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Any Reason to NOT Use Roku?


mfranzel
Go to solution Solved by gcw07,

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Embiggens

Well just to throw in what I've found at this point. There's a website titling itself "rokoding" that outlines best settings for handbrake to allow direct play to roku. It really distinguishes between gen 1 roku and gens 2 and 3 for settings, but not between gen 2 and gen 3.

 

So it doesn't sound like there'd be a huge difference between a 2XS and a 3 as far as unit decoding capability.

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Scott750

My movie collection of about 500 movies consists of 70% DVD rips (Video_TS files using CloneDVD) and the rest as BluRay rips (mkv files using MakeMKV). I'm looking at getting a Roku 3 for a second TV in the bedroom (wife likes movies playing while she sleeps).

 

Will I not be able to watch those DVD rips?

 

I'm hoping I don't have to convert everything to mkv's like mentioned above.

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Koleckai Silvestri

The server should transcode the media into formats the Roku can understand.

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it will but remember that transcoding of folder rips and iso's are considered experimental features. what we're doing with them now is more than what other apps can do, but it's not at a point yet where it can be relied upon to work every single time.

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foghat

I am thinking about a roku for my second tv.  All of my movies are mkv.  I used to have 1:1 bluray rips, but just recently went through the process of transcoding them all via handbrake.  So, I an not worried about the 20mb limit the roku has.

 

My question is, even if MBS does not have to transcode the video, all of audio is either flac or DTS Master/Dolby True HD.  I assume the server will just transcode the audio (and direct play the video) so it works with roku? 

 

And that doing just the audio should be less cpu intensive than doing both audio and video?

 

Thanks.

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gcw07

I am thinking about a roku for my second tv.  All of my movies are mkv.  I used to have 1:1 bluray rips, but just recently went through the process of transcoding them all via handbrake.  So, I an not worried about the 20mb limit the roku has.

 

My question is, even if MBS does not have to transcode the video, all of audio is either flac or DTS Master/Dolby True HD.  I assume the server will just transcode the audio (and direct play the video) so it works with roku? 

 

And that doing just the audio should be less cpu intensive than doing both audio and video?

 

Thanks.

Yes, it would copy the video and transcode the audio to a compatible audio stream. It is a lot less intensive and usually does it very quickly.

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WarrenH

My Roku3 wired on a GB network works without any issue or lag. I'm only accessing .avi and .mp4 files, stored however on a NAS. I assume the PC server has to access the media off the NAS, then transcode on the PC, then transport the stream to the Roku. As a result I get network stutter if I access the NAS media from a second PC - even with a wired GB network.

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foghat

may or may not be a network issue.  While playing a movie check out task manager on the pc with the server.  see if there is an ffmpeg.exe (I think that is what it is called) process running - if it is, then the server is transcoding.  You should see one for each transcode taking place.

 

It could be the case that you cpu is maxing out when trying to transcode 2 movies at once - assuming that it is transcoding in the first place.

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foghat

It supports pass through only of ac3. So that means you would need to be able to direct play the file itself for it to pass through the audio properly. Make sure you turn on surround sound in the Roku itself.

So you are saying if mbs has to transcode my hi-def audio, I will not get 5.1 surround on the roku?  Only 2 channel aac?  Guess I have to rethink getting a roku. 

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im85288

So you are saying if mbs has to transcode my hi-def audio, I will not get 5.1 surround on the roku?  Only 2 channel aac?  Guess I have to rethink getting a roku.

 

For a main HTPC capable of handing HD surround sound you would be far better off buying a NUC which has the power to run things like OpenElec for ultimate performance. Combine xbmc on openelec with the XBMB3C addon and you will have a HTPC capable of anything you can throw at it. The Rokus great for a bedroom tv or the kids room but not as your main source for a home cinema.

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foghat

One note here is that the Roku only supports 2-channel AAC audio so if all your content has high definition video, this will be transcoded but uses fewer resources.

 

 

The roku does not support 5.1 ac3? If not, that is kind of a major shortcoming...

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foghat

For a main HTPC capable of handing HD surround sound you would be far better off buying a NUC which has the power to run things like OpenElec for ultimate performance. Combine xbmc on openelec with the XBMB3C addon and you will have a HTPC capable of anything you can throw at it. The Rokus great for a bedroom tv or the kids room but not as your main source for a home cinema.

I already have a htpc set up for my main viewing.  But would have liked something simple for another room.

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Tikuf

Ac3 will make a return to the server soon so 5.1 will be possible on a transcode. It is on my list.

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Koleckai Silvestri

On a wired network, you can increase the bitrate of playback for the Roku. It defaults to 3.2 Mbps so anything above that will transcode. If you increase this, then you will transcode less data. In the case of DVDs, you might not even need to transcode anything. I have it set to 10.7 Mbps on my Roku, also on a gigabit ethernet connection, without problem. One note here is that the Roku only supports 2-channel AAC audio so if all your content has high definition video, this will be transcoded but uses fewer resources.

 

For other computers if you use MediaBrowser Classic or MediaBrowser Theater, they will direct play from the NAS after getting the location from the server. No transcoding usually takes place. If you're using the Windows 8, iOS, or Android Apps, then they will transcode as needed.

 

Finally, if you go into the server, you can adjust the Transcoding settings on a macro level. The default is "Auto" but you can adjust for quality or speed so it fits your needs. Advanced -> Transcoding in the Server Dashboard.

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gcw07

The roku does not support 5.1 ac3? If not, that is kind of a major shortcoming...

It supports pass through only of ac3. So that means you would need to be able to direct play the file itself for it to pass through the audio properly. Make sure you turn on surround sound in the Roku itself.

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Cheesegeezer

OP's question...

 

Answer- No, i live by the MB and ROKU lt (sky now tv) for bedroom client and its flawless ;) Very happy

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WarrenH

On a wired network, you can increase the bitrate of playback for the Roku. It defaults to 3.2 Mbps so anything above that will transcode. If you increase this, then you will transcode less data. In the case of DVDs, you might not even need to transcode anything. I have it set to 10.7 Mbps on my Roku, also on a gigabit ethernet connection, without problem. One note here is that the Roku only supports 2-channel AAC audio so if all your content has high definition video, this will be transcoded but uses fewer resources.

 

For other computers if you use MediaBrowser Classic or MediaBrowser Theater, they will direct play from the NAS after getting the location from the server. No transcoding usually takes place. If you're using the Windows 8, iOS, or Android Apps, then they will transcode as needed.

 

Finally, if you go into the server, you can adjust the Transcoding settings on a macro level. The default is "Auto" but you can adjust for quality or speed so it fits your needs. Advanced -> Transcoding in the Server Dashboard.

I'll try changing settings as suggested; my Server PC is an i7 3770K, 32GB Ram and fast SSD's so has plenty of grunt. The issue seems to be with the network throughput.

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FrostByte

Does bitstreaming HD audio help stop some of the transcoding process? Right now I'm bitstreaming audio to my Roku 3 plugged into a receiver. I believe the Roku 3 can pass DTS-HD, etc

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Koleckai Silvestri

Does bitstreaming HD audio help stop some of the transcoding process? Right now I'm bitstreaming audio to my Roku 3 plugged into a receiver. I believe the Roku 3 can pass DTS-HD, etc

The Roku can pass on surround sound if you have hooked it up to a receiver via HDMI.

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FrostByte

Thanks WL, Ya, that's how it's setup now. Just wasn't sure if MB would not transcode audio portion. I'm guessing it doesn't if LAV audio is set it shouldn't have to and put less work on the server

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