This blog post represents an important update of the August 29, 2013 blog post "PE: Blu-ray Computer Playback and More" which is found HERE. Today's VLC Media Player 32 bit version 2.2.1 and Media Player Classic-HC x64 version 1.7.10 (d911f14) were each used in the updated blog post.
ISSUE
An internal LG Blu-ray/DVD burner (BH12L535) has been in use for a long time in our Windows 7 Professional SP1 64 bit desktop computer. And, Premiere Elements Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc playback has been done with the CyberLink Power DVD 9 software that came with this burner. A Blu-ray burner was wanted for Premiere Elements on Windows 10 Home 64 bit Lenovo laptop computer. So, the internal LG Blu-ray burner was converted successfully to an external one using an external enclosure.
Although the external version of the Blu-ray burner was recognized by Premiere Elements/Windows 7 and 10 64 bit and produced the burn to products, playback of the Blu-ray disc products failed on Windows 10 because, although the CyberLink playback software was compatible with the Intel HD Graphics display adapter on that laptop, it was not with its driver version. A driver version for the laptop's display adapter could not be found to resolve the issue.
This laptop situation motivated the revisiting of "Blu-ray Computer Playback" at the free level. Focus was on the possible use of VLC Media Player and/or Media Player Classic-HC x64 for the laptop Premiere Elements Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc playback.
SOLUTION
The VLC Media Player version 2.2.1 (with or without add ons KEYDB.cfg and libaacs.dll) was found to play back Premiere Elements Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc created with menus, opening to the Main Menu for the movie. Consequently, the VLC Media Player was selected as the Blu-ray player for the laptop. The settings for the VLC's Open Media dialog were essential to success. See RESULTS VLC Media Player Details including Figure 1.
VLC Media Player version 2.2.1 with KEYDB.cfg and libaacs.dll add ons needs more work with regard to playback with playback navigation for scenes and extras of store purchased Blu-ray movies. Since the target of the work was Premiere Elements and not Store Purchased Blu-ray Movies, VLC Media Player playback of Store Purchased Blu-ray Movies was not pursued at this time.
The Media Player Classic-HC x64 advantage over the VLC Media Player was that the former played back Premiere Elements AVCHD on DVD disc whereas the latter VLC Media Player errored out when presented with Premiere Elements AVCHD on DVD disc.
RESULTS
Summary
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| Table 1. Computer Playback Of Premiere Elements 14/14.1 Burn To Products. Yellow Highlights = Main Menu Opening Before Movie. Blu-ray/DVD Burner = LG's BH12L535. Verbatim Blu-ray And DVD Discs Were Used In The Premiere Elements NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD1080i30 Projects. |
VLC Media Player
Premiere Elements 14/14.1 Blu-ray Movie created with Disc Menus
VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog and its Disc Tab set for
Disc Selection = Blu-ray
No check mark next to "No disc menus"
Disc Device = Blu-ray drive into which the Blu-ray disc is inserted
 |
| Figure 1. VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog Details. |
Store Purchased Blu-ray Movie*
VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog and its Disc Tab for
Disc Selection = Blu-ray
No check mark next to "No disc menus"
Disc Device = Blu-ray drive into which the Blu-ray disc is inserted
Result: Opens to FBI first play but no Main Menu before the movie. Although player does offers Playback Menu/Title, no way was found to get the movie bonus features to appear. If VLC Media Player is used without modification, there was Blu-ray error citing both of the following
- Blu-ray error. This Blu-ray Disc needs a library for AACS decoding, and your system does not have it.
- Your input can't be opened. VLC is unable to open MRL 'bluray :///F:/'. Check the log for details.
- A folder named aacs*** (empty) was created and placed in the Roaming Folder according to the path Local Disk C\Users\Owner\AppData\Roaming\
- KEYBD.cfg was obtained from http://vlc-aacs.whoknowsmy.name/ , by clicking on "get the file UPDATED 21-02-2016!"
- The KEYBD.cfg file downloaded was then placed in the aacc Folder.
- libaacs.dll file was obtained from http://vlc-aacs.whoknowsmy.name/, by clicking on "VLC 32bits on Windows: put that file in your VLC directory" under the header of AACS Dynamic Library UPDATED 21-02-2016!
- The libaacs.dll file downloaded was placed in the VLC Folder according to the path Local Disk C\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC.
VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog and its Disc Tab set for
Disc Selection = DVD
No check mark next to "No disc menus"
Disc Device = Drive into which the DVD disc is inserted
Result: If DVD-VIDEO on DVD-R 4.7 GB/120 min, then playback opens automatically with display of Main Menu before the start of the movie portion, with or without the VLC add on files of KEYDB.cfg and libaacs.dll. Movie navigation opportunities are also available via player's Playback Menu.
Store Purchased DVD-VIDEO Movie*
VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog and its Disc Tab set for
Disc Selection = DVD
No check mark next to "No disc menus"
Disc Device = Drive into which the DVD disc is inserted
Result: First Play still/video, then main menu displayed automatically before viewing the movie, with or without VLC add on files of KEYDB.cfg and libaacs.dll. Movie navigation opportunities are also available via player's Playback Menu. Movie extras are accessible from the Main Menu.
Premiere Elements 14/14.1 AVCHD DVD Movie on DVD-R disc created with Disc Menus
VLC Media Menu/Open Disc/Open Media Dialog and its Disc Tab set for
Disc Selection = DVD
No check mark next to "No disc menus"
Disc Device = Drive into which the DVD disc is inserted
Result: No playback. Instead, Errors Dialog with message "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'dvd:///F:/'. Check the log for details." Same result with and without the VLC add on files of KEYDB.cfg and libaascs.dll.
Media Player Classic HC x64
Premiere Elements 14/14.1 Blu-ray Movie created with Disc Menus
Right click opened "Media Player Classic Home Cinema", from pop up select File/Open DVD/BD, and, with drive selected, click Select Folder at the bottom of the "Select the path for DVD/BD" dialog.
Result: Playback of movie without Main Menu displayed before the movie. Playback navigation appears to be by either of two ways
- Click on a Chapter Marker displayed in play bar at bottom of window playing back movie
- Right clicking the window playing back movie, selecting Navigation/Chapters.
Right click opened "Media Player Classic Home Cinema", from pop up select File/Open DVD/BD, and, with drive selected, click Select Folder at the bottom of the "Select the path for DVD/BD" dialog.
Result: No movie or menus playback. Just Error "Cannot render file."
Premiere Elements 14/14.1 DVD-VIDEO Movie on DVD-R disc created with Disc Menus
Right click opened "Media Player Classic Home Cinema", from pop up select File/Open DVD/BD, and, with drive selected, click Select Folder at the bottom of the "Select the path for DVD/BD" dialog.
Result: Playback of the Main Menu automatically displayed before the start of the movie. Movie navigation appears to be by either of two ways
- Click on a Chapter Marker displayed in play bar at bottom of window playing back movie
- Right clicking the window playing back movie, selecting Navigation/Chapters.
Store Purchased DVD-VIDEO Movie*
Right click opened "Media Player Classic Home Cinema", from pop up select File/Open DVD/BD, and, with drive selected, click Select Folder at the bottom of the "Select the path for DVD/BD" dialog.
Result: Playback First Play still/video followed by Main Menu displayed before the start of the movie. Movie navigation appears to be by either of two ways
- Click on a Chapter Marker displayed in play bar at bottom of window playing back movie
- Right clicking the window playing back movie, selecting Navigation/Chapters.
Premiere Elements 14/14.1 AVCHD DVD Movie on DVD-R disc created with Disc Menus
Right click opened "Media Player Classic Home Cinema", from pop up select File/Open DVD/BD, and, with drive selected, click Select Folder at the bottom of the "Select the path for DVD/BD" dialog.
Result: Playback of movie without Main Menu displayed before the movie. Movie navigation appears to be by either of two ways
- Click on a Chapter Marker displayed in play bar at bottom of window playing back movie
- Right clicking the window playing back movie, selecting Navigation/Chapters.
COMMENTARY
Work in progress.
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*Only Store Purchased Blu-ray Movie available for this study was "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" (1971) with Gene Wilder. Store Purchased DVD-VIDEO Movie available for this study was "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988). More studies need to be done in this area to differentiate between player lack of feature versus and different layouts for the Store Purchased Blu-ray Movie disc content.
**The KEYDB.cfg file is downloaded and placed in the empty newly created aacs Folder in Roaming Folder. After first operation in VLC player, the aacs Folder then contains a vid folder, vuk folder, drl file, and hrl file besides the KEYDB.cfg file.
***Creating a new folder the usual way and naming that folder aacs is part of the VLC add on procedure. Misspelling of folder name can cause failure to playback store purchased Blu-ray movie.
ATR
