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I'm trying to learn how to take hi -def movies in various video formats and convert them to a bluray format so I can burn it to a bluray disc to play on my PS3 and stand alone bluray player. So far I've tried to use avs video converter, avchdcoder, and multiavchd. It's definetly challenging to learn how to create cool looking menus, get the audio to be in sync, and not get any errors. Does anyone have a favorite software they use and any tips? Its frusturating to wait 3-5 hours to convert a movie just to find out there are errors lol. Dvds are easy to create ....it's the blurays that are challenging. I would love to hear some feedback.
Use THIS site as they helped me figure video editing out. But let me warn you about PS3 3.56 Firmware update - Sony has just made it so that it will detect a signature in pirated video; the PS3 will only play homevideos now (unless you know how to decode video ;} )
stangdriverdoug said:
Its frusturating to wait 3-5 hours to convert a movie just to find out there are errors lol.
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Click to collapse
quick tip , convert a sample , not the whole movie when not sure about the settings
souljaboy said:
quick tip , convert a sample , not the whole movie when not sure about the settings
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Click to collapse
Yeah that's a good idea. A lot of the movies come with samples. See....I'm learning.
Edit : videohelp is a really good forum....I've been using it.
Ok so I transcoded a 8gb mkv to a bluray ISO....took 7 hours. Went to burn it using imgburn and got a error part way through. Guess I need to stop using cheap discs.
stangdriverdoug said:
I'm trying to learn how to take hi -def movies in various video formats and convert them to a bluray format so I can burn it to a bluray disc to play on my PS3 and stand alone bluray player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop right there. Both your PS3 and Bluray player can play x264 (and all profilesm too, I believe), PS3 also plays xvid/divx/h263, you BD player might too.
Most HD movies that are shared used the x264 codec for video and AC3 or DTS for audio, and in a Matroska (MKV) container.
They will not play on a PS3 (and most likely BD player) due to a lack of support for mkv. You'll need to remux the file in to an MPEG Transport Stream (.ts), after you do this they should be fine on both. I'm not entirely sure if DTS can be muxed in to ts, you might need to convert it to AC3 first, no biggie.
Well I took a shared movie and converted it to avchd using avchdcoder ....the conversion went fine and took a total of 7 hours....burned it to a blank bluray and didn't work in the ps3. The custom menu I created works fine but when the movie started is wouldn't play right. Have no idea why. When I get home ill have to take a closer look. Frusturating for sure. I can use avs video converter which is easy to use and works well but it down converts 6ch audio to 2ch.
Why are you spending hours encoding video and degrading the image quality when you don't have to? *Just* for custom menus?
Yeah pretty much. Just certain movies though. Most movies I just keep on a nas drive and watch them through my laptop which is hooked up to my home theater via wireless HDMI. It's a pretty cool setup actually.
I been testing videos in MKV through chromecast and is totally awesome. Excellent quality video, really fast.. Working great. But i cant see subtitles. Even if they come with the video or apart. Is there any way?
I forgot. Mkv using Avia player.
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gueszman said:
I been testing videos in MKV through chromecast and is totally awesome. Excellent quality video, really fast.. Working great. But i cant see subtitles. Even if they come with the video or apart. Is there any way?
I forgot. Mkv using Avia player.
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Click to collapse
May change (it seems they've actively adding/changing things) but as of a day or two ago, Avia's FAQ says this is not supported. There is a note about DLNA, if the subtitle file is already on the receiving device, and I have no clue if/how that would work for Chromecast, especially since Chromecast is not (yet) a DLNA receiver.
Subtitles are usually rendered on the Player side either from within the stream or via external file like a .srt.
I don't think CCast can ever fully support external .srt since it has no real filesystem of it's own to load the file from.
But the player app could be coded to show subs that are encoded into an MKV or other container that supports embedded SubTitles.
It might be possible that some sources could encode external SRTs into a stream going to a CCast which would probably be what aVia is doing.
Not sure if Plex does this at all since all of my content that requires Subs has been hardcoded into the video by me when encoded for storage on my server.
Plex does however seem to support putting subs into it's transcoded files if the Transcode profile definition is being read correctly by me...
Not sure if that feature is supported on their current CCast player app they are using.
I use handbrake to encode all my videos and set the subtitle option to burned in so I can watch subed anime on my chromecast.
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Asphyx said:
But the player app could be coded to show subs that are encoded into an MKV or other container that supports embedded SubTitles.
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Yup, this seems to be what HBO GO does, unless they have a really precise way of switching Chromecast from one stream to another (possible, that's what streaming media servers do).
I really appreciate the caption support there - makes the late-night viewing much easier, plus my hearing is poor these days.
bhiga said:
Yup, this seems to be what HBO GO does, unless they have a really precise way of switching Chromecast from one stream to another (possible, that's what streaming media servers do).
I really appreciate the caption support there - makes the late-night viewing much easier, plus my hearing is poor these days.
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Click to collapse
It's really the best way to do it...The Text from a subtitle adds little to nothing to the Bitrate of a transferring stream, and Why store two versions when you can send one and let the client side decide to use it or not.
The only reason to use a SRT file is if the Video Container doesn't support an embedded Sub stream that can be shut off or if you need a Subtitle for a language not embedded in the Video container. No way to put every language into one Video file.
At least not yet! LOL
T3CHW0LF said:
I use handbrake to encode all my videos and set the subtitle option to burned in so I can watch subed anime on my chromecast.
Sent from my SM-N900P using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried handbrake and found it is unable to hard code external srt to my mp4. Am I doing something wrong?
I have tried the divx web plugin for chrome to play mkv but I dont get sound on some videos. I have not tried subtitles. It was also stuck in an install loop. It would ask to update, restart, then ask to update again. Really annoying
Postal Psycho said:
I tried handbrake and found it is unable to hard code external srt to my mp4. Am I doing something wrong?
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Click to collapse
I don't think Handbrake supports hardcoding subs.
It does support adding subtitle tracks but I don't see an option to hardcode subs at all...
I admit though that I don't use Handbrake unless my main converter has an issue with a file...
I use Xilisoft since it supports hardcoding subs and I don't need to have multiple subtitle and audio tracks for my library.
Asphyx said:
I don't think Handbrake supports hardcoding subs.
It does support adding subtitle tracks but I don't see an option to hardcode subs at all...
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Click to collapse
https://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/Subtitles might help
I understand that the MKV can not see the subtitles .. but within the mp4 subtitles should be visible, Chromcast handles subtitles, do not believe me? look at this Youtube video Coca-Cola Social Media Guard
Put the subtitle to ON, do not you like the look? Click Options and choose the size you want, the color you want and the background color you want.
For example from the BubbleUPnP program should bring the option to turn ON the subtitles in the MP4, etc.
gueszman said:
I been testing videos in MKV through chromecast and is totally awesome. Excellent quality video, really fast.. Working great.
I forgot. Mkv using Avia player.
Enviado desde mi XT1058 mediante Tapatalk
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I was under the impression that chromecast doesn't support mkv? I only ask cause my home pc is down, so no plex or bubbleupnp (transcoding) for me. Through Avia app I can only play mp4. Avi, mkv etc. must be converted to mp4. Has something changed or is this still the norm. Sorry for derailing the thread.
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mike02466 said:
I was under the impression that chromecast doesn't support mkv?
...
Through Avia app I can only play mp4. Avi, mkv etc. must be converted to mp4.
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Click to collapse
Still the case. The CC end doesn't support MKV so it's up to the player/ source end to unwrap it, determine what to send and transcode if necessary.
Sent from a device with no keyboard. Please forgive typos, they may not be my own.
mike02466 said:
I was under the impression that chromecast doesn't support mkv? I only ask cause my home pc is down, so no plex or bubbleupnp (transcoding) for me. Through Avia app I can only play mp4. Avi, mkv etc. must be converted to mp4. Has something changed or is this still the norm. Sorry for derailing the thread.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chromecast supports MKV natively very well as long as it contains supported codecs.
Thanks for the replies guys. Not gonna have a PC for a while, and I hate being so limited. I'll look for proper codecs til I come into cash for a new pc.
Edit: tried 2 mkv files, codec h264, bitrate was around 3700 and still a no go. Oh well
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bubbleguuum said:
Chromecast supports MKV natively very well as long as it contains supported codecs.
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Click to collapse
Lots of confusion about MKV regarding CCast.
I was under the impression that MKV will STREAM on CCast, it won't direct play but it can be streamed to it easily using MPEG-DASH. Because Streaming a file this way pretty much strips the container entirely and just sends Video and Audio tracks in whatever codec was used inside the container. The CCast has no idea it's actually playing an MKV file so if the Codecs are compatible it will have no problem.
There is no device I know of that supports MKV natively though Hardware decoder. All devices that support it have software decoding and other MKV feature support built into the player itself or require Transcoding.
I know Plex is currently transmuxing and streaming MKV to CCast which is why they now work there.
But I'm betting your Bubble player on the CCast side is much better than theirs is as far as handling containers.
So maybe you can direct play codec compatible files where others need to send via DASH.
In the end the best way to handle MKV would be to have the Player handle most of the features so the only time external help is needed is to flip incompatible codecs.
And by features I mean the following:
Client side Subtitle rendering and selection (difficult on CCast with SRT but easier with Internal Subtitle tracks of MKV)
Audio Track selection
Chapter support
At least until Google adds this capability into the next Gen CCast OS.
one way is to convert your mkv software subtitles to mkv hardware subtitles
I believe the MKVToolsNix package has a tool called MKVMERGE that will insert SRT files into an MKV as a subtitle track.
Just be sure to test the external subtitle to be sure it's good before you do or you could make a mess.
This is one of those must have packages for anyone who like to play in the MKV universe.
bubbleguuum said:
Chromecast supports MKV natively very well as long as it contains supported codecs.
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Click to collapse
This.
Videostream extension for chrome supports subtitles.
Hi, I have a doubt about chromecast, is there anyway to play a video with a .srt for subtitles in the chromecast?
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Plex.. Look it up
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
I've had this discussion over at the Plex Site and I'll repeat it here...
External SRT files are just an awful way of doing subtitles no matter what you use.
As for Plex support yes it does support them but it transcodes them into the video (Server Side insertion) which is not the best way to go about this.
Client Side Overlay Subs are the best way to support any subtitle but it requires the source to have a Subtitle text track encoded in he source.
My feeling (and I know many disagree) is unless you live in the UN or live in a dorm full of foreign exchange students there is no reason to need to see a movie with French subtitles on Tuesday and German Subtitles on Thursday!
So just re-encode the source and hard code the subtitles in the language you need or at least re-encode the external SRT into it on the Subtitle/Text track of an MKV or MP4.
The Plex Player app however does not support client side subtitle overlay as I type this so hard code is the best way to go there unless you have a decent machine doing the transcoding for you.
Thanks for the answers
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This is why even with Chromecast I have kept my old Galaxy Nexus around to use with MHL and a Bluetooth Mouse. BSPlayer has wonderful subtitle support. Open a video without subtitles and it'll go scan the interwebs for likely subtitle file matches, and allow you to pick one.
I think it's not impossible for a Chromecast app to support beaming local videos plus subtitles in a manner that does not require encoding them into the video on-the-fly. Just haven't seen it implemented yet.
cmstlist said:
This is why even with Chromecast I have kept my old Galaxy Nexus around to use with MHL and a Bluetooth Mouse. BSPlayer has wonderful subtitle support. Open a video without subtitles and it'll go scan the interwebs for likely subtitle file matches, and allow you to pick one.
I think it's not impossible for a Chromecast app to support beaming local videos plus subtitles in a manner that does not require encoding them into the video on-the-fly. Just haven't seen it implemented yet.
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Click to collapse
It's possible but only if the Player App that the CCast loads has the code to support such a feature.
Asphyx said:
It's possible but only if the Player App that the CCast loads has the code to support such a feature.
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Click to collapse
Right, the app would have to push the CCast to an HTML5 app that both loads the video and overlays it with titles.
cmstlist said:
Right, the app would have to push the CCast to an HTML5 app that both loads the video and overlays it with titles.
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Click to collapse
Definitely possible as the Netflix app uses fonts on Chromecast itself. Not sure how HBO GO does it, but it provides many caption options for font, size, etc.
No idea where the actual title/caption stream comes from though.
Chromecast support webvtt which are very similar to srt. Free online tools to convert them exist. The issue is that none of these apps support them.
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bhiga said:
Definitely possible as the Netflix app uses fonts on Chromecast itself. Not sure how HBO GO does it, but it provides many caption options for font, size, etc.
No idea where the actual title/caption stream comes from though.
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Click to collapse
They (HBO and Netflix) are embedded in the stream so really all you are doing is a client side overlay you toggle on or off. Their player app supports this. Unfortunately Plex's does not as of yet. They use their transcoder to hardcode the subs onto the Video track. Not the best way to do it.
In a way they are doing it the same way it's done for Closed Captioning.
The subs are always there it's just a matter of you telling the player to use them or not and do the rendering on the client player end.
wow
Asphyx said:
I've had this discussion over at the Plex Site and I'll repeat it here...
External SRT files are just an awful way of doing subtitles no matter what you use.
As for Plex support yes it does support them but it transcodes them into the video (Server Side insertion) which is not the best way to go about this.
Client Side Overlay Subs are the best way to support any subtitle but it requires the source to have a Subtitle text track encoded in he source.
My feeling (and I know many disagree) is unless you live in the UN or live in a dorm full of foreign exchange students there is no reason to need to see a movie with French subtitles on Tuesday and German Subtitles on Thursday!
So just re-encode the source and hard code the subtitles in the language you need or at least re-encode the external SRT into it on the Subtitle/Text track of an MKV or MP4.
The Plex Player app however does not support client side subtitle overlay as I type this so hard code is the best way to go there unless you have a decent machine doing the transcoding for you.
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Click to collapse
wow! What an unhelpful and disrespectful answer!!!
So how do I re-encode the source and hardcode (or insert) the srt into the mp4 using my phone only (not a computer)? Are there some APKs that can do that (please provide a link if you want to help)? And how long would it take? And can a mp4 support two different srt streams (say French and English) at the same time?
And sorry to disagree, but I find external srt a fantastic way to do subtitles, especially when you like to switch between languages and you don't have a computer at hand (which is often my situation when I need subtitles)
Bubbleupnp is supposed to support srt subtitles in next release. If video and audio are compatible with cc you don't need any transcoding server just the app.
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Johan1976 said:
Bubbleupnp is supposed to support srt subtitles in next release. If video and audio are compatible with cc you don't need any transcoding server just the app.
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Chromecast doesn't support external subtitles, so Bubbleupnp can't send display them without transcoding the video.
catexecutive said:
Chromecast doesn't support external subtitles, so Bubbleupnp can't send display them without transcoding the video.
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Click to collapse
Yes it does, just not. Srt. Check out the bubbleupnp thread
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Surfinette said:
And can a mp4 support two different srt streams (say French and English) at the same time?
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Click to collapse
Nope, That why we have MKV Container!
Surfinette said:
And sorry to disagree, but I find external srt a fantastic way to do subtitles, especially when you like to switch between languages and you don't have a computer at hand (which is often my situation when I need subtitles)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll ask you what I ask everybody who uses the switch language excuse to support SRT.
How many different languages did you watch Star Wars in before you decided you have seen the movie and moved onto another movie?
External SRT files are hit and miss, Don't always match the video to Sync properly,
And since you have problems seeing them you pretty much make my case for me!
From a TECHNICAL standpoint SRT files are a Kludge meant to make up for lack of, (or limited capability of) older container formats and the sooner we move to or find a new container system (or way to support containers like MKV on a CCast) the better the subtitle experience will be not just for those who need to see a movie in their language but all those who wish to run Media servers in a UN environment and need to support multiple languages for the same movie.
Right now of all the CCast programs I know of Bubble is the only one who handles subtitles properly and efficiently.
If you want to encode your SRTs into a container for use in Bubble I suggest looking into Handbrake or any of the many MKV tools that can integrate multiple tracks and all your millions of SRTs into the single container.
I often use two subtitle streams at the same time... As much as I can I use English to improve my English, but when I don't understand, I switch back to my native language (French)...
As to handbrake, I know the tool, but that is not what I'm looking for... I'm looking for a similar tool on android... most of the time, when I watch shows our movies, I don't have a computer with me...
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Surfinette said:
I often use two subtitle streams at the same time... As much as I can I use English to improve my English, but when I don't understand, I switch back to my native language (French)...
As to handbrake, I know the tool, but that is not what I'm looking for... I'm looking for a similar tool on android... most of the time, when I watch shows our movies, I don't have a computer with me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android really doesn't have the power in the gut to do reasonable transcoding but maybe transmuxing is possible. Android and Mobile is designed and built to be a media consumer not a media creator. And while you can create some media with these devices Video is not one of the best things to do on them. Especially in the area of transcoding.
As for your desire to learn English via Subtitle, Great that it works for you but I have to point out there are much better ways than switching between subtitles to learn english and the main purpose of subtitles is to see the subtitles in the language you do understand.
Most people who use subtitles really only need one language supported and while what you want is possible and easy to do with multiples tracks inside an MKV, External SRTs don't work as well, are not very well supported, require being in the same folder as the video (which if a Media Server is involved will not appear that way to a CCast) and most times your not even sure if the SRT in question is right for your Video Source.
I have Opensubtitle.org integrated into my XBMC and maybe ONE of the dozen or so SRT files it lists actually work and sync correctly.
I get it that it is far easier to find a SRT file than it is to find an MKV source that contains the subs you want, Especially if you speak an uncommon language (does not apply to you obviously), But from a technical standpoint it is a very bad system for doing subtitles and from that same technical standpoint just because you can get it to work doesn't mean thats the way it should work.
Unfortunately CCast does not natively support MKV container, and does not have a file system that the source video and srt can be co-located in. Which pretty much means the SENDER has to do all the subtitle work either via transcode or transmux.
And Android really isn't up to that task.
Could be one day but it's a bit of a stretch right now.
BubbleUPnP now support external srt with Chromecast.
I've just tested it with one mp4 file and its srt file both stored in the same folder on my phone and streamed to my Chromecast with the BubbleUPnP apk (not going through any transcoding via a PC or server).
So YES, with the right app, Chromecast with srt IS possible
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Surfinette said:
BubbleUPnP now support external srt with Chromecast.
I've just tested it with one mp4 file and its srt file both stored in the same folder on my phone and streamed to my Chromecast with the BubbleUPnP apk (not going through any transcoding via a PC or server).
So YES, with the right app, Chromecast with srt IS possible
Sent from my SGS3 with Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried several anime mkv's, some display embedded subtitle but most can't. Also bubbleupnp can't see or select any subtitle tracks, while it can choose audio tracks.
kawaiichi said:
I tried several anime mkv's, some display embedded subtitle but most can't. Also bubbleupnp can't see or select any subtitle tracks, while it can choose audio tracks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a problem with MKV sub extraction currently. I'm working on a fix. SRT should cause no problem.
Am I correct in thinking there is no video play with chromecast push support? I.e. MX Player, you are watching video on phone then you press cast button?
Not possible or just no app has done it yet?
Avia has paid ($2.99) CC support.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
There is an app called y2cast which can cast videos to the Chromecast together with an app called Moliplayer. The 1. problem of this is that everytime you turn on your TV, you have to connect y2cast with your Chromecast before you can start casting via Moliplayer and the 2. is that Moliplayer doesn't play every file format (even when you haven't connected it to the Chromecast) and is also very slow/has a lot of lag.
---------- Post added at 03:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------
Does Avia play every file format and can avia cast every file format to the chromecast?
There are loads of apps now that will play media from phone to Chromecast - BubbleUPnP is my personal choice, Allcast, Localcast, Avia....there are more.
They vary in their capabilities - most can't cast videos that are not encoded in a Chromecast friendly format. BubbleUPnP can with the help of a Bubble Server installed on a PC on the local network.
neu - smurph said:
There are loads of apps now that will play media from phone to Chromecast - BubbleUPnP is my personal choice, Allcast, Localcast, Avia....there are more.
They vary in their capabilities - most can't cast videos that are not encoded in a Chromecast friendly format. BubbleUPnP can with the help of a Bubble Server installed on a PC on the local network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then you could just cast the video in a tab via Chrome. I'd love to see a solution where an android device does that, most of the devices are probably capable of doing it.
Pete1612 said:
Well then you could just cast the video in a tab via Chrome. I'd love to see a solution where an android device does that, most of the devices are probably capable of doing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Share the page to either vGet or Web Video Caster, and cast from there.
It's one extra step - sharing the link - but it works great for supported video formats.
vGet has more options and is a paid app. Web Video Caster just casts and is free.
EarlyMon said:
Share the page to either vGet or Web Video Caster, and cast from there.
It's one extra step - sharing the link - but it works great for supported video formats.
vGet has more options and is a paid app. Web Video Caster just casts and is free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for thus you can also use chrome for android (free from google obviously), go to chrome://flags and turn on chromecast support
Avia does NOT work on all formats. It's a bit of a hit and miss. Some work some dont
The moment everyone is waiting for is for mx player or vlc to support Chromecast !
I think that the limitions are not in the players but in the software of ccast that can play only a few format and codecs.
Do you think that, in future, ccast will be updated and so it will play other video format? Is a feature that can be implemented with a firmware upgrade?
Thanks!
davboc said:
I think that the limitions are not in the players but in the software of ccast that can play only a few format and codecs.
Do you think that, in future, ccast will be updated and so it will play other video format? Is a feature that can be implemented with a firmware upgrade?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and Maybe....
You're right in that the CCast is limited in codec and container support.
But that is really only true if the Player app that gets loaded into CCast relies on the CCast hardware to play the files.
Android itself is almost as limited as the CCast is as far as Compatible file formats are concerned but the video players we use on Android add the support for those different codecs and container types into the APPs themselves.
The same could be done on the CCast side and BubbleUPnP seems to be the one (and Only) app that has gone the farthest in doing that.
All the others seem to just send whatever format the file is in and if it isn't CCast compatible it won't play.
What needs to happen is for someone to create an MX Player type CCast Player app that can play many Container and Codec types without the need for Transcoding. Then others could potentially use that Player App (think along the lines of a JW Player type CCast Application) when sending Media to the CCast without the worry of incompatible file and codec format.
Or Google needs to create it and add it to the CCast OS as the default player.
As of now there is no option close to that...Bubble supports more container types than others and in conjunction with the Bubble Server will transcode the ones it doesn't support.
Plex seems to transcode everything that isn't directly CCast compatible and the other Player Apps we have for Android don't deal with Compatibility at all they merely send the media to CCast and it works only if it is compatible.
Perhaps in time they will add to the CCast Player side to gain more support but Bubble is so far the only one to really focus as much on the Player side compatibility expansion and features.
Plex is working on it as well but they are less focused on Compatibility due to the fact they are able to transcode everything to whatever format they want. After they get all the transcoding perfected they might turn focus into finding ways to avoid transcoding for those who have issues due to low power servers.
Asphyx said:
...
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Click to collapse
perfect explanation! Really thank you. I hope that this device will be supported with the right software, meaning apps, in the near future.
Thanks again.
davboc said:
perfect explanation! Really thank you. I hope that this device will be supported with the right software, meaning apps, in the near future.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem right now seems to be that every App creates their own CCast Player App (called the receiver) but the DIAL protocol really doesn't require that to happen.
If the Open Source community would create a FREE TO USE Player App for CCast that any Android (or iOS app for that matter) could have the CCast load You might see a situation where all players could use that app to play to CCast and remove the need to code a Player themselves.
The only reason to code your own player then would be if you wanted to add other features like Media Info Mirroring and if the Player was Open Source it could be used inside their custom versions as well provided there is no issue with GPL license and Commercial Use.
the CCast support has come a long way since December...
I hope by next December we see more after people figure it out better.
The holdup is Google Locking it all up with the Whitelist.
I keep looking here hoping to find a developer that has decided to work on a CCast Player side to bring full client side support that others can use.
So Far Bubble is the only one focused on that side of the coding.
In the end the CCast player should support any container, Most Codecs, Client side selectable Subtitles and Multitrack Audio with Client side selection as well.
If they could add Dolby Support (not likely given the Licensing requirements) it would set the bar for all the others.
Localcast works well for me. Even let's me access and stream movies/TV shows straight from my USB stick on my Note 2 using an otg cable.
Sent from my Sinclair ZX81.
Koush tried software decoding for H.264 video - the processor ran hot enough to destroy his Chromecast, and that was using a known and mature routine.
The MediaTek processor is very good but it has limitations.
Maybe someone will take it further and succeed. I think it's more reasonable to look for more codecs on Chromecast 2, if at all.
Btw, LocalCast now lets you use your phone for headphones for stuff you're casting.
Not doubting you here...I know the Hardware is close to being an Egg Cooker even under normal usage....
But I'm curious as to why would he software decode H.264? No need to do that as it's already supported.
I'm just wondering if he was trying to do transcode from unsupported codec to H.264 on the device.
That method I would expect to not work at all.
But by adding loadable Software codecs it should not require the same proc cycles and speed as trying to transcode as it's really just a decoding operation which is roughly half the intense of transcoding which both decodes then re-encodes.
The Tricky part would be getting the player to load codecs on an as needed basis which is where I expect it might make the approach impossible.
I'm personally less concerned with codec support as I am with Containers, Subtitles and Audio Track selection being done on the Player side.
All of my Library is already H.264 But I much prefer MKV container for keeping Subs and Multiple Audio (for Commentary) so once a player comes out that supports all of those without transcoding I'll be a very happy puppy.
I don't know but I imagine that he was simply following a standard best practice -
Comparing known quantities to map the solution space before proceeding into the unknown.
The H.264 routine (just a software codec attached to a simple player from what I recall looking at the time) made sense for that, precisely because it was a mature, known quantity that could be compared to the existing feature in hardware.
Apples to apples.
perhap he tried that since H.264 is the most hardware intensive compression compared to say On2, Cinepak or the older Indeo...
If it could software decode H.264 then it could pretty much decode everything else just fine with the exception of MPEG2 which requires specific hardware.
Asphyx said:
What needs to happen is for someone to create an MX Player type CCast Player app that can play many Container and Codec types without the need for Transcoding. Then others could potentially use that Player App (think along the lines of a JW Player type CCast Application) when sending Media to the CCast without the worry of incompatible file and codec format.
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Are you saying if a player i.e. MX player had the cast function builtin into it then you can cast any video format that MX player supports?
ermacwins said:
Are you saying if a player i.e. MX player had the cast function builtin into it then you can cast any video format that MX player supports?
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That's what a lot of people want.
ermacwins said:
Are you saying if a player i.e. MX player had the cast function builtin into it then you can cast any video format that MX player supports?
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No not at all.....an App's (aka Transmitter) ability to cast to a CCast has little to do with it can support but what the CCast supports....Other than through the player app it tells CCast to load to receive the stream (aka the Receiver app).
Every App tells the CCast to load a player and it is that player that determines what format can be played not what the App that started the cast supports.
So even if MX Player supported CCast now...Doesn't mean at all that streaming from it to a CCast means MKV or MOV files will play on the CCast despite the fact they play in MX Player just fine.
That is unless MX Player wrote a custom player (receiver) for the CCast that supported all the formats MX Player does or MX Player added the ability to transcode any format to work with the receiver they load into the CCast.
As of today just about every app that supports more than just the standard CCast compatible media do so via Transcoding.
And thats not likely to change soon unless someone figures out a way to do it without frying the unit.
I bet it would work a lot better if the player app was run outside of the Google Sandbox the way Netflix is when it does it's own decryption.
The question is will anyone other than one of the Partners who invented the DIAL protocol ever get that type of access to the hardware?
Not without Google being fully on board....
hi
has any one got an opinion why chromecast despite having the required hardware to play many more video formats is not given the ability to do so??
mahi98 said:
hi
has any one got an opinion why chromecast despite having the required hardware to play many more video formats is not given the ability to do so??
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Licensing of Codecs for one....
Understand that CCast is really meant to be an HTML5 appliance so it is built to play anything that is HTML5 compatible and that leaves a lot of codecs off the supported list because they are old and inefficient or not suited for streaming over WiFi.
The device is simply not meant to be a ROKU, it is a device that is meant to put Web content onto a big screen and not much more.
If you want more features and video support then AndroidTV is probably the device you are looking for.
It's not like Roku plays a lot of formats either - just mp4 with the standard expected codecs and a small subset of mkv files that happen to be compatible.
I just don't worry about it. I mostly play downloaded files via Plex, relying on Plex to do the transcoding. I only check out the actual file format if Plex seems to be stumbling over some HD file with a rare slow codec. In that case I run it through a video converter utility with hardware GPU acceleration on my desktop PC that can convert a 1-hour video to standard mp4 in about 60 seconds. Problem solved.
DJames1 said:
It's not like Roku plays a lot of formats either - just mp4 with the standard expected codecs and a small subset of mkv files that happen to be compatible.
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Aren't mp4 and MKV containers? Meaning two different mkv files could use two different codecs (the reason why *some* mkv files are compatible and other are not).
Like you, I use Plex or Allcast and let them do the transcoding. I haven't run into many issues with this approach.
That's correct, but you'd find that most mp4 files today consistently use H.264 as the video codec and stereo AAC as the audio codec. It's possible to use other codecs in an mp4 files, but with so many devices that will play standard mp4s and most of them choking on any unexpected codec it's just easiest to stick to the standard. mkv files tend to have more variety, so a large percentage of them will fail on devices like the Roku or Chromecast that support a very narrow range of codecs and format variations. For example an extra track of chapter marks or an extra audio track will cause many devices to fail even though these are allowed within both the mkv and mp4 container format.
DJames1 said:
It's not like Roku plays a lot of formats either - just mp4 with the standard expected codecs and a small subset of mkv files that happen to be compatible.
I just don't worry about it. I mostly play downloaded files via Plex, relying on Plex to do the transcoding. I only check out the actual file format if Plex seems to be stumbling over some HD file with a rare slow codec. In that case I run it through a video converter utility with hardware GPU acceleration on my desktop PC that can convert a 1-hour video to standard mp4 in about 60 seconds. Problem solved.
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Yes but the main focus of the Roku is for Alternative video where as the CCast will play video but is designed more as a Web Content device.
This is why the Roku all have wired network connections (recent dongle excluded of course as it is meant to compete with CCast.)
Roku supports more merely because it has the App support.
There is nothing to stop someone like MX Player from making a receiver app that will add codec and container support to the CCast.
What is keeping some developers away is the convoluted discovery and control protocol needed.
Roku doesn't need any of that so they can just focus on the player code cause the remote does the navigation for them.
And in time as more support for the CCast comes around you will find that killer receiver app made that supports more codecs and containers and if the folks at plex are smart they will either license it or make it themselves!
99% of their complaints could all be handled better and go away with a little work on the player side.