The Wahyudiharto's Blog

If you familiar to use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio program - Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming -, actually there are 2 big problems I found yet that so disturbing. The first is that the OBS won't running and also there's black screen on preview of Display Capture window. Don't worry, the solution is below on the video...

 
So, if the OBS won't running after it first installation and there's an error message similar like this, it's a result of the wrong codec being selected to output the recording file or there's nothing codec selected that support OBS to run.


The solution is simply as you have to make sure that your graphic card have the latest version of driver installed on your system. If nothing goes wrong, than this error will not showing up anymore.

The second problem when you see that there's black screen on preview of Display Capture window which is very supposed to be showing your desktop screen and it usually happened on a system with 2 graphic cards installed such as laptop which have Intel as a display graphic and NVidia as a render graphic - just for example.


It's happened when your OBS detected Intel as a render graphic instead of the other one.
The solution for this is you need to setting up what graphic card that use to be a rendering function.
First, open the configuration of your main graphic card and simply add the OBS program as a "white list" so that the program will recognize the same display as a rendering graphic card.

Select the preferred graphic processor to integrated graphics. Apply and now you can start the OBS and see the result. Tadaaa.... It's worked!

Labels: Multimedia

What exactly is a cloud drive? in my opinion - It’s a virtual disk drive placed on a wide network or internet. In other words, there’s no necessity to carry up a USB drive anymore, but everywhere you need is an internet connection. I can say that cloud drive is a small part of cloud computing or any kind of this. I thought it was departed from FTP link mechanism, while you need your own domain to get it start. But with cloud drive, everything looks more portable now.

There are 2 big players on cloud drive; Google (GDrive) and Microsoft (SkyDrive). While Google integrating it with Google Mail (GMail), Microsoft combined it with Microsoft Live. It’s a different, but similar. Okay anyone know that Gmail has 8GB storage to archives email on each account, it’s a more than enough to save 2 DVD drives on that way. Since it takes lot of time to use up the spaces, this probably boiled down as a new Google product inherited.



Officially – AFAIK - Google has integrated GDrive into Windows shell by a small kit named Gmail Drive (click the link to get it), while others OS supported by each hardware vendors (such Acer Aspire One for their netbook products which came with Linux) or with Firefox add-ons which is support multi-platform. Anyway - after installing it - your Windows Explorer now enhanced with supplement folder named with Gmail Drive. As it has the same behavior as disk drive, this Gmail Drive also has properties window. Just point to it, right click & select properties. See, it has the same size with your Gmail space.



By the way you can do above way after you have an internet link. Further, try to go into the drive, click the Gmail Drive & it’ll appear a login window. Enter your account, and then verification window will show, just like picture below.



To take example, try to copy & paste a file or folder. After it copied, the drive will send an email alert inform you that you or someone using your account had store a thing(s) on GDrive. Now, how about SkyDrive? It’s resemble with GDrive (with extra drive additional & extra space!), but the software kit was develop from 3rd party (not officially from Microsoft).



You can try to download the kit named by SDExplorer from this link. Install it (an extra drive will available named with SDExplorer) & try to log on with your Windows Live ID (create one if you doesn’t have).



Login to it & - as I say - you’ll have an extra 25GB drive space! Is any provider can supply more than this? However, this SkyDrive has the same operation treatment as GDrive, as it simply as copy, cut or paste.

Conclusion
From example on this article, no need to spare money to buy an extra USB disk, since you’ll have additional 33GB for free on the net accessed precisely from your Windows Explorer.



Those “virtual” drive above hit a bit benefit on me, it’s a secondary storage to store my micro files (like configuration files or something else) just in case if you forget to carry your USB disk. While it contains micro files, it doesn’t take long time to download it from the cloud drive. Share your comment below, thanks for reading & good day.

Labels: Multimedia, Network, re, Review, Rupa-rupi, Setting, Tips Trik

For those gamer who has been switched to PC from console games such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation, the disable of game pad vibration could be a big problem. The enjoyment of playing games will slightly decrease if your game pad is not vibrating at all. This article actually the last episode of trilogy HTPC topics which currently wrapping up on gaming experience (look at 1st article & 2nd article). So, anyway, here’s down below the solution of how to make it vibrate.

AFAIK, nowadays PC game pad particularly build on PlayStation & Nintendo compatible. No matter what type of yours, is it joystick, steering wheel or other common type of game pad, you need to know what kind of game pad compatible you have. Just ask the hardware vendor, read manual documentation inside of cover-box or you can search over the internet to reveal what its type by entering the game pad model name or serial number. A complete wiki documentation about this you can browse on this link, this could be your first good start. Here below is example of my game pad, particularly a PlayStation compatible made in Chine named with Dualshock TwinUSB game pad I bought it for US$ 5, with malfunction vibration driver CD included in box.



Anyway, next step is, provide an additional original factory driver files from its type. Most of game pad today has plug and play feature basically on Windows XP. All you need to do is just plugged in the game pad in working port (most of it uses USB port) & do the calibration optionally on Game Controllers window in Control Panel (most of it isn’t necessary). Both of it don’t need factory driver disk since Windows will provide it natively.



Above picture shows Game Controller window where my game pad plugged in without additional driver installed, but it still using a native driver from Windows XP. Everything just working fine, even I don’t have to calibrate it. When I try to playing games, the game pad doesn’t vibrate! Picking up a correct additional driver to enable the vibration is not an easy job. For this, you need to trial & error; even it has the same exact model name between the game pad & the driver which is explained on the readme file included.



After trying trial & error downloading the driver from internet & installing it for tens times, finally I found a best & fit one to my particularly game pad. The picture above explains the difference after a correct driver installed. The controller name now changed from TwinUSB Joystick to Twin USB Vibration Gamepad & also there’s a new tab on Game Controller window showing vibrate setting. I though this driver is a kind of universal type & will work with any others game pad, (perhaps specifically built from china fabrication). If you want to try this driver, download it from rapidshare in this link & install both files included on it.



After that, try to loading a games & the game pad controller name should changed to new name too. Now, playing games on my HTPC is more comfort since vibration on game pad has been working after installing a correct driver. Well, for me everyday mean works had & play hard.

Labels: HTPC, Modifikasi PC, Multimedia, PC Modding, Windows Media Center

A moment ago, some readers of my blog had been speaking to me on email about how to manage PC applications with non-PC remote control (RC) which I described a bit in my previous article. I’m not talking about dedicated PC RC since I though it much configurable, more compatible & well designate to such as XP Media Center RC, Xbox 360 RC or others specified at the green button site, also it equal to the price too. But on this, I’d like to focus about home electronic consumer RC, a cheap RC we can find on every local store near home.

So, how this things can run? First, make sure that you have Infrared (IR) tranceiver built-in or plugged on your machine. If it detected well in Windows XP, over Device Manager, it will show 3 items (eHome Infrared Receiver, Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver & Microsoft eHome Remote Consumer Controls) just like picture below:



Next, you’ll need 3rd party software purposed to communicate between RC and IR transceiver. I found 2 free software regarding to this which is Girder and HIP, but then I decide to choose HIP (stands for Human Interface Programming) because it’s more easier to use. I compared that it took less time to learn HIP than Girder, so reasonable because Girder has more complete functionality than HIP. To get latest HIP software, point your browser to this link.



As you can see from above picture (got from HIP official website), HIP can organize several media or electronic to do something likes automation control, windows messaging, IR, sending, communicating with LED display, microcontroler scheduler and so on. But, the principal thing on this article is, it can provide a link between RC and (HT)PC by emulating keyboard commands over RC.

Then, what kind of non-PC RC compatible to HIP? Ok, let’s try trial & error like as I did before. Get as much electronic RC you can find near you, it can be TV RC, DVD player, AC or something else. Use HIP wizard to recognize one of those things. Once your RC “handshaked”, then explore it more with it & continue to next wizard.



Unfortunately, I only have 3 RC’s around me; from left to right: Sharp TV RC, LG AC RC & Philips DVD Player RC. None of all recognized by HIP except the DVD RC. On 3rd party Girder plugin page, I found that Philips mostly use RC6 IR chip on their RC. I also found that this RC6 chip is compatible with SFH56-36; TSOP1736 sensor with sufficient sensitivity transmitters at 36kHz. From other resources on internet, I found too that most of remote controls operate at 38kHz, some at 36kHz and some (mostly Sony) at 40kHz. A higher frequency value means better sensitivity but limited to IR transceiver and lower frequency means less sensitivity but high compatibility to IR transceiver.



The great thing is, you can assembling those chip into a IR transceiver with RS232 (COM port) based by your own self at US$ 1 cost only, just look at above PCB diagram! Ok, back to topic. Once you have RC recognized by HIP, get continue to next wizard until you find a window asking you what software you want to control. On my experience to support my Media Center, I choose PowerDVD 9 (Cinema Mode), Winamp, Windows Media Player and On Screen Keyboard.



Each of those software need to configure one by one using HIP user input button. For example, if you choose Play shortcut keyboard in Winamp (known as “X”), on Edit Value window, you need to press approriate Play button on RC.



And so on with others function on each software until all software listed succesfully by HIP. To test the RC button, simply press Run button on HIP or activate it by using mouse right click over HIP icon reside in taskbar.



Dont forget to execute the software first. Once it’s been running, HIP will notice you by yellow balloon tips rise at the HIP icon from the taskbar.



From this point, you can try whether your configuration button is suitable or not. On my test using Philips DVD Player RC, I can operate the PC well from 6m distance with non-wall penetrated. I think it’s great with no cost additional of course! Have a good try.

Labels: HTPC, Multimedia, Remote Control, Windows Media Center

Happy new year!!! I posted this article when my watch shows exactly at 12.00. Anyway, Want to look out for cheap HTPC which can replace your hi-fi home theater, Set Top Box, Digital Video Recording, PlayStation and much more functionality on a single machine? This article will explain you more about my experience on this. One thing for sure that you need a mini PC which has slim and sleek design so that it will fit best on your cupboard family room, also considering the physically style to increase room aesthetic and convince that the console box is more than a hi-fi system. For this objectives you have 2 options; you can search for a complete mini built-up PC or you can build the PC from scratch with barebone case. Both choices are a kind of hard job since you have to considering some points which is (1) VGA capability, (2) sound card enrichment and (3) others things which can make the PC easy on operate (as easy as you can play your hi-fi system).

VGA Capability
Unfortunately, many built-up PC comes with integrated VGA chipset that shared up memory from RAM and it has under average capability. Shared up means that it would consume a great number of RAM and off course it will decrease the amount of RAM that the PC has, the impact is slower performance. For me, a standardize VGA of HTPC must fulfill some specific criteria which are; (1) it should have TV output, (2) low voltage operating – for those who sensitive with electricity bill and (3) contain valuable chipset – so that it can decode DVD smoothly and good enough to play 3D games – Nvidia or ATI is a great choice. So, it’s strongly recommended that you have to supply an additional VGA card based on your appropriate motherboard. Note that you also have to aware with the power voltage needs and how much the VGA will consume it. Its related one to others; more powerful your VGA is, more voltage it needs from the CPU power supply. In my experience, since I still have an active NVidia AGP GeForce 4, so that I planning to find out a Pentium 4 based CPU and motherboard which compatible to the VGA.

Soundcard
Currently, a home theater/hi-fi sold with at least 4.1 sound speaker systems. If your soundcard PC doesn’t have those or you only have 2 or 2.1 speaker system, then get ready to hear joke comes out from your friends. Moreover, hearing music or watching DVD movies or playing games doesn’t seems more pleasant with that, and clearly, you will loose the surround experience. Forget about it if you have 4.1 speakers, but I suggest you to upgrade the soundcard which has at least two output lines (front and rear speaker). Don’t feel troubled with a brand new soundcard, since a second-hand is already enough (as long as it doesn’t break). Fortunately, on current experiment, I still have a C-Media soundcard with different front and rear speaker channel. This configuration is good enough to hear sounds out from speaker (even I only have 2.1 speaker system, I used it as front sound and using both speakers from my TV as rear sound). Maybe I’ll buy a real one in short. Just hope me to do that.

Others
This seems quite difficult to explain since it relatively to other persons: first, it’s a benefit of yours if your PC has a remote control. See, you don’t want too disturbed with the use of wired keyboard or mouse during DVD movie playback or playing games, do you? Also, it will be great if your PC equipped with Bluetooth so that the file transfer from other media will become more easily. To playing around with games, I suggest a gamepad to take control of whole activities. Lots of above consideration will bring your decision to choose whether you need to buy a built-up PC or create a new one. So think before you buy.

So, What are the Built-up Alternatives?
There are a lot of alternative machines you can choose to build your HTPC. Most of them are based with Pentium 4 – sorry, I don’t recommend netbook desktop such as ASUS deskbook or MSI nettop which based on Atom processor since lots of limitation covered on it. Here below I explained (including CPU price only) what may best fit to your room and needs:




Above alternative is only some examples, there are also others brand circulate out up the store such as Samsung, LG, NEC or else. You may find another better complete second hand CPU with reasonable price, more functionality and suitable for your needs. Or you think better to build your self a CPU with weird computer case?

My Experiments
Anyway, after tired turning around all day long on some computer mall, finally I was interesting on Samsung built-up brand. You know that Samsung had released a special purposed PC dedicated to home multimedia entertainment. They called it with Magic Station. This Magic Station actually produced with many series & style (mini tower and slim desktop), but somehow – CMIIW - it was officially introduced only in Korea. If you are considering one of these units, be sure you know which version you are getting. My particular model is MT20 series – a slim desktop style – which is the low profile version. The MT20 is powered by Intel Pentium 4 2.6 GHz with 512 DDRAM, DVD Combo and 40 GB hard drive. All of this cost only US$79.



For second hand CPU, the price is worthless and I’m so pleased with it. Why? Because:
(1) The slim desktop case with cute style is exactly fit on my cupboard
(2) There’s 3 PCI and AGP slot available, so that I can plugged in my AGP card and soundcard on it



(3) There also attractive digital led in front panel showing CPU activity such as power indicator, hard drive, CD player, processor speed and more



(4) On hand soft buttons dedicated to multimedia accessibility under the led panel, helping to play, pause, stop, increasing or decreasing volume during DVD playback or other multimedia activity



(5) The CPU can stand for 2 boot mode; computer and CD player. There’s a switch (at left of the led panel) to turn on CD player mode without activating the operating system



(6) Various digital output port available in front panel, contains 1 USB, speaker line out-in, IEEE 1394, S-Video and video in
(7) It also have memory stick reader on the left bottom of front panel.
(8) The MT20 also fully equipped with eHome infrared transceiver built-in hardware, but I didn’t get the remote control when I buy this unit.



Even though, I can used a Philips DVD remote control to operate the CPU as well as Media Center remote. I though it doesn’t compatible with the frequency but it does. For this purposed, I used a free software named HIP (Human Interface Programming), a better one than Girder, in my opinion.



Maybe I’ll reviewed these both remote control and HIP more deep on the next articles. By the way, I programmed it so that it has the same functionality as common DVD player remote control. To help maintenance and operate this computer, I also attached it with wired mouse and numpad, since there’s no keyboard plugged in.



Anyway, for wide gaming activities, I also attach my HTPC with USB double shock gamepad. Now, it seems my system similar to PlayStation but with better 4.1 sound channels.



Different from my previous experiment with Windows Media Center, now my MT20 installed with Windows XP SP2 Professional Edition. Why XP SP2? The answer is for faster booting. If you want your HTPC look like a DVD player, try to install PowerDVD 9 and let the software started in cinema mode automatically during Windows start up. And here we go, the HTPC now ready to serve us.



Anyway, I don’t know how long does the MT20 will still stand for me since it’s kinda difficult to look out for the spare parts. But if it will broke soon, nothing I buy except a brand new of Magic Station from Samsung. Thrust me…

Labels: HTPC, Modifikasi PC, Multimedia, My Share, PC Modding, Windows Media Center

For some reasons, I was too attracted with this such of gadget: a hand phone with analog TV technology equipped. At first, I don’t even had a dream to buy a new cell phone again since I already has. But, I though it’s too worthless for me to have an iPod or something else similar multimedia gadgets with it’s near same price because they offering just the same old features: MP3 or MP4 with FM radio functionality. So, I decided to try pick this one TV with phone kit replacing my old multimedia box.



A month ago, I just found 2 alternative brand name of it around me such as Hi-Tech H38 & MyG 678. Both supplied with analog TV feature in addition with its standard multimedia entertainment like 2 MPx camera, MP3, MP4, radio FM functionality, Bluetooth, touch screen feature & 256MB external miniSD storage. The Hi-Tech H38 has an odd keypad layout with its black dominant color surrounding to the case. Anyway, I prefer to buy MyG 678 product since it has a standard phone keypad layout with its elegance shiny silver color case.



After using it for couple weeks, I concluded that my MyG succeed impressing me out of the box (even it comes from China product). The battery life is more longer than I expected before (however there are 2 batteries in box package included). The GSM frequency also strength to receive from it’s internal antenna, it was a test & I didn’t use the GSM function to communicate from this cell phone. The LCD displayed more brightly than my PDA. The speaker comes out more loud & clear to produce audio out from the FM radio & multimedia player.



Sending or receiving files from the phone are easy with Bluetooth, anyway there are also data cables available with the USB connection. I don’t know about the Bluetooth stack used by, but it’s paired fine from my PDA & my Travelmate. The built-in TV receiver signal also good. It can stored 20 channels & displayed out more clear than my TV, even with 2.5” display LCD available. The things I don’t too much like was it’s tiny hard pressed keypad, maybe it’s a compensation of the mini form factor where they can’t plugged in more toning down to soften the pad. Overall, I like it very much enjoying the multimedia from it, especially the television features.

Labels: Gadget, Multimedia