FreeAgent Theater and GoFlexTV

[awkwards]

I am trying to play a Blu-Ray iso image of Star Trek. When I play the movie, the video plays, but the sound does not.

"Unknown Audio Format" is displayed at the top of the screen when playback begins.

.ISO image was ripped from my own new copy of Star Trek. Ripping software was AnyDVD. There are no sound-related settings on the ripping software.

The Star Trek BD packaging indicates the sound is Dolby TrueHD.

I am using the component video (not HDMI) and regular L/R stereo audio output.

Has anyone else experienced this, and do you know of a solution?

Thank you.

Message Edited by awkwards on 01-01-2010 04:07 PM

[emckerv]

    Well, Same issue here.    After much trouble shooting and dissapointment we will be returning this product because of the "unknown audio format".   I am using an Archos IMT 7 to capture video. The video captures in .avi format but these files produce the unknown audio format error while playing the video fine. I am not in the market for a product that would require me to re-format all of my medai to use it. Sorry Seagate, this product falls short of everyones expectations.   I tried the same files on the WD media player and they played fine. So even though I trust and love seagate this theater device is not up to seagate standards and needs to be re-worked to play all media.  Dissapointing that all of the other programs and media devices i've used will play these .avi files except the seagate product.

Back to the drawing board......

Ed

[Zelpheriz]

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awkwards wrote:

I am trying to play a Blu-Ray iso image of Star Trek. When I play the movie, the video plays, but the sound does not.

"Unknown Audio Format" is displayed at the top of the screen when playback begins.

.ISO image was ripped from my own new copy of Star Trek. Ripping software was AnyDVD. There are no sound-related settings on the ripping software.

The Star Trek BD packaging indicates the sound is Dolby TrueHD.

I am using the component video (not HDMI) and regular L/R stereo audio output.

Has anyone else experienced this, and do you know of a solution?

Thank you.

Message Edited by awkwards on 01-01-2010 04:07 PM

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I am not sure FAT+ can decode D TrueHD, the only way you can get this out is basically through HDMI and the audio setting on the FAT+ is set to HDMI LPCM Multi CH, it will render it as DD and shoot it off to your AVR for 5.1

You mentioned you are hooking Stero L&R "bad idea" .. i advise to at least get the audio through optical and set the fat audio out to S/PDIF LPCM 2CH: Converts the multi-channel audio output into stereo , then you'll surely hear some audio

[awkwards]

Update to this: I have now tried with a different TV using HDMI for both video and audio, same results.

 

• It is only the English audio that does not work.
• The Spanish and French audio tracks work fine.
• The Iron Man Blu-Ray .iso also has the same problem. Below is a shot of the Audio menu. Both Audio 2 and Audio 3 work, but not Audio 1. Frustrating!

 

It appears that the Theater+ simply does not support the audio formats that it should. Why not? Isn't it supposed to support Blu-Ray? If so, it should support all the audio formats found in Blu-Ray .iso files.

Would appreciate a response from Seagate on this. 

[Zelpheriz]

Can you tell me which audio codec was the BR-iso encoded with ?

Try to Gspot the file and find out which codec the audio is using ...

I would also advise to re update the firmware (COLD UPDATE) , some time the HOT update does not register well.

So far i have thrown all the audio/video codecs i can find on that thing , and i have been pleased :-) .. some minor set backs on old encoded AVI's , but nothing major.

Cheers,.

[awkwards]

Thanks for your reply!

I used BDInfo and found the Codec. It is Dolby TrueHD for both Star Trek (see BDInfo Report) and Iron Man.

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Dolby TrueHD Audio              English         0 kbps          5.1 / 48 kHz / 24-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB)
Dolby Digital Audio             French          640 kbps        5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio             Spanish         640 kbps        5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio             English         224 kbps        2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB

I guess that explains why the other tracks paly. They're in regular Dolby Digital.

The one iso I have gotten to play successfully is The Taking of Pelham 123, which is encoded in  DTS HD Master.

This is almost definitely a problem with the FAT+ decoding Dolby TrueHD.

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Zelpheriz wrote:

I would also advise to re update the firmware (COLD UPDATE) , some time the HOT update does not register well.

.

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What is a cold update? I updated mine using a USB memory stick. It appeared to work.

[Zelpheriz · Accepted solution]

That your problem right there , its a known fact that fat+ doesn't decode True HD sound , it can only decode DD or DTS,

The cold method of updating firmware is found at http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=211875

cheers,

[awkwards]

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Zelpheriz wrote:

its a known fact that fat+ doesn't decode True HD sound

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Wow... anti-Kudos to Seagate on that one, I guess. Did I set my expectations too high? To be somewhat fair, I've read conflicting accounts regarding competitive products' support for TrueHD in my research on this, so I imagine it is not a simple thing for Seagate to address.

On the other hand, playing Blu-Ray .iso files is a major selling point of this device, so it saddens me that I will have to find a workaround. I have now shifted gears into finding tools (like tsMuxeR) that may let me re-encode the audio somehow.

Here's to a feature request for TrueHD support on the FAT+... I'll see if I can add to posts in the feature requests topic.

[edited a couple typos]

Message Edited by awkwards on 01-04-2010 12:37 PM

[Zelpheriz]

Well , don't make a mistake about it tho , you mentioned earlier that your setup is stereo , and the true pleasure of TrueHD sound is indeed the sourround , so it will make no difference if you are running TrueHD or DD...

Now if you are connected to an AVR that support TrueHD , then you can set your FAT+ audio for RAW out on HDMI and let the AVR work its magic to deliver a lively pumping True HD.

having said that , i do agree with the fact that FAT+ need to understand True HD for all those unfortunate ones who has lowe tier / old AVRs that doesn't get the true HD , it will take the HDMI feed (Already decoded for True HD) and show it as multichannel.

[awkwards]

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Zelpheriz wrote:

Well , don't make a mistake about it tho , you mentioned earlier that your setup is stereo , and the true pleasure of TrueHD sound is indeed the sourround , so it will make no difference if you are running TrueHD or DD...

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Ah, I most certainly appreciate your point of view. No question.

The main problem I have is that FAT+ will play no TrueHD, period, not even down-sampled. It does not even recognize the format (thus, the error in the thread subject). As I work my way through my library of Blu-Ray discs, I am finding that TureHD is prevalent. Heck, even Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan is on Blu-Ray in TrueHD, and it was made in 1982!
 
Now, to continue our tangent about stereo--and I think we're actually getting off-topic now--I guess you could just call me an old school audio purist who cut his audio teeth on the first fine digital music recordings and stereo systems in the early 80s.

You may summarily relegate me to the ranks of the guys who still swear by vinyl, and that’s OK, but I have never found a home surround system that matches my expectations at a reasonable price, and believe that a truly fine audio experience can be had for a fraction of the cost if you're willing to invest in good, BIG stereo speakers. While I'm amused by the separation that home surround systems produce, I'm always disappointed by the quality of that sound coming from over my shoulder with the surround systems that most people can afford.

I would rather fill a room with huge, pristine, stereo sound at a fraction of the cost than attempt to replicate the majesty of a real theater surround experience in my family room, which has ludicrous acoustics anyway. I can afford to get superior video quality on my 52" 1080p LCD set, but I can't afford to add a theater room onto my house for the great sound. This is why I still go to the movies. (George Lucas, James Cameron, and Roger Ebert, I hope your Web minions are flagging this post somewhere!)

Zelpheriz, thank you for your kind replies to my posts!