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MCEBuddy takes your LARGE Windows Media Center television recording (and other video) files and makes them small saving you disk space. It also removes commercials and converts your recordings into formats that are usable on other systems and handheld devices. It does all of this automatically with a minimum of fuss and little or no technical knowledge required.
MCEBuddy is an automated service for Windows Media Center XP, Vista and now Vista 64 that converts the Media Center native video format (DVR-MS) to a user-configurable file format (WMV, DivX or H.264). MCEBuddy is freeware, spyware free and distributed under GPL.
Prerequisite: .Net framework 2.0. Install using Windows Update or download from this location: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=9832.
(Optional but Recommended) Formats other than WMV: If you intend to use H.264 (recommended) or DivX format and wish to play them back under Media Center, you will need to download FFDShow for 32 bit systems or VistaCodecx64 for 64 bit and install it. Each MCEBuddy build is tested against the latest stable build of FFDShow as its target codec pack. While other codec packs should work, no bug fixing will be performed for irregularities of playback under any others.
(Optional) Alternative commercial removal: MCEBuddy provides commercial removal out of the box using the freeware Comskip application. This application works well and is installed with MCEBuddy (you don't have to do anything). If this tool is not working for you, another supported tool is ShowAnalyzer, though this is not free ($10) and not included in the MCEBuddy installation. If installed, MCEBuddy will automatically configure and use it. You can download ShowAnalyzer from here http://www.dragonglobal.org/dl/download.php?id=32. Please use version 0.92, existing users note that 0.91 does not work.
(Optional) Updated Commercial Removal: The standard MCEBuddy 1.0.8 commercial removal is cautious. There is an updated set of commercial removal profiles for both Comskip and ShowAnalyzer based commercial removal. You can download and install them from here. These profiles are more aggresive at finding ads than the standard ones. Make sure you do not have "Delete Originals" selected until you are happy with them.
Installation:
- Uninstall any existing version of MCEBuddy
- Download and extract the MCEBuddy.zip file to a location and install using SETUP.EXE.
- Start the taskbar monitor (Start/All Programs/Tyrell/MCEBuddy/MCE Buddy Taskbar Monitor).
- Read the Configuration Guide and set up MCEBuddy as necessary.
- Start the service.
Debugging/Troubleshooting
If you have problems using MCEBuddy, first check the MCEBuddy FAQ and the Windows event log, where most MCEBuddy problems are logged. For further information, try the Bugs and Troubleshooting forum.
For anything else, post a question on the forums or eMail me.
If you are requesting a new feature PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE check the Releases and Known Bugs page first to see if it is already planned for a future MCEBuddy release. I'm answering a LOT of the SAME requests for things that are already scheduled for an MCEBuddy release.
If you require more control or options than MCEBuddy can provide I recommend DVRMSToolbox.
PHREDEAUX IS BACK AND STARTING ON THE NEXT BETA
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