If you can not install on a blu-ray home theater system, a huge screen or player, is one way out - to connect it to your computer to watch movies. PC to reproduce without interference products blu-ray, is required to carry out a proper connection, and then install a special program, which can be found in the article.
Content:
- Selecting and drive connection
- to monitor requirements
- Upgrading computer components
- Setting the blu-ray on a computer through a third-party program
- Features play blu-ray on Windows
Selecting and drive connection
blu-ray technology is an optical carrier format that is used for recording purposes with increased density and storing data, including high definition video - HDTV extension 1920 × 1080 points. To play it on your computer, you need to BD-drive. It is available in three versions:
- with the ability to only read a variety of formats, including blu-ray;
- Combined version, which not only reads the formats, but also produces CD and DVD;
- full variant in which is possible to record on the BD-R and BD-RE.
The drives are also classified into two types of connection system:
- Internal (SATA and eSATA). Relatively inexpensive, but high-quality drives the internal type is manufactured by Samsung, Sony, Lite-On and LG. Their models come in standard or thin (slim). As a rule, they are finished in black. Example - drive Sony BC-5500S-01 with a blu-ray read speed from 8X to 10X.
Some models are also equipped with LightScribe technology, which allows you to apply pattern on the outer part of the disc. Writing drives have greater value. Popular their representatives - Sony Optiarc BD-5300S-0B with speed zapili 2 and Pioneer BDR-206DBK at 12x recording. - External (connected via USB). Their selection is not as large as the internal drive. Many models on the market that support recording function blu-ray, released by ASUS, the LG and Sony.
Which drive to choose depends on the preferences of a particular user - whether it is convenient to place another device on a table or simply "hide" it in the system unit. However, there are two pitfalls in this matter. Firstly, it should be noted that the external drive of any brand more expensive than similar options on the internal player. Secondly, for owners of Apple computers suitable for technical reasons only one option - to use an external drive, as they do not provide an internal BD-player connection.
The easiest way to connect a blu-ray to Windows-platform, as these technologies are highly compatible.
to monitor requirements
To watch the video in Full HD (1080p), you need to have a monitor with the following parameters:
- resolution - 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 (with support for 16: 9);
- aspect ratio - preferably 16: 9 to make the most comfortable to play large-format films;
- digital connection - HDMI (by default supports blu-ray technology) or DVI (can not support it, so this time necessary to specify separately, especially if you plan to watch the new blu-ray with the latest Hollywood projects);
- opportunity HDCP support - its presence allows the transmitted signal to protect against unauthorized copying.
As a rule, these requirements meet modern monitors, the diagonal of which is 24 inches or more. For these purposes, you can also use a plasma or LCD-TV if it supports HDMI.
Upgrading computer components
To playback blu-ray format was no problem, "iron" should be prepared for such a load. This will help the following guidance:
- Install a free utility Cyberlink BD & 3D Advisor, to verify the PC to the ability to play blu-ray and blu-ray 3D. It will also identify the most weaknesses in the system and take all measures to eliminate them.
program minus is that it allows you to evaluate the possibilities of the PC only in terms of BD playback video, but not audio, therefore, can not verify the support for DTS-HD and PCM 5.1 format. However, it is not critical, because the most important to deal with the video part. - Pay attention to the graphics card, which memory should be at least 512 MB. If you use connection type DVI, a prerequisite is the support of HDCP or HDMI.
Even with all these conditions with the playback format can be difficult, if not pay attention to drivers. They need to update to the latest version to support the new standard blu-ray. When you create a home theater should strive to ensure that the system is less noisy. Here, too, a lot depends on the graphics card.
The model should not be the fastest, because during operation it is very noisy and requires a powerful PSU also increases the noise level. If the gamer is not so important, then, for moviegoers excess noise may become a significant obstacle when watching movies.
- Depending on the audio capabilities to choose the right sound (or integrated) card. With blu-ray is best to use a 6- or 8-channel speakers and choose the audio tracks on the disc Dolby TrueHD, PCM 5.1, and so on. N. This will require a relatively new sound card or motherboard having the desired analog outputs and an optical connector Toslink S / PDIF standard.
In some modern models of audio cards and motherboards have a HDMI-out. Through it made sound transmission to the receiver connected to the acoustics.
Be sure to put the latest drivers with the support of the required audio format blu-ray. By the acoustics meet the same requirements as in the case of a home theater system based on blu-ray, but the player if there is no need for a multi-channel system, you can simply use the integrated sound in any parent board.
For the remaining sets specific requirements does not extend. It is only important that the computer was not too old.
Setting the blu-ray on a computer through a third-party program
Once the system has been assembled, complemented by a good monitor or TV and can play blu-ray, Player remains to choose a program in which it will be possible to watch videos and to control playback Disc BD. Full-featured and free programs of this kind does not exist yet, and among the paid options with support for this format do well Corel and Cyberlink.
The first program uses a package WinDVD Pro 2010, and the second - PowerDVD 10 Mark II Ultra 3D. Often, between these options and must choose, so each of them should be considered separately.
PowerDVD
On the official website you can download a free 30-day trial version of the program with the support blu-ray 3D format. After download and install it, you can see the main program window. Start playback of the desired file is necessary in order:
- Find tab in the "Film" top menu and klatsnut on it, and in the list that appears select "Open movie file on your hard drive":
- In the new window, select not just a single file to be played, but the whole image folder and click "Select Folder."
- Wait until the end disc loading process. The relevant information is displayed in a new window.
- In the next window that opens after loading a disc, a new menu appears, with which you can control all the settings of the film. As soon as everything will be billed to your liking, press the left button «Ok». In the future, how to view the film is the same as in the case with a conventional DVD disk. Through menus are available the following functions:
- change language tracks and sound quality;
- selection of a specific frame for viewing;
- To select a title from different rolls and other materials.
The main advantages of this program are:
- intuitive interface;
- the ability to play the movie from the hard drive of your PC;
- play blu-ray, DVD and other HD files with support for hardware acceleration in combination with the CPU and the GPU;
- availability of features to transform ordinary blu-ray in 3D.
WinDVD
In comparison with the previous player Corel has a further advantage which consists in the fact that WinDVD package optimized for use with touch-computers in a Windows system.
Among the features of the program interface, you can note the simple translucent menu that sits on top of the window:
The principle of playing the desired file remains unchanged. If desired, filters can be used and numerous modes allowing recreate theater effect, improve reproduction quality, and so on. N.
The main advantages of this unit are as follows:
- Built-in support for all audio and video formats, as well as a new type of BDXL;
- smooth video playback without any jumps, which is achieved through the use of hardware acceleration;
- relatively low system requirements and, hence, less load on the system;
- the availability of free 3D glasses bundled with the purchase of boxed versions.
Features play blu-ray on Windows
For Windows operating system, the best software by which you can play blu-ray, is a Windows Blu-Ray Player. It has the following advantages:
- It assumes the output video quality with high definition, without loss of data and frame;
- It allows you to fully maintain all audio tracks, subtitles, chapter markers and videos;
- at a resolution of 1080h and DTS 5.1 audio support systems reaches SHD audiovisual quality, therefore, is not inferior to the classic home theater.
Instructions for using this professional software is as follows:
- Download the player and install it on the Windows platform.
- Insert disk into an internal or external drive. After this it is automatically downloaded to the PC.
- In the Open Disc menu just to play a file or choose subtitle, audio track, and so on. N.
Sometimes, after an upgrade to the latest version of Windows, the computer can not detect the BD-ROM in the drive. As a rule, this is due to an incompatible driver and optical drive firmware. You just need to update the system to solve this problem.
If you take the time, you can connect your blu-ray to your computer. When using a television or monitor with suitable parameters may be fully recreating the effect of home theater. With the help of a third-party program settings you can change the characteristics of the file at their discretion.