Sounds like the Popcorn Hour A-110 is better than the Western Digital as you can have a nice big 1Tb hard drive inside the unit, rather than an external drive that the WD needs.

Downside is its twice the price!

After installing HDD inside A-110, make sure to also install a large, quiet fan.

Original Popcorn's design does not have provisions for the fan, which is a shame since the thing runs hot.

Rigging your own fan will ensure that both HDD and the A-110's board are cool and will last much longer than without a fan.

excellent discovery Paul.

Thanks Paul,

I'm getting a great picture through Compressor but wouldn't I get a better picture from my raw footage (without further compression)?

Can anyone tell me how to rename my XDCAM files to a .m2ts file so they will play "natively" on the WD? I shoot in 1080i60 HQ. I've already uploaded my files to my Mac Pro via the Sony File Transfer software.

Steve Gibbons posted this one week ago:

"If you copy the .MP4 files off the SxS cards to a USB drive (flash, hard drive, etc) and then just RENAME them to a .M2TS extension, you can play the video NATIVELY on this Western Digital media player."

Can anyone tell me how to rename my XDCAM files to a .m2ts file so they will play "natively" on the WD? I shoot in 1080i60 HQ. I've already uploaded my files to my Mac Pro via the Sony File Transfer software.

On a Mac, just click once on the file to select it (turn it blue) then about 2 seconds later click on the title again. It will turn white and you will be able to change the file name and extension to what ever you want. But maybe this isn't what you were really asking?

Simply changing EX1 file's extension from mp4 to m2ts did not work on A-110 player - it could not play the file.

Are you sure this works with WD player?

Okay, I'm going to stick my neck way out with this answer.... (probably the wrong answer)

Any chance that when he said M2TS he meant that if you stick the MP4 file in a folder labeled VIDEO_TS (like on a DVD) it would play? Because I've never heard of many 4 character extensions.

Just a suggestion of something you might try....

m2ts is a standard extension for Blu-ray MPEG2 files.

They play just fine with A-110 player.

But not the renamed mp4 files.

I'm just repeating what Steve Gibbons posted on the 18th. I tried to rename a few files and they wouldn't play.

I'm not sure and my stuff isn't fired up at the moment to try this but maybe only 720p files will play with this file extension name change?

Update now available for the Western Digital TV HD Media Player:

WD TV Product Update (http://www.wdc.com/en/products/wdtv/)

1080p24...yummy.

Will this device playback AC3 5.1 surround?

I just bought the HD TV and was wondering can I use a HDMI to AV component cable if my TV set only support component? Please see this ebay posting, will this cable works?

HDMI Male to 5 RCA RGB Audio Video AV Component Cable - eBay (item 350139975605 end time Jan-11-09 20:04:03 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/HDMI-Male-to-5-RCA-RGB-Audio-Video-AV-Component-Cable_W0QQitemZ350139975605QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item350139975605&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

I don't think HDMI supports analogue signals at all? That cable looks totally passive to me? More likely you'll need an active converter box. What model HD TV is it to not have HDMI?

Since DVI-I supports analog video, it stands to reason that HDMI could as well.

Oh, and my five year old Toshiba 56" HDTV only has component. ;-)

DVI-I supports analogue, DVI-D doesn't, HDMI is digital only based on everything I've read.

edit: Just rummaging around the net turned this unit up. http://www.hdfury.com/ Adds HDMI 1080p in to any RGB screen.

Yep, just looked up the pinout:

HDMI Connector Pinout
Pin Number Signal Name
1 TMDS Data 2+
2 TMDS Data 2 Shield
3 TMDS Data 2-
4 TMDS Data 1+
5 TMDS Data 1 Shield
6 TMDS Data 1-
7 TMDS Data 0+
8 TMDS Data 0 Shield
9 TMDS Data 0-
10 TMDS Clock+
11 TMDS Clock Shield
12 TMDS Clock-
13 CEC
14 No Connect
15 DDC Clock
16 DDC Data
17 Ground
18 +5V Power
19 Hot Plug Detect
20 SHELL

So, definitely no, a passive cable cannot convert HDMI to component. An active converter box of some sort would be required. That hdfury device looks interesting for several reasons ...

HDFury is a great device, BUT it does not convert signal's refresh rate or resolution.

So your TV will have to support exactly the frame size and frequency of the digital signal being converted.

I've run into this limitation of HDFury while trying to feed HDMI signal via HDFury to a particular monitor with Component input - but that monitor did not support 1920x1080 natively on Component input, and that was the end of it.

(On a side note, HDFury seller Monoprice.com (http://monoprice.com) was most helpful in making me understand what was going on, and has resolved the issue to my complete satisfaction.)

Could anyone please tell me how I can get this thing to work????? I've spent days trying to figure this out. WD has been completely useless.

My footage is all in FCP, everything shot at 1080i60.

By exporting to Compressor and choosing "H.264 for DVD Studio Pro" I get a really good picture but no audio. I have "Include PCM Audio" checked.


How do I get the very best picture I can get WITH AUDIO from my EX-1 files in Final Cut and onto my home theater screen via this magic box????

Please help and PLEASE be specific!

Eternally grateful for the help,

Arthur the techno dumbass

I struggled with this too.

I finally figured out you have to export as 44kHz as it won't work with 48kHz.

I don't know if that's your problem, hopefully that will fix it for you.

It's nothing to do with it being 48 Khz, the WD TV doesn't support PCM audio, even at 44 Khz. Export as H.264 with the sound set to AAC at 48 Khz and the audio will play back just fine.

I wrote a small review about my findings with the WD TV on my blog at http://www.pauljoy.com/?page_id=1046.

Paul.

I am wanting to get myself one of these beauties but I don't have any HDTV monitors at home apart from an HD Ready 42" Plasma. I have been looking at a Samsung LCD Computer monitor with a res of 1920x1200, but would I be better served by buying a full HD LCD TV monitor at 1920x1080p?

James, Paul,

Thanks very much, I'll try your tips tomorrow. I was amazed at the picture this thing delivered on a 52" plasma at the Asheville Visitor's Center. They ordinarily display our SD nature DVDs on it and the difference in PQ was huge. We're definitely going to be investing in some more of these these boxes for point of purchase display.

Paul, very nice review on your site, thanks.

I am wanting to get myself one of these beauties but I don't have any HDTV monitors at home apart from an HD Ready 42" Plasma. I have been looking at a Samsung LCD Computer monitor with a res of 1920x1200, but would I be better served by buying a full HD LCD TV monitor at 1920x1080p?

I have hooked it up to my 42" Panasonic PX70 HD ready plasma at home and it really looks wonderfull. The TV upscales to 1080P, but I´m not sure it does from the WD. I´ll have to check.
I will bring it over to my brother to hook it up to his Sony full HD 40" to compare one of these days.
I´m biased though, I prefer the picture of my plasma in general, even when we both use PS3 to watch Blu-ray video

I have found an inexpensive BenQ 24" computer monitor with HDMI input and is 16:9 1920x1080p, so I imagine this monitor would be perfect for this box. Only, the monitor has no speakers. Does anyone know if I run RCA audio out of the anaologue outputs whether this would work, and if so, would the audio be in sync with the vision through the HDMI?

Shaun,

Yes, you can use the RCA audio outputs with the HDMI output. They are perfectly synched. You have to set it up in the "Settings" menu to output "stereo" instead of "Digital". I should mention the DAC converter is pretty poor. Your best off to use the digital Toslink connection if possible. I mean for $100 I wasn't expecting the DAC to be very good, and it isn't!

Paul Joy,

Thanks for figuring out the audio issue with this thing. I was thinking it was 48k audio, but it's the PCM reason! Now how are you taking your MASTERS and just changing the audio without a lengthy re-encode and loss of quality? I'm using FC Studio and would love to hear of a simple QUICK solution! Right now I'm taking my HDV master of a 1 hour show and making a MP2 HD Program stream of it so it'll play. It's a 6 hour render!!!

Now how are you taking your MASTERS and just changing the audio without a lengthy re-encode and loss of quality?

Hi Paul, I simply exported an H.264 file from the FCP timeline using compressor and in the encoder section changed the audio settings to AAC format.

I have a TviX mediaplayer. Between clips I get some annoying grafics telling the name of the file and a "Play" notice.

Are there such messages on this WD player too? If so, is it possible to deselect them?

Hi Paul, I simply exported an H.264 file from the FCP timeline using compressor and in the encoder section changed the audio settings to AAC format.

Paul,

That's how I do it to, from my original timeline but I was wondering if there is a way with your MASTERS already made (Stand alone QTs) with 48k WAV audio if you can just change the audio without doing a lengthy re-encode. I have many old masters that need to have the audio changed. I'm hoping you or someone will have the formula for a 5 minute re-encode instead of a 5 hour one!

I have a TviX mediaplayer. Between clips I get some annoying grafics telling the name of the file and a "Play" notice.

Are there such messages on this WD player too? If so, is it possible to deselect them?

Yes, once you hit enter on a file on the WD, it has an anoying pop up that says the name, length and that it's playing! It stays up for about 5-8 seconds. I REALLY wish they would get rid of this "feature".

Yes Paul once you have the master out of FC open QT and use Export. Use movie to QuickTime Movie. Then go to options and you have all the options you have in Compressor but it is much faster encoding and the same quality. This is how i do it for the player and also for all my web content in HD.

Hi Paul, I simply exported an H.264 file from the FCP timeline using compressor and in the encoder section changed the audio settings to AAC format.

Hi Paul,

I'm still missing it. Here's what I'm doing:

Clip on FC Timeline (Field Dominance set to "None")

Export to Compressor

Choose H.264 HD-DVD and drag it up to the encoder window

I choose "progressive" and "best/multi-pass" settings (video looks great)

Questions:

Should I choose AAC under "Audio" and drag that up to the encoder window?

Should I leave "Include PCM Audio" checked?

So near and yet so far...

Maybe it's just me but I like the video quality of Compressor more than Quicktime.

Yes, once you hit enter on a file on the WD, it has an anoying pop up that says the name, length and that it's playing! It stays up for about 5-8 seconds. I REALLY wish they would get rid of this "feature".
This is sooo ugly! I just wrote to WD, complaining about it. I will not buy it until they have fixed it. Will it ever go away?

This is sooo ugly! I just wrote to WD, complaining about it. I will not buy it until they have fixed it. Will it ever go away?

I assume that it goes away when it's in looping mode......right? Or does it come up at the beginning of each loop?

I assume that it goes away when it's in looping mode......right? Or does it come up at the beginning of each loop?Well, my TviX shows these graphics also in loop mode, the duration is around 4s which apparently is shorter than WD TV.

Choose H.264 HD-DVD and drag it up to the encoder window

I use the H.264 option in Formats > Quicktime, your problem might be that your choosing the HD-DVD version.

regards

Paul.

Has anyone seen this product before?

MIDTE (http://www.midte.com/English/Products/MDT-PM369HPES-S.html)

Looks good, but can't seem to find any info on in the specs on file types it plays.

The specs are at the bottom. Doesn't play as many codecs as Popcorn Hour or WDMP. I went and got the Popcorn Hour A-110 and stuck a 1Tb hard drive in there. it has played everything I have thrown at it with no problems whatsoever.

The good thing about Popcorn Hour, which is very important, is that is has a massive user base, and an extremely active online forum where any question will be answered in either laymans terms or in some case technical terms ( I didn't understand a thing they were typing!) within minutes of posting.

Check it out.

The specs are at the bottom.

Check it out.

Ahh yes. Thank you Steve. As usual I skimmed over the page instead of actually reading it!

Thanks for the bump I missed it while I was gone:)

I think I may make this a delivery option.

Popcorn Hour A-110 ... has played everything I have thrown at it with no problems whatsoever.

Actually it chocks on some older WMV videos - probably sound codec incompatibility... but yeah, otherwise I absolutely swear by A-110.

Western Digital has issued severl fixes via firmware for the WD TV....

WD TV Product Update (http://www.wdc.com/en/products/wdtv/)

This is sooo ugly! I just wrote to WD, complaining about it. I will not buy it until they have fixed it. Will it ever go away?
I got this answer from WD:
Thank you for contacting Western Digital Customer Service and Support.

I understand you have a question regarding the WD TV. Is it possible to deactivate the information about the next clip to be played?

I have contacted our second level of support in regards to this matter and unfortunately it cannot be changed and will not be changed.
Thank you for your email.

Sincerely,
Danielle H.
090108-003306
Western Digital Service and Support

I stripped the mxf wrapper from the EX1's 35mbps/HQ, muxed in DD 5.1, and it's playing natively at the full bit rate, no re-encoding of the video. Even the PS3 doesn't do this easily. The WD is also playing 24p, and outputting 24p. Fast and lossless. Not bad.

I got one of these for Xmas and can now view my S270 and Z7 rushes direct to my HD TV via HDMI straight from the compact flash using a $5 CF reader to USB.

I also have all my IPTV and video files at apple TV res on a card for viewing and presentation at superb resolution.

I can also take my CF cards from my nikon D300 and see them straight on the TV.

What a great product!

I stripped the mxf wrapper from the EX1's 35mbps/HQ, muxed in DD 5.1, and it's playing natively at the full bit rate, no re-encoding of the video. Even the PS3 doesn't do this easily. The WD is also playing 24p, and outputting 24p. Fast and lossless. Not bad.

How do you mux in DD5.1? I'd be interested to hear that process.

How do you mux in DD5.1? I'd be interested to hear that process.

- Edit your MXF with Vegas Pro, export back to same MXF format. Vegas smart renders MXF.
- Separately export a DD5.1 file using the Vegas AC3 Pro encoder.
- Using the Snell and Wilcox MXF Desktop, unwrap the video essence stream from the MXF.
- Use Womble Mpeg Video Wizard DVD to mux the .ac3 file with the unwrapped .m2v file.

Then you just play the muxed file on the WD TV.

There are other tools that can be used I'm sure, but that's how I do it.

WDMP saved the day today.

I've been working on a motion picture project (I can't bring myself to call images from the EXx "video") that is to be the centerpiece of my client's tradeshow booth. The show starts tomorrow. Last week I discussed their playback options and recommended they purchase a WDMP to feed the large plazma. These folks are not techie in the least and assumed a DVD was HD. Once they understood, they opted for file playback from a laptop instead of taking my advice (though I didn't own nor had ever tried the WD).

So, I deliver the windows media file to them this morning, got it transferred to the laptop and.....it chokes. Badly. Not only that, there doesn't appear to be a way to correct the aspect ratio, which makes me crazy (just ask my wife). Looks like total crap and suddenly everyone is looking at me.

That's when I mention that, on a hunch, I purchased the WDMP (it arrived yesterday and by now I know it works a treat), so I offer to let them use it for the weekend. Set it up with a 2GB thumb drive containing the 9000 kbps file and their jaws drop to the floor (it did look sweeeet).

What could have been a disaster turned on a dime. But I do have some issues that the newest firmware apparently hasn't addressed.

The last :10 seconds or so of the .wmv file gets summarily chopped off, even though there's :05 of black at the end. I added another :10 of black at the end in an attempt to outsmart it, so we'll see. Will also try h.264 and see how it behaves in this regard.

48k audio works fine, but the "loop 1" feature is broken. Only works in "loop all" mode. OK, so it needs to be the only file on the drive (or in its own folder, I suppose). Works for me.

Also, still no rewind/ff, at least with .wmv, and that pesky data overlay when the media restarts.

Hoping some of these issues will be addressed in future firmware updates, but overall, very pleased.