Media Center Remote w/ VLC

[Prox]

I currently have an HTPC as part of my home theater. I would like to be able to control it with a remote instead of a keyboard and mouse.

Does anyone have experience with any PC remotes? I found a couple different ones (#1, #2), but I can't tell whether or not they only work with Windows Media Center. I primarily use VLC and would like to use the remote for that playback (play/pause and next track being the most important functions). Full mouse control would be nice, but I regard it as a bonus and not a requirement.

Please let me know if this isn't the right sub-forum for this question.
Thanks!

[onyxbfly]

It may be possible to use those remotes if you can find away to integrate VLC into WMC. I know that you can integrate Media Player Classic into WMC. Using MPC with WMC maybe an alternative for you.

Perhaps you can find the ans to your question here. http://www.missingremote.com/

HTH

[Prox]

I reached out to GMYLE (distributors for my link #2 remote) with this query:

I'm thinking about purchasing a Wireless Infrared Vista MCE Remote Control, but I have a question or two about its functionality. How do the 8 multimedia buttons (Record, Stop, Play, Pause, Fast Forward Track, Next Track, Rewind, and Skip) function? Will they *only* work with Windows Media Center or will they function with other software (specifically VLC/VideoLAN)? Do they simply pass the standard Windows multimedia commands (as a multimedia keyboard would)?

Here is their response:

It should be work with other player but the keys of fast forward and back forward may be not used.

Regards,
Ringo

The lack of an ability to advance the track is a killer for me, so I think #2 is out.

I'll try to keep this topic updated on the off chance that someone else may someday be interested in an HTPC remote that works with VLC.

[onyxbfly]

Originally Posted by Prox

I reached out to GMYLE (distributors for my link #2 remote) with this query:

Here is their response:

The lack of an ability to advance the track is a killer for me, so I think #2 is out.

I'll try to keep this topic updated on the off chance that someone else may someday be interested in an HTPC remote that works with VLC.

Any particular reason why you prefer to use VLC?

[Prox]

Originally Posted by onyxbfly

Any particular reason why you prefer to use VLC?

That's a good question. I have a few reasons, actually:
1) It's small. My HTPC isn't the most powerful thing in the world by a long shot, so I like to run programs that are lean and efficient.
2) Windows Media Player works great for video, but I find that using it for audio is cumbersome. The current playlist isn't really the focus, and there's too much of a push toward using the media library functions. This ties back into #1 a bit, as well.
3) It will play pretty much anything you throw at it without additional fiddling or downloads. WMP doesn't like FLAC, but VLC has no trouble with the format.

I'm also somewhat assuming that if a remote works with VLC, it will work with Winamp and/or most other media players.

[octagon]

http://www.fast351.com/hometheater/htpc/

It's been a while since I played around with this stuff but this was a pretty useful little utility. It basically lets you map remote buttons to key presses. It's great for programs that only have keyboard controls or to fill in blanks where a few remote commands are missing.

[onyxbfly]

Originally Posted by Prox

That's a good question. I have a few reasons, actually:
1) It's small. My HTPC isn't the most powerful thing in the world by a long shot, so I like to run programs that are lean and efficient.
2) Windows Media Player works great for video, but I find that using it for audio is cumbersome. The current playlist isn't really the focus, and there's too much of a push toward using the media library functions. This ties back into #1 a bit, as well.
3) It will play pretty much anything you throw at it without additional fiddling or downloads. WMP doesn't like FLAC, but VLC has no trouble with the format.

I'm also somewhat assuming that if a remote works with VLC, it will work with Winamp and/or most other media players.

Just for the sake of discussion and not wanting to be contrary. We all have our personal preferences for the things we like and love.

I have no issues playing flac in WMP. What version of WMP are you using? I believe that I am WMP ver 12. I can check if you like?

[Prox]

Originally Posted by octagon

http://www.fast351.com/hometheater/htpc/

It's been a while since I played around with this stuff but this was a pretty useful little utility. It basically lets you map remote buttons to key presses. It's great for programs that only have keyboard controls or to fill in blanks where a few remote commands are missing.

Looks intriguing. I might have to check that out.

Originally Posted by onyxbfly

Just for the sake of discussion and not wanting to be contrary. We all have our personal preferences for the things we like and love.

I have no issues playing flac in WMP. What version of WMP are you using? I believe that I am WMP ver 12. I can check if you like?

I'm running Windows Media Player version 12.0.7601.17514. Attempting to play a FLAC file results in this error:

Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.

...the same file plays in VLC with no issues.

[onyxbfly]

Originally Posted by Prox

Looks intriguing. I might have to check that out.


I'm running Windows Media Player version 12.0.7601.17514. Attempting to play a FLAC file results in this error:

...the same file plays in VLC with no issues.

That error message is usually because the playlist (M3U) is outside of the folder that contains the files.

EDIT, I have had that issue with the playlist in the file. I believe, I either sorted or ripped the file wrong. But yes it can be annoying nonetheless. Good Luck, keep us posted.

[Prox]

I went ahead and purchased the "Windows 7 Vista XP Media Center MCE PC Remote Control". Out of the box, it works perfectly with VLC, but only when the program has focus. You can easily amend the functionality to work even when the program does not have focus by using VLC's global hotkey functionality.

The mouse control works rather well and the right and left click keys are conveniently located. The shortcut keys, however, don't work as well as I would have liked. They send specific key combinations, but Windows seems to only allow the use of Ctrl+Shit+<key> combos for opening desktop/taskbar shortcuts. I haven't been able to get shortcuts working with the Ctrl+Alt+<key> buttons. Also, the INFO button seems to do the same thing as the right-click button, which is a bit of a waste. The directional pad and "OK" (Enter) button are very handy and there is also a "Close" button on the bottom of the remote that is quite useful.

Overall, I'm happy with the purchase. It was definitely worth the $13.43. I would recommend it to anyone else who may be conducting a similar search.

I'll update this post if I discover any other neat (or disappointing) features/functionality.

[crackinhedz]

I have been using VLC for years, and find it to be far superior than most programs in regards to being and "all in one" deal. It will play just about anything under the sun...and its free.

With that said, do you have a smart phone or tablet??

VLC remote

[Almadacr]

I have been playing with BS player ( also free ) in the last year and it replaced really nice the VLC player that i had for several time . It plays everything that i trow at it and it has a nice interface , something that anyone can considered .