Noob/PC Convert/MS Media Center

I just bought my first Mac last night to replace my PC that I've been having problems with. I also bought it with the understanding that it could pretty much do whatever my PC could do. I primarily used the PC for internet and watching/recording live tv shows. On my PC, I had my HD cable box connected to the PC, the Microsoft Media Center would communicate to the media extender, which is my XBOX 360, and I could watch live or recorded shows on my TV. Very easy.
Before I bought the iMac, I told the Apple rep my configuration and she said, although Apple doesnt have an equivalent to the MS Media Center, I could get the Pinnacle Mac HD Stick (eyeTV lite), download XMBC, and I'd be good to go. Unfortunately, that is not the case and I'm considering returning the Mac for a PC.
Has anyone set up their Mac to do what I'm looking to do and how did you do it. The Pinnacle support is no help and neither is the Apple rep.
Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. I like the Mac but I NEED my TV.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
http://www.elgato.com/ has a much friendlier Mac support staff for this kind of configuration and a better guide as to what devices work.

Similar Messages

How can I convert the metadata tags on my mp4s to xml files so that they can be read in Windows Media Center?

I have a library with almost 3000 movies and TV shows that I have fully tagged. However, I have decided to start using Windows Media Center and it does its metadata tagging through XML files. I wanted to know if anyone could tell me if there was a way to extract the metadata from those mp4s and convert them to a format that WMC could read? Thanks!!!!

iTunes can make XML playlists so it might be all you need, I made a simple one file playlist and exported it from iTunes. The result is shown below. In principle I could delete the playlist and the entry from the library, as long as I don't delete the file, then later reimport the XML playlist file. I haven't tested this particular scenario, but I assume that iTunes will read all the properties as listed unless it can read some kind of tag from the file itself in which case the current value of the tag would take precedence.
What I don't know is what media center would make of this file, or what its files look like, however assuming they have a similar structure that can be decoded then it should be possible to read data from the iTunes library and write out a text file that will make sense to media centre.
Video Test.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Major Version</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Minor Version</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Date</key><date>2013-09-26T23:30:26Z</date>
<key>Application Version</key><string>11.1</string>
<key>Features</key><integer>5</integer>
<key>Show Content Ratings</key><true/>
<key>Music Folder</key><string>file://localhost/E:/iTunes/iTunes%20Media/</string>
<key>Library Persistent ID</key><string>CCF046191585EA85</string>
<key>Tracks</key>
<dict>
<key>155170</key>
<dict>
<key>Track ID</key><integer>155170</integer>
<key>Name</key><string>Abbott & Costello: "Two Tens For A Five" & "Who's On First"</string>
<key>Artist</key><string>Abbott & Costello</string>
<key>Album Artist</key><string>Abbott & Costello</string>
<key>Album</key><string>Abbott & Costello: "Two Tens For A Five" & "Who's On First"</string>
<key>Genre</key><string>Comedy Clip</string>
<key>Kind</key><string>MPEG-4 video file</string>
<key>Size</key><integer>110483524</integer>
<key>Total Time</key><integer>532096</integer>
<key>Year</key><integer>1950</integer>
<key>Date Modified</key><date>2013-06-19T17:35:18Z</date>
<key>Date Added</key><date>2012-12-01T17:30:57Z</date>
<key>Bit Rate</key><integer>156</integer>
<key>Comments</key><string>www.dvdvideosoft.com</string>
<key>Artwork Count</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Persistent ID</key><string>5AF2C490D1E065CD</string>
<key>Track Type</key><string>File</string>
<key>Has Video</key><true/>
<key>HD</key><false/>
<key>Video Width</key><integer>1136</integer>
<key>Video Height</key><integer>640</integer>
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/E:/iTunes/iTunes%20Media/Home%20Vide os/Abbott%20&%20Costello_%20_Two%20Tens%20for%20a%20Five_%20&%20_Who's%2 0on%20First_.mp4</string>
<key>File Folder Count</key><integer>3</integer>
<key>Library Folder Count</key><integer>1</integer>
</dict>
</dict>
<key>Playlists</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Name</key><string>Video Test</string>
<key>Playlist ID</key><integer>1930541</integer>
<key>Playlist Persistent ID</key><string>30BF2769C94F7F29</string>
<key>All Items</key><true/>
<key>Playlist Items</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Track ID</key><integer>155170</integer>
</dict>
</array>
</dict>
</array>
</dict>
</plist>
Such files are easier to interpret if opened with Notepad++.
tt2

Media Center on Standard Def TV with 2009 Mini

Hi all,
I'm recently married and since my wife the chef got every pot and pan she could ever hope for as wedding gifts, I get to treat myself to a Mac Mini media center. I'm hoping someone out there can give me their opinion on resolution quality.
Here's my current setup. I have a five year old 27 inch Sony Trinitron Wega 27FS120 which is limited to 480i. I have a first generation Macbook Pro and currently use a DVI to cable adapter to connect by composite when we want to stream Netflix, Hulu or use Boxee. The quality of streaming Netflix is acceptable for us, and while Hulu is a bit washed out it's still acceptable. The text on Boxee can be difficult to read at times, but we can live with it. iTunes standard definition downloads are great, and the HD obviously doesn't come across on the TV but we're very pleased with iTunes video.
From everything I've read, in order to make this work, I would need to use the mini-dvi or mini-displayport on the Mini to connect to a VGA converter to connect to composite video to make the transition to Mac Mini. My #1 concern is that video quality will deterioriate as a result of the conversion/additional adapter and I'm not going to be satisfied with the quality. We're drive-it-into-the-ground people and shudder at the thought of replacing a perfectly good TV if we can get the same quality out of the VGA-hooked media center as we're used to for a couple of more years. However, if there's going to be a noticable dropoff, with Black Friday coming, we'll bite the bullet.
Can anyone comment on what I might expect the dropoff in video quality to be considering what I'm currently using?
Thank you!
Ryan

My opinion is you won't be seeing much difference between what you have now with the MacBook Pro and the new mini. Whether the video signal translation takes place in the root device or in an external device, the final on-screen quality difference should be negligible between the two because the primary limitations come from other points in your configuration, not the point of translation.
Is S-Video use an option with your TV? You might realize at least a slight improvement over what you see now with composite video.

Need advice on on a Mac Pro 1,1 Media Center

I currently have a 2009 Mac Mini running as my home media center, but I recently came by a FREE Mac Pro 1,1 and have decided to repurpose it as my media center so I can migrate my Mac Mini to my bedroom TV where it will live an easy life doing nothing but run Plex Home Theater, Netflix, and EyeTV. This machine falling into my lap was also quite timely because my 4-bay Drobo is running low on available expansion and another Drobo isn't in the budget at the moment.
This vintage mac pro is running Lion 10.7.5, has 1 old and crusty 500GB hardrive, dual x5160 processors, 4GB RAM (one stick i'm pretty sure is toast judging by the red light and the kernel panics), and the standard NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB graphics card. It will be used primarily for the following: network storage for iphoto and itunes libraries, streaming video, Plex Media Server & Plex Home Theater, and Handbrake encoding. I also have a goal of safety of data for my movies, photos and music as this machine will supplement my current Drobo storage.
My plans are for a 128GB SSD boot drive installed in one of the PCIe slots and then to load up all 4 of the 3.5" drive bays with WD Green hard drives. I have also ordered 4GB of replacement RAM, so upon removal of the faulty unit I will have 7GB.
Here is where I need advice because I am not very familiar with RAID and the differences between hardware or software raid. Am I better off getting four drives of the same size and setting them up as RAID 5 (I think) using Apple's RAID utility or should I throw in three 1TB drives and then install a fourth 3TB or 4TB drive as a Time Machine backup for the other three?
Should I upgrade the OSX to the technically unsupported latest version? Or is it not worth the trouble for this application?
Also, is there any benefit to upgrading the graphics card to the ATI Radeon 5770? Would this yield an improved image quality? I am outputting to a Denon AV Reciever and subsequently to a 100" projection screen, if that makes a difference. I also noticed the 5770 has an HDMI port, wich would be nice, but not necessary since I can use a DVI converter and woud still need to use the optical audio out anyway.
Much obliged for any input

My plans are for a 128GB SSD boot drive installed in one of the PCIe slots and then to load up all 4 of the 3.5" drive bays with WD Green hard drives. I have also ordered 4GB of replacement RAM, so upon removal of the faulty unit I will have 7GB.
PCIe cards that use or support SSD are not bootable until you get to 2008 (and that is limited too).
Green are not suited for any form of array unless say NAS and WD RED. Better option would be 3 x 2TB WD Blacks in a mirror, and too many people only use two drives, well 3 is much easier safer and works better. Might want to invest in www.SoftRAID.com product even.
Best price and quality, got my 1,1 with 8 x 2GB (ideal is 4 or 8 DIMMs)
2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $25
http://www.amazon.com/BUFFERED-PC2-5300-FB-DIMM-APPLE-Memory/dp/B002ORUUAC/
With price of 250GB SSD $155 I'd go with that or stick with $89 for 128GB .

Windows movie maker/ windows media center question

I have a camera that records video in .mov .h264 format that I save on my pc using windows live movie maker. It converts it to a wmv video format still in the 1080P resolution it was shot in. The question I have is that when I go to burn these files to a dvd using windows media center does the resulting video end up down converted to standard definition instead of the HD it was saved as. Is there something I have to change in the settings on windows media center to be able to burn these files in same 1080P resolution it was filmed in, or do I have to convert the .mov files to something other than Windows media video to be able to keep the HD quality, or do I need a different burner other than DVD(blu-ray) for example to be able to burn these files. I have a blu-ray player.

I'll let others answer the question on Windows Movie Maker...
Keep in mind if you put an HD video on a DVD... not all DVD players will support it. You may wish to burn to a Blu-Ray disk.
Personally I use Premiere Elements or Pinnacle Studio. I create an MP4 file and then save it to a DVD for those without Blue-Ray

Changing From Windows 8.1 PRO with Media Center To Just Windows 8.1 PRO

Hi,
I am trying to convert my windows to Windows 8.1 PRO from an unactivated version of Windows 8.1 PRO with Media Center (a free trial I got when I purchased my computer that expired). I am having an issue where it says to "Activate Windows."
I purchased a Windows 8.1 PRO key and when I try to enter it into the "Activate Windows" under PC settings, it tells me that "This key can't be used to activate this version of windows." What do I do?

Check with MS activation support : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929
Arnav Sharma | http://arnavsharma.net/ Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading
the thread.

Creative Zen Portable Media Center + Windows 7 = Good Stuff

Found my old Creative Zen Portable Media Center the other day while cleaning. I had put it aside since I found the process of moving/converting AVIs to it really cumbersome. Just for fun I hooked it up to my new laptop running Windows 7. It found the device instantly and loaded drivers.
Then came the best part, from Windows Media Center I am now effortlessly able to move my AVI movie files onto the
Creative Zen Portable Media Center. Mind you, they still get converted but all that happens in Windows Media Center, no more wonky 3rd party stuff.
Then I was able to play those movie files on my Creative Zen Portable Media Center. Yes, woohoo!? I don't have to donate it after all.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing Sprung. Welcome on board!

Media Center ability to play movies from computer

When will this option be available. Pictures and music is great, but the real use would be the ablility to play movies. I have many old VHS movies converted on my machine and would like to play them on the TV. Media Center in its current form is useless to me and I was told it had this ability when I got my FIOS.

The movie was probably purchased with another user account (do you have more than one account?). If so, then the computer must be authorised to use that account.
Have a nice day.

Bootcamp and Media Center 2005

I have a full version of media center intended for any pc and whenever i try to install it on my macbook pro via leopard, the entire install process will go through, but after install i boot to windows and i get a disk error. Any ideas. I was able to install this exact same OS via the bootcamp beta, and even after the upgrade to leopard, the MCE 2005 os worked. But after i did a comlete os install of leopard, i can no longer use leopards boot camp to install this os successfully. Any ideas, or where can i get a old copy of bootcamp beta?

I just installed Windows w/Media Center 2005 on my iMac core2duo 2GHz 2GB ram with Leopard two nights ago. I received the same issue on my first install attempt. Boot camp creates a Fat32 partition, so I used the convert to NTFS when I installed Media Center. I thought it worked until the restart. I had to reformat the partition NTFS and install again. This time with no problems.

FIOS and Media Center

My Media Center PC has lost the TV signal, and will not configure. TV tuner card supports digital tv, card is working, and replaced the cable, but still no signal. Verizon support wasn't terribly helpful - any ideas? Could the switch to all digital last month now require a converter/set top box, even though the tuner card says it supports digital?

The over-the-air FCC shut-off boxes receive 8-VSB DTV and convert it to NTSC. FiOS boxesreceive 256-QAM DTV and convert it to NTSC. They are absolutely NOT the same. On the bright side, up to three are free from Verizon, AND they receive any SD signal you are subscribed to on your regular STB, not just the Off-Airs and PEGs. It is a GREAT deal. Get some before they start charging. I think they will just send them to you if you ask.

Recorded TV - from Windows Media Center to iTunes

Is it possible to import recorded TV from Win Media Center to iTunes?

Sure, if you convert it to a iTunes compatible MP4 file. There are lots of Third Party iPod Video converters. Do a search for Videora, it's free and easy to convert from DVR-MS to MP4

Recorded tv from media center to QT pro

Does anyone know if I can convert Media center Recorded TV files for transfer to Ipod with Quicktime pro?

Found some info in additial search. thanks

N95 and windows media center..

the 2 don`t seem to like each other .. so i`m now stuck with a laptop that will not talk to my mobile .....the laptop says it is a reconized
has anyone got any ideas how to get round this .. please

I do not think you can do this unless you can convert the Windows Media Center recording to a type of file which is supported by Verizon Media Manager. Media Center files have an extension of *.dvr-ms. Verizon Media Manager ONLY supports .avi, .wmv, .flv, 3gp/3g2, .mpg(non-mpeg 2 videos) and .mp4/m4v files. I have been meaning to try this as well, but have not yet.
Can anyone recommend a good and free video converter for this?
Blame MS for this... that is using a propriety video format...
Let us know if successful.
-oceanx

Mac + Windows Media Center

I currently have both a pc and a new Macbook. On my pc i use Windows Media Center to record tv shows that i've missed. I'm able to network the two computers to view and share files however i can't play the recorded shows on my Mac. I see them in the shared file but its not opening it. It says "Error opening movie". Can anyone please help me? I'd really like to watch my recorded shows from my Mac laptop and not have to be stuck behind my pc. Please Help???
Thanks

You need to export the Media Centre recordings into a format which will be viewable on the Mac.
Taken from the Media Portal Forums
Here is a quick guide to strip off the ASF wrapper MS use for their DVR-MS file format. This is used in MediaPortal for recording with MPEG-2 capture cards like the Hauppauge PVR-250 / 350 models.
What you need to have...
1. Graphedit http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/graphedit.html
2. Cyberlink DirectShow filters MPGMUX.AX & CLDUMP.AX (You'll have to find these)
What you need to do...
1. If not done already register the two filters listed above from the directory where they have been installed.
regsvr32.exe MPGMUX.AX
regsvr32.exe CLDUMP.AX
2. Start Graphedit and the click 'File' then 'Render Media File'
3. Choose the *.DVR-MS file you wish to make into a *.MPG equivalent.
This will automatically build a Graph ultimately providing an output to the Video Renderer and Default DirectSound Device.
4. Remove all filters except the *.DVR-MS output box.
5. Click on 'Graph' then 'Insert Filters' within Graph Edit.
6. Go to the 'Direct Show Filters' section and add 'Cyberlink MPEG Muxer' (MPGMUX.AX) to the Graph.
7. Now add the 'Cyberlink Dump Filter' (CLDUMP.AX) to the Graph and it will prompt for a filename give it a name with a .MPG extension. i.e. Test.mpg.
8. Leave the Filter addition window and connect the DVR Out-1 connector to Audio In on the 'Cyberlink MPEG Muxer' on the Graph.
9. Also connect the DVR Out-2 connector to Video In on the 'Cyberlink MPEG Muxer'
10. Next connect the Output pin from the 'Cyberlink MPEG Muxer' to the 'Cyberlink Dump Filter'
11. You are now ready to get your MPG equivalent file click on 'Graph' and then 'Play' (or click the green play button)
12. You'll notice a green progress indicator moving from left to right. Once complete you will have successfully dumped your MPG file in the same quality it was recorded without re-encoding!!!
Note: The MPG file should be slightly smaller the the original. Don't worry if they are not exactly the same size as we have stripped off the ASF guff.
You can do what you want with the MPEG file. i.e. Convert to AVI, Deinterlace it, Crop It, Resize it, Burn it to DVD/SVCD...etc etc
It worked fine with the two files I tried, but I then ran out of time to try doing something with the resulting MPG files. As I was using RDC to connect into the Media Centre, even playing them wouldn't work as expected. I did try VirtualDub but it didn't like the mpg file, but I am not sure if this was a RDC issue or an issue with the mpg files.

Windows media center to ipod

How do I convert recorded tv (wmv) from my media center to something my ipod will recognize, without buying extra programs?
I already tried windows web site and followed their directions. It did sync to my ipod but it's functioning more like an external hard drive and not a player.(i.e. I can see the files on my ipod if I open it from my pc, but not on the ipod menu)
When I go to itunes, there is more orange (video) space used on my ipod, but none of the tv shows appear on the tv/video/movie list. I know I'm missing something and I know there has got to be a way to make this work. Please help!
HP media center PC m7277c Windows XP
HP media center PC m7277c Windows XP

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Try searching google for ways to convert .wmv files to .mov files. (or quicktime format (windows media player video to quicktime video))
Then use quicktime pro or iTunes to convert those .mov files to an iPod-compatible format.
btabz

Noob/PC Convert/MS Media Center

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