PDVD or TMT?

[banyaker]

Hi ,can you help me decide? I am curently using PDVD 7.3 Ultra for BD playback with many ongoing problems,Bd's that play one time then not the next,BD's that wont play at all etc etc etc.....
So me thinks its time to upgrade ,the choices being a bit limited do I fork out yet more hard earned cash on PDVD9 and probably invest in a heap more problems or do i purchase Arcsoft's 'Total Media Theatre'?
I believe they dont play this silly game of releasing a brand new version before the last one even works correctly and isnt quit as buggy,any experiences?
Will TMT playback non AACS discs as PDVD7 doesnt seem to?
Does TMT decode all the latest HD sound formats? (as i am using a 'Creative SB elite pro 'sound card which only had DD and DTS decoding)
Is the PQ/SQ as good as PDVD(when it works)?
Any input on this subject would be appreciated just need to know where to point my money.
Can i still have PDVD installed at the same time as TMT without problems?
I am still using XP Pro
regards
andy

[banyaker]

sorry should have read the Sticky first,Wooops!

[blckman]

Originally Posted by banyaker

Hi ,can you help me decide? I am curently using PDVD 7.3 Ultra for BD playback with many ongoing problems,Bd's that play one time then not the next,BD's that wont play at all etc etc etc.....
So me thinks its time to upgrade ,the choices being a bit limited do I fork out yet more hard earned cash on PDVD9 and probably invest in a heap more problems or do i purchase Arcsoft's 'Total Media Theatre'?
I believe they dont play this silly game of releasing a brand new version before the last one even works correctly and isnt quit as buggy,any experiences?
Will TMT playback non AACS discs as PDVD7 doesnt seem to?
Does TMT decode all the latest HD sound formats? (as i am using a 'Creative SB elite pro 'sound card which only had DD and DTS decoding)
Is the PQ/SQ as good as PDVD(when it works)?
Any input on this subject would be appreciated just need to know where to point my money.
Can i still have PDVD installed at the same time as TMT without problems?
I am still using XP Pro
regards
andy

You might be having problems banyaker because you don't have the correct patch for powerdvd. Search the forums of my most recent post and you will see my remedy for this problem. I am not having any problems with this version at all. All of my disk play perfectly. Whether it be HD-DVD or Blu-Ray media. Now, I would prefer TMT though for the overall support of both medias. The menus are simpler, the audio sound support is great, and BD-Live is great as well. I did find one thing interesting though about Power DVD 7.3 and BD-Live. When a particular disc gets to the menu setting you can utilize BD-Live by simply using the arrow keys to get to the menu options. The mouse simply sucks for these options. Overall, I don't like BD-Live too much. I just want to enjoy the picture and sound quality of High Definition in it's glory. I do have some things to say though guys about this section of the forum. I think that we should creat smaller forums for every media. For instance, TMT: All things TMT. Powerdvd: All Power DVD topics and issues. PC-Drive: All PC drive issues and firmware. The reason being why I think we should do this is because we can narrow down topics more in here because some of us are answering the same questions over and over again. Good luck with the playback. Hopefully, you can find my post to help you with your problem. All HD-DVD and Blu-Ray enthusiast rock on baby. Peace....

[hamisht]

powerdvd is better, it has HDMI audio out.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by hamisht

powerdvd is better, it has HDMI audio out.

TMT works fine with HDMI - here on these laptops at least.

[hamisht]

yeah? i only saw option for optical and analog speakers.

[banyaker]

Well what can i say I decided to take the plunge and went for PDVD9 all brand new and sparkly,so here is what i think so far;
The Good:The BD's that played before now play much better ,great sound no crackerling ,much better picture quality , no glitches ,no freeze ups .

The Bad: The disc ,which is a BD 7.1 Dts MA ,music disc (just still photos to acompany the music) still does not play (and i have 3 copys of this BD) i just get a black screen, no sound but the time counter still counts up and i can flick between tracks.Pdvd9 claims to be able to play all the formats that PDVD7 couldnt ,so i am at a complete loss on this one (would TMT have played it?)

The Ugly: Dont think much to the girl with the Big gums!!!
Overall a massive improvment in sound and picture quality (Cassino Royal's opening scene was breathtaking) but still some compatabilty issues......
Just a quick question Pdvd 7 was not errased during the update is it fine to keep it or could this cause problems?
best regards
andy

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by hamisht

yeah? i only saw option for optical and analog speakers.

Option?
I never set anything, I just plug the HDMI from my TV into one of my laptops and everything works fine.

[hamisht]

Originally Posted by dadkins

Option?
I never set anything, I just plug the HDMI from my TV into one of my laptops and everything works fine.

Oh okay, so using HDMI, TMT can decode DTS HD MA and it comes through your amp in surround sound, not just stereo?

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by hamisht

Oh okay, so using HDMI, TMT can decode DTS HD MA and it comes through your amp in surround sound, not just stereo?

No idea.
I have a HDTV but no HT reciever.
But the only connection I use is HDMI so it does work.

[Ryu77]

Dadkins, be weary that some Graphics Cards use a SPDIF bridge to connect the Sound Card to to the Graphics Card to output digital sound along with the digital video. The problem here is that SPDIF is limited to 1.5Mbit/s and therefore can only send legacy audio streams. To get HD audio to bitstream from your PC, you will need one of the only two Sound Cards that can do this. These Sound Cards do things the other way around. They have a HDMI input for your Graphics Card to connect into so the HD digital video and audio can be mixed together before being passed onto your Receiver or TV...

1) Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 (ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre supports this card)

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=11638

2) Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD (Cyberlink PowerDVD supports this card)

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php


Another way to get HD audio is via your multi channel analog outputs. I believe that TotalMedia Theatre is the only software that decodes HD audio correctly (full bit depth and sample rate, along with all channels). One last way would be through the onboard audio controllers that ATI Graphics Cards feature. The sound must be decoded first and then passed as Linear PCM through the special DVI to HDMI adapter supplied with the card.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by hamisht

yeah? i only saw option for optical and analog speakers.

I have HDMI on my HTPC and on TMT I choose 7.1, it ouputs 7.1 LPCM to my receiver at 192khz/24bits. TMT is great - I have no problems with it at all. I'm using a Nvidia 9300 motherboard with HDMI out. Everything has to get converted back to analog. The computer sends HDMI LPCM 7.1 to the receiver which sends the signal to the amps for reproduction by the speakers...which are analog. Even Meridian's "digital" speakers are really speakers with their own D/A converters in them. Humans can only hear analog.

P.S. there is no hook-up either via a cable or anything. The Nvidia 9300/9400 chipset is great for HTPC (Just remember to get the Nvidia HDMI driver from the site).

[prerich]

Originally Posted by hamisht

Oh okay, so using HDMI, TMT can decode DTS HD MA and it comes through your amp in surround sound, not just stereo?

Yes it does !!!!!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Ryu77

Dadkins, be weary that some Graphics Cards use a SPDIF bridge to connect the Sound Card to to the Graphics Card to output digital sound along with the digital video. The problem here is that SPDIF is limited to 1.5Mbit/s and therefore can only send legacy audio streams. To get HD audio to bitstream from your PC, you will need one of the only two Sound Cards that can do this. These Sound Cards do things the other way around. They have a HDMI input for your Graphics Card to connect into so the HD digital video and audio can be mixed together before being passed onto your Receiver or TV...

1) Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 (ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre supports this card)

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=11638

2) Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD (Cyberlink PowerDVD supports this card)

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php


Another way to get HD audio is via your multi channel analog outputs. I believe that TotalMedia Theatre is the only software that decodes HD audio correctly (full bit depth and sample rate, along with all channels). One last way would be through the onboard audio controllers that ATI Graphics Cards feature. The sound must be decoded first and then passed as Linear PCM through the special DVI to HDMI adapter supplied with the card.

You are correct, however, like ATI 4XXX cards - the Nvidia 8200/8300 chipset and the 9300/9400 chipset can pass the decoded sound as 7.1 LPCM via HDMI (no adaptor needed - HDMI is aready there).

[banyaker]

Hi a bit off original subject here but i dont mind i like hearing all your different veiw points on things.
just a couple of quick questions though;
1/Could PDVD9 run on the same desktop as TMT?
2/Should a non AACS BD play in PDVD9 and will it play in TMT?(this is a DTS MA Music disc) I believe PDVD9 cant play ripped BD's and as this is from a small studio i suspect this is ripped from a Master copy.

I am interested how you rate my set up ,PDVD9-Creative XFI Elite Pro , connected via analog connectors to a NAD CI9060 6x80w channell power amp(no decoder)to six 'Wilmslow Audio ,Midas Monitors (Crossovers modified) and WA Tornado 100w active sub.
Do I get full HD sound from this?
keep it coming i learn so much
andy..

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Ryu77

Dadkins, be weary that some Graphics Cards use a SPDIF bridge to connect the Sound Card to to the Graphics Card to output digital sound along with the digital video. The problem here is that SPDIF is limited to 1.5Mbit/s and therefore can only send legacy audio streams. To get HD audio to bitstream from your PC, you will need one of the only two Sound Cards that can do this. These Sound Cards do things the other way around. They have a HDMI input for your Graphics Card to connect into so the HD digital video and audio can be mixed together before being passed onto your Receiver or TV...

1) Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 (ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre supports this card)

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=11638

2) Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD (Cyberlink PowerDVD supports this card)

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php


Another way to get HD audio is via your multi channel analog outputs. I believe that TotalMedia Theatre is the only software that decodes HD audio correctly (full bit depth and sample rate, along with all channels). One last way would be through the onboard audio controllers that ATI Graphics Cards feature. The sound must be decoded first and then passed as Linear PCM through the special DVI to HDMI adapter supplied with the card.

Be aware, I use laptops.
Bitstreaming is irrelevent.
DTS HD MA is also irrelevent.

Bottom line is, without any setting changes, HDMI is working with TMT.
It more or less has to!
Plus, since these things have both Realtek and Sigmatel audio, I can more than likely get acceptable audio from them if I ever get a HT reciever.

No worries!

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by prerich

You are correct, however, like ATI 4XXX cards - the Nvidia 8200/8300 chipset and the 9300/9400 chipset can pass the decoded sound as 7.1 LPCM via HDMI (no adaptor needed - HDMI is aready there).

What he said!

I'm ok, considering this is *just* a laptop.

[hamisht]

Originally Posted by prerich

I have HDMI on my HTPC and on TMT I choose 7.1, it ouputs 7.1 LPCM to my receiver at 192khz/24bits..

When I play 'Queen Rock Montreal' which has a DTS 96khz track, it only comes up as 48khz on my amp, (Onkyo 605, so it can play it through my Samsung BD-P1400). I have 96khz selected in my sound control panel.

I cant get it to switch to 96khz by itself, I have to go back into the control panel (Sound - HDMI - Advanced) and change the 'Shared Mode' format to 96khz. Then I assume its playing the 96khz track to full potential.

[Ryu77]

Dadkins, I wasn't aware that you had a laptop. I was only trying to offer help in case you wanted to ensure a higher level of quality.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Ryu77

Dadkins, I wasn't aware that you had a laptop. I was only trying to offer help in case you wanted to ensure a higher level of quality.

I have two laptops that are BD enabled.
Both deliver video and audio fine through HDMI no matter what I do with the computer.
Instant message programs blast sound out of me TV.
The volume "beep" comes from my TV.
When connected to the TV via HDMI, all audio is sent fine!
Laptops will deliver 7.1 if I choose to... maybe some day.
But, by that time, who knows what kind of portable monster I might have.

Thanks anyways!