Xlobby and a multi-disk DVD player?

[zewt]

I apologize if this topic has been covered elsewhere, I searched but could not find any posts.

I am not sure this is possible but here goes.

I would like Xlobby to refelct my movies I have on both my HTPC as well as my 100-disk DVD player.

Is that possible? And if so how?

How would Xlobby know where the source for a specific DVD is located?

Thanks for any help/feedback.

[Twit]

The easiest is to put all movies in dvd profiler and import into xlobby.

OR Scan the movies on your harddrive and ad the off line ones manually.

I have a folder on my harddrive with all offline movies listed in folders for the cover and stills.

[zewt]

Well I'm not sure how that makes xlobby know where to play the movie from.

[stevenhanna6]

if you want xlobby to play your online dvds they have to be properly formated. Meaning they need a "video_ts" directory with all the ifo/vob's in that directory....example

C:\dvds\tomb raider\video_ts\<ifo and vobs go here>
C:\dvds\tomb raider\my tomb raider cover art.jpg

add the directory "c:\dvds" and scan it for dvds, xlobby will should find them, then set your dvdplayer to the theatertek or zoomplayer exe for playback.

[zewt]

Ok now I know I did not make my question clear.

I currently have a terrabyte RAID5 server that I use for my multi-media, including ripped DVDs, and XLOBBY works great. (Well aside from some zoomplayer and ffdshow bugs I am still working through).

But additionally I would like to interface to my external 100-Disk Carosel DVD player. And have those movies be able to be played through XLOBBY as well. (I essentially do not want to build another server).

I guess from reading more that XLOBBY cannot "talk to" and external device such as a 100 disk DVD player, unless I missed something. I assume it would be via Girder, which I have yet to play with.

[stevenhanna6]

well if you have a usbuirt you will be able to talk to your external dvd changer in a week or so......but what you would have to do is setup up the database in a certain way to send IR commands from xlobby.....like....

goto disc
1
8
play

something like that. So short answer....not possible right now....but it will be in a few weeks once I get the IR support finished....and it will NOT involve girder at all....xlobby is moving towards built-in ir support.

[zewt]

Ahh, well that is exciting news to be sure. I will keep on the lookout for your new forthcoming work.

Guess I just need to find out what a usbuirt is. I assume it is an IR interface for your PC.

[stevenhanna6]

http://www.usbuirt.com/

thats the usbuirt......it has the ability to LEARN ir signals from any remote control.....like a dvd changer remote....so you can then send those signals through the usbuirt with xlobby....you follow? it can also receive regular ir signals to trigger other xlobby things....like move left/right/up/down....trigger a custom button...trigger a macro..etc. There are a few other ones like the usbuirt.....but this is the best one by a long shot...and its cheaper by like $50 compared to the other ones on the market.

If you do get it, buy the 56KHz IR Sensor version just to be safe.

[zewt]

Great. Consider it ordered.

[blazeby]

zewt -

Did you ever egt this to work? I want to try the same thing.

Thanks,
Paul

[stevenhanna6]

we never finished this, didnt think anyone wanted it anymore. what dvd changer do you have? and do you have a usbuirt?

[zewt]

I never got it working, but would love to use this option.

Here's my rationale.

I currently have about 3 Terabytes of RAID 5 storage that I use for my ripped DVDs. Which is nice since I can use Xlobby and peruse 500-600 DVDs, watching any one on the fly.

But Terabyte harddrive space is expensive, and with the cost of blank DVDs down to about $0.30 ea., it makes more sense to just burn movies that are under 4.xGig to DVDs and keep them in one of those 400disk DVD multi-players.

Large movies that would require shrinking to fit on a single layer disk I would keep on the RAID.

I do not want to sacrifice having the nice Xlobby interface showing each movie coverart and info. so was hoping there was going to be a solution to use Xlobby with a multi-disk external player.

[tivohax]

I have been using x-lobby for my HDD movies, but also have a Sony 300 disc changer and the USB-UIRT. Would LOVE if you got this working. Used to do myhtpc, but like X-Lobby better. I just want to add this functionality. Please! I will help test it if you need that.

Thanks

[blazeby]

I'm really new to XLobby, so take everything I say with a pinch of salt but wouldn't it be possible to use the execute command function to call the freeware Sony 400-disk ES changer software?

This software uses the RS232 on the player.

I would really like to have this working in XLobby too. I like the interface and features so much more than either Meedio or MainLobby.

[tivohax]

I believe that (RS-232) is how Cinemar's Lobby s/w works.

I would think this could be accomplished without being locked into only rs-232 capable devices by using any DVD changer, a USB-UIRT and Girder.

However, I would really like to see it all seamlessly integrated into Xlobby without using Girder as a go-between. I just bought the last model with dual side play and progressive scan Sony 300 dvd changer to use with XLobby. 600 movies (dual sided discs) online in addition to my movies on the HDD would be media heaven. Next would have to be touch-screens in every room with a tv!