HTPC Software Setup?

[Dasda]

What are you guys using on your htpc? Any particular configurations?

I am just using my old PC and have it connected to the network. But what software should I install to make it feel for like a htpc?

WM7+ Media Browser?
SageTV?
XBMC?

Any particular setups/configurations you guys can recommend? Would love to read some tutorials showing some different setups. Please share if you know any.

 

[Chapbass]

XBMC here, love it.

I'm using XBMC on a small mini-itx system right now (but I'd love the CoreHT setups, even smaller and nice and compact, but dont have the change). On the backend, I'm using unRaid free with a few 1TB hard drives. works great!

 

[Slugbait]

I've just always used Media Center. Kludgy but serviceable in XP, and vastly improved in Win7. My kid is 5, and he knows his way around the UI with the remote very well, he caught on very quickly.

My Channel Logos is the only software I consider truly desirable, although Media Center Studio was nice for modifying my MCE shell.

 

[Binky]

WM7 + media browser (pearl theme, coverart 3.1)
Sickbeard + Sabnzbd for tv shows
Hulu and PowerDVD plugins to put them on the WM7 menu
DVRMSToolbox + showanalyzer for commercial skipping
Shark codec pack (lazy way to install and configure FFDshow and splitters)
PowerDVD for blu-ray's
Media player classic home cinema for other media

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

7MC + Media Center Studio + My Movies + TMT 5 + MCE Standby Tool.

MC Studio is for customizing the menus. My Movies makes for nice icons and movie info. TMT 5 is for playing BD (regular DVDs are played back in Media Center). MCE Standby Tool prevents some resolution wonkiness that 7MC has problems with when resuming from standby.

Other than those I stay away from codec packs, MPC-HC, and anything else that involves a bunch of futzing around with settings because, ime, things always get screwed up and the WAF tends to drop precipitously when you start using those.

 

[jtvang125]

Mediaportal. It's completely free and IMO the best eyecandy of all the frontends.

 

[notposting]

7MC (started with VMC). Use My Movies (still way back on 3.something) for movies off our server, a WHS running MM server version. Have an HDHR for tuning Comcast clear-QAM. Old MS XP Media Center remote (and when needed, the old MC keyboard as well). Boots straight into MC after any update reboots, automated login. Go into Netflix through the Internet TV section since the normal tile is in the removed stock Movies section. My Channel Logos as well for station logos.

Nice thing is with the network tuner and movie/archived tv storage, it's a system not very dependent on the actual HTPC. Had the caps go on the motherboard a couple years right when we had company over for a weekend. Slipped the laptop on top of the machine for the weekend, plugged in the remote and HDMI...no way to tell the difference

 

[Dasda]

Any recommended tutorials guys? Basically trying to get this thing going to where anyone in the house can use it. Will pickup a remote as well.

For now I just navigate to the folders and play them manually. But something with a nice look and easy to navigate would be nice.

Thanks.

 

[Charlie98]

Any recommended tutorials guys? Basically trying to get this thing going to where anyone in the house can use it. Will pickup a remote as well.

For now I just navigate to the folders and play them manually. But something with a nice look and easy to navigate would be nice.

Thanks.

I'm with you on that.... I'm looking for the same thing...

 

[pauldun170]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1302559
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/

 

[NAC]

I'm using Vista Media Center and am pretty happy with it. It required no setup to integrate with a remote, and is pretty easy to use with practically no setup.

However I have been unable to get it to play the DVDs I've ripped with Handbrake (m4v or mkv files). I've read about using haali media splitter and ffdshow to do this, bnut haven't gotten it to work yet.

I believe Windows 7 version doesn't have this problem and will play the files out of the box?

 

[sm625]

I cant recommended either XBMC or Windows Media Center, becuase they are both very bloated and/or very slow. Slow to browse, slow to load. I use vlc remote on my ipoop to browse and play videos. This combination works very quickly. I load videos as fast as I can tap. No delays at all. No clunky crapware to deal with. The only gripe I have is that the windows taskbar doesnt always go away when you switch to fullscreen. Ugh. The irony of having the perfect couch setup, only to have to get up and click on that stupid cone. lol. I keep assuming that bug is going to get fixed since I'm not the only one complaining about it.

 

[Slugbait]

However I have been unable to get it to play the DVDs I've ripped with Handbrake (m4v or mkv files)...I believe Windows 7 version doesn't have this problem and will play the files out of the box?

M4V yes, MKV no. For MKV, go here: http://www.groovypost.com/howto/howto/enable-mkv-windows-media-center/ or here http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/01/playing-mkvs-in-media-center.html but be prepared for troubleshooting issues.

I cant recommended either XBMC or Windows Media Center, becuase they are both very bloated and/or very slow. Slow to browse, slow to load.

On my X2 4200+ machine, this is kinda true, but not that bad. On my C2D/EE machine, this is completely false.

 

[Chapbass]

I cant recommended either XBMC or Windows Media Center, becuase they are both very bloated and/or very slow. Slow to browse, slow to load. I use vlc remote on my ipoop to browse and play videos. This combination works very quickly. I load videos as fast as I can tap. No delays at all. No clunky crapware to deal with. The only gripe I have is that the windows taskbar doesnt always go away when you switch to fullscreen. Ugh. The irony of having the perfect couch setup, only to have to get up and click on that stupid cone. lol. I keep assuming that bug is going to get fixed since I'm not the only one complaining about it.

Slow? I'm running mine (XBMC) on a 40 dollar Sandy Bridge celeron and 4GB ram. I think I built this box for like 200 bucks. Is it ultra-silky 100fps the entire time smooth? no. But I'm pretty picky with that sort of thing and it is perfect 95% of the time to me. And a hell of a lot nicer than using vlc.... :\

 

[KAZANI]

I cant recommended either XBMC or Windows Media Center, becuase they are both very bloated and/or very slow. Slow to browse, slow to load. I use vlc remote on my ipoop to browse and play videos. This combination works very quickly. I load videos as fast as I can tap. No delays at all. No clunky crapware to deal with. The only gripe I have is that the windows taskbar doesnt always go away when you switch to fullscreen. Ugh. The irony of having the perfect couch setup, only to have to get up and click on that stupid cone. lol.

I'm with you on XBMC, WMC. They offer a lot of GUI but navigation and playback with them is cumbersome. I decided it's best to just get a wireless mouse and stick with straightforward folder browsing. To me the HTPC experience is all about control and ease of use and, quite simply, all of that GUI polish that HTPC programs bring, only adds an additional layer of complexity which I don't need.

 

[pauldun170]

User of XBMC here.
No issues of slowness, menus are fine navigating through with my remote.
Plays every type of media file I have and tags everything properly right out of the box. Name your files and folder properly and it will download all the info, link movies broken out across multiple files and a bunch of other crap.

I use my iTouch to power up the PC and everything else is done through the MCE remote (unless the PC is in sleep mode then I just use the MCE remote.)
Much quicker and easier than a mouse.
1. Power button
2. Media center button on remote
3. Movies (or TV Shows, or Music or Pictures or Games) ->Title->up down buttons to pick movie.
EASY to back up config and rebuild.

There are a couple of great iPhone apps where you can manage it from your iTouch\iPhone.

If we get another TV for one of the bedrooms, I'll probably set up XBMCBuntu on another box.

WMC is very limited out of the box and you have to go chasing codec packs. I cant think of any reason to switch back. I will say that I never thought it to be slow or bloated. It was always responsive across several generations of hardware while I no longer consider it for video, I do occasionally use it for music.

For someone new to HTPC...first thing to do is to organize your folders and name all your files properly.
Get a remote..
Then try all of them.
XBMC, WMC and whatever else you want to try.
XBMC has great guides out there and will play everything out of the box
WMC will need some additional items for certain file types but works very well with TV tuner cards.

Keep in mind that for HD movies, the equipment you use cant be too ancient since your'll need HD decode capabiltiy (any discrete pcie GPU after 2006 should be fine)

 

[Binky]

7MC = live and recorded (DVR) TV, limited codec support, limited customization, simple to use
XBMC = no live TV, no DVR function, very customization, great codec support, slightly more complicated than 7MC, doesn't look at good to me

I use both, but since I use my machines a LOT for recording and playback of HDTV, 7MC is used almost exclusively.

 

[boomhower]

I use WMC7. Decent interface, easy to use, and wife proof. I use a Ceton tuner with an xbox 360 as an extender in the bedroom. Works great and I love saving $40 a month in DVR fees.

 

[assassin24]

Any recommended tutorials guys? Basically trying to get this thing going to where anyone in the house can use it. Will pickup a remote as well.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1302559
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/

That assassin guy sure has put in a lot of work to make getting into HTPC easy.

Something like 113 illustrated step-by-step tutorials now including WMC, Media Browser, XBMC, JRiver and much more.

 

[pauldun170]

That assassin guy sure has put in a lot of work to make getting into HTPC easy.

Something like 113 illustrated step-by-step tutorials now including WMC, Media Browser, XBMC, JRiver and much more.

:thumbsup:

 

[KAZANI]

I use my iTouch to power up the PC and everything else is done through the MCE remote (unless the PC is in sleep mode then I just use the MCE remote.)
Much quicker and easier than a mouse.
1. Power button
2. Media center button on remote
3. Movies (or TV Shows, or Music or Pictures or Games) ->Title->up down buttons to pick movie.

Whereas with a mouse you only need to click on a video file to get going and you don't have to put up with crippled seek bars during playback (plus you get to keep those $200 you'd spend for the iCrap).

 

[Dasda]

Assassin has very good information on the subject. Been doing lots of reading over at AVS. Never knew so much info existed over there.

 

[pauldun170]

Whereas with a mouse you only need to click on a video file to get going and you don't have to put up with crippled seek bars during playback (plus you get to keep those $200 you'd spend for the iCrap).

You mean use a mouse on on my couch?

No thanks.
You stick to your way if you like.
I'll stick to my setup.

It really is one of those things where its pointless to explain and you would have to try it your self. I can understand where you are coming from, since I've been there.
Having everything setup the way I do, there is no way I'd go back to "your way".

I do keep a wireless mouse keyboard in the cabinet for those times I need to do administrative work on the media center (OS maintenance). Touch it once a month.

 

[Jynxed]

I've been watching all my TV at home through SageTV for around 7 years. I'm able to watch any type of video and record TV in HD (Att Uverse).

The only input device needed is a remote and it's easy to use. Anyone can come in and use it just fine.

The only negative thing I can say about it SageTV is that Google bought them and I can no longer buy more licenses. I need an extra one or two.

 

[KAZANI]

You mean use a mouse on on my couch?

No thanks.
You stick to your way if you like.
I'll stick to my setup.

It really is one of those things where its pointless to explain and you would have to try it your self. I can understand where you are coming from, since I've been there.
Having everything setup the way I do, there is no way I'd go back to "your way".

I do keep a wireless mouse keyboard in the cabinet for those times I need to do administrative work on the media center (OS maintenance). Touch it once a month.

Suit yourself, I just don't see the point in, after having went through the pain of organising your media folders properly, having to use a crippled player just so I can get that GUI-induced euphoria. To me the home theatre experience is all about the media and simple ways to play them. I think XBMC has a lot of potential to become a good all-around media player (version 11 for instance has some very yummy audio visualisations which have me tempted to ditch foobar), it's just so remote control-oriented at this stage that it hurts its functionality for demanding users like me.