Unsmooth MKV playback on my LCD TV

[Blahpwap]

Yes.. LCD TV.
I have 25 HZ, Interlaced set as screen resolution and videos appear interlaced.

[Blahpwap]

Whereas when I had my HTPC connected to the new TV (Samsung), there was no way to set it to Interlaced.

[poisondeathray]

now I'm really confused. I think you are using "interlaced" differently than how it's meant to be used

I think you mean there is a setting on the tv that is labelled "interlaced" ?

Because nothing in your setup should be interlaced. The display is progressive, all the content in the mediainfo of the files you provided is progressive

[Blahpwap]

The Toshiba is an LCD TV... flat panel... NOT CRT.

All I'm saying is that on my HTPC I have set the refresh rate at 25hz/interlaced and that helps output the video in a way that to me looks smooth.

[poisondeathray]

sorry , not sure what's going on...

but it sounds like you probably have more problems than just incompatible encoding settings

[Blahpwap]

Ok.
Thanks for giving it a shot

[Tom Saurus]

Blahpwap: I have two questions the usb device you hook to your tv is it a usb stick as opposed to a usb hard drive with a power cord? The other is if you were to hook up this TV screen via a hdmi cable to your computer and play the video would it play smoothly on your tv screen?

I have a Phillips Divx Ultra Player with a USB slot and if I play files from a usb stick they are very choppy, if I play the same files with a usb hard drive with a power cord they play smoothly. Probably that isn't the issue you are dealing with. That WD Player sounds like quite a gizmo; I would get one if Future Shop Canada still carried them.

[jagabo]

I have a Phillips Divx Ultra Player with a USB slot and if I play files from a usb stick they are very choppy, if I play the same files with a usb hard drive with a power cord they play smoothly.

That means your usb stick is too slow. Get a faster one. Most sticks 4 GB and bigger are pretty fast.

[Blahpwap]

Blahpwap: I have two questions the usb device you hook to your tv is it a usb stick as opposed to a usb hard drive with a power cord? The other is if you were to hook up this TV screen via a hdmi cable to your computer and play the video would it play smoothly on your tv screen?

I have a Phillips Divx Ultra Player with a USB slot and if I play files from a usb stick they are very choppy, if I play the same files with a usb hard drive with a power cord they play smoothly. Probably that isn't the issue you are dealing with. That WD Player sounds like quite a gizmo; I would get one if Future Shop Canada still carried them.

Tom, I use an external WD My Passport HDD, with which I play movies fine on an HTPC. That isn't the problem.

I've sort of figured out what the problem for me is... I much prefer an interlaced image as I feel the movement is more smooth and easy on the eye. I am now trying to find out whether buying a streamer would allow me to output 1080p mkv files interlaced...

[jagabo]

I've sort of figured out what the problem for me is... I much prefer an interlaced image as I feel the movement is more smooth and easy on the eye.

But with film based material motions are the same for both 25p and 25i transmission. Only true 25i material (50 different fields per second) will show smoother motion -- typically live sporting events, news, etc.

[Blahpwap]

I just extensively tested the new LCD TV with my HTPC and for the life of me I could not achieve the same excellent results I can on my old LCD TV.
The old LCD TV resolution is set at 1920x1080, 25hz interlaced and presents a very smooth picture.
I tried those settings and a dozen others on the new TV but I still get the most annoying judder and flickering no matter what I do.

[jagabo]

Try setting the HTCP to 1920x1080p50. Or 1280x720p50.

[Blahpwap]

I did... no difference that I can see.