Configuration:
MCEBuddy works without configuration, however you can configure its behaviour.
Source Path
The location of MCE recorded video. Defaults to the MCE location. if you perform encoding on another system set this path to the source location, otherwise leave it as is.
Destination Path
The destination path is the location for converted video. The default is the location for the video library for MCE XP or Vista depending on platform.
This path can be a network location. If this is the case you will need to ensure the service can access that location. If the network location has public access (ie. there is no username/password required to access that location) then you need to make no changes. If the destination requires a logon there are two options:
- If the MCE system is part of a domain, you need to create a domain account which has Administrative permissions on the local MCE system and full control to the destination path. Then you need to change the service account using the Administrative Tools-Services MMC. A screenshot is here. If you install a new version of MCEBuddy you'll need to set the service account again.
- If not part of a domain you need to create a local user account for MCEBuddy with the same username and password that is required to connect to the network location. Then you need to change the service account using the Administrative Tools-Services MMC. A screenshot is here. If you install a new version of MCEBuddy you'll need to set the service account again.
Video Format
MCEBuddy supports three video formats: H.264, WMV and XVid.
- WMV is an OK format and Media Center can play it without requiring additional codecs such as FFDSHow. However it is not nearly as good as Xvid or H.264 and produces much larger files.
- Xvid has wide support and is good across platforms.
- H.264 is the best format of the three for picture quality and size (you lose FWD,RWD under MCE, skip still works)
Recommendation: Use H.264
If you are technically minded and you really want fast forward and rewind not just skip forward and rewind, have a look at the Media Control Plugin for Windows Vista Media Center.
Display Format
Ensure you select the correct display format for your location. If you live in the following countries you probably use NTSC:
Antigua El Salvador Philippines Bahamas Ecuador Puerto Rico Barbados Guam Saipan Barbuda Guatemala Samoa Belize Haiti South Korea Bermuda Honduras Saint Kitts Bolivia Jamaica Saint Lucia Burma Japan Saint Vincent Cambodia Mexico Surinam Canada Midway Islands Taiwan Cayman Islands Netherland Antilles Tobago Chile Nicaragua Trinidad Colombia North Mariana Island United States Costa Rica Panama Venezuela Cuba Peru Virgin Islands.
If you live in the following countries you probably use PAL:
Afghanistan Holland Portugal Albania Hong Kong Qutar Algeria Iceland Romania Angola India Singapore Argentina Indonesia Somalia Australia Ireland South Africa Austria Israel S.W. Africa Azores Italy Spain Baharain Jordan Sri Lanka Bangladesh Kenya Sudan Belgium Kuwait Swaziland Botswana Laos Sweden Brazil Liberia Switzerland Brunei Madeire Tanzania Cameroon Malaysia Thailand Canary Islands Malta Turkey Cyprus Mozambique Uganda Denmark Nepal United Arab Emirates Dubai New Guinea United Kingdom England New Zealand Uruguay Ethiopia Nigeria West Germany Faeroe Islands North Korea Yemen Finland Norway Yugoslavia Ghana Oman Zambia Gibraltar Pakistan Zimbabwe Guinea Paraguay
If you're not sure and you are not an American, choose PAL. I haven't done anything for SECAM. If its needed, drop me a lineski.
Video Quality
In reality, this sets the size of the converted video. Lower quality = smaller resolution = smaller file size.
Very high provides 1920 wide (HDTV 1080)
High provides 1280 wide (HDTV 720)
Normal provides 720 wide (DVD - default)
Low provides 640 wide (Default analogue TV)
Very low provides 320 wide
iPod/Zune provides 320x240 cropped - NOTE: iPod, PSP and Zune support are greatly improved in version 1.0.6 (currently in beta).
Only use High or Very High if you are already recording in High Definition Television and you want to retain this resolution and quality as the files can get pretty big (by comparison).
Recommendation: If unsure, use Normal.
Conversion Hours Restriction
MCEBuddy by default will automatically convert a TV recording file a little while after it is has been recorded. If you wish to restrict when this can happen (eg. overnight) then select the valid hours of operation.
It is worth noting that the conversion threads operate at a very low priority, and as such can operate in conjunction with Media Center operation (including recordings) on reasonably equipped systems. If you're not sure, try it at the same time and if there is choppiness in the display or recording or response issues with Media Center itself, then schedule the operation. Vista Media Center has been found to be better in this regard than the XP version.
Also note the hours of operation are for the start of the conversion process. The conversion of a recording will not stop or pause if it was initiated during these hours and the time exceeds the operating time. Any subsequent files will be delayed until the next operating period.
General Configuration
Delete original video file selects whether the original file (pre-conversion DVR-MS file) should be deleted. Once you are comfortable conversion is occurring reliably, this should be set unless you have a ton of disk space or want to keep the original for some other reason.
Commercial skipping turns on or off the commercial skipper. The commercial skipper will remove identified commercials during the conversion process. Commercial skipping is not 100% and some commercials will not get picked up. Comskip gets a lot of them, ShowAnalyzer gets even more.
ShowAnalyzer notes: If you have ShowAnalyzer installed and commercial skipping enabled ShowAnalyzer will be used automatically instead of Comskip. NOTE! ShowAnalyzer will now be configured for MCEBuddy use by default. Specifically, the status window will be invisible and EDL output enabled. ShowAnalyzer has two modes, normal and free. If you are using it as a trial it will work in normal mode for 14 days and revert to free mode after that period. The free version will not process DVR-MS files and as such will not strip ads. The net result is if you want the more effective ad removal, you'll need to buy a copy ($10).
Sort by series groups recordings of a series (eg. AFL Season 2007 Football) into separate directories under the destination directory instead of putting the converted files all into one single directory.
Video age before conversion allows you to specify how many days old a recording needs to be before it is converted.
Debugging/Troubleshooting
If you have issues, first check the Windows Event Log, where most MCEBuddy problems are logged.
If you find a bug, drop me a line at mcebuddy@tyrell.com.au.
Background
MCE storing recorded video in DVR-MS format in 2007 is, in my and many other opinions a design flaw. There should have at least been the option to use another more efficient codec for systems capable of performing the task (probably H.264). As DVR-MS is still used in MCE Vista, this isn't going to change in a real hurry, so the community members needed to come up with something themselves.
After using some good existing tools (notably DVRMSToolbox and Crunchie) I found they were quite capable for my own use, but did require some technical savvy. As such, they were not install and you're away applications for the average user. In addition the black art of video conversion is well beyond most people. So I thought I should put something back into the community and build an install-and-it-works application that was as bulletproof as I could make it then distribute it free under GPL.
As its a multi-threaded service later I'll start to add features to cover some other MCE annoyances I've found, or others have sent in.
I hope this helps the more tech or time challenged amongst us. If there are enhancements you can recommend, email them to be at mcebuddy@tyrell.com.au.