Media Directors - Revision history

Mcefan: Redirected page to Media Director

2012-10-04T22:33:08Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 4 October 2012
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	~~==Links==~~		#REDIRECT[[Media Director]]

	*[[~~:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]~~
	*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|General Media Director ~~Tutorials]]~~

	~~==About==~~

	~~A '''Media Director''' (also known as a '''Media Station''') is a PC which channels the audio and video content managed by the LinuxMCE system to the audiovisual devices which are connected to it.~~

	~~Although a LinuxMCE system can only have one [[Core]] (or [[hybrid]] Core/Media Director), there can be many Media Directors in the system.~~

	There can be a separate Media Director in each room or entertainment area. For example, each connected directly to the TV, stereo or other AV devices in that area. Content is output to those local AV devices through the graphics and sound card of the local Media Director PC to which they are connected.

	~~Each Media Director is connected to the LinuxMCE [[Core]] server through the home automation/multimedia LAN.~~

	While a dedicated core can be hidden in a closet or somewhere, each Media Director is generally attached to a TV or entertainment center. As such, it has requirements similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC Home Theater PC] (stylish case, good graphics and sound cards, low noise, low heat production).

	Unlike a Home Theater PC, however, the Media Director does not require a large storage capacity. Storage functions are provided by the Core (or hybrid), not the Media Director. You can, however, add storage to a Media Director, but it is not necessary. It is important to note, however, that video decoding takes place locally on the Media Director. With that being said, it would be prudent to ensure the processing power of the Media Director is sufficient for your media, be it standard definition or high definition content.

	A Media Director, for example, does not need a large hard drive. The Core does the PVR functions, and all network media storage functions, for the entire system. Only the Core needs a large hard drive storage capacity. The Core also generally has the TV tuner card for the entire system. A Media Director does not typically need one. Also, because Media Directors can [[netboot]] from the Core (and therefore essentially act as thin clients), they do not even require an OS.

	A Media Director does need a good (nVidia) graphics card and a good sound card (e.g. with 5.1 or 7.1 outputs). Outputs to TV and stereo are directly from a Media Director, so quality output cards are needed.

	~~A Media Director also provides the interface for input devices. Remote controls (USB-UIRTs, bluetooth devices, etc), in general, are connected to a Media Director.~~

	~~Therefore, choosing or building a PC that will be used as a Media Director must be done carefully with respect to the input and output capabilities of that PC.~~

	A Media Director usually sits next to your TV. Therefore, it might have a stylish case, should be whisper-quiet (either with very quiet fans or a fanless heat sink), have low heat emission (which usually implies low power consumption) and be small and unobtrusive.

	These demands are more easily met with a Media Director than with a Home Theater PC, since many of the functions of a standalone HTPC have been moved to the Core in a LinuxMCE system, reducing the hardware requirements of each Media Director. A typical Media Director is much less expensive than is a typical Home Theater PC.

	~~===Thin client nature of a Media Director PC===~~

	Although the [[AV devices]] are connected to the Media Director(s), they are nevertheless administered by the Core. In the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website\|LinuxMCE Admin]] panel, A/V devices settings are specified separately from the settings of the Media Directors to which they are connected. This is done because the Core keeps track of the controls and settings of every device on the system. Because it is possible to [[netboot]] Media Directors from the Core, all settings for all Media Directors and all devices are centrally stored in the Core.



	~~[[Category: Media Directors~~]]

Twodogs at 13:29, 8 November 2011

2011-11-08T13:29:02Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 13:29, 8 November 2011
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	*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|Media Director Tutorials]]		*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|General Media Director Tutorials]]

	==About==		==About==

Twodogs at 15:48, 7 November 2011

2011-11-07T15:48:00Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 7 November 2011
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	~~{{versioninfo}}~~		==Links==

			*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|Media Director Tutorials]]

			==About==

	A '''Media Director''' (also known as a '''Media Station''') is a PC which channels the audio and video content managed by the LinuxMCE system to the audiovisual devices which are connected to it.		A '''Media Director''' (also known as a '''Media Station''') is a PC which channels the audio and video content managed by the LinuxMCE system to the audiovisual devices which are connected to it.

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	Although the [[AV devices]] are connected to the Media Director(s), they are nevertheless administered by the Core. In the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website\|LinuxMCE Admin]] panel, A/V devices settings are specified separately from the settings of the Media Directors to which they are connected. This is done because the Core keeps track of the controls and settings of every device on the system. Because it is possible to [[netboot]] Media Directors from the Core, all settings for all Media Directors and all devices are centrally stored in the Core.		Although the [[AV devices]] are connected to the Media Director(s), they are nevertheless administered by the Core. In the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website\|LinuxMCE Admin]] panel, A/V devices settings are specified separately from the settings of the Media Directors to which they are connected. This is done because the Core keeps track of the controls and settings of every device on the system. Because it is possible to [[netboot]] Media Directors from the Core, all settings for all Media Directors and all devices are centrally stored in the Core.

	~~==Media Director Links:==~~

	*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|Media Director Tutorials]]

	[[Category: Media Directors]]		[[Category: Media Directors]]

Twodogs at 14:59, 7 November 2011

2011-11-07T14:59:52Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 7 November 2011
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	Although the [[AV devices]] are connected to the Media Director(s), they are nevertheless administered by the Core. In the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website\|LinuxMCE Admin]] panel, A/V devices settings are specified separately from the settings of the Media Directors to which they are connected. This is done because the Core keeps track of the controls and settings of every device on the system. Because it is possible to [[netboot]] Media Directors from the Core, all settings for all Media Directors and all devices are centrally stored in the Core.		Although the [[AV devices]] are connected to the Media Director(s), they are nevertheless administered by the Core. In the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website\|LinuxMCE Admin]] panel, A/V devices settings are specified separately from the settings of the Media Directors to which they are connected. This is done because the Core keeps track of the controls and settings of every device on the system. Because it is possible to [[netboot]] Media Directors from the Core, all settings for all Media Directors and all devices are centrally stored in the Core.

	==~~Hardware used as~~ Media ~~Directors~~:==		==Media Director Links:==

	*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]

Twodogs at 14:39, 7 November 2011

2011-11-07T14:39:05Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 7 November 2011
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	*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
	*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:MediaDirectorTutorials\|Media Director Tutorials]]

	[[Category: Media Directors]]		[[Category: Media Directors]]

Twodogs at 14:35, 7 November 2011

2011-11-07T14:35:17Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:35, 7 November 2011
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	*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]		*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:Laptops\|Laptop Media Directors]]
			*[[:Category:Nettops\|Nettop Media Directors]]

	[[Category: Media Directors]]		[[Category: Media Directors]]

Twodogs at 14:33, 7 November 2011

2011-11-07T14:33:44Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 7 November 2011
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	==Hardware used as Media Directors:==		==Hardware used as Media Directors:==

	*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media ~~Director Category~~]]		*[[:Category:Media_Directors\|Media Directors]]

	[[Category: Media Directors]]		[[Category: Media Directors]]

Wierdbeard65 at 08:29, 5 May 2010

2010-05-05T08:29:34Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 08:29, 5 May 2010
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			{{versioninfo}}
	A '''Media Director''' (also known as a '''Media Station''') is a PC which channels the audio and video content managed by the LinuxMCE system to the audiovisual devices which are connected to it.		A '''Media Director''' (also known as a '''Media Station''') is a PC which channels the audio and video content managed by the LinuxMCE system to the audiovisual devices which are connected to it.

Chris Caven at 12:02, 4 February 2010

2010-02-04T12:02:54Z

Ray N at 03:24, 11 August 2009

2009-08-11T03:24:04Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 03:24, 11 August 2009
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	[[Category: Media Directors]]		[[Category: Media Directors]]
	~~[[Category: Hardware]]~~

←Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 4 February 2010
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	Although a LinuxMCE system can only have one [[Core]] (or [[hybrid]] Core/Media Director), there can be many Media Directors in the system.		Although a LinuxMCE system can only have one [[Core]] (or [[hybrid]] Core/Media Director), there can be many Media Directors in the system.

	There can be a separate Media Director in each room or entertainment area~~, for~~ example, each connected directly to the TV, stereo, or other AV devices in that area. Content is output to those local AV devices through the graphics and sound card of the local Media Director PC to which they are connected.		There can be a separate Media Director in each room or entertainment area. For example, each connected directly to the TV, stereo or other AV devices in that area. Content is output to those local AV devices through the graphics and sound card of the local Media Director PC to which they are connected.

	Each Media Director is connected to the LinuxMCE [[Core]] server through the home automation/multimedia LAN.		Each Media Director is connected to the LinuxMCE [[Core]] server through the home automation/multimedia LAN.
Line 9:		Line 9:
	While a dedicated core can be hidden in a closet or somewhere, each Media Director is generally attached to a TV or entertainment center. As such, it has requirements similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC Home Theater PC] (stylish case, good graphics and sound cards, low noise, low heat production).		While a dedicated core can be hidden in a closet or somewhere, each Media Director is generally attached to a TV or entertainment center. As such, it has requirements similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC Home Theater PC] (stylish case, good graphics and sound cards, low noise, low heat production).

	Unlike a Home Theater PC, however, the Media Director does not require a large storage capacity. Storage functions are provided by the Core (or hybrid), not the Media Director. You can however add storage to a ~~media director~~, but it is not necessary. It is important to note however, that video decoding takes place locally on the ~~media director~~. With that being said, it would be prudent to ensure the processing power of the ~~media director~~ is sufficient for your media, be it standard definition or high definition content.		Unlike a Home Theater PC, however, the Media Director does not require a large storage capacity. Storage functions are provided by the Core (or hybrid), not the Media Director. You can, however, add storage to a Media Director, but it is not necessary. It is important to note, however, that video decoding takes place locally on the Media Director. With that being said, it would be prudent to ensure the processing power of the Media Director is sufficient for your media, be it standard definition or high definition content.

	A Media Director, for example, does not need a large hard drive. (The Core does the PVR functions, and all network media storage functions, for the entire system. Only the Core needs a large hard drive storage capacity.) The Core also generally has the TV ~~video~~ card for the entire system. A Media Director does not typically need one. Also, because Media Directors can [[netboot]] from the Core (and therefore essentially act as thin clients), they do not even require an OS.		A Media Director, for example, does not need a large hard drive. The Core does the PVR functions, and all network media storage functions, for the entire system. Only the Core needs a large hard drive storage capacity. The Core also generally has the TV tuner card for the entire system. A Media Director does not typically need one. Also, because Media Directors can [[netboot]] from the Core (and therefore essentially act as thin clients), they do not even require an OS.

	A Media Director does need a good (nVidia) graphics card and a good sound card (e.g. with 5.1 or 7.1 outputs)~~, however~~. Outputs to TV and stereo are directly from a Media Director, so quality output cards are needed.		A Media Director does need a good (nVidia) graphics card and a good sound card (e.g. with 5.1 or 7.1 outputs). Outputs to TV and stereo are directly from a Media Director, so quality output cards are needed.

	A Media Director also provides the interface for input devices. Remote controls (USB-UIRTs, bluetooth devices, etc.) in general are connected to a Media Director.		A Media Director also provides the interface for input devices. Remote controls (USB-UIRTs, bluetooth devices, etc), in general, are connected to a Media Director.

	Therefore, choosing or building a PC that will be used as a Media Director must be done carefully with respect to the input and output capabilities of that PC.		Therefore, choosing or building a PC that will be used as a Media Director must be done carefully with respect to the input and output capabilities of that PC.

	A Media Director usually sits next to your TV. ~~It therefore must~~ have a stylish case, ~~must~~ be whisper-quiet (either with very quiet fans or a fanless heat sink), have low heat emission (which usually implies low power consumption), and be small and unobtrusive.		A Media Director usually sits next to your TV. Therefore, it might have a stylish case, should be whisper-quiet (either with very quiet fans or a fanless heat sink), have low heat emission (which usually implies low power consumption) and be small and unobtrusive.

	These demands are more easily met with a Media Director than with a Home Theater PC, since many of the functions of a standalone HTPC have been moved to the Core in a LinuxMCE system, reducing the hardware requirements of each Media Director. A typical Media Director ~~therefore~~ is much less expensive than is a typical Home Theater PC.		These demands are more easily met with a Media Director than with a Home Theater PC, since many of the functions of a standalone HTPC have been moved to the Core in a LinuxMCE system, reducing the hardware requirements of each Media Director. A typical Media Director is much less expensive than is a typical Home Theater PC.

	===Thin client nature of a Media Director PC===		===Thin client nature of a Media Director PC===