HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. HP assumes no responsibility for the use or reliability of its software on equipment that is not furnished by HP. This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright.
Welcome...........................................1 Experience the Entertainment Fun ............................. 1 Watch and record live TV.................................. 1 The right music for the moment ........................... 1 Share your digital memories .............................. 1 Transform your living space into a theater............ 1 Using Media Center Features ................................... 2 Using Media Center...........................3 Setting Up Media Center .................
Playing Music Files ......................... 39 Playing Videos................................59 My Music ............................................................ 39 Using My Music with Media Center ........................ 40 Adding Music to the My Music Library .................... 41 Adding music files from your hard disk drive...... 41 Adding music files from a CD........................... 42 Deleting music files from the My Music library .........................................................
Creating Video Discs and Movies.....................................89 Before You Begin Capturing Video ......................... 89 Sonic MyDVD Video Projects ................................. 90 Creating a video project.................................. 90 Adding files to a video project ......................... 91 Capturing video to a video project ................... 91 Adding slideshows to a video project................ 92 Adding submenus to a video project .................
Viewing Picture Files ........................................... 118 Playing Video Files ............................................. 119 About Recording TV to Your HP Personal Media Drive .................................................. 119 Watching TV Programs Stored on the HP Personal Media Drive................................. 120 Recording TV programs to Your HP Personal Media Drive.................................... 121 Changing the TV recording path to the HP Personal Media Drive...............
Welcome Experience the Entertainment Fun ® ® Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2 lets you do amazing things with your HP Digital Entertainment Center. With a full range of digital entertainment features, you can experience TV, movies, music, and photos like never before. Media Center is simple and easy to use. You can easily find and choose your media. You can play movies, listen to music, view photos, and watch TV with a single remote control.
Using Media Center Features You can control the Media Center functions and navigate Media Center windows by using the remote control, the keyboard, or the trackball. You can easily switch back and forth between them by moving the trackball or by pressing a button on the remote control or the keyboard. n Your HP Digital Entertainment Center comes with a rewritable DVD drive. This drive is able to read and record to both DVD+R/-RW and DVD-R/-RW media.
Using Media Center Setting Up Media Center n For more information about setting up your HP Digital Entertainment Center, refer to the Start Here guide. The first time you start your HP Digital Entertainment Center, a Media Center setup wizard opens. It is recommended to complete each step in the Media Center setup wizard to be able to use all the features in Media Center. The Media Center setup wizard may take several minutes to complete.
Opening Media Center using the remote control You can use either your remote control or your trackball to open and navigate within Media Center. To use your remote control: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select a Media Center menu. 3 Press the OK button to enter your selection and open that window.
Media Center menu bars When you move the trackball, the Media Center menu bars appear. These menu bars allow you to access media controls, Media Center Help, the back screen arrow, window control icons, and the Media Center icon that takes you to the main Media Center menu. When you use the remote control, or when you stop using the trackball (after 5 seconds), the menu bars disappear.
Media Center control menu To access the control menu in Media Center, move the trackball to display the menu bars. Select the Shut Down icon on the main Media Center window. From this control menu, you can select icons to perform various actions.
Using Media Center Quick Resume mode When your computer is in Quick Resume mode it appears off, but you can actually still perform tasks such as record TV programs or music files. Quick Resume mode turns off the display and mutes the audio. After you have enabled Quick Resume mode in the Control Panel, you can activate it by pressing the Sleep button on your computer, keyboard, or remote control.
Completing the setup wizard steps 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Select Settings. You may need to use the arrow buttons on the remote control to scroll down to see all the menu items. 3 Select General, Media Center Setup, and then select Run Media Center Setup Again. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the wizard.
Media Center Start Menu C D E FG H A B A Access a menu to exit Media Center, to shut down or to restart the HP Digital Entertainment Center, to log off to end your Media Center session, to put the HP Digital Entertainment Center into standby mode, or to switch users. See page 6. My Pictures — View digital pictures, play a slideshow, and print photos. See page 49. My Music — Play music files or music CDs, create and edit playlists, and record music files to CD. See page 39.
Online Spotlight Online Spotlight is a link to the Microsoft Web site, where you can find the latest Media Center information and media offers and services. This site is periodically updated by Microsoft. Some of the services listed may not be available in some countries/regions. Your HP Digital Entertainment Center must be connected to the Internet to access the Online Spotlight Web site. Using Instant Messaging in Media Center Instant messaging may not be supported in all countries/ regions.
Logging in to your messenger account 1 Go to http://www.msn.com to set up your messenger account. You will need a .NET passport to log in to messenger. A .NET passport is an e-mail address, a login name, and a password. Make sure you verify the account with MSN before you try to log in from Media Center. 5 Enter your .NET passport information, and then select Sign In.
Media Center Settings Categories Media Center includes various settings categories listed below. ■ TV to set up TV signal, audio, and closed captioning (not all channels support closed captioning). You can download or edit the Television Program Guide, view or clear recording history, set hard disk drive recorder storage space, configure your display, and set recording defaults. ■ Radio to organize or delete preset radio stations.
Contacting HP Support in Media Center You can access HP Support in Media Center by using your remote control. At HP Support you can: ■ Register your product with HP. ■ Test your hardware with interactive diagnostic software. ■ Connect to online technical support or access a telephone number to talk with a technical support agent. 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select More Programs, HP Settings, and then select HP Support.
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The remote control is designed to work with Media Center. You can use your remote control with Media Center to play CDs and DVDs, to view pictures, and to watch and record television programs. This remote control helps you navigate the Media Center windows on your HP Digital Entertainment Center just as a TV remote control helps you navigate cable TV options or control the playback of a movie in a VCR or DVD player.
Remote Control Buttons Overview Features and location may vary 1 2 3 4 5 Standby — Puts the HP Digital Entertainment Center into and out of a power-reduced standby state. It does not turn the HP Digital Entertainment Center off. 6 RECORD MUSIC PICTURES VIDEOS PLAY STOP 5 Replay — Moves media backward 7 seconds, or to the beginning of a music track or a DVD chapter. 22 PAUSE REPLAY SKIP 7 8 9 23 24 BACK MORE Pause — Pauses audio and video tracks and live or recorded TV programs.
LED — Activity indicator light. The LED tells you that the remote control is emitting a signal when you press a button. 17 TV — Opens the My TV window in Media Center. 18 Pictures — Opens the My Pictures window in Media Center. 19 Videos — Opens the My Videos window in Media Center. 20 Play — Plays the selected media. 21 Stop — Stops the media currently playing. 22 Fwd — Moves media forward at three speeds.
w If you turn off (shut down) your HP Digital Entertainment Center, Media Center will not record a scheduled TV program. The HP Digital Entertainment Center must be turned on, in Standby mode, or in Quick Resume mode to record TV programs. 18 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide n Make sure you turn off the monitor and turn down or mute the volume; for example, if you have a scheduled recording in the middle of the night and don’t want to be disturbed.
Watching and Recording TV Programs Watch live TV or record your favorite shows for later playback. Use the Television Program Guide to find the show you want to watch or record. You can also record a show while watching another prerecorded show. Navigating My TV ■ Live TV: Watch, pause, fast-forward, or rewind your favorite TV shows. You can watch recorded TV shows while recording another show. Use the i (More information) button on the remote control to display TV show information.
Watching TV Before you can watch TV by using Media Center, make sure: ■ The computer is set up correctly for your TV signal source. Refer to the setup poster or the Start Here guide and the HP Digital Entertainment Center User’s Guide for more information. ■ You have completed the Media Center setup wizard. If you have not completed the setup wizard, refer to “Opening Media Center using the remote control” on page 4.
Watching Live TV 1 Press the TV button on the remote control or select My TV from the main start menu. Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select Live TV, and then press OK. The last channel selected or the first channel available begins playing. 2 Select a channel by using the CH/PG (+) or (–) buttons or the numeric keypad on the remote control, and then press OK. The channel number and program information are displayed in the window.
Controlling TV playback The digital video recorder functionality lets you record single shows or capture entire series for later viewing. You can return to the live broadcast by pressing the Live TV button on the remote control. When you open the My TV window and begin watching live TV, Media Center automatically begins recording and playing back the selected program in the background. This allows you to review a program for up to 30 minutes.
Using the remote control in My TV Button Action To freeze the live TV image, press Pause. While paused, My TV continues to record a pause buffer for up to 30 minutes. To resume watching TV where you left off, press Play. To stop live TV or a recorded program, press Stop once. To resume watching the program, press Play. To play a recorded TV program or to resume watching a program after pressing the Pause, Fast-Forward, Rewind, Replay, or Skip buttons, press Play.
Button Action i (More information) To see the channel number, station identifier, title of program, time slot, and category of program, press the i (More information) button while in full-screen mode. If you select a recorded show and then press the i (More information) button, you can access more information about a program, stop or delete a program, change a recording setting, change the Keep Until setting, access the instant messaging dialog box, and access TV settings.
Using Media Center without a Guide If you have already completed the setup wizard, but want to change your settings or scan for TV channels again: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select Settings, General, Media Center Setup, and then select Run Media Center Setup Again. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions to scan for your The Television Program Guide data may not be available in your country/region.
Viewing the Television Program Guide 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select My TV, and then select Guide. If you press the Guide shortcut button on the remote control while you are already in the Guide, you can select one of the Guide filter categories, such as Movies, to search for a movie. 3 Use the arrow buttons to select a channel, and then use the arrow buttons to scroll through up to two weeks of programming for that channel.
Setting up how Media Center downloads the Guide Your HP Digital Entertainment Center must have a connection to the Internet and you must select a TV listings provider in the Media Center setup wizard before you can use and download the Guide information. You can set up Media Center to download the Guide information when you connect to the Internet, or you can select to manually download the Guide. 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control.
Manually downloading the Guide 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select Settings, TV, Guide, and then select Get Latest Guide Listings. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions. The Guide can take up to 30 minutes to download, depending on the amount of data to download and the speed of your Internet connection. 4 Select Yes. Adding a postal code to receive the correct Guide 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control.
Adding missing channels to the Guide Some program channels may not appear in the Guide. To add the names and numbers of the channels that are missing or to change the association between channel numbers and lineups: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select Settings, TV, Guide, and then select Add Missing Channels to add the names and numbers of the channels you are missing. 3 Click Add Channel.
Removing channels from the Guide 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select Settings, TV, Guide, and then select Edit Channels to remove the channels you do not want to appear in the Guide. 3 Select a check next to a channel you want to remove, and then press OK on the remote control to remove the channel from the lineup. 4 Select Save when you have selected all the channels to be removed from the Guide.
4 To begin watching the program in full-screen mode, select the program, and then press OK. If the program is not currently playing, select Record or Record Series, and then press OK. Using Categories to search can help you find, for example, all football games. A title or keyword search displays every program that has “football” in the title or description. ■ The TV search results do not include previously recorded TV programs.
Searching for TV programs using categories You can search the Guide to find a TV program by selecting a category using your remote control. Some categories are not available in all countries/regions. 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, select My TV, and then select Search. 2 Select Categories. 3 Select a category of program types, such as Movies. 4 Select an option, such as Genres or Top Rated. 5 Select a sorting option, such as By movie title.
Recording TV Programs If a recording error occurs, the program will not be recorded unless the conflict is resolved. If you try to schedule a recording and another is already scheduled for the same time, a conflict window appears and gives you the option to record the new program or record the previously scheduled program. To make sure your program is being recorded, select My TV, Recorded TV, and then Scheduled. The Record icon also appears next to the program in the Guide while you are recording.
Recording TV from the Guide To record a current or future program or series from the Guide: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, select My TV and then select Guide. 2 To find the program you want to record, use the 4 To return to the previous window, press Back on the remote control or press the Backspace key on the keyboard. 5 If there is a recording conflict, Media Center displays arrow buttons on the remote control, and then select the program.
To record a program without a Guide: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, press the Live TV button, and then press Record to begin recording your program. Or Click Start, and then click Media Center, or press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, select My TV, Recorded TV, and then select Add Recording. 5 To set the recording and return to the Recorded TV window, select Record in the window, and then press Enter on the keyboard, or OK on the remote control.
Recording quality and hard disk drive storage space The space available for recording TV programs depends on your hard disk drive size, the percentage of hard disk drive space allocated to recorded TV, the recording quality setting, and if the recording is Standard Definition or High Definition. To get the maximum recording time, change the recording quality to Fair instead of the default setting of Best.
Copying recorded TV programs to DVD or CD The HP Digital Entertainment Center includes several other recording software programs for you to create CDs and DVDs. You can use Sonic MyDVD to record the recorded TV program to a format that can be played from an HP Digital Entertainment Center and from some set-top DVD players. See “Sonic MyDVD Video Projects” on page 90. For more detailed information about recording CDs and DVDs, refer to information on the HP Support Web site at: http://www.hp.
Media Copy Protection Media content, such as DVDs or TV programs, may place restrictions on rights to distribute or copy the content, depending on what is permitted by the copyright owner. Such restrictions protect copyrighted media files from being illegally copied and used. If you try to record a program that contains such restrictions, the following message is displayed: Recording Canceled. Manual Recording cannot be recorded.
Playing Music Files The My Music area in Media Center is a great way to play, organize, and back up your music files. My Music is designed to work with the Windows Media Player program. My Music With My Music, you can find and play your favorite music files and CDs you have added to the Windows Media Player Library. For more information about using My Music, see “Using My Music with Media Center” on page 40.
Using My Music with Media Center You can copy digital music files and organize a music library by using My Music in Media Center or by using the Windows Media Player program. Music files that are added from within My Music in Media Center are copied into the Windows Media Player Library and are then accessible from within Media Center. In My Music you can: ■ Play CDs or selected music tracks from your created Windows Media Player Library that you access in Media Center.
Adding Music to the My Music Library When you add music files to your My Music library, they are placed into the music library in Windows Media Player. The added music files can immediately be found and played back by using My Music in Media Center. You can also add music files to your music library from within the Windows Media Player program. For more information about adding and deleting music files to the library, use the Windows Media Player Help menu.
Adding music files from a CD To add the CD tracks to your Media Center music library: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and then select My Music. 2 Insert a CD into the CD drive. 3 Select Albums. 4 Select the Album CD you want to add to your music library. 5 Select Copy CD. The first time you copy a music CD you must select your copy-protection option, and then follow any onscreen instructions. 6 Select Yes to begin copying tracks to your music library.
Using supported music file types You can play the following types of digital audio files in My Music. Refer to Windows Media Player Help for more information about supported file types. File extension File type .cda CD audio file .au, .snd Audio file .aif, .aifc, .aiff AIFF audio file .wav Windows audio file .mp3, .m3u MP3 file .wax, .wma Windows Media Audio file .asf, .asx, .wm, .wma, .wmv, .wmp, .wmx, .wpl, .wm, .wmd, .
Playing Music Files in My Music When you first open Media Center and open the My Music window, you may not find any music files listed unless there is a music CD in your CD drive or unless you have already added audio files to your Windows Media Player Library. When you copy music files using Windows Media Player and your computer is connected to the Internet, the CD information is copied and displayed in Media Center and in the Windows Media Player Library.
Playing an album in My Music 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select My Music. 3 Insert a music CD into the CD drive. 4 Select Albums. 5 Select the album you want to play. 6 Select Play. Playing a song in My Music You can play a song from anywhere in My Music. You can select it from the View Song list, or from the Album, Artist, and Genre lists. You can also play a single song from a playlist: on the remote control. 2 Select My Music. 3 Select Songs.
Creating a Queue List in My Music A queue list is a temporary list of songs that is created in My Music as you select songs, albums, or playlists to play. You can continue to add songs or you can delete songs from your queue list. You can create a queue list and save it as a playlist that you can access in Media Center. 1 From the My Music window: Select Songs, use the arrow keys to select a song you want, and then select Add to Queue.
Creating a Playlist in My Music A playlist is a customized list of songs you can keep to play later or record to CD. Using playlists, you can group various digital music files together and determine the order in which you want the files to play. You can create a playlist that includes several tracks from various CDs or even a playlist that contains background music for a slide show. You can create playlists in Windows Media Player or from within Media Center.
Copying Music Files to CD in My Music To copy your music files to CD: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select More Programs. 3 Insert a blank CD-R disc. 4 Select Create CD/DVD. 5 Select a disc format: Audio CD or Data CD, and then select OK. 6 Use the arrow buttons on the remote control or the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the Untitled text box.
Working with Pictures Working with Pictures Use the My Pictures area in Media Center to view, edit, print, and share your pictures. My Pictures With My Pictures, you can view and print your pictures from the folders you create in the My Pictures directory in Windows Explorer. For more information about using My Pictures, see “Using My Pictures in Media Center” on page 50.
Using My Pictures in Media Center My Pictures is a folder on your hard disk drive in the My Documents folder, and it is a Media Center menu item that allows you to view and search for your digital images by using the remote control or the keyboard and trackball. It provides all the tools you need for viewing, organizing, editing, printing, sharing, and protecting your digital images.
Working with Pictures Adding Pictures to My Pictures Adding picture files from your hard disk drive 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and then select My Pictures. 2 Press the i (More information) button on the remote control, and select Add Pictures. 3 Select Add folders, and then select Next. 4 Select Add folders on this computer, and then select Next. 5 Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select a location. Press OK to expand a folder.
Viewing Pictures in My Pictures After you organize your pictures in the My Pictures folder in Windows Explorer, open Media Center to view your pictures: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select My Pictures. The right side of the window shows a small picture image (thumbnail) and, if you’ve organized your pictures into folders, folder icons. The pictures are displayed just as you organized them in the My Pictures folder in Windows Explorer.
1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select My Pictures. 3 Select the folder of pictures you want to view as a slideshow, and then press OK. 4 Select Play Slide Show, and then press OK. 5 Press the i (More information) button on the 6 Press the Back button to go to a previous picture. Use the arrow buttons to display the next or previous pictures. If you do not select the pictures you want to view as a slideshow, Media Center uses the first folder listed.
Using supported picture file types in My Pictures You can view the following types of image files in Media Center. File extension File type .jpg, .jpeg Joint Photographic Experts Group .tif, .tiff Tagged Image File Format .gif Graphics Interchange Format .bmp Bitmap .wmf Windows MetaFile .png Portable Network Graphics ■ Only supported image file types are displayed in My Pictures. Unsupported files are skipped in a slide show.
Working with Pictures Editing Pictures in My Pictures Fixing red eye or contrast 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select My Pictures. 3 Select the picture you want to edit. 4 Press the i (More information) button on the remote control, and then select Picture Details. 5 Select Touch Up. 6 Select Red Eye or Contrast, and then press OK. 7 After you select the options you want to fix, select Save. The picture is displayed with the new settings.
Cropping pictures in My Pictures 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and select My Pictures. 2 Select the picture you want to edit. 3 Right-click the picture or press the i (More information) button on the remote control, and then select Picture Details. 4 Select Touch up, and then select Crop. 5 For this step, you must use the mouse and keyboard. Select the arrows under the picture to move the picture side to side or up or down.
1 Press the Media Center Start button Working with Pictures Printing Pictures in My Pictures on the remote control. 2 Select My Pictures. 3 Select the picture you want to print. 4 Press the i (More information) button on the remote control, and then select Picture Details. 5 Select Print, and then select Print again. 6 Follow any onscreen instructions. You need to set up your printer before you can print from Media Center.
Copying Pictures to CDs and DVDs You can copy your pictures to CDs and DVDs in Media Center or by using the Sonic Digital Media Projects program. You can also create a LightScribe label for your CD or DVD if you have a LightScribe optical drive and you use LightScribe media discs. Refer to the HP Digital Entertainment Center User’s Guide and the other documentation that came with your HP Digital Entertainment Center. 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control. 2 Select More Programs.
Playing Videos The My Videos window in Media Center makes it easy to play home video files you created or video files you downloaded from the Internet. In My Videos you can: ■ Play videos that are stored anywhere on your hard disk drive. ■ Display your video details, such as the name and date your video file was modified. ■ Create a CD or DVD of your video files. ■ View small image (thumbnail) and title of video file. ■ View your videos in full-screen mode or from an inset window in Media Center.
Playing Digital Videos in Media Center After you organize your videos in the My Videos or Shared Video folder in Windows Explorer, open Media Center to watch your videos. 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Select My Videos. 3 Select the video folder you want. The video folder opens, displaying a list of video files.
Using Supported Video File Types File extension File type .avi Video file .dvr-ms Digital Video Recording — Microsoft (TV file format) .mpeg, .mpg, .mpe, .m1v, .mp2, .mpv2 Movie file .wm, .asf Windows Media file .wmv Windows Media AV file n For more information about supported video file types, refer to Media Center Help menu. Playing Videos You can view the following types of video files in Media Center.
Creating a CD/DVD from Video Files To create a CD/DVD from your videos: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Select More Programs. 3 Insert writable disc, and then select OK. 4 Select Create CD/DVD. 5 Select the Untitled area, enter the name of your disc by using the numeric keys on the remote control or the keyboard, and then select OK.
Playing DVDs Watching DVDs in Media Center allows you to control the playback with your remote control. If you play your DVD in another program outside of Media Center, you will not be able to use the remote control. Playing DVD Movies in Media Center 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Insert the DVD into the drive. If you have other media playing, Media Center asks if you want to play the DVD.
Changing the DVD Movie Language To select DVD language settings for subtitles, closed captioning, and viewing the DVD: 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Select Settings. 3 In the Settings window, select DVD. 4 In the DVD Settings window, select DVD Language. 5 Use the arrow buttons on the remote control or the arrow keys on the keyboard to select (+) or (–).
If your HP Digital Entertainment Center is equipped with a radio tuner input (FM Tuner In), Media Center can play FM radio. The Radio window in Media Center makes it easy to play FM radio stations using your remote control. In Radio you can: ■ Listen to FM radio stations. ■ Set up presets of your favorite radio stations. ■ Delete or organize your radio station presets. ■ Use the time-shifting features: pause, rewind, and fast-forward up to 30 minutes of radio programs.
Playing FM Radio Stations 1 Connect the FM radio antenna to the back of the HP Digital Entertainment Center, to the connector labeled FM Antenna In. 2 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 3 Select Radio. 4 Enter a radio station number by using the numeric keypad on the remote control or your keyboard. Or Select the Seek (–) or (+) buttons for Media Center to find the next playable station.
Listening to FM Radio Organizing Preset Radio Stations 1 Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, or, with your trackball, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center. 2 Select Settings. 3 Select Radio. 4 Select the up arrows and down arrows next to each preset station to move it to a different position. Or Select the Delete icon (X) to delete a preset station. Or Select Auto Sort to sort your preset stations in numerical ascending or descending order.
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Creating Audio and Data Discs (Select models only) For information about recording video files to DVDs, see “Sonic MyDVD Video Projects” on page 90. Your HP Digital Entertainment Center may include one or more CD, DVD, or combination optical drives capable of recording.
Erasing Rewritable Discs Before Recording Previously recorded files on rewritable discs must be erased before recording new files. CD-R, DVD+R, and DVD-R discs cannot be erased. To erase a rewritable disc in Sonic DigitalMedia Home: 1 Open the Sonic DigitalMedia Home program by clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click Tools and then Erase Disc. 3 Insert the rewritable disc you want to erase. 4 Click the Quick Erase or Full Erase option, and then Erase Disc.
Working with Audio CDs Sonic DigitalMedia Home enables you to create audio CDs that play in your car or home CD player, and on PCs. You can create two main types of music CDs: ■ Uncompressed — Typical CD format like you would purchase on a commercial CD. This type of CD will hold 10 to 20 songs depending on their length. Uncompressed files can be burned on CD-Rs (which play in most home and car stereos, DVD players, and computers) or CD-RWs (which play only in some stereos, DVD players, and computers).
Verifying an audio disc recorded without errors When copying or burning audio files to CD, it is recommended that you use Sonic DigitalMedia Home because it includes a feature that confirms that your disc has been created without errors. This write verification feature is enabled by default. To check the status of the write verification feature in DigitalMedia Home: 1 Open the Sonic DigitalMedia Home program by clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home.
Creating audio CDs To create uncompressed audio CDs using Sonic DigitalMedia Home: clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Audio tab and then Audio CD. 3 Do one or more of the following: ■ Click Add Music and navigate to music stored on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. ■ In the Quick Find panel, click Scan to automatically search your HP Digital Entertainment Center for songs. ■ Insert a CD and add songs from it.
Creating jukebox discs DVD discs can store significantly more music files than a CD. Jukebox discs can only be played on computers, CD players, or DVD players that support the file format you use to create the disc (.mp3 is most commonly supported). To create compressed (jukebox) music CDs or DVDs using Sonic DigitalMedia Home: 1 Open the Sonic DigitalMedia Home program by clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Audio tab and then Jukebox CD/DVD.
Working with Data DVDs and CDs Unlike audio CDs and jukebox DVDs, data DVDs and CDs can be recorded in multiple sessions. Verifying a data disc recorded without errors When copying or burning data files to DVD or CD, it is recommended that you use Sonic DigitalMedia Home because it includes a feature that confirms that your disc has been created without errors.
Data disc tips When storing data files on a disc, it is important to note that: ■ You can add new data files to a CD-R, DVD-R, or a DVD+R in a later recording session, until the disc is full. With DVD+R or DVD-R discs, insert your partially recorded DVD, click the Wrench icon to display the Options window, click Data, select the first Write-Once DVD Compatibility option, and then click OK.
Creating data discs To create data CDs or DVDs using Sonic DigitalMedia Plus: clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Data tab, and then click Data Disc. 3 Do one or more of the following: ■ Click Add Data and navigate to files stored on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. ■ In the Quick Scan panel, select a type of file to search for, and then click Scan to automatically search your HP Digital Entertainment Center for the selected file type.
Copying a DVD or CD Sonic DigitalMedia Home enables you to make copies of an existing music or data disc. You can configure Sonic DigitalMedia Home to verify that: ■ Data files have been copied without errors by performing the procedure described in “Verifying a data disc recorded without errors” on page 75. ! IMPORTANT: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.
Archiving Files on a CD or DVD To make an archive file copy of files stored on your HP Digital Entertainment Center using Sonic DigitalMedia Home: clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click the Data tab and then Easy Archive. 3 Select the path to the files that you want to archive (or click Browse to navigate to them). 4 Select the type of files you want to add to the archive, or select All Files in the Selected Path.
Creating an image file To make an image file using Sonic DigitalMedia Home: 1 Open the Sonic DigitalMedia Home program by clicking Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then DigitalMedia Home. 2 Click Copy, select .iso or .gi (if prompted for file type), and then click Save Image. 3 Insert the CD or DVD from which you want to make a image file. 4 Click Browse to select the location where the image file will be created. 5 Click the Save Image icon to create the image file.
Disc Labeling with LightScribe A LightScribe-enabled CD or DVD disc drive uses the optical laser in the drive to record a label onto a thin dye coating on the label side of the disc. There is no ink to smear or paper to curl, and there are no adhesives to loosen. LightScribe media is identified by the LightScribe logo on the retail packaging and on the inner hub area of the disc itself.
Burning a LightScribe label with Sonic Express Labeler 1 Click Start, All Programs, Sonic, and then click Express Labeler. 2 In the Step1: Select Project area, make sure that Disc Label is selected. 3 In the Step 2: Edit area: a Click Disc Titles to display the Edit Disc Title window. Enter text for the title and subtitle. b Click Tracks to display the Edit Track window. Click New to display the Track window.
Compatibility Information An important feature of a DVD Writer/CD Writer drive is its high level of compatibility with other optical drives and CD and DVD players: ■ The CDs that you create will play in most home and car stereos and in most computer DVD-ROM and CD-ROM drives. ■ The DVDs that you create are compatible with some DVD video players and with most computer DVD-ROM drives. ■ CD-R discs are more compatible with home and car stereos than CD-RW discs are.
Disc Features and Compatibility Table Disc CD-ROM CD-R CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD+R and DVD-R Double-layer DVD+R/ DVD-R DVD+RW and DVD-RW VCD File type Can be recorded onto Plays in PC Plays in home or car stereo Plays in home DVD player Data No Yes No No Music No Yes Yes Varies by model Data Yes Yes No No Music Yes Yes Varies by model Varies by model Data Yes Yes No No Music Yes Yes Varies by model Varies by model Data No Yes No No DVD movie No Yes No Yes Data Yes
Optical Drive Quick Reference Table CD-ROM CD-RW DVD-ROM DVD+RW/+R DVD-RW/-R Double-Layer DVD Combo CD-RW/DVD Read CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Read DVDs No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Read data on a CD Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Play music Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Record data or music to disc for storage or backup No Yes No Yes Yes Yes View DVD movies No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Record DVD movies No No No Yes Yes No Play games Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Software Quick Reference Table (Select models only) Your HP Digital Entertainment Center includes a number of software programs that: ■ Record and play CDs. ■ Record data CDs. ■ Import and edit video files. ■ Record video CDs and DVDs. ■ Organize digital media files. The following table describes the functionality specific to each of these programs. Use it to determine which program to use to perform a task.
You can: HP DVD Play ■ Play DVD movies and video CDs (VCDs). Sonic DigitalMedia Home ■ Record data and music files. Record a copy of an existing music or data CD to use on the HP Digital Entertainment Center. Create customized music CDs from CDs in your collection, or from .wav, .mp3, or .wma files. These CDs can be played in your home or car stereo. Copy and share data files. Create archive CDs or DVDs from files on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. Capture (copy) video files.
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Creating Video Discs and Movies (Select models only) Your HP Digital Entertainment Center may come with the following movie making programs: ■ Sonic MyDVD ■ Windows Movie Maker ■ Sonic DigitalMedia Home (which includes MyDVD) ■ muvee autoProducer Before You Begin Capturing Video You can capture (copy) video files to your hard disk drive by using the Sonic MyDVD program. Among the devices supported by Sonic MyDVD are analog video devices, digital camcorders, and Web cameras.
Sonic MyDVD Video Projects A Sonic MyDVD video project is a way to group, organize, store, play, and burn related video and still digital files. For example, if you went on a family vacation, you might have digital still and video images, and prints from a film camera. You can transfer all these images onto your HP Digital Entertainment Center and organize them into a project. (A scanner is required to transfer printed photos and is not included.
Adding files to a video project You can add files to your DVD or VCD video project from: ■ An existing DVD or VCD. ■ Video files already stored on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. ■ Video capture from a digital video camera (as described in the next section). To add files from a DVD, VCD, or from your hard disk drive: 1 Click File, Open, and then select a video project that you created as described in “Creating a video project” on page 90. 2 Click Add Files.
Adding slideshows to a video project You can create a slideshow (a series of still images displayed automatically) by adding existing still photos to your project or by capturing them with a connected digital video source. To add a slideshow to a video project: 1 Click File, Open, and then select a video project that you created as described in “Creating a video project” on page 90.
Editing the style of a video project You can change the style of a number of elements within your video project. The elements include: ■ Background color and graphics on the menus and submenus. ■ Button styles. ■ Background music. ■ Text format (font, color, and size). ■ Import custom styles. To edit the look of a video project: 1 Click File, Open, and then select a video project that you created as described in “Creating a video project” on page 90. 2 Click Edit Style.
Burning a video project to disc After you are satisfied with the contents and style of your video project, you can burn it to a DVD or VCD disc as follows: 1 Click File, Open, and then select a video project 4 Insert the selected type of disc into the that you created as described in “Creating a video project” on page 90. 2 Save the file if you have made changes.
Creating a Video Project with the Direct-to-Disc Wizard Sonic MyDVD includes a Direct-to-Disc wizard that guides you through the steps you must complete to create a DVD or VCD video project. A video project is a way to group, organize, store, play, and burn related video and still digital files. 8 Click Next. The Capture screen displays. your HP Digital Entertainment Center. Make sure the output from your digital camcorder appears in the Preview window.
Video Quality and Disc Size Sonic MyDVD includes four DVD video quality (bit rate) settings, and a Fit-to-DVD option that can be applied to a video project or to individual movie files. The DVD quality settings are: ■ HQ (High Quality) — Best audio and video quality, but requires the most disc space per second of video. Good choice for video files that contain high-speed action (for example, motor sports). ■ SP (Standard Play) — Good audio and video quality with most video sources.
DVD Recording Time The following table lists the approximate DVD-Video recording time for different disc sizes at different video quality settings (your DVD recorder may not support all these disc sizes). Estimated time per disc size Video quality Audio format HQ Dolby Digital 130 min. 70 min. 40 min. 20 min. PCM 110 min. 60 min. 30 min. 15 min. Dolby Digital 210 min. 120 min. 65 min. 35 min. PCM 160 min. 95 min. 50 min. 25 min. Dolby Digital 310 min. 180 min. 100 min. 50 min.
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(Select models only) Creating personalized and professional-looking video movies is simple with muvee autoProducer, a software program on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. Basic Steps to Make a Movie The basic steps to produce a movie with muvee autoProducer are: 1 Capture digital video: Capture live or recorded video to your hard disk drive directly from a compatible digital video camcorder (only from the desktop muvee autoProducer version).
Locating the two versions of muvee autoProducer You can access two versions of muvee autoProducer (select models only): Desktop Click Start on the taskbar, and then select All Programs, muvee Technologies, muvee autoProducer, and then muvee autoProducer to open muvee autoProducer. This version of muvee autoProducer has more features, such as video capture and disc recording. See “Using muvee autoProducer on the Desktop” on page 101.
Getting started on the desktop To open muvee autoProducer (select models only): 1 Close or minimize Media Center. 2 Click Start on the taskbar. 3 Select All Programs, muvee Technologies, 4 Open a project by selecting, from the File menu, either New Project or Open Project. 5 Select one of the button options: muvee autoProducer, and then muvee autoProducer to open muvee autoProducer.
Capturing video from a DV camcorder You can capture (copy) digital video files to your hard disk drive by using muvee autoProducer either: ■ Live (known as camera mode) using a compatible DV camcorder. See “Capturing live video from a DV camcorder” on page 103. Or ■ Recorded (known as VCR mode) using a recorded tape in your DV camcorder. See “Capturing recorded video from a DV camcorder” on page 103. Captured video files are automatically added to your movie project.
Capturing live video in camera mode allows you to create a video file without even having a tape in the camcorder. To capture (copy) live video to your hard disk drive using muvee autoProducer: 1 Connect your DV camcorder to the FireWire® (IEEE 1394) port on your HP Digital Entertainment Center. 2 Turn on the camcorder and set it to VCR mode. Refer to the instructions in the manufacturer’s documentation. 3 Click the Get Video from Camera button.
Adding videos To add video files to your movie production: 1 Select the Add Video button in the video/ pictures area. The Add Pictures window opens. c Use the magicMoment controls to mark video scenes to include and exclude: 2 Browse the folders on your hard disk drive to select existing video files for your movie: ■ Add up to three video files. ■ Select multiple video files by pressing and holding Ctrl on your keyboard while selecting the files.
To add still image files to your movie production: 1 Select the Add Pictures button in the Video/Pictures area. The Add Pictures window opens. 2 Browse the folders on your hard disk drive to select existing still image files for your movie: ■ Add up to 50 .jpg, .gif, or .bmp picture files. ■ Select multiple picture files by pressing and holding Ctrl on your keyboard while selecting the files. 3 Adjust the order of the picture files by selecting and then dragging and dropping the picture file.
Selecting the style The muvee autoProducer program comes with a set of style templates for setting the pace, scene transition effects, and caption fonts. The style you use also affects how muvee autoProducer combines the video, picture, and music files in your movie project to produce the final movie. For example, using the Cinema style results in a movie that is moderately paced, color enhanced, and in a widescreen format. To select a style, just click a style from the list.
You can personalize your movie project by adding an opening title and closing credits: 1 Click the Title/Credits button. The muvee Title and Credits window opens. 2 Click the Title tab: a Select a title effect from the drop-down window. b Type the text you want to appear at the start of your movie in the Enter your title here box. c Click the Use font button to select the font, style, size, color, and effects from the Font window. d Select a background image for the title.
Saving the movie project Once you are satisfied with the look of your movie project, you are ready to save it. You can save the movie to a file on your hard disk drive or create a VCD or DVD disc. 1 Click the Save muvee button. The Save muvee window opens. 2 Choose the movie file type to save to your hard disk drive: 3 Click the Save button. 4 Enter a name for the output movie. Select a folder on your hard disk drive, as required. The movie is saved.
To open muvee autoProducer unPlugged in Media Center: 1 Click Start on the taskbar, select Media Center to open Media Center, or press the Media Center Start button on the remote control to open Media Center. If you were working in muvee and closed the program, muvee will reload your previous session settings. Select a button to continue with the previous session, or select New Session to start a fresh session. 2 Select More Programs, and then select the Make muvee icon.
Selecting videos To add video files to your movie production: 1 Select the Select Video button to browse through video folders on your HP Digital Entertainment Center for video files to use in your movie production. 2 Select a folder with pictures in it, using the arrow buttons on the remote control: ■ Select the My Videos button to access the My Videos folder and subfolders. Or ■ 3 Navigate using the arrow buttons, and press OK on the remote control to add a video file to the Selected Videos list.
To add music to your movie sound track: 1 Select the Select Music button to browse through folders on your HP Digital Entertainment Center for music files to use in your movie production. 2 Select a folder with music in it, using the arrow buttons on the remote control: ■ Select the My Music button to access the My Music folder and subfolders. Or ■ Select the Shared Music button to access the Shared music folder and subfolders.
Adjusting audio and video settings You can adjust audio and video production settings for your movie: 1 Select the Settings button. 2 Select Audio to adjust the sound mix level of the music and original sound track and check music clip preferences.
1 Click the make muvee button. 2 Select the duration for your movie by clicking: ■ Automatic to allow muvee autoProducer to set the movie duration. Or ■ Manual to allow you to set the duration of the movie in minutes and seconds. 3 Click Next to start the process of creating your movie. muvee analyzes your video and music. 4 After making a movie, you can preview the movie in the muvee autoProducer Preview window. Use the controls in the Preview window to rewind, play, stop, and forward the movie.
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Using an HP Personal Media Drive Your HP Personal Media Drive is included with some HP Digital Entertainment Center models, and it is sold separately. It can be used as an internal or external USB hard disk drive designed to quickly and easily increase your storage capacity and to transfer media files such as digital photos, music, videos, and other important files from one PC to another. You can also use the HP Personal Media Drive to back up other drives on your HP Digital Entertainment Center.
Setting Up the HP Personal Media Drive to Work with Media Center When you complete this setup procedure, you are able to easily access content — such as music, photos, videos, and recorded TV programs — from customized folders on your HP Personal Media Drive. Once you complete the HP PMD (Personal Media Drive) setup wizard, you can drag and drop your music, video, pictures, and recorded TV files from your primary hard disk drive to personalized folders in your HP Personal Media Drive for backup or storage.
Assigning a Drive Letter to the HP Personal Media Drive You can permanently assign a drive letter to avoid the letter changing when you connect and disconnect this drive and other devices. Also, it is easier for a software program to locate files on your HP Personal Media Drive if a drive letter is assigned. Some programs may not be able to find files if the drive changes letters every time you connect it. To assign a drive letter: 2 Right-click My Computer.
Playing Media Files You can play all kinds of media from an HP Personal Media Drive: 1 Click Start on the taskbar. 2 Click My Computer. 3 Double-click the HP Personal Media Drive icon to locate your media file. 4 Double-click the file. Most media files open in Windows Media Player. Playing Music Files You can play all kinds of music stored on the HP Personal Media Drive.
Playing Video Files You can view your videos stored on an HP Personal Media Drive. If you want the video files that are stored on your HP Personal Media Drive to appear in the Media Center My Videos window, you must complete the PMD wizard in the More Programs area of Media Center. See “Setting Up the HP Personal Media Drive to Work with Media Center” on page 116.
When you set the TV recording pathway to your HP Personal Media Drive, Media Center stores the recording buffer data for pausing live TV on your drive. This means that if live TV is playing, you won’t be able to remove the drive safely. ■ To avoid this scenario, change the recording pathway back to your local hard disk drive, and then restart the HP Digital Entertainment Center before disconnecting the HP Personal Media Drive.
Recording TV programs to Your HP Personal Media Drive Media Drive. See “Changing the TV recording path to the HP Personal Media Drive” on page 121. 2 Open Media Center. 3 Record TV programs. See “Recording TV from the Guide” on page 34. Your programs are recorded to your HP Personal Media Drive. 4 Before disconnecting the drive: ■ Make sure there are no scheduled recordings or recordings in progress to avoid losing data. ■ Change the recording pathway back to your local hard disk drive.
Changing the TV recording path to the local hard disk drive To change the Media Center TV recording path to your local hard disk drive: 1 Open Media Center. 3 Select your local hard disk drive (C:). 2 Select Settings, TV, Recorder, and then 4 Click Save, and then click Yes. Recorder storage. You can also set the disk allocation and recording quality settings in this window. 5 Close Media Center. 6 Restart the HP Digital Entertainment Center.
Changing Disk Allocation If you experience a Low Disk Space error message, and you want to change the disk allocation to a higher percentage for your HP Personal Media Drive: 1 Open Media Center. 2 Select Settings, TV, Recorder, and then select 3 Change the disk allocation percentage setting by selecting the (+) or (–) option. Updating Recorded TV List After Removing Your HP Personal Media Drive If you want to update your Recorded TV list after removing the drive: 1 Close Media Center.
System Requirements to View Recorded TV Programs on Other PCs To play back recorded TV files (.dvr-ms files) that were recorded on your HP Digital Entertainment Center on another Media Center PC, the PC must have the following items installed: ■ Windows XP operating system ■ Windows XP Service Pack 1 ■ Windows Media Player 9 or later ■ Software to play DVDs ■ The audio and video codec file allows Windows Media Player to play recorded TV programs (.dvr-ms files).
A C adding CD tracks to the music library 42 music files to the music library from the hard disk drive 41 appending discs 76 archive files 79 camcorder capture 102 capturing video in video projects 91 requirements 89 CDs archive files 79 burning tips audio discs 72 data discs 76 compressed 74 copying 78 creating a music CD in My Music 48 data 77 erasing rewritable 70 image files 80 jukebox 74 playing in My Music 45 verifying data integrity 72, 75 compressed CDs 74 copying CDs and DVDs 78 copying pictures
D data burning in multiple sessions 75 CDs and DVDs 77 files archiving 79 burning tips 76 verifying integrity 76 data disc, creating 87 desktop switching from Media Center 5 DigitalMedia Home adding files, adding files, video projects 91 Direct-to-Disc wizard (MyDVD) 90, 95 disc labels 82 discs drive compatibility 83 erasing rewritable 70 features and compatibility 84 driver updates, LightScribe 81 DV camcorder capture 102 DVD movies changing audio settings 64 language 64 creating 108 playing in Media Cente
F I file type .aac 99 .asf 99 .avi 99 .bmp 99 .dv 99 .gif 99 .jpg 99 .m4a 99 .mov 99 .mp3 99 .mpeg-1 99 .mpeg-2 99 .mpeg-4 99 .mpeg4 113 .svcd 108 .tiff 113 .wav 99 .wma 99 .
muvee autoProducer 99 adding a title and credits 101 adding music 101 adding pictures 101, 105 adding still image files 110 adding video 101, 104 adjusting audio and video settings 112 adjusting production settings 112 allowing music to repeat 106 allowing video and pictures to repeat 106 basic steps to create a movie 99 burning a movie to disc 101 changing settings 106 getting started 101 getting video from a camera 101 keeping video and pictures in sequence 112 making a movie 107, 112 opening the desktop
Q quality settings, recording DVDs 94 queue list creating in My Music 46 Quick Resume mode enabling 7 R radio organizing pre-set stations 67 Radio window organizing pre-set radio stations 67 recording radio programs 67 recorded TV 38 recording CDs, VCDs, and DVDs, see burning DVDs 89, 99 options in My TV 34 radio programs 67 time DVDs 97 for each disc size 97 TV shows 33 how to stop recording 33 recording TV from the Guide 34 recording TV shows making sure a show is being recorded 33 manually 34 single sh
Sonic MyDVD 89 default verify data setting 72, 75 Direct-to-Disc wizard 90, 95 editing video files 93 erasing discs 70 online Help 92 verifying data feature 75 video projects 90 quality 96 settings (quality) 97 Sonic MyDVD Plus features 87 sorting TV shows by category 38 by date 38 by name 38 Start menu Media Center 3 storing data files 76 submenus in video projects 92 supported DVD formats 93 T Television Program Guide filter categories 26 no data available 25 recording TV programs 34 searching for TV pro
W Windows Media Player setting as default player 43 types of files 43 Windows Movie Maker 2.
Part Number: 5991-6291
