Archive for Video
November 7, 2010 at 10:53 am · Filed under AV Room, Audio, Bedroom, Computer, Living Room, Video
So after a few days of troubleshooting like crazy to get the Mac Mini’s 1080p video to work through my Yamaha Z7 AVR – success!! All good, so I rip out the cabinet and neatly run all wires, only to find out I cannot get audio to run to my Living and Bedroom areas! Arrrgghh! Sound through the receiver in the Theatre is fine, but as soon as I switch the AVR to “TV” mode (which passes audio out through HDMI to displays) I get nothing but the sound of silence. Nights are spent trying every conceivable option in the AVR, as well as switching from digital to analogue out and back again on the Mini. It appears the AVR is assuming sound should be coming via HDMI when I switch to “TV” mode, so the only way for the Mini to work in the areas I need it to, is to somehow get the sound ‘INTO’ the Z7 via HDMI, which means some form of converter box. After a Google search, an online visit to Monoprice was called for and I managed to order this device which should do the trick. So in about a weeks’ time Ill be back on track!
November 6, 2010 at 11:21 am · Filed under AV Room, Audio, Bedroom, Computer, Living Room, Video
So I bought a late-2006 Mac Mini recently purely as a media player (running Plex Nine). The plan was/is to have an elegant, easy-to-use interface that consolidates all my media and be made available in all areas of the home. Sounds great, but my integration of the Mini has been fraught with issues, ironically all AV issues (my supposed specialty!) and not software!
So first thing I did when I got the Mac home was plug it directly into the Pioneer, just to see the condition it was in and that it was functioning (oh, and I did spray paint the body black too!). DVI out of the Mini to HDMI on the TV worked perfectly. A few adjustments in OSX to output 1080p and we’re good to go. So next day with a bit of time I attempt to run it through the Yamaha Z7 so I can access it in all areas. No picture, just the initial boot up screen. Long story short, the Yamaha had difficulty identifying the EDID info from the Mini. I finally resolved this by using the “Screen Sharing” function of OSX and logged in via my MacBookPro, this allowed me to adjust the resolution settings remotely. A few presses here and there and it worked! So I now have a beautiful 1080p image available to me in every room. However, no sound…
October 5, 2010 at 2:19 pm · Filed under Outdoors, Video
For anyone who knows me, or who has followed this blog, you may know I’m an Irishman who relocated to Perth, Western Australia many years ago. Perth sees quite a high % of the year in warm to very warm weather, so outdoor usage/socialising is a big thing here, and as an Irishman, I still struggle with the high humidity in the height of summer! Anyways the opportunity to pick up a secondhand InFocus 720p IN76 PJ for next to nothing (AUD$300) was too good to be true, and so began my grand plan to improve my outdoor entertaining area.
The PJ is winging its way to me as we speak, so not much will be happening for a couple of weeks, but I will upload some outdoor shots of the space and whats required over the next few days. Still gotta work some solutions out in my head!
Essentially what is required is:-
* Run power and HDMI to new PJ location
* Design a mounting box that offers some weatherproofing for the PJ
* Run cables for a pair of outdoor speakers
* Mount PJ and work out screen size (unfortunately this means the image will be no less than 2.5m wide – something I dont really have much control over due to throw distance)
* Decide on solution to restrain pull-down screen from flapping in any potential wind.
* Get drunk and enjoy!
June 27, 2010 at 3:57 pm · Filed under Bedroom, Video
After a few months of getting myself back on track (long story!), I have started on completing the rest of the home setup. Its ‘end of financial year’* time here in Australia and what this means is bargains galore. Had been eyeing up a 40″ LCD for the main bedroom wall, and finally decided on the Sony KDL-40HX700. Featuring their “Monolithic” design, and Bravia Internet (do we really care?) this TV is stunning, and perfectly compliments the Pioneer Kuro in the Living Room. Here is the obligatory media shot:-
I hope to install this on the wall over the next couple of weeks, so pics will follow.
*interest free!
November 4, 2009 at 6:17 pm · Filed under Living Room, Video
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