[mythtv-users] Can myth TV do what I want?

[Disconnect]

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006, Stephen Rowles did have cause to say:

> I am just finding that the freevo video interface simply doesn't work - 
> my directory structure containing VOBs is on a mounted file system 
> (shouldn't make any difference) and when I browse to the directory for a 
> given DVD all I get is "no files found", rather than the ability to play 
> the VOB's as a dvd.

Freevo is going to see a difference between my.vob and my.VOB - be sure it 
knows about the file extensions. (Or just rename the files in one directory 
and see what happens.)

The reason I initially dropped MythTV for media-playing is that every time I 
added a file, I had to go through the setup menu, wait for it to rescan the 
directories, then add any meta-data and come back out to the main interface 
to actually play it. (Freevo did it 'right' - new files appear immediately, 
even updating the display right in front of you if you are in that directory 
when it happens.)

> The key for me is the interface, it has to be simple to use as it is for 
> everyone in my family to use, not just me the techy who can quite easily 
> cope with a command line interface ;)

I found that guests had no problem picking up a remote and figuring out 
freevo. (Once I handed them the proper remote ;) ..).  I suspect there is an 
equally intuitive mythtv theme/organization out there, but I haven't found 
it yet. (The ones that shipped with it all have me staring at a menu going 
"ok, now where did they hide option Z..")

FWIW my whole saga started with freevo not even running (sigh) and so mythtv 
worked 'well enough' for a while, except for the above update interface. 
Then I got bored and tried freevo again, and it worked, so it also did 'well 
enough'.  Now I have a new HD capture card and I need something to do decent 
HD OTA PVR-foo, and (since its there) apply tvtime or other decent 
postprocessing to the (svideo) directivo SD output.  The answer here seems 
to be mythtv, so I'm back. :)

> It looked like freevo could do this but I'm failing dismally to make it 
> work right now.

It should 'just work', if freevo can identify the video files. Alternately, 
make sure the VIDEO_TS directory still exists - that should help both 
interfaces figure out its a psuedo-dvd format.

> I was hoping someone on the mailing list would say: "Oh yes, I've ripped 
> all my DVD's using Program X, and to make MythTV work as youd expect 
> just do Y" :D

Other posters have commented about the music interface in mythtv, which I'm 
going to be trying later this week. (I'll post a comparison if you want it.) 
Freevo basically works in the directory heirarchy, understands m3u 
playlists, and allows you to play (ordered or random) any part of that 
heirarchy. (EG if you have MP3s/Classical/Bach, it creates 'virtual 
playlists' for MP3s/* and subdirectories, MP3s/Classical/* and 
MP3s/Classical/Bach/* ..) I don't honestly remember if it has any sort of 
reasonable playlist creation methods, as I never bothered to try..

So .. not sure if this helped, but it sounds like you can go either way.