Viewing Blu-Ray on my computer

[Chuck Engels]

Hi everyone

I have finally gotten my first Hi Def wedding burned to Blu-Ray, now I need software to test it out.
My computer does not recognize the disc, although Encore knew that it was there. I assume that is because I have no software to play the Blu-Ray disc so the computer has nothing to relate it to.

What can I get so that I can watch the Blu-Ray video on my computer to test the menus and the movie?
I am checking with the owner of the burner to see if he got any software with the unit but for now I have nothing.

Thanks

[Gooder]

The only software that springs to my mind is Nero!
Best to check but don't they offer a Blu-ray HD DVD Plug-in?

That should do the job!

Lee

[Chuck Engels]

Thanks Lee, I don't have Nero and have never really liked their products at all.
I had too many problems with them in the past. Anything else out there?
Anything free by chance?

[Gooder]

No problems with Nero here!

How about WindDVD 9 plus?
I'm sure that supports Blue Ray playback and other features!

Lee

[Paul LS]

I use both NERO and Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 Ultra Edition. I would recommend Cyberlink (new version is 8) as it uses the GPU on your video card (ATI and Nvida cards) and reduces the processor load dramatically. For example, playing a H.264 disc on a 2.2GHz dual core computer the CPU usage is at 60%+ and gives some slight jerkiness in the movement... when the video card GPU is used the CPU usage drops to less than 5% and the movement is smooth as silk...

This is how I watch my high definition discs on my HDTV. The ATI video card has a HDMI connection (video and audio) and I connect it to my HDTV.

[Gooder]

Anything free by chance?

You could try a free trial and that would enable you to get your project tested for your client!

You could then take a further look for free software but, if you are using Pro apps like Encore CS3 and Prem pro, then why not pay for some decent Blue Ray playback software

Lee

[Paul LS]

No free software for playing back Blu-Ray...

Cyberlink is not too expensive and does a great job.

[Chuck Engels]

Very good, thanks for all the info. I will give the Cyberlink product a try, the free trial will be perfect for the test
Thank you both!

[Spot]

Chuck,
I found it difficult to confirm this on the net but I have seen "Media Player Classic" mentioned as a DVD/Blu-Ray player. I use this free software as a media player and find it plays everything I throw at it with no fuss. (and so is worth a mention anyway).
Might be worth a small download and test run?
The technical gurus in here could probably also bring Codecs into this discussion. I think that the codecs installed on the PC are generally more important than the actual piece of software? There are a bunch of codec packs about that may be relevant. (just drifted way past my expertise range!)
Cheers
JB

[Paul LS]

I use Media Player Classic extensively. Media Player Classic will play high definition MPEG2 and H.264 files if you have the codec on your computer but not Blu-Ray DVDs.

[Chuck Engels]

I do use Media Player Classic for hi def files, it works great, but it does not play a blu-ray disc.

I have found out now that the disc never did record, even though Encore said the burn was successful.
Now I have to troubleshoot what is going on with the burner.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

I have Cyberlink Power DVD - it came with my LG Blu-Ray burner. When I play a Blu-Ray DVD on my PC the bottom half of the image doesn't play back correctly. Maybe it is a subtle way to make one upgrade

[Paul LS]

Hi Chuck, just wondering, why do you think the disc did not burn?

[Chuck Engels]

After much confusion I did confirm that the disc did not burn.
I attempted to burn again and even though Encore said 'Burn Successful' it also said Data Written 0 of 26.5Gb.
That is obviously still to large for the disc. I have exported each segment (6 total) three times at lower quality levels.
I am still not close enough to be able to burn. I have removed one of the segments and hopefully the disc will burn this time.

[Chuck Engels]

Finally!!! After removing the one segment the Blu-Ray disc burned and the trail of Power DVD works great.
The disc is perfect, couldn't ask for anything else. Whoever says that you can fit 4 hours of hi def video on a 25GB Blu-Ray disc is crazy.
This was a huge stuggle to get 1 3/4 hours on one disc, I must say that there really isn't much difference between the quality setting of 5 or the setting of 2, as far are image quality goes, the size difference is quite dramatic at 1/2 the original size. This was all exported as hi def MPEG (m2t) files, that way I didn't have to transcode the video in Encore. Next time I will go ahead with the transcoding and export H.264 files instead. I also lowered the bit rates and it still looks just about as good as exporting with the High Quality setting.

At least I know next time what to do
Thanks for everyones help and suggestions !!