Which mass storage system?
Discussion
Firstly I apologize for being a complete numpty when it comes to this sort of thing.
I have a lot of VHS, DVDs, CDs and even some LPs that currently take up a shed load of space.
What I would like to do is be able to load it all onto one Media system to create a "juke box" where I can access all my video and music.
I have been looking a several options but am not even sure if what I want is possible.
Has anyone got such a system that they would recomend?
I have a lot of VHS, DVDs, CDs and even some LPs that currently take up a shed load of space.
What I would like to do is be able to load it all onto one Media system to create a "juke box" where I can access all my video and music.
I have been looking a several options but am not even sure if what I want is possible.
Has anyone got such a system that they would recomend?
Asked a very similar question myself the other week so you may want to search on that. Since then I have found:-
http://www.glowtechnology.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2
Good luck with the search and please post to let us know which route you went down.
http://www.glowtechnology.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2
Good luck with the search and please post to let us know which route you went down.
You can encode anything you like via a PC, dump it on a NAS and then take any number of off the shelf media players to play them.
The complexity comes in the control interface, media players such as the Popcorn hour etc require a television to be on to select music so they're not great for that. Squeezebox type stuff doesnt do video so thats not ideal either.
There are many many solutions to what you're after, it depends on budget and requirements as to how elegant the final solution can become in practice.
The complexity comes in the control interface, media players such as the Popcorn hour etc require a television to be on to select music so they're not great for that. Squeezebox type stuff doesnt do video so thats not ideal either.
There are many many solutions to what you're after, it depends on budget and requirements as to how elegant the final solution can become in practice.
As Plotloss says, the EllionDigital unit doesn't mention anything about streaming from remote drives and 1Tb internal is just not going to hack it for a large collection unless you compress (lossy) a lot of the material. Also HDMI output is limited to 1080i and does not support 1080p.
I have one of these (Tranquil SQA-5H)
And use an HDX-1000 (basically same as a Popcorn Hour for video (it will do audio as well)
And a Squeezebox Duet feeding into my AV system for Audio only
All available from www.ripcaster.co.uk
HTH
davidy
I have one of these (Tranquil SQA-5H)
And use an HDX-1000 (basically same as a Popcorn Hour for video (it will do audio as well)
And a Squeezebox Duet feeding into my AV system for Audio only
All available from www.ripcaster.co.uk
HTH
davidy
Edited by DavidY on Sunday 8th February 09:09
Look mate, if this technology is too difficult for you, then please have the decency to say so. After all we are only trying to help, which is reason you posted in the first place!
Tell us in English, your budget, and what you are actually trying to achieve and what you will connect this device to. Also do you want high quality files (lossless) or are you happy with MP3s
davidy
Tell us in English, your budget, and what you are actually trying to achieve and what you will connect this device to. Also do you want high quality files (lossless) or are you happy with MP3s
davidy
If you read the first line of my opening post you would have known my level of knowledge on the subject.
I want a box that I can plug into my TV and load all my DVDs VHS, CD on to and then play them back on the TV from the memory box when I want.
Budget would be a couple of Hundred based on the Ellion system I found.
I want a box that I can plug into my TV and load all my DVDs VHS, CD on to and then play them back on the TV from the memory box when I want.
Budget would be a couple of Hundred based on the Ellion system I found.
In simple terms!!!
There are lots of things the Ellion can't do but... for £150 from Play.com it offers value for money given what it can do. (Note that it can't handle DTS soundtracks only Dolby Digital, so if you have a surround sound system it won't work properly with a percentage (probaby around 33%) of your DVDs)
You would also have to budget for some DVD ripping software unless you are go to play each and every DVD you have and record it on the Ellion in real time. I use AnyDVD/CloneDVD for DVD ripping.
I suspect that you might have to learn a few things about computer audo and video files to get the best out of the machine. I would suggest though, that if you are technology-challenged, you spend some time learning about the different types of file that it will support and whether these will meet your requirements, otherwise you could be spending £150 on a lemon!
HTH
davidy
There are lots of things the Ellion can't do but... for £150 from Play.com it offers value for money given what it can do. (Note that it can't handle DTS soundtracks only Dolby Digital, so if you have a surround sound system it won't work properly with a percentage (probaby around 33%) of your DVDs)
You would also have to budget for some DVD ripping software unless you are go to play each and every DVD you have and record it on the Ellion in real time. I use AnyDVD/CloneDVD for DVD ripping.
I suspect that you might have to learn a few things about computer audo and video files to get the best out of the machine. I would suggest though, that if you are technology-challenged, you spend some time learning about the different types of file that it will support and whether these will meet your requirements, otherwise you could be spending £150 on a lemon!
HTH
davidy
OK So I bought the Ellion and a 1 Terrabite SATA drive.
So far I have loaded about 85 films onto it, mostly from DVD via DVD shrink on the laptop and from the V+ box.
So far so good!!
After watching DVDs for so long and now going back to look at the old VHS tapes, with a view to copying them across I now realise just what crap quality VHS is
Now all the tapes and DVDs can go in the loft or to a boot sale I have empty cupboards!!
Just finished putting all my CDs on a 120 GB IPod and now actually have space in the house
thanks for all the replies
So far I have loaded about 85 films onto it, mostly from DVD via DVD shrink on the laptop and from the V+ box.
So far so good!!
After watching DVDs for so long and now going back to look at the old VHS tapes, with a view to copying them across I now realise just what crap quality VHS is
Now all the tapes and DVDs can go in the loft or to a boot sale I have empty cupboards!!
Just finished putting all my CDs on a 120 GB IPod and now actually have space in the house
thanks for all the replies
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