mike.whybark.com

The junkyard home theater is complete.

The last two pieces were a different USB DAC (which supports optical out on the Mac) and a hail-mary shot at resurrecting (see what I did there? This entry was nearly titled “It is Finished”) an old DVD player I had on the shelf, retired after it stopped working a few years ago.

The G4 Mini simply cannot support hi-def audio and HD video from disc, but does ok with XMBC taking streams and tossing them out. Sadly, XMBC, although the root from which Boxee sprang, is straight-up terrible in terms of UI, and the version I am using is prone to crashes.

Still, the objective here was to set up a surround-sound, Internet-connected and streaming-capable big-screen home theater for as little as possible.

It has been difficult to figure out the costs, but over the past month I have spent about 200 dollars, possibly 250. I had significant items in hand, however, specifically:

The projector (dumpstered in 1999 or so)
The amp (an entry-level Sony, made around 2002: no hdmi)
The computer (a first generation G4 Mac Mini, no optical out, underpowered in every way)
Cables
Experience (see below)

Setting up a home theater requires knowledge of multiple, and multiplying, connection protocols. I find it murderously enraging to keep on top of it, so mostly I don’t. Having experience with this particular area of greedy nonsense helped. I’m certain acquiring the knowledge abraded away an appreciable portion of my “don’t be an impatient and abusive asshole” coating.

Dammit, lost a long blog post. I can keep this link, a reflection on Wim Wnders’ Pina.
Vivian and I saw the film last Friday in company with and courtesy of Spencer.

Director Wenders spoke after the film, charmingly, and it was quite wonderful to hear him discuss the film itself and his process in crafting it.
Deconcrete is pretty neat, by the way.

The blogger has a special focus on cartography and every single mappy thing he posts is fascinating, such as this look at a geography of Franco’s coup.

Or this image-heavy post on how built environments change and inherit form themselves over time.

Ugh, not if they actually look like that.

I still think a cellphone/PDA that is an actual functioning replica 19th century pocket watch is the way to go for non HUD information delivery. Apparently most of the rest of the market for this stuff is populated by the tasteless and the young.

I started running on the treadmill the day we got it. The first week, I put in a bit over six miles.

The second week, I logged nearly 12 miles.

Then, at the beginning of the third week, my left ankle began to hurt and feel stiff, like a knuckle that needs popping. I kept running but reduced my speed and distance, ending the week with 9 miles, but with three of my longest runs.

This weekend, on Sunday, I tried to run but my ankle hurt too much; I ended up walking about 4 miles instead in about 45 minutes. When I got off the treadmill, my ankle felt different. The popping, crackling stiffness was gone, but not the pain.

New, however, was a visible swelling and a mild sense of heat.

Dr. Google demonstrated to me that it is likely that I have given myself tendonitis, and instructed me to see an actual doctor.

So today I did that. The verdict? Stop running until the tendonitis heals.

The doc also told me that perhaps my target daily run of 2 miles in 20 minutes was somewhat aggressive and ambitious for someone with a lifelong distaste for physical activity. I’m sure he’s right.

Quick update:

Screen works great, and the smell is totally acceptable.

The Diamond USB 7.1 out dongle is functional, but not satisfactory.

In particular, the manual discloses that the optical-out is not supported under Mac OS X, which means that I have run 1/4 inch-to-RCA connections to the multi-channel in on the receiver. Unfortunately, the receiver only has six analog ins for that style of input and the result is that in a 6.1 config, the center rear channel is silent. Additionally, as the receiver is both basic and pretty old for an A/V unit, activating the multi channel-in disables the onboard surround circuitry, turning the unit into a pass-through device.

Therefore, if the audio from the Mac is not high-definition, I can’t have the receiver doctor it up. So that’s no good.

Additionally, two of the channels seem to have a bit of crackle in them when driven by the analog input. It could be the speakers, or the cables, or the speaker wire, or the 1/4 inch jacks. So with the analog multichannel in, the number of possible points of failure becomes prohibitive to isolate.

What else?

Oh yeah, the projector seems to perform best if inverted, but I don’t have a true VESA-style ceiling mount, so the device is resting on its back on an articulating keyboard shelf I dumpstered years ago.

Cables dressed, speakers hung. Nearly there.

Heard about “Zombies, Run!” on the radio.

https://www.zombiesrungame.com/

Sounds AWESOME. I mean if my ankle ever gets better.

The dumpster home theater in the basement is getting closer. The ancient, s
projector – some might be tempted to call it “holocene” but I, of course, shall refrain – will work fine as a ceiling mount, give or take, although it makes more noise than a vintage 1993 1gb hard drive.

Speakers are roughly placed and proved functional. I still need to dress the wiring and work out an actual mount methodology.

The el cheapo USB 7.1 dongle seems to be working, but the audio-source paths are so convoluted that it is difficult to determine what might be driving to apparent optical-in on the amp. I suppose a DVD might be the best option for testing.

So far the single most expensive out of pocket expense was $100 for a DaLite model B 96″ square (over a fancier 16:9 model on Craigslist for about the same). Reviewers online warned of a new-shower-curtain stench, and that is correct. Happily it seems less awful than I was afraid it might.

So tomorrow, I will concentrate on dressing the wiring and then troubleshoot the audio. I am actually somewhat concerned about the audio settings – if I have to jimmy the settings in three places dependent on a given media source, a distinctly possible outcome, the Mini is no longer a viable playback option and any middling DNLA + DVD device looks like a good idea instead.

Viv has already asked about moving the Wii to the basement. That could easily lead to a PS3 or Xbox upstairs, and moving the BD390 down too. Which would enable true, or nearly true, 1080p on the way-pre HD projector, which supports 1024×768 – so close, and yet so far.

Maciej is up to something. His Polanksi piece and his scurvy piece, both from 2010, refreshed in my RSS today, and I see there is a piece up dated 2-17 which has not yet surfaced in my feeds.

Old pal Jeanne posted a drawing I gave her in 1991 on Facebook:

Along with a pic of her, me, and Matt Uhlman in the photo booth at the Rainbo Room in Chitown, ’91.

An update on the media mini:

Antiquated digital cable for antiquated dumpstered projector, check! And well under ten bucks from Monoprice.

Multichannel digital output via AirPlay, NO WAY!

Repurposing articulated (and dumpstered) keyboard shelf as projector ceiling mount, possible check!

Craigslist-sourced Sony surround set, flaky as advertised, check! Still looking into what might be causing low volume audio, but in general, the amp looks to be toast.

So, basically, I need to solve the audio problem. The video input to the projector is semi-solved (the mini will certainly not play nice with many HD video sources, and of course it won’t support blu-ray). Another year and networked 1080p playback devices will be craigslisted at under $100, so no rush.

Looking at CL for audio stuff was kind of amazing. It looks at if there is approximately a $50 floor for amps, no matter the quality, age, or features. Crappy 1980s Aiwa or 7.1 no HDMI whatever, it’s going for $50.