[mythtv-users] Newbie questions: a digital DVD library

[Ian Forde]

On Thu, 2009-02-12 at 16:13 -0300, gonzalo diethelm wrote:
> 1. How do I import a DVD movie that is stored on a directory in my file
> system, with the typical VIDEO_TS (and empty AUDIO_TS) subdirectories,
> into MythTV? I tried going to the Archive Files (whatever the option is
> called), which allows me to navigate the file system, but when I
> navigate to my ripped DVD directory it doesn't show any files at all and
> I can take no meaningful action to start the import... Is it possible to
> import DVD movies that have been pre-ripped to the file system?

You'll want to use mythvideo with the internal player.  As an example,
I'd create a directory called "Star Wars".  In there, are the VIDEO_TS
and AUDIO_TS subdirectories.  From the frontend, use the video manager
and you can tell it that the parent "Star Wars" folder is the movie.
It'll automatically detect the VIDEO_TS subdir inside.

> 2. What is the structure used in the file system to store imported
> movies in MythTV? Could I devise my own directory tree to group my
> movies according to my whims? Could I also add tags to the movies, so
> that when I wish to play them, I can search for them independently of
> the directory trees I have defined?

In order... a) Any structure you want - but remember, it's within
MythVideo, not the TV-viewing section.  b) Yes you can. c) ???

> 3. In order to at least check whether my front-end was working, I
> changed the command to watch videos (which was set as "Internal") to a
> hard-coded invocation of mplayer pointing to a ripped movie, and yes,
> that did open the movie, so things do work, but it leaves much to be
> desired...

Which is why we all strive to make the Internal player better.
Consistent interface, and the decoding is MUCH better than it used to
be...

> 4. The other thing I have been unable to do is to watch video streamed
> from the Internet. I tried watching several different channels (BBC and
> NASA) and I could hear the sound off my speakers, but the small box
> where it would show the movie was just a blue rectangle. What gives?
> 
> 5. Eventually, when I set up my definite machine, I will use Ubuntu
> Server for the setup. How hard is it to install and configure MythTV on
> Ubuntu, WITHOUT using MythBuntu?

If you're using ubuntu, and you're using their packages, you're
effectively using mythbuntu... that's a personal choice.  For specific
instructions, I know I've seen them somewhere on the net in the ubuntu
fourms or somewhere like that.  Google is your friend in finding them...

> That's it for now. If somebody could find the time to push me in the
> right direction, I would really appreciate it (and would certainly come
> up with more questions in the future).
> 
> If possible, please copy me in any answers. Thanks in advance and best
> regards.

No worries! Good luck!

	-I