3 and it should be display on your list of available media servers. Find your video and enjoy. It should take you less than 5 minutes to from install to streaming.
Click to expand...

I'm getting this problem with VLC on my MacBook Pro as well.
 
crono06 said:
I'm getting this problem with VLC on my MacBook Pro as well.
Click to expand...

I have an update that may or may not work for you as I don't use VLC or have a MAC.


During thanksgiving I had moved my 40" Samsung 1080p TV from my Bedroom to my living room to watch Thanksgiving football with my family. I have a second monitor hooked up to my desktop that is only 1680x1050 resolution, so in MPC I had changed the full screen video playback resolution to match my second monitor. When I brought back in my 40" television I had forgotten to change the video playback resolution to 1920x1080. Once I realised I still had it set to the lower resolution and changed it back the blocks went away.

I still get slight artifacts mainly with hand movements in the studio where the scan lines can clearly be seen. (Fast moving objects look like |||||| )

As for the playback problem on my PS3, I still havn't gotten that to work correctly either. I've tried several different transcode settings with PS3 Media Server and non of the settings make it better.
 
I noticed some glitches with VLC with Episode 3 on my MBP, but it seems to be more when I was adjusting the deinterlacing schema. Once that was done, it settled down and played fine.
 
boo hoo @ people complaining about MKV vs TS. It's the same thing anyway, so just demux the MKV and mux into a TS/AVI. No encoding required...
 
TMM said:
boo hoo @ people complaining about MKV vs TS. It's the same thing anyway, so just demux the MKV and mux into a TS/AVI. No encoding required...
Click to expand...

MKV and TS are two different file containers.

I prefer MKV, but for some reason, the episode 3 MKV does not play nice on my PS3 unlike all other MKV files I have used.
 
Sorry, was just pointing out that they are not the same. If they were, no demuxing would be required to get an MKV to play on a system that natively supports TS file containers.
 
The video stream inside should be the same. Just like a discount store selling the same product in cheaper packaging - same content, different container :D
 
I didn't say the video file inside was different, just the package it is wrapped in. Each has their pros and cons and each does different things. You can have a situation where a TS container is better than an MKV container and vice versa. The TS file supports HD audio* while MKV supports chapter selections and subtitles. You can not compare one to the other. MKV also has more CPU overhead which requires more work from the processor than a TS file.

By your logic a .tgz (linux), .dmg(mac), and a .exe(x86) files are the same.

*MKV is catching up though. There are already many different MKV splitters that support some degree of HD audio, but not as well as TS.
 
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HUH?!?

HUH?!?

I just read thru a good portion of the pages.... huh?:? I havn't a clue about what you guys are talking about. I just like cars and want to watch Top Gear. I am ignorant about the latest tech stuff. I don't care if I am watching it in 360psi. Just tell me what I have to click on to watch the show in whatever format w/o waiting for a year. :(
 
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jcd302 said:
I just read thru a good portion of the pages.... huh?:? I havn't a clue about what you guys are talking about. I just like cars and want to watch Top Gear. I am ignorant about the latest tech stuff. I don't care if I am watching it in 360psi. Just tell me what I have to click on to watch the show in whatever format w/o waiting for a year. :(
Click to expand...
http://forums.finalgear.com/faq/finalgear/#faq_fg_dleps
 
Thanks. I was able to find the link for standard def and that worked fine.
THANKS!!
 
Hi,

I downloaded the latest episode 14-03 in 1080 HDTV and put in on my PS3 HDD. I just changed the format from .ts to .mpeg like you are suggesting in this tutorial, burned a DVD and copied it to my PS3.

The video works on my 50" Plasma but the ratio is 4:3 not 16:9. The resolution is 1440/1080. Now I have black bars on both sides of the screen.

Unfortunately my notebook always brakes down if I try to play the file. Not enough RAM I guess. But I can see that the original resolution is in 4:3. The problem lays in the file itself. Somehow the aspect ratio has changed. I can't blow it up to full screen on my TV and JC looks very slim. :blink:

What's the problem? Any help?
 
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Start the movie and press the triangle button. Now find the "Screen mode" button (its rectangular) and select the mode that best fills the screen. (It's either Full screen or Normal)
 
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chris311 said:
Start the movie and press the triangle button. Now find the "Screen mode" button (its rectangular) and select the mode that best fills the screen. (It's either Full screen or Normal)
Click to expand...

wow... that was easy! Thanks very much. :tvhappy:

But I still have no idea, why the aspect ratio of the downloaded file is wrong. :hmm:
 
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