[idioteque]

Without a debug log and/or more info about which file(s) are playing I can't guess what is the origine of the non-smoothness. Also exact hardware and software config

[interceptor121]

I don't think you can detect telecine judder from logs because it is the actual tv to drop frames not the Mac

[ringgh0st]

PAL material in which 2:3 pulldown has been applied, suffers from a similar lack of smoothness, though this effect is not usually called “telecine judder”. Effectively, every 12th film frame is displayed for the duration of three PAL fields (60 milliseconds), whereas the other 11 frames are all displayed for the duration of two PAL fields (40 milliseconds). This causes a slight “hiccup” in the video about twice a second. Increasingly being referred to as Euro pulldown as it largely affects European territories.

this exactly seems to be my problem. i'll post the debug log tonight, when im back at my home cinema.

[idioteque]

And info about the file(s) played

Also try a clean 10.0 install. Rename the XBMC folder in the application library to XBMC2

It could be a de-interlacing problem

[ringgh0st]

And info about the file(s) played

Also try a clean 10.0 install. Rename the XBMC folder in the application library to XBMC2

It could be a de-interlacing problem

i'll do. should i also kill the xbmc library folder?

[idioteque]

just rename it to XBMC2.

[ringgh0st]

merry xmas sorry for the delay but i had to spend some money for the kids

here we go. did everything like you said and startet with a fresh install of dharma final and renamed the library folder to xbmc2.

same show. same prob. the 60Hz played movie isnt that smooth like a 24Hz played.

here are the logs. maybe you can see anything...

24p Movie with XBMC @ 60Hz
http://pastebin.com/hmfJXSp9

24p Movie with XBMC @ 24 Hz (nice & smooth)
http://pastebin.com/nA8WufH2

[snowdrift]

Early 2009 Is supported in this guide (only with 10.6.3)
Late 2009 Is supported in this guide (only with 10.6.3)

...

THE ONLY VERSION TO HAVE CORRECT VDA SUPPORT IS VERSION 10.6.3.

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=77992&page=9

10.6.4 and 10.6.5 have a bug that makes the unable to play files without dropping frames.

To avoid confusion, as I assume that you're just saying that your guide is only describing the process using 10.6.3 on 2009 Mac Mini's, H.264 encoded content up to blu-ray native compliant profiles is fine on 10.6.4 and 10.6.5, through RC2 right up to the current 10.0 release on a 2009 (nVidia 9400M) Mac Mini. At least, that's my experience.

[giorgino]

Idioteque you're my hero

From ten days I own a brand new MacMini last version (4.1) and I've a Pioneer Plasma TV pdp-436RXE with 1024x768 pixel screen resolution (really old, but great quality).

I've read tons of web pages to understand which resolution adopt for HDMI to HDMI connection, without success.

Can you suggest me an ideal solution?

I've some choice:

1080i - 1080p - 720p and a lot of pixel resolution (1024x768 large - 1024x768 - 1280x... - etc).

I've connected MacMini via HDMI cable to HDMI port on TV.
Can you help me?

Thank you in advance

g

[idioteque]

To avoid confusion, as I assume that you're just saying that your guide is only describing the process using 10.6.3 on 2009 Mac Mini's, H.264 encoded content up to blu-ray native compliant profiles is fine on 10.6.4 and 10.6.5, through RC2 right up to the current 10.0 release on a 2009 (nVidia 9400M) Mac Mini. At least, that's my experience.

If you don't have a problem than that's fine. This thread is only for those having trouble playing files smooth.

[idioteque]

Idioteque you're my hero

From ten days I own a brand new MacMini last version (4.1) and I've a Pioneer Plasma TV pdp-436RXE with 1024x768 pixel screen resolution (really old, but great quality).

I've read tons of web pages to understand which resolution adopt for HDMI to HDMI connection, without success.

Can you suggest me an ideal solution?

I've some choice:

1080i - 1080p - 720p and a lot of pixel resolution (1024x768 large - 1024x768 - 1280x... - etc).

I've connected MacMini via HDMI cable to HDMI port on TV.
Can you help me?

Thank you in advance

g

Hi

the problem with 1024X768 resolution is that it is 4:3 but a tv is 16:9 so the image is stretched somewhat.

PDP-436SXE accepts the following input signal resolutions:

1920 x 1080i @50Hz
720 x 576p @50Hz
1280 x 720p @50Hz
720(1440) x 576i @50Hz
1920 x 1080i @59,94/60Hz
720 x 480p @59,94/60Hz
1280 x 720p @59,94/60Hz
720(1440) x 480i@59,94/60Hz
1920 x 1080p @24Hz

But these are for VGA only. So not HDMI.

After playing around for some time with mine I found the best settings were 1280 x 768@60Hz in mode Full 2 over VGA. This gave me readable text and more or less the correct aspect ratio (which can be tweaked and adjusted inside XBMC). I am using a Radeon 9800XT and a Pentium 4 3Ghz and it plays HD stuff fine and it looks good you get less than an inch of black border )top and bottom, presumably to give correct ratio) on it when playing movies.

I found using the HDMI input that it would overscan so you would lose parts of the bottom tool bar and start button. Unfortunately you can't disable that on these boxes. As a result of the overscanning text was also hard to read on anything other than MCE. I gave up trying to use HDMI as the VGA picture was so much better.

So VGA is closer to the native resolution of the plasma TV and gives you more video resolutions but is analogue.

However, I think that using VGA will give you more flexibility and a better image quality , all be it a slightly less sharp one as compared to HDMI. The TV will not accept 1:1 720p from HDMI input without scaling it.

[giorgino]

Hi idioteque, great informations, thank you

I've ran thousand test&experiment, and I've seen that at 720p/HDMI the text is readable and the image is fine. Some orrible pan effect, but is the best result.

In your opinion, this setting is correct? Of course, following your general direction, I've disabled ALL TV filter image effects.



50Hz is correct? Overscan?

Thank you in advance

[idioteque]

merry xmas sorry for the delay but i had to spend some money for the kids

here we go. did everything like you said and startet with a fresh install of dharma final and renamed the library folder to xbmc2.

same show. same prob. the 60Hz played movie isnt that smooth like a 24Hz played.

here are the logs. maybe you can see anything...

24p Movie with XBMC @ 60Hz
http://pastebin.com/hmfJXSp9

24p Movie with XBMC @ 24 Hz (nice & smooth)
http://pastebin.com/nA8WufH2

I don's see any weird stuff going on in the logs. As you said before playing 60fps on 60 hz is fine and playing 24fps on 24 hz is also fine.

Therefore I suspect the TV of causing the "telecine judder". To get the answer what is causing it we can do a couple of things.

Perquisites:
1: Set the desktop to 60p
2: find some samples of 720p or 1080p 24p files. For instance trailers from the apple site. these are alle L3.0 AVC files I think so not that heavy on the Mini. Also they are official AVC file so they will work with VDA.
3: VLC for mac
4: play these files from the local HD instead of from SMB
5: post the brand and model of the TV

Options
1: Instead of XBMC use VLC to play a clip in fullscreen. Please note that VLC does not use VDA so use a 720p clip of 1080p clips running at L3.0 AVC
2: If you have the option to connect the Mac Mini to a different Plasma or LCD tv. Parents, Family etc.
3: Connect a different computer (not a Mac Mini) to the plasma, and see if playing the same files also cause judder.

With these options I suspect the TV to be the cause of the judder

Possible solution
1: Enable AV-sync in XBMC and try all three different sync-methodes.
2: Disable AV sync in XBMC and enable Intelligent Frame Creation to see if it makes a difference.
3: Enable AV-sync AND enable Intelligent Frame Creation on the TV

Good luck !

[idioteque]

Hi idioteque, great informations, thank you

I've ran thousand test&experiment, and I've seen that at 720p/HDMI the text is readable and the image is fine. Some orrible pan effect, but is the best result.

In your opinion, this setting is correct? Of course, following your general direction, I've disabled ALL TV filter image effects.



50Hz is correct? Overscan?

Thank you in advance

50 or 60 does not really matter. If you watch a lot of European stuff which is 25fps than 50 is good. If you watch a lot of USA stuff 60 is better.

With the overscan option you can make the desktop bigger than the screen really is. This could be useful if you have a black border around your screen while playing a movie.

When using overscan you can adjust the picture inside XBMC to exactly match your screen using the "Calibrate option" in settings | Video.

[giorgino]

I'll change my TV with one full HD as soon as I'll have the money

Thank you idioteque and happy new year