CZroe
28th July 2005, 08:20
This has been asked a lot on XP Media Center Edition forums, but I figured I'd see what kind of results we can get here :)
OK, a PMC, "Portable Media Center" is a Microsoft device that can only play WMV9 video files (WMA, lossless WMA & JPEG too but let's forget about that for the moment). You use the Synchronize feature in the EHOME application of XP Media Center Edition or WMP10 to get content on it, however even at the highest quality settings you get a low frame rate and strange diagonal screen-redraw artifacts when the video flashes (Lightning, quick scene change, strobing, etc). The device is capable of playing higher-quaility faster-frame rate video as M2PMCEncoderZX (http://www.marauderzstuff.com/programs/m2pmcencoderzx/default.aspx) proves. I've used it many times when the results just didn't have enough detail/FPS for the intended effect. In fact, many WMV videos that I've downloaded from various places on the web have synched with no conversion. The screen is only 320x240 so it makes sense to convert/re-encode any higher resolution video even if it's in a compatible format (To save space) but I doubt it does that to save time.
So here's the problem: Most people want a simple, elegant way to get their DVD movie on there without converting it to DiVX or some other MPEG4 codec first. In fact, we're looking for a simple way to convert directly to WMV9 with optimal quality settings like M2PMCEncoderZX does but with otions like subpicture overlay (The audio is very low without headphones!). I have yet to do this with ANY method, so even if your solution isn't simple I'd like to hear about it so I can try it and add it to a FAQ of sorts for other PMC owners.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of encoding with overlayed text: Does anyone have any idea how to do this with DVR-MS files and their associated Closed Captioning? It's absolutely unforgivable of MS to not have this option. They know you can't hear your TV shows in a loud crowded break room at work!
OK, a PMC, "Portable Media Center" is a Microsoft device that can only play WMV9 video files (WMA, lossless WMA & JPEG too but let's forget about that for the moment). You use the Synchronize feature in the EHOME application of XP Media Center Edition or WMP10 to get content on it, however even at the highest quality settings you get a low frame rate and strange diagonal screen-redraw artifacts when the video flashes (Lightning, quick scene change, strobing, etc). The device is capable of playing higher-quaility faster-frame rate video as M2PMCEncoderZX (http://www.marauderzstuff.com/programs/m2pmcencoderzx/default.aspx) proves. I've used it many times when the results just didn't have enough detail/FPS for the intended effect. In fact, many WMV videos that I've downloaded from various places on the web have synched with no conversion. The screen is only 320x240 so it makes sense to convert/re-encode any higher resolution video even if it's in a compatible format (To save space) but I doubt it does that to save time.
So here's the problem: Most people want a simple, elegant way to get their DVD movie on there without converting it to DiVX or some other MPEG4 codec first. In fact, we're looking for a simple way to convert directly to WMV9 with optimal quality settings like M2PMCEncoderZX does but with otions like subpicture overlay (The audio is very low without headphones!). I have yet to do this with ANY method, so even if your solution isn't simple I'd like to hear about it so I can try it and add it to a FAQ of sorts for other PMC owners.
Oh, and while we're on the subject of encoding with overlayed text: Does anyone have any idea how to do this with DVR-MS files and their associated Closed Captioning? It's absolutely unforgivable of MS to not have this option. They know you can't hear your TV shows in a loud crowded break room at work!