[n00b] Possibilities w/o transcoding?

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1

Hi,

 

Firstly sorry for my bad english knowledge and sorry for question (probably) already answered million times.

I'm a poor guy, and looking for the cheapest (and most efficient) client for watching movies/series in variuos different codecs.

 

I just got a(n used) Synology DS413j, and currently using it as Plex Media Server. I never know Plex before I got this NAS, so I'm absolutely beginner in Plex possibilities. Now I'm using my NAS-PMS ony for storage, so currently using DIRECT PLAY option only on  my devices [ 1.) Android with external player app, and 2.) my PC connected to TV via HDMI and analog cable and stereo sound system]. My Syno has an old ARM cpu, so it doesn't supports any kind of transcoding.

 

First thing I don't understand why Android Plex not supports all codecs but "natives"? But it is not RasPlex related question...

 

My main question is:

I'm planning to buy a Pi 2, but before doing that I'd like to know limitations or possibilities of RasPlex client. I mostly watching videos varies a wide range of codecs, like:

 

xvid, divx, h.263, h.264, mpeg4

 

the video files variously has stereo mp3, dd, dts sound tracks, but I watching in downmixed 2.0

 

If I buy Pi2, can I play all of my video files WITHOUT any kind of transcoding (by server)?

 

 

In my stupid logic, that quad-core 900MHz ARM (Cortex-A7) should be enough for any kind of decoding based on my experience on:

 

single core 1GHz (snapdragon) HTC Desire bravo,

single core 1GHz (snapdragon) HTC Desire HD

dual core 1GHz (cortex-a9) LG 920 (using HDMI out)

quad core 1.2 (mediatek) Iconia A1-810 (using HDMI out)

 

(used MXPlayer to watch up to 720p/1080p videos on these devices without any kind of problems)

 

The supported codecs depends on licencing issues or any kind of problems?

 

Thanks for your time and thanks for answers in advance,

 

Tibor, HU

2

I'll make it short....GO FOR IT

I've been similiar situation and its the best solution so far...

3

Finally I sold my old Synology DS413j and built a PC for hosting and playing videos. (Asrock Q2900-ITX)

4

Rasplex is based on Plex Home Theater for Linux, which is capable of direct playing practically anything that you throw at it without transcoding.

5

All of the CODECs mentioned in the original post should play fine without transcoding, though the DTS multichannel sound may be downmixed.

Still, there are some more 'exotic' CODECs that will require transcoding, such as x265/HEVC and some others.

If/when ffmpeg as used in XBMC/Kodi gains new CODEC abilities, these will eventually be ported to RasPlex as well.

Best regards: dlanor

6

Aside from a 10 bit anime, everything I’ve played has been completely fine playing without transcoding.