Local Media
Tue, 2009-11-03 09:51
I recently downloaded Zinc to test it out. I really love the GUI and would like to continue using it but am having the following problems with regard to local content:
• Zeevee Zinc is unable to recognize any local media other than MPEG files. I’m unclear whether this is due to Firefox add-ons missing from my system (as it states in the Help document) or the Media players/codecs installed (as one of the moderators suggested in the forums). If missing Firefox add-ons are the culprit, which one would I need to install in order for Zinc to play MPEG2 Transport Stream files recorded by my Hauppauge HD PVR? If my Media Player is to blame, how can I change the default Media Player used by Zinc?
• I am able to play local MPEG files, however, it is extremely choppy, the video stutters and occasionally causes Zinc to crash. My system is fairly robust (Intel i7, 12GB RAM) so I don’t think it’s the hardware. Is there anything else I might do to optimize the performance of local media playback?
Tue, 2009-11-03 11:04
#2
Thanks for the suggestion, Richard. I do have VLC installed (although, from what I've read it uses its own internal codecs) and did have CCCP installed at one point. I also have Media Player Classic + ffdshow tryouts.
Mon, 2010-01-04 10:50
#3
I have a similar problem with 2 variations--
[1] All avi files are recognized and displayed but NOTHING (absolutely nothing) plays. Error message is always the same for me "Unable to play media file. Zinc encountered an error while playing "
[2] Mkv files and DVD-rips do not show up.
My setup is Zinc beta 4 (installed flawlessly on my dell zino / ati radeon 3200 graphics). Windows media player and vlc are installed. All the files play with vlc player fine when I try from windows explorer, so the applications are there (I did add vlc as a app within zinc also)
From the overall look, zinc is what I need (I had almost decided that I wouldn't need boxee beta...and still am still hopeful) :-)
Please offer some suggestions. Cheers.
EDIT: After a restart of the computer, the error has disappeared and the avi files play but only audio. It appears to be windiows media player (with the psychadelic colors on screen while audio plays). I have set the default player for avi and all other files as vlc but that hasn't helped.
Sat, 2010-01-02 14:27
#4
Should MKV files be showing up? It would be nice.
Fri, 2010-01-29 12:11
#5
When you install VLC, you must select the mozilla plugins. Then restart firefox/zinc and make sure that the local content directory gets rescanned. Then the MKV files will show up and play.
Fri, 2010-06-04 14:19
#6
First let me say how great Zinc is. Second, I am having trouble playing several of my .mkv files. I followed the above instructions to get some other mkv as well as other files to play, but there are several of the same show I have that do not seem to work in Zinc. They work fine in VLC player.
In addition to following the above instructions, I also tried renaming them in case there was an issue there and also reloaded them, still with no luck.
Any help would be great, thanks.
Also, is there anyway to turn the volume up for local media videos within the player?
Mon, 2010-08-30 14:49
#7
Cannot find local media, any attempts to do so lock out the application. HELP!
Mon, 2010-09-06 20:50
#8
Bishop, check settings, let the system scan local files. Zinc is the best 10ft interface of this kind, better than Boxee or XBMA, but on local files I'm having problems with all these front-ends and therefore play local files via Windows Explorer --> selecting file --> right-click menu --> Play with VLC.
Zinc shows my FLV files, un-cataloged (no folders), but it doesn't play them. Ripped DVD (VOBs etc) it doesn't show at all.
Boxee shows FLV and DVD rips, cataloged, and plays FLV. But when I go down the catalog (i.e. Drama --> Sherlock Holmes --> Blue Carbuncle), and click on the containing folder with one DVD rip "Blue Carbuncle" (a bunch of TS.IFO and VOB), it opens the entire long list of TS.IFO and VOB files. Then it sometimes plays if I click on the controlling file TS.IFO, and sometimes doesn't play. When it does play, close caption CC doesn't work (instead it shows subtitles, which is not the same) -big problem for people with hearing impairment or whose first language isn't English. Not to mention that Boxee has nothing to offer in internet video menu, and is VERY cumbersome to exit from.
But when I select the movie via Windows Explorer and right-click on "Play With VLC" - either DVD rip container, or a single FLV, or a folder with multi-part FLV movie (part 1, part 2 etc) - oh, what a joy... It always plays, and goes from part 1 to 2 seamlessly, and CC is normal CC like on TV - not ugly blue or yellow subtitles.
Fri, 2010-11-05 18:07
#9
Yeah Alm - I just decided to go straight into my server side files (like you mention) - rather than try to scan the local files from a front end.
I might have to get VLC though; WMP seems to stutter a bit - not noticed when using Boxee.
Thanks
2 suggestions: