Still somewhat new to Plex, so if this has been answered, please point me to it. I've been looking for a solution on the forums, but haven't found anything yet.
I've started using Handbrake to convert my DVD library into Plex. This includes my wife's collection of TV shows (West Wing, etc). I haven't changed anything in Handbrake - using the 'Normal' preset. So far I've converted on season of TV shows, and thought I should test. The artwork/theme music, etc. is all there, but I am unable to play anything back in either Plex/Web, or on my Roku XD. Plex/Web gives me an error that says "Cannot load M3U8: 404 not found". On the Roku I'm getting the Video cannot be played, make sure the server is online and has access to the video. Same thing on my Windows 8 Plex app. I suspect that I've used the wrong transcoding or some other setting, but I sure can't seem to figure it out.
Any ideas? I'd like to get this resolved before I spend anymore time converting the rest of my DVD's.
Thanks.
http://roku.yt1300.com/
Destructo's guide for Roku encoding via handbrake.
Well, I at least got something to stream using Destructo's settings, but the audio is horribly choppy and the image is pixelated to the point where it's unwatchable. I tried some of the other channels (Comedy Central, Ted) to make sure it wasn't a bandwidth issue, and they play perfectly. Any other settings I might be able to try? Or am I now to a place where I have to experiment?
Thanks.
What resolution are you using?
What file format (mkv or mp4?)
Are you watching from something on the internet (through myplex), or local lan?
I have a Roku, Android, PMC, and Web all as clients.
I've been converting all my BR and DVDs using Destructo's instructions for MP4.
I've had no trouble, even remotely through myPlex.
What is your server hardware like? Processors, drives, etc..
JamminR - I'm using 720p, mp4, and streaming across a wireless-n connection. Using Destructo's settings, I can get the DVD to stream to my Roku, but it's horribly pixelated. One thought I had, but haven't found an answer for, is whether the Roku settings need to match the video stream. My Roku setting is for 1080p - should these match?
DRinehart - it's a Dell T7400 tower, 2 Xeon Quad core processors @ 2.8Ghz, 1600FSB, 8GB RAM, with 4TB in a RAID-5 configuration (total avail is 3TB). Running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit.
What bitrate was used? wireless N easily chokes if there is nearby interference or in general is unreliable from some vendors which.
I would have to guess it's your wireless access point. I'm able to direct play 50mbps peak (30mbps avg) 1080p wirelessly to my Roku 2 XD and Roku 3 without issue using destructo's settings.
lazybones - just to clarify - are you asking about the bitrate used during the Handbrake conversion? Following Destructo's guide, I set the framerate to RF19, but leave the bitrate alone.
tiznfb - streaming other Plex channels works fine. I've also had Hulu before and was able to stream HD without any issues. The other thing that makes me wonder about the conversion is that when I try to play these converted DVD's in Plex/Web, they also pixelate (and the audio is choppy). I'm really at a loss as to what is going on with this.....
jjalenak - shouldn’t be your hardware. I agree that wireless is a likely culprit.
drinehart - why would streaming from the web work then? I can flip my Roku over to the TED channel (or Comedy Central, etc) and stream without any issues - no pixelation, no choppy audio, nothing. Same wireless connection. I'm willing to concede that it's my wireless connection if I saw other channels doing this also. Is there a way I can test my bandwidth from the Roku?
The videos from those channels probably have a bitrate much lower than your own DVD rips.
Also, if you're converting your DVDs, use the 480p/DVD guide from roku.yt1300.com, not the 720p one. 720p is for Bluray conversion, DVDs do not have that much horizontal lines (480 for NTSC DVDs and 576 for PAL DVDs).
There is a way to enable a debug mode. It involves pressing several buttons on the remote. A quick search of the forum will likely yield the answer that I cannot remember. Also, sander1 is right, those channels bandwidth requirements are probably far lower. You can verify this by setting the quality on your Roku to something lower like 720kbps or 1.5mbps to see if your picture quality is less pixelated/audio is less choppy.
Edit: found this from schuyler: Enable Playback Debugging on the Roku from the bitrate override screen (Home x5, Rew x3, FF x2). When the video starts playing, what exactly does the message say? (It'll show what it thinks the bitrate of the video is as well as what it thinks the speed of the connection is.)
Great - I'll test this tonight when I get home and post the results then. Thanks!
What sander1 says +1, at least about upconversion.
Sounds like you 'upconverted' using Handbrake.
TBH, I've never tried that before, and I'm betting 120minutes x RF19 of 480p=>720p = horrible low video bitrate = bad blocky frames.
If you play the files using VLC or other 'play any format' media player, I'd bet they'd look as bad.
*** JamminR goes off to convert 10 minutes of dvd 480p up to 720p using Handbrake, just to see the carnage.
EDIT-
Well I just converted 20min of DVD Pirates of the Caribb to 720p.
Using RF18.5 (my personal favorite starting point for DVD), it came out to an average bitrate of video 1276kbps + audio of 384kbps)
Was worth a shot. (That's not overly high)
My suggestions)
1) Get mediainfo - linked from the destructo's instructions page. Use it to load the file, switch to text view, copy/paste here in a "code" block.
We'll most likely be able to see any oddities in the file if it's a bitrate/resolution/just off for transcoding
2) Make sure you're following his instructions exactly (for either BluRay if you have bluray, or dvd if your source is dvd).
Be patient...we swear it works and is beautiful in majority of cases if you're converting your own stuff.
Plex made my Roku's many times better.
Ran the Roku playback debugging. Message popped up that I was "Playing 1.0mbps stream on your 29.4mbps network" - and the thing is, it was actually playing this time! I had started a conversion before I left for work this morning, and this one played perfectly. I checked the settings against Destructo's DVD settings (which I could swear I had tried before), and everything matched. The only thing I did differently was to rip the DVD to disk first using AnyDVD, then brought the VOB files into Handbrake (instead of converting directly from disk.) Weird. I'm going to try and convert another DVD tonight, and test it also to make sure things are working.
I'll post again later tonight with the results.
I use "copy folders to disk" myself.
Never an issue that way.
Glad you have it working.
JamminR/Destructo/Handbrake Tip - If you're converting an older movie where you really wouldn't care to have full digital 5.1 surround, turn the RF down 1.5 or so, and remove the 5.1 pass through, and set the AAC to Dolby Pro Logic II. You'll get better quality video for about the same file size.
(Oh, and if you don't have a 5.1 receiver yet to play sound through, and think "oh, i only use Stereo, i'll leave out the 5.1 track'... you'll regret it later if you ever upgrade.) :)
So, managed to squeeze out time last night to convert another DVD - seemed to be OK also. Don't know what I was doing wrong, just happy it seems to be working now.
JamminR - what audio track settings do you recommend? Right now I've got 2 tracks - the first one is AAC, the second is AC3 passthru. For 5.1 support, what do you recommend?
For mp4, what you have (and that site recommends), is fine.
Though he uses "Stereo" for the first AAC track, I prefer "Dolby Pro Logic II" when possible (he mentions some issue, but I've not experienced it)
My tip was basically for if you were converting a show or movie that was either old, or you just didn't care to have 'real' 5.1, you could increase the video quality (by 'lowering' the RF#), and not adding the ac3 5.1 passthrough track.
'Old' to me as an example would be stuff like the 'real' True Grit (John Wayne), or Dirty Harry.
Though the quality of the source video wouldn't have been pure to begin with (due to source age, probably re-sampled in some way already), removing the 5.1 track if they remastered one saves file space (or improves vid quality, if you lower RF).
Just don't use "I don't have my system going through a 5.1 reciever" as a reason.
You'll regret it if you ever upgrade your home theater, and all your movies still play only in pro logic 'fake' surround.
My opinions of course...your preferences and needs may vary. :)
Thanks. My flat screen TV in the bedroom (with the Roku) doesn't have anything special in the way of sound equipment, and frankly the converted DVD's, channels, etc. sound perfectly fine. I am in the process of shopping for a new TV for the family room, and will probably end up with some sort of 5.1 sound bar. From what I understand, the settings I have now (AAC and AC3 passthru) should be OK for this - right?
