Playing HD content on Mac....streaming to TV thorugh DVI...and other Qs..

[cesca07]

Hi, I'm a new mac user, and i've got a hold of quite a lot of HD files on my mac.....problem is, most files are .mkv files are playback is spotty at best on VLC; I have a great Samsung HD TV, to wich i connect my mac through DVI to see movies and stuff. I have a series of questions.

1) Is there a way in wich the mac displays the screen in 16:9 and not the weird proportion it does right now? I always lose of to sides and the the top and botton of the display (if i want fullscreen).
2) What cable do I need for the audio? I mostly use headphones or an analog cable in wich the sound loses a lot; a digital form of sound transfer.
3) Wich program is the best of HD playback?
4) I have a PS3, so I have a blu ray player, is there a way to burn or view all these .mkv files on my ps3 or a a blu ray or something....I know the ps3 will play divx and xvid in the future, but .mkv files?

Well thanks a lot guys...

[terryj]

use Merkonk's excellent mokgvm2DVD to convert your
.mkvs to DIVX avi's, and then burn to disc using Toast.
You can burn as either .divx files or author and burn as a DVD.
( it will be SD, not HD though)

Audio cable out for the audio...I use one from radio shack that
plugs into the headphones jack, and then splits back into stereo
( L and R) analog input.

I use Quicktime Pro to play back, but others may chime in with their favs.

Last, if your monitor supports it, you can adjust it to display widescreen
in the Display preferences in the System Control Panel.

[cesca07]

thanks for the reply......Is there a programe lile mkv2vob for mac? I´ve read about it and it seems the easiest way for good playback on my ps3 and hdtv, but it´s only windows...

[patlabombe]

Download and install Perian from www.perian.org and read it directly in Quicktime or FrontRow. I encountered some mkv files and they worked well with that setup.

[cebep]

2) What cable do I need for the audio? I mostly use headphones or an analog cable in wich the sound loses a lot; a digital form of sound transfer.

donno what kind of Mac do you use but if MacBook or Pro, both have combined optical digital audio line in/output located in the 3.5mm audio jack. to be able to use ordinary optical cable all you will need is Toslink to 3.5mm Mini Plug Adaptor Optical Adaptor. here is one on ebay I just bought. so you can easily stream 5.1 sound to your home cinema from your MacBook.

I am now buying mini DVI to DVI adaptor and DVI - HDMI adaptor to watch HD movies on my TV. pls advise if you solved the problem with screen orientation.

I solved the problem of burning HD movies to DVD's by purchasing 1TB Western Digital external HDD
I wander if I would be able to watch HD movies streamed to my Mac from the HDD over USB or FireWire. Anyone had such experience?

BTW, what would you suggest as connection bus, USB or FireWire?
would be happy to share experience.

[cebep]

guys, I have a bigger problem. now I have downloaded .mkv files and English audiotracks come as separate .ac3 or .dts files. anyone has an idea which program could be used to add these audiotracks to .mkv files in Mac?

I use VLC player to playback .mkv files

thanks!

[terryj]

I solved the problem of burning HD movies to DVD's by purchasing 1TB Western Digital external HDD
I wander if I would be able to watch HD movies streamed to my Mac from the HDD over USB or FireWire. Anyone had such experience?

BTW, what would you suggest as connection bus, USB or FireWire?
would be happy to share experience.

DEFINITELY FW, not USB.
FW has a sustained throughput of about 36MB a second.
USB does not offer sustained, only Burst Output,
which means a lot of buffering waiting for stuff to play.
get FireWire for sure.

[rumplestiltskin]

Another suggestion (though not necessarily the cheapest solution):

AppleTV. Convert your files to MP4 or H264, drop them into iTunes, sync with the AppleTV. Now the files are sitting in the AppleTV and you may watch what and when you want without worrying about having to dedicate your Mac to playback use.

The AppleTV requires a TV with HDMI or Component inputs. Someone makes an adapter that permits the DVI port on your TV to be used. Don't remember who it is at this moment.

[cebep]

thanx for the feedback.
another thing is that I noticed my MyBook playing 1080 movies (VLC) dropping frames. it looks like MacBook is slow a little for full resolution. although movie was 1080 I was watching it on my 42' tv with 720 resolution.

now downloading movies in 720 resolution. anyone had the same problems?

[Marnatha]

Another suggestion (though not necessarily the cheapest solution):

AppleTV. Convert your files to MP4 or H264, drop them into iTunes, sync with the AppleTV. Now the files are sitting in the AppleTV and you may watch what and when you want without worrying about having to dedicate your Mac to playback use.

The Apple TV requires a TV with HDMI or Component inputs. Someone makes an adapter that permits the DVI port on your TV to be used. Don't remember who it is at this moment.

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you want to view HD content, Apple TV will not be a good choice because you convert the files to H.264 format. I am only learning about this, but I thought there was an uproar in the community when they found out Apple TV would only play H.264.

Cheers, Brent

[pixel zombie]

what's wrong with the H.264 format?

[Marnatha]

I may have miss spoken on the H.264. The Apple TV wasn't going to allow a high enough quality to play on a big TV. The Apple TV is nice in how it can be linked in with the iTunes network, but if you are looking for high quality, it didn't meet the mark. I will have to dredge up the notes from the forum that had very lively debates on the subject if you like.

Cheers, Brent

[darkshadowofmordor]

Hi, I have a question. I have a MacBook Pro 15" with a dual link DVI-I out port. I also have SONY HDTV which isn't brand new, but it plays HD. Since it is not new, for HD, it has YPbPr and RGB H/V (horizontal/vertical sync) inputs. Can anyone tell me a method to get the highest quality possible connecting my laptop to the TV using my DVI-I port on my MacBook Pro and the YPbPr or RGB on the TV? Cheaper options are preferable, of course.

[edDV]

thanx for the feedback.
another thing is that I noticed my MyBook playing 1080 movies (VLC) dropping frames. it looks like MacBook is slow a little for full resolution. although movie was 1080 I was watching it on my 42' tv with 720 resolution.

now downloading movies in 720 resolution. anyone had the same problems?

cebep,

Yes, most people struggle to play 1080p h.264.

It would help if you identified your Mac hardware, OSX version, HDTV model number and audio playback device (e.g. TV, audio receiver with S/PDIF optical/coax, etc.).

For a 1366x768 resolution TV, you may be better off connecting the Mac to the "PC Port" which is VGA. Use a DVI-I to VGA cable. Your Samsung manual should list resolutions accepted on the PC port.

Also, do you see a difference playing to the Mac monitor vs. the HDTV for skipping, etc. ?

[Kryton]

Have you considered the WD TV?

It's a little box (with HDMI and Optical output) from Western Digital that sits between a USB drive and your TV and can handle .mkv files. They are literally flying off the shelves in Europe I saw some today for 99 euros at a local retailer but they only had two left and when I reached the shelf they were gone! The WD TV also supports HFS+ drives (not journalled though).