Cavern Remote user guide

Setting up Cavern Remote

0. Install MPC-HC. The recommended version is by clsid2.
1. In MPC-HC options, under Web Interface, enable it on any port, and set these:
2. "Serve pages from" - tick this, and browse Cavern Remote's "web" folder.
3. "CGI handlers" - set this to Cavern Remote's "handler.exe", like .md=C:\Cavern Remote\handler\handler.exe;, but use the location you unzipped Cavern Remote to.
4. Check your local IP (open a command prompt and use the ipconfig command and look for IPv4 Address) and port (in MPC-HC's Web Interface settings), and merge them like <IPv4 address>:<port>. This will be the web address that opens Cavern Remote in your browser or on your phone. Create a shortcut if it's convenient.
5. Check all optional setup tasks, and do the ones you need.

Optional: run MPC-HC as admin

For full functionality (keyboard, mouse, and Equalizer APO control), MPC-HC has to run as admin. This is required because Equalizer APO keeps its configuration files in the Program Files folder, and admin rights are needed to modify those. For full transparency and as proof that it is not malicious, the source code of the command handler is available on GitHub.

To set up MPC-HC with admin rights, open its properties from the installation directory, go to the Compatibility, and in the settings for all users window, you will find a check box to run as admin.

Optional: start MPC-HC with the computer

If you didn't give admin right to MPC-HC, simply create a shortcut for it in the Startup folder of your Start Menu. To open this folder, copy this path in the file browser: %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

For applications that run with admin rights, the Start Menu version will not work, nor adding an entry in the registry. This applications require a new task in the Task Scheduler with the following options:

• Run with the highest privileges (tick on the first tab)
• On the Triggers tab, add a new trigger after login.
• On the Actions tab, add a new action to open MPC-HC.

If you use SVP, it also has to run as admin, and needs a separate task to start with the system.

Optional: setup shader selection (picture mode)

1. Navigate to the Player/Shaders page in MPC-HC's options.
2. Create you presets here. A recommended source of shaders is the Cinema Shader Pack.
3. Open web\_cavern.js in any text editor and add the names of your presets to the shaderPresetNames list. Preserve the format of the array.

Optional: setup Equalizer APO support (sound mode)

1. In handler\apopath.txt, set the location of Equalizer APO's config folder.
2. Add any custom presets in the presets folder. These must be a replacement to Equalizer APO's main config.txt, and keep in mind that these will overwrite the active configuration when selected. Make a backup of config.txt in Equalizer APO's config folder first, or use Cavern Remote's backup feature on the Pro page.
3. Open web\_cavern.js in any text editor and add the names of your presets to the apoPresetNames list. Preserve the correct format, check the other array on how to do this properly, and don't include the .txt extensions.

Optional: setup ambient lighting control

The ambient lighting is using the Firmata protocol. Use a board on a serial port that supports Firmata, Arduino is one of them. In case of any Arduino, a StandardFirmata example should be loaded on the target. All configuration is in web\_cavern.js, including the port and the controlled pins. Cavern Remote only controls 2 relays with 2 ports or 4 relays with pairs in parallel. The wiring guide is:

• The relayPowerRed and relayGreenBlue pins should connect to the Vcc pins of +12V/red and green/blue relays' respectively. If you use single relays, split the Vcc between both enable pins.
• Wire the R/G/B relays to NO and +12V to NC.
• JDVcc should be supplied from a different source than the Vcc pins for current distribution. Ground distribution should also be considered between all ground pins of the Arduino.
• The other pin variables set the signal pins which control each relay (active high). Also set and check the COM port.

Location

Location in the player's file system. To list all available drives, select the Root button. Network drives can be listed there by assigning a letter to them.

Search

Filter the files by searching in their names. The filtering happens every time you enter a letter. The Reset button clears the search.

Media type

Filter the files in the folder by extension. Video lists all the files usually containing video (like MKV or MP4), and Audio does the same for files with extensions usually used for audio (like WAV or OGG). Pressing the left or right arrow keys also navigates between these filters.

Browser

Click a folder to load its contents or click a file to play in MPC-HC. A shuffle folder button is available next to Name, and files can be sorted by name or date. The up and down arrow keys could also be used to navigate the list, while pressing Enter selects the currently highlighted item.

Status

This field shows the playback state, the file name or title of the content playing (this can be configured in MPC-HC's settings), and has a link to the Browser.

Controls

Basic player controls:

• Jump to previous file or chapter
• Play
• Pause
• Stop
• Jump to next file or chapter

Jump

Instant time jumps, configurable from MPC-HC:

• Large jump back (default: -20 seconds)
• Medium jump back (default: -5 seconds)
• Medium jump forward (default: 5 seconds)
• Large jump forward (default: 20 seconds)

Volume

Controls over MPC-HC's volume:

• Mute with a text field showing if it's muted
• Manual volume setting with a slider and apply button
• Volume step down (-5%)
• Volume step up (5%)

Seek

Manual playback position setting either on a slider or by manual input.

Repeat

Content repeat control:

• Enable/diable repeat
• Repeat mode: single file
• Repeat mode: entire folder/playlist
• Set start point of A-B repeat
• Set stop point of A-B repeat
• Clear A-B repeat

Content

Audio and subtitle track controls.

Screen

Basic video scaling control:

• 50% image size
• 200% image size
• Touch frame from inside (default)
• Touch frame from outside (hides black bars)
• Windowed mode
• Full screen

Picture mode

Shader preset selection, which has to be manually configured first. A tutorial for this can be found in the installation instructions.

Sound mode

Equalizer APO configuration selection, which has to be manually configured first. A tutorial for this can be found in the installation instructions. This feature requires MPC-HC running with administrator privileges and a correctly set up CGI handler.

Move image

Reposition the video on the screen.

Scale image

Scale the video in any dimension.

Aspect

Scale the video to preset aspect ratios if the SAR or DAR would be wrong.

Audio delay

Manual audio delay correction for lip sync.

DVD navigation

Menu navigation directions and back/exit buttons. For MPC-HC navigation, go to the Pro page.

Menus

Links to main DVD menus.

Content

Audio and subtitle track controls with angle selection if the content supports it.

Player menu

Open/close and navigate MPC-HC's menus. The top left button opens the File menu, and from there, you can navigate using the arrows and the select button in the center. The top right button simulates the press of the Esc key, which closes the opened context menu, but can also stop playback and exit full screen. This feature requires MPC-HC running with administrator privileges and a correctly set up CGI handler.

Playlist

Show/hide the playlist on the bottom panel, and navigate it.

OS volume

Control the operating system's volume or mute it. The feedback is in text, and there is no slider, as this might be used for equipment protection. This feature requires MPC-HC running with administrator privileges and a correctly set up CGI handler.

Fine navigation

Navigation frame by frame or between keyframes.

Layout

Choose between preset window layouts or toggle individual elements.

Debug

Use the Tearing test to check if the framerate is consistent.

Setup

Click the button to backup the current Equalizer APO configuration as the Manual option in Sound mode. This feature requires MPC-HC running with administrator privileges and a correctly set up CGI handler.

Master

Turn on or off all connected lights.

Color picker

Use a color preset and toggle lights accordingly.

Manual relay control

Manually cut power supply or toggle individual colors.