Buffalo Mediastation Bluray and HD DVD player, model BRHC-6316U2

[vhelp]

Hey everyone

I just got back from Curcuit City with my last and final purchase ($139 w/ tax) from them:

Buffalo Mediastation BluRay HD DVD combo drive. Model BRHC-6316U2.

visit: http://www.buffalotech.com

* external, for easy portability
* USB-2
* writes bluray, dvd, and cd media.
* plays bluray, hd dvd, dvd and cd media
* nero software suite
* TurboUSB software: improves data transfer speeds, to/from the unit

That's about all I know of it. I did very vaguely mention this product in another topic on this board. But it would seem that no one has heard of it (or good things of it) or its not popular enough that anybody knows about it.

Moving on..

In addition to this unit, of course I would need some bluray media (movies) to test-play-around with. So, I picked up the last bluray movie on the shelf (everyone went store-mad, thanks to the 60% off) the movie, "Scooby-Doo" which was selling for $24.99, minus the 60% off, came to around $10.99 or so--shortly after that, I made my way to bestbuy, but there movies were ski-high, so I left them alone--plus, I picked up other things at bestbuy: Soundblaster usb-2 card, $49 bucks.

Next, I made my way down to Wal-Mart, where their BR movies are aprox half price, regularly, and I purchased one more movie title, "AeonFlux" cause the future is flux -- that's what it said on the cover and that was selling for $14.95 bucks. I was shooting for "Bladerunner" but nobody seem to have it in stock.

I purchased those several movies (though not specifically) because I wanted to see what the quality aspects were about, plus what this medium has to offer in terms of special features, menus, etc., etc., etc., also, for when the time comes, to rip->hdd, for processing/analysis purposes, etc.

And last, I ran around looking for blur-ray media. I didn't want any -r / +r discs: they were selling for $9.99 give or take. And what I actually wanted was, RW's, (actually, BD-RE rewritable) but no one carried them..all except Staples. They had a couple left in stock. I only needed one: for test purposes. Final cost of that disc was $26 dollars w/ tax.

So, total cost, adding up bluray-everything:
1 bluray mediastation, ($139)
2 bluray movies, ($14.95 + $10.99)
1 BD-RE, rewritable disc, ($26)

PRICE: $190.94

All in all, I am hoping to get everything connected (if not this week, then definately by next week) and have everything working perfectly, plus the new usb-2 sound card (the tiny-est little thing you ever saw) and hoping to give their EAX effects a good setup for bluray movies. I miss the great sound I used to get with dvd movies when I had it connected to my old-er generation soundblaster card, which I long time ago removed from my system, maybe 5 years ago, replaced by my turtle beach (still in my win98 pc) but without EAX support: not like the true soundblasters, however. So, I can't wait to set that one up, too.

A special note: I do realize that there are many members on this board who have had bad issues/experiences with curcuit city stores. Personally, I have never had any to boast complaints about. Maybe those who had bad exp w/ them, those stores (I would say) are isolated to that store or area of stores, etc. Actually, all my store purchases were sucessfull, every one of them. So, from my personal experience with them, they were a good store and I will miss them..at least in my area, the store was a good store..plus, I knew most of the store clerks there for the last 10 years or so. And there will be faces that I will miss, specially the pretty ones, for sure!

And last, at least I have a bluray (and hd dvd) player, to test or review various movie content with, plus I can also write to bluray media, using RW (BD-RE) discs: yea! and that's an awsome bonus imho.

-vhelp 5049

[FulciLives]

That's a great price for a Blu-Ray burner. Makes me want to go visit a local Circuit City tomorrow and see if they have it.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
You link is not working so here is my own ---> http://www.buffalotech.com/

Here is a more direct link (link above is main site) ---> CLICK HERE

Also I want to add that the 5 disc Blu-Ray release of BLADE RUNNER is essential if you are a fan of the film and it was one of the titles in my very first batch of Blu-Ray movie purchases I made when I first bought my PS3. I haven't checked in a bit but I know AMAZON.COM was selling it in the $25 - $30 price range and with free shipping.

[yoda313]

@vhelp - looks good.

I'm still a ways off from picking up a bluray burner myself.

I think my new western digital tv media player will suffice for now. Especially since it plays m2ts files nicely with no file size restrictions.

- Let us know how your first bluray burn goes. I'd be interested in your experience

[vhelp]

@ fulci

Sorry about that. I'll fix it when I get a chance. Yeah, I can't believe you found the actual link, and to the actual drive. I went frantic searching for it as I was about to post this..couldn't find it and gave up. And, thank you for find it for me!

Yeah, the price was red-stickered for $230.99, and that was what I was actually going for and when I asked the cute dantie little gal if that can go any lower, she said, "sorry, that's as low as its gonna go" But, when she rang it up, my eyes nearly popped out..around $128 I think. I was so happy I ran out of there like a bandit holding on to it really tight and constantly looking to my left/right--you never know, hehe.

I got that one over by the camera section. It was hidden in a crallspace in their cabinet. I say, Look everywhere. You never know what some clerk might have shuved in those areas. And if you see something behind another, ask to see the first package (so that the other can be revealed) then ask to see: no, the other one

fulci, Try and head down their soon as posible--seven days left. Everything is now 50% to 70% off and they are going like pan cakes. Believe me. I got the last bluray movie title. Just go and see what you might find. WARNING: And, don't believe what you see on the sticker price, cause it will prob be wrong, like mine was. $230.99 vs. $128, I don't know. But this time, I guess I robbed them, for a change I honestly didn't think I was ever going to get a good deal on anything cause I thought they would all be take up. I was so wrong. JUST GO!

* The BD-BE disc I have is the 25 gig size..not the 50. So, I guess its the single layer, and not the dual layer.

* I'm just so glad that the unit is a USB device. As I said elsewhere: I am interested in only USB devices, for easy connection and portability purposes. And my next dvd burner/player was going to be usb. No more PCI cards for me with the exception of certain capture cards and other cards that I might *absolutely* need.

Also I want to add that the 5 disc Blu-Ray release of BLADE RUNNER is essential if you are a fan of the film

Are you kidding me..come on..you know I'm a die-hard fan !! dvd; vhs; and laserdisc; I own them all..except for the Harrison Ford voice narations. And it was suppose to be my very first title, too. But no one has it, so far. I was going to get another alternative, PLANET of THE APES, w/ Charlton Heston. But, at $35 dollars, I said, nahh, pass. Wal-Mart seems to have bluray the cheapest. But I'm going to make my way down to K-Mart (my store just down the street to me) lucky me..and see if they have it. I just gotta have it, so I can compre the dvd and my laserdisc rip of it and post some comparison (h264) videos and pics of it..if anything, just for kicks. I remember seeing a comparison the bluray version of BLADERUNNER on the doom9 board, and I'll be honest, I didn't like the quality of the pics demonstrated. And I don't think the OP did, iether. So, who knows. But I can't wait to get my hands on one, either way. Until then..

@ yoda313

I was actaully considering picking up the WD TV thing, was selling at bestbuy for $99 bucks, but then I decided not to.

I was hard pressed for a new 1920x1080 $149 (yesterday was BB's birthday--the one in my area, and most/many things was 50% off) vs. another one that was 1920x1200, selling for $199, but I didn't want the x1200 because obviously it entailed internal scalling for 1920x1080p, (samsung) so I passed that one up in favor of another one detailing exactly 1920x1080 this time, but I got cold feet and went on with my business. Regret ? you bet. But, I still have my money, hehe..maybe next time..at another place, in another deal, etc.

Yes, when I get a chance to test things out (can't wait) I'll post back my review.

-vhelp 5051

[DVWannaB]

vhelp,

I am anxiously anticipating your report back. Read some online reviews and it is very mixed. A few love it, a bunch in the middle could take it ir leave and a few hate it. All seem to agree that the bundled Nero software blows the hinges off the vault doors at Fort Knox.

I see Provantage has it for $197, just in case my local CC doesnt have any left or if I miss the sale cut off dates. In any case I would probably go with Provantage just in case I have to return it

[vhelp]

@ DVWannaB

All seem to agree that the bundled Nero software blows the hinges off the vault doors at Fort Knox.

if that good or bad ?

Yeah, I was looking at a bluray promo or something at bestbuy. The setup was a $249 blurray player and some (probably) 32" LCD tv, (I think LCD) and I have to admit, it looked pretty darn good, that setup. The video was a combination of Spiderman, 300, and a few other bluray stuff. I did see a lot of (I'll call it) bluray noise. Obviously that is the Image Processing (IP) filtering the movie that way, plus the LCD and its build-in IP, too, I guess. But it still looked great to me. Course, I'll just bet that if I had that same setup, that sooner or later I would find something(s) wrong or unappealing to that setup or tv or bluray or what-have-you

Getting the Buffalo BRHC-6316U2 setup on my windows xp (sp2) system will prob be challenging. I have aprox 290mb left of HDD space, and that usually goes lower as I run more apps. And you know how installations go..they usually require a min of 1gig of ram to install, when all they will install is something around 60mb, LoL. Oh well. But, I'll prob just dump some of the (avi) files to my 8gig stick temporarly.

But i'm acking to get it up and running--and also, the BD-RE disc, the brand is by Sony. I can't wait to test it and burn some test discs (I mean, my only single disc, hehe) and see how things go. Hey, if things work out ok, I might buy one BD-R disc and do my BLADERUNNER laserdisc on it, for kicks. I just wish I had an HDMI cable to hook to my 19" Westinghouse L1916HW: has DVI-D output, to my ATI Radeon HD 3450: has DVI-I output..just too scared to buy the wrong cables (and they're expansive) and don't want to ruin this monitor--I don't really like buying online.

-vhelp 5052

[vhelp]

Ok. I'm back with a mini-review

Actualy, I'm back from a bit of headacke: figuring out how to write (compile) a blu-ray disk. Nero 8 seems to be a real pain in the ass. I mean, if you aren't familiar or already know Nero, stay away from it. There's so many icons (of tools) that it puts into a folder and you are (suppose) to know already what each tool does, etc. I didn't know, and still don't know..how to compile a blu-ray disc.

Here's my success, so far:

1. SUCCESS: Installation--It took maybe 40 minutes or less to get all the drivers and (nero) software installed, etc. Without knowing nero, I was ablel to quicly burn an non-standard and no audio .mp4 video file to the BD-RE disc in under three minutes.

2. SUCCESS: Quick erase--is 2 minutes to complete. Not bad. I can live with that.

3. SUCCESS: burn bluray data disc--I can burn a data disc with video files. I was able to play an heavily encoded (high bitrate) mp4 and the included nero software played it perfectly. The same file (was an raw .264 video) though it choked in vlc, etc., but now plays pefectly smooth in nero's player. That too, is convoluted, by the way. Some files I have to rename the extention to in order for nero to play them..although that is prob my fault for encoding complicated (non-standard) h264 videos, though like I said, nero played the one that wouldn't play properly with ease, and straight from the Buffalo player disc, too.

4. SUCCESS: playability of commercial bluray media--with the included nero software, I was able to play my "Scooby-Doo" disc with no problem. The video was nice and smooth, and the audio was great, though only stereo on my end. I could even take a snap shot of the image though via print-screen (due to disc is copyrighted, camera was grayed out) and that is in RGB color space, but still excellent. I liked the pause feature. I could pause instantly, not like other apps where it still plays and then finally pauses. The default setup was what I used for the nero player. Everything looked greate on my 19" Westinghouse L1916HW LCD monitor, though that BASTARD gamma is still causing me a freeking problem. curse these later generation LCD monitors.

5. SUCCESS (see below posts/responses) for details [s:f14b37acf2]FAILED[/s:f14b37acf2]: create bluray video--now this is a major problem. If you don't know nero, look elsewhere. Hopefully, you know where else to look in creating bluray video (disc) for authoring/burning: I don't. For the life of me, this has proven very unsuccessful. Nero keeps bailing out because the video I give it has a problem. And, it doesn't say what the problem is: ie, my vids are .mp4 and .264 encoded via x264 cli tool, but non of them will accept. Either I'm missing something, or I just don't know what the heck I'm doing. I thought that nero would just create the necessary bluray folders and burn. Neither does it seem to accept already created bluray folders: ie, after (o) creating bluray disk is completed, via txmuxergui, nero still won't accept it.

So, as you can see, I'm at a loss as to how to go about creating a bluray disc and authoring it, etc. And, I don't know of any other tool I could use to create those. So, this last and necessary piece for this review will go unresolved until I figure out how. Sorry to those that might be following along. In the mean time, I'll go on record saying that nero can not create bluray discs, yet.

-vhelp 5053

[yoda313]

@vhelp - why not look into tmpgenc? I think their bluray app is Tmpgenc authoring works?

Give the a trial test run and see if its worth buying. I know I've been happy with tmpgenc in the past. I"m still using TDA 2.0.

[DVWannaB]

@ DVWannaB

All seem to agree that the bundled Nero software blows the hinges off the vault doors at Fort Knox.

if that good or bad ?

-vhelp 5052

That was supposed to be bad. I could see how that comment could be taken either way.

[vhelp]

[UPDATE] -- can now author to bluray (BD-RE) disc


** A MINI GUIDE TO: COMPILING AND AUTHORING A BLURAY DISC **
** video sources includes: mp4, and raw .264, as encoded via x264 cli tool
** video sources includes: mpeg-2 encoded videos <-- not thourghly tested with all formats

STEP 1:
Compile a Bluray disc with: tsmuxer (tsMuxeR GUI) 440kb size
1. drag your .mp4 or raw .264 videos into this tool.
2. select (o) Create Bluray Disk
3. compile it: note the location you create the folder (or create one) for these files (for use w/ imgburn below)

STEP 2:
4. Download: ImgBurn 1.9mb size
* no installation necessary: yea!

STEP 3:
( remember! we just created the bluray structure in STEP 1: 2 and 3 )
5. Tools -> Settings -> Write tab, select [x] enable "DVD-RAM / BD-RE FastWrite", and Click [ OK ]
6. Now, in imgburn main window (the intro interface) choose [ "Write files/folders to disc" ] icon
7. then, click Options tab -> File System: UDF, and then go to UDF Revision: scroll down to 2.60 and select it.
8. then locate your two bluray folders: \BDMV\ and \CERTIFICATE\, and drag it into the window just below where it says, Source. You'll see the mouse pointer turn to the '+' sign, and drop them into it.
9. last, we compile it by clicking on the green arrow or cd-rom diskette icon.
10. your done

So, as you can see, after few more searches, I found the answer
* portions from step 3 was snipped from PuzZLer Dec 22, 2008 response..many thanks.

If I missed anything, please let me know, as writing a guide we can sometime leave a few things out w/out realizing it.
Thanks.

-vhelp 5058

[DarrellS]

I'm still a ways off from picking up a bluray burner myself.

I think my new western digital tv media player will suffice for now. Especially since it plays m2ts files nicely with no file size restrictions.

I'm in the same boat. For the price of three or four blank discs, you can buy a 1TB drive that could hold approximately 37 Bluray titles that you could play on the $99 WD HD media player.

[vhelp]

DarrellS, yeah, the WD TV is definately my next toy ta get. I don't plan on burning one disc for the rest of my life, though this bluray business has definately been a learning experience for me: you saw how agonizing an experience I went through. Anyway.

I have a much better understanding of how things work though not thourghly. Now, I can refine my h264 encodes, and also attempt additional (bluray authoring) testings, like different resolutions and other specs, cause I'm still not finished getting the bluray authoring processes down yet. And now that I look back on it, its been fun, actually

So, would I recommend a bluray for everyone ? Well, maybe not everyone, but yeah, I say, do get yourself a bluray burner, if you can find one and afford it. I've laid down some of the ground work for you to get you up and running. My advice is to start with a rewritable disc. They are usually labeled, BD-RE on the cover/package. And, you can pick one up at your nearest Staples. Otherwise, all my other searches turned up nothing, unless you shop online. The one I got was $26 bucks. That might still be too high, so online might be cheaper for BD-RE discs/packs. And so far, the -R discs are $9.99 cheapest I've seen in stores. Online might be even cheaper. Me, I can't wait, so I hurry on down to my nearest store and hand them some cash, hehe..

-vhelp 5059

[yoda313]

I'm in the same boat. For the price of three or four blank discs, you can buy a 1TB drive that could hold approximately 37 Bluray titles that you could play on the $99 WD HD media player.

Well I have another reason NOT to get a bluray burner. I FINALLY made a high def mkv with 5.1 and it's IN SYNCH!!!! I can't frickin believe it! I've tried over and over and nothing worked quite right.

I was able to rip an hd-dvd with anydvd hd and then loaded it in ripbot264. I then selected the main title and chose 1280x720p and 5.1 ac3 through aften with 448kps sound. I set it two pass and 7.1gb target size. It took over 10 hours on my dual core 2.7ghz amd processor. I don't know the full time it took because i started it yesterday afternoon and it finished sometime before I got home from work today. So it was upwards of 24 hours max but probably 18 hours or something.

Anyway the damn thing looks perfect on the wdtv media player. There were a few blurry glitches here and there but tolerable. And the sound rocks! I didn't even have to use a dual layer disc to play it! I just copied it to my usb harddrive and I was good to go.

I'm so glad I this working. I'm hoping to have similar success on another disc. Then I can save a 1/3 of the storage space a muxed m2ts would take with essentially the same picture quality - a 7-8gb file is a lot easier to handle than a monster 22gb one.


-------------------


Anyway - glad to hear you did a successful bluray burn vhelp. Have fun

[DVWannaB]

good stuff vhelp. I have a unit on order. Local CC (bare-bone dry) didnt have any. The CC looked like a scene from the Road Warrior . I found one for $190 and free ship, so hope all goes well.

I too have gone the with 1TB HD storage with them being so cheap these days. Plan is to store movies and shows in H264 (recorded on Hauppauge HD PVR 1212) on HD and play back on Popcorn Hour through USB2 HD enclosure. The Blu Ray burner will serve for that instance where I need to burn a disc for whoever needs it, plus it is always fun to play with new toys.

I wonder if you can mix H264 *.ts and mpeg2 *.ts files in the same blu ray compile? Hmmmm........tests to come.

[yoda313]

wonder if you can mix H264 *.ts and mpeg2 *.ts files in the same blu ray compile? Hmmmm........tests to come.

Possibly. I imagine you'd have to do it as seperate titles - or whatever bluray calls them. I'm sure you couldn't have them in one giant folder structure.

[vhelp]

I am happy for you that you made the right choice. Hopefully, by now, you know not to always believe the average review of other sites..specially those that you don't frequent or visit ever. You just can't go by them. If I did, I would not have any toys. I actually visited the Buffalo forum boards. I couldn't believe the amount of poor experiences those members were having. In fact, I truely believe that the main driving cause of their troubles have to do with the fact that they don't (truely) know what they are doing in the first place: much like me! So true! But, once I got up and running with my first (proper term: author) it was smooth sailing. Now, I feel like a pro, like i can burn anything. Gosh, I hope I don't have to eat those words, later on Anyway.

I don't think you'll have any regrets. This unit is imho, a solid built unit. It almost looks like the ps3 or whatever that sleek and black looking game console looks like, but more bare-bones, without the gaming parts to it. It is a solid problem-free unit. At least in my test trials with it. At this time, you can't test with -R disc's because in all practicals its just too expansive. I doubt there are anyone who actualy (thourghly) tested with all Brands of discs, and on a regular bases. They are at least $10 bucks a piece. And, from my fast CD and DVD writers experiences (I have many to boast about) not a single one has ever failed on me, not even given signs of trouble. I seem to always fair well with these types of devices.

As far as the unit goes, it has not failed or given any signs of failure since I fired it up. It even has a power saver feature..well, it doesn't seem to shut off complete, as the green light is on. There's a blue light for when you are burning a bluray disc. At least that reminds you that you are working with bluray Anyway. The unit is always cold..never hot nor warm..though not fare to say that, because it is winter after all. But then again, I don't go burning dozens of discs--at least not yet..

But, so far, my favorite tools, for authoring bluray videos on disc is:

* tsMuxeR GUI
* imgburn

Between the two, they are pretty fast to setup and go, or should I say, burn. And I like about the quick-erase, (at least on this drive) is that coupled with imgburn: when you select to ERASE a (BD-RE) disc, it actaully much faster than the one that NERO features: in that one, you have to wait 2 minutes. But in imgburn, its more or less like 30 seconds
Nice, for when you are testing a lot of different (bluray-encoding) scenarios. Gosh, I can't wait for BR discs to go down in price. But at least I don't have to wait for quick-erase functions. So that helps in these trials.

Oh, also, the unit is quiet. You don't hear any grinding noise or burning..none that I could detect. Its a fun unit. Its insurance that I have a bluray writer besides me, ready to go to work anytime I come into a project worthy of the blue!

@ yoda313, don't be too quick in putting ([s:a6530d6f9f]down[/s:a6530d6f9f]) off a bluray writer. It defiantely has potential, just you wait, just like the CD and DVD writer/burners did, and took off, far as your imagination could drive you, BR writers will lead you there, too..you'll see..

@ DVWannaB, I'll let you do the honors of testing and finding that out, as I'm not fully breasted on such things.

wonder if you can mix H264 *.ts and mpeg2 *.ts files in the same blu ray compile? Hmmmm........tests to come.

But if you want, I could run quick test, just for you just tell me what to do, and I'll do it on a BD-RE disc, cause i'm looking for an excuse to burn yet another test scenario.

For now, I'm actually looking for a few good reasons to may buy one or two -R discs to author to..maybe one of my laserdisc h264 encodes, I don't know. I've been fine-tuning my x264 cli encodes and I think I have at least one or two working templates though I don't think they may be 100% by the book: standard.

Hmm.. because I can't get the megui (standarards) templates revealed in their original param string (they are in xml format) I can't see the params clearly. Too confusing, and, I can't get megui to encode like everybodyelse selems to be able to do. So, I gave up on megui and have been just winging it through trial n error scenarios. But so far, the NERO player seems to be play everything I've thrown at it, standard or not. But the goal is to create to spec, for stand alone players. So, I continue to drive ahead in my endeavors.

-vhelp 5061

[DVWannaB]

@ DVWannaB, I'll let you do the honors of testing and finding that out, as I'm not fully breasted on such things.

wonder if you can mix H264 *.ts and mpeg2 *.ts files in the same blu ray compile? Hmmmm........tests to come.

But if you want, I could run quick test, just for you just tell me what to do, and I'll do it on a BD-RE disc, cause i'm looking for an excuse to burn yet another test scenario.

vhelp,

that would be cool if you could do a test compile/author/burn. What I am curious to see is if a H264 clip and and MPEG2 clip can be compiled and burned together. Yoda in the post above believes this is possible, but that the H264 and MPEG2 would have to be put in different titles or folders or VTS or whatever the terminology that is used fro Blu-ray.

[vhelp]

yeah, you got me on that one. Titles: I have no idea about such things. I only know that in (when using) Nero 8 that I could create chapters (i think) and pics were assigned to them and I could choose where I wanted to jump to or start the movie playing at position. I don't know if titles is the same thing as chapters though, and I don't know how to do that in tsmuxer / imgburn though they are prob not a feature part of those tools or maybe it is that you have to dig inside the \BDVM\ or \CERTIFICATE\ folders first, prior to author steps, for that, ..I don't know.

* maybe someone else can shed some light on this "titles" thing and help us on our way, else..

But, I could prob just do two compiles (separately) and then drag both the compiles to author in imgburn and see what happens. Let me try this out right now..I was just about to go to bed when I saw the update in this discussion..so let me throw some water in my fast first..i'll be right back..

-vhelp 5063

[vhelp]

after going over a few things in my setup, here's some progress:

test trial 1: FAILED -- does not complete author, it (imgburn) stops.

1. when imgburn authors (h264 or mpeg-2 videos) it uses the .m2ts notation/container.
2. dragging in two sets of \BDVM\ and \CERTIFICATE\ folders didn't seem to do anything.


test trial 2: FAILED -- only plays the first video

1. copied video from other BDVM/CERTIFICATE folders (ie, 00001.m2ts renamed to 00002.m2ts)
2. when authored, and then played, only the first video plays.

test trial 3: IN PROGRESS -- TBD

I read various google searches, finally came across one that lead to this and that and then doom9:here
by musicman2311 below:

f: http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-140090.html
s: Edit Blu-Ray... by rick090 Aug 5th, 2008
f: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1119634
s: Authoring Blu-Ray (with menus) without re-encoding AVCHD clips. Is it possible? by phnxcoyote;(7 ) March 28, 2008

hi, i might have 2 suggestions:

1. if you use AVCHD only, you can easily create a wonderful disc without recoding using AVCHD with Nero 8.
It allows you to even create an oversize disc which stores the result on had disc in a bdmv folder.
As far as I know, that one will work if burned to a BD-R/RE.

2. if you want to use other than AVCHD spec, i did this for a test - 2 movies with menue (2-D)

1. select to create Blu-Ray disc in Nero 8
2. use dummy videos from cam corder *.m2ts
3. author menue and create files (BDMV) - nero will always recode those movie clips, hence i use very small ones

now you have a playable file folder (BDMV) with 00000.m2ts for first movie and 00001.m2ts for 2nd and 00002.2mts for menue.

4.create BDMV for the blu ray files seperately by using e.g.
Tsmuxer - each output will have complete bdmv folder
with a stream called 00001.m2ts and playlist and clipinf accordingly

5. rename the tsmuxer output files (*.m2ts, *.pls, *. clpinf) to match the above created structure with menue

6. exchange the orginial files from above with the renamed ones

7. hex edit the playlist file, so it points to the renamed *.m2ts file. (in character field you might see 00001.m2ts - change it to e.g. 00000.m2ts for example)

that's it - i have tried that on a BD-RE on PS3 - hope it helps

. . .

I'm going to try this one, maybe tomorrow cause I'm too tired. I'm almost confident that it will work with the Buffalo bluray writer, imgburn / tsmuxer / Nero 8 / [hexedit?] tools, since I have all.

-vhelp 5064

[vhelp]

Pfew..Ok. Here's the scoope..

When refereing to "titles" and playability, if you were meaning, can you play different video formats: ie, h264 and mpeg-2 videos under the same compilation, then the answer is, yes..it can play both formats. But let me explain, in my limited understanding of this new format, bluray:

Using a variation of the above method, I was able to "replace" the *.m2ts files with the two that I had that were in their original vhelp prestine encoded quality. One was an mpeg-2 and the other was an h264 video.

(Nero 8 re-encodes the videos to mpgv files. Dont' know what thats all about but they were some variation of mpeg-2 video, both videos though each (original) video, one was mpeg-2 and the other was h264 vids)

It seems that, for bluray, the video container format is *.m2ts and doesn't matter whether the video is mpeg-2 or h264 or prob any other video. Just so long as the player (note: software is less strict) understands or determine what the container containes, and then filters that information to the correct decoder for processing. Now, hardware players will prob require more strict specifications while software player may be less tollerant.

pros/cons:
1. All in all, this was a successfull first try outs. The only problem I faced was the the video does not play when you pop in the BD-RE disc in the player, nor software. You have to navigate to the folder \BDVM\STREAMS folder and drag that into the software player. Then, all the videos will play. If you have repeat-all set in the player, it will keep playing.
2. In order for this to be successful, I had to first use the Nero 8 software to create the title(s) and compile to the BDVM/CERTIFICATE folders. Sort of like templatizing things.
3. Nero 8 re-encodes your videos. It also (seems) to encode them to some strange mpgv (mpeg-2 type) videos.
4. Nero 8 took quite a while (extra time) to process thanks to re-encoding each video: each mpgv file.
5. tip: you could just feed Nero 8 very short length videos so's to speed up the process dramatically.
7. Audio was not tested in this, so I don't know how it might be effected in all this. Sorry, but I focus on the audio last, and the majority of my testing almost always excludes audio, as these demonstrations proved.

Perhaps there is a way to fine-tune this. But, it was fairly simple to setup: given the above. But once you have your title(s) setup: ie, 2 or more titles, and configure as separate BDVM\CERTIFICATE folders for each of them, you are ready to compile whatever combination of videos you desire..be it two videos or three videos, and so on. Maybe when I get more time, I'll work on something slighly faster or easier.

That about wraps this segment up..good night

-vhelp 5065

[DVWannaB]

thanks for all the hard work and great info, vhelp. I got my burner today and may run out to get a re-write disc tomorrow to start doing some trial runs of my own to add to the body of work that you have started.

[yoda313]

@ yoda313, don't be too quick in putting (down) off a bluray writer. It defiantely has potential, just you wait, just like the CD and DVD writer/burners did, and took off, far as your imagination could drive you, BR writers will lead you there, too..you'll see..

I understand the potential. It's just that right now I have an alternative that works very very well.

In fact I'm contemplating buying a 1tb harddrive just for this application. Then I'd have all the storage I'd need for quite some time.

I guess I'm just waiting for burners and media to come down from the stratosphere. Once they get in a more economical range than I'll probably make the drop. Just remember how long it took for cd burners and then dvd burners to reach economical points. The same thing is true for bluray burners.

I've just side stepped the media route for now. Something that wasn't really plausible or even imaginable when cd's and dvd's first hit the stage.

[vhelp]

thanks for all the hard work and great info, ...

..anytime..

DVWannaB, just only realize this: those BD-RE disc's may be *hard* to find. Believe me! I search maybe 8 stores total before I finally gave up, but when I saw Staples still open (and almost gave them up as I hesitated) but ran in anyway. Sure enough, they had one, but they only seem to carry a small handful, like five. And they are in a hard plastic protective key-box..go figure. But, you'll definately LoL get by quite easily with the 25g -RE disc for plenty of test burns.

I do want to get the WD TV, too. Maybe today..I don't know. But I think I'm suppose to get an raw hdmi cable, to run from the WD TV to the monitor, I think, but my monitor doesn't have a raw hdmi connectee part..again, I don't know..that's whats been holding me off. Anyway.

-vhelp 5066

[yoda313]

But I think I'm suppose to get an raw hdmi cable, to run from the WD TV to the monitor, I think, but my monitor doesn't have a raw hdmi connectee part..again, I don't know. Anyway.

What do you mean by "raw Hdmi"? As far as I know HDMI is HDMI. As long as it is that flat plug you should be fine. I just use a standard hdmi cable to go from the wd media player to my hdtv and it works fine.

EDIT - do you mean hdmi-dvi? Then you wouldn't have audio if thats the case. Dvi is video only. You'd have to either hook the analog rca audio cables to the tv or rely soley on the fiber optic out to the amp.