Recurring issues with Emby Wmc Xbox 360

[Mozy 1]

I am seeing artifacts on videos when played on the 360. Everything looks perfectly clean on my HTPC (and our Android devices), but certain scenes suffer badly on the 360. All my files are mp4/ac3, and the server shows playback to the 360 to be a direct play. (I am using Sharks007's suggested codec configuration.)

 

We are running Win 8.1, and the 360 is on a wired gigabit connection. Log files attached. Thanks for any suggestions!

Emby_Log.txt

MBClassic-15220166fd6a4c2ee894ea08e54846b24303b87.log

MBClassic-15220168b6a936587394740a996bc00fee8c148.log

Edited February 18, 2016 by Mozy

[Mozy 1]

Could it be, this is just a limitation on the XBOX 360, or is there a tweak out there to get better quality out of a extender?

Edited February 18, 2016 by Mozy

[dredrizzah 2]

I'm experiencing the same issues with my xbox 360. I wasn't having any issues until the January updates.

[dredrizzah 2]

Just to think about it I'm using shark007 codec as well. I think it's possible shark 007 can be what the problem is with the new versions of emby server.

Edited February 18, 2016 by dredrizzah

[Luke 37054]

I would uninstall shark 007 and just install lav filters, it's all you need.

 

One of the challenges for us with windows media center is that it relies on system codecs in order to play audio and videos. this means that any changes you make or software you install is going to directly impact playback in windows media center. It allows you to make your own mess, and then when something doesn't play, naturally your first assumption is that there must be an emby problem. then it puts us in a position where we have to help you climb out of it or you wind up thinking that emby "doesn't work".

[Luke 37054]

keep in mind also that windows media center on the xbox can only handle a max bitrate of 10-11mbps before it starts to stutter and have problems. check the bitrate in the server's web interface.

[Mozy 1]

Thanks for the reply Luke!

 

Since I am only having issues on the Xbox 360 I just wanted to confirm, you are saying that the codecs on the server will carry over to WMC Xbox 360 extenders during Direct Play?

 

I will try your suggestion and uninstall shark007 and install just lav filters.

 

Also, my files bitrate is under 9mbps, so I don't think this issue is coming from there.

Edited February 18, 2016 by Mozy

[Luke 37054]

Thanks for the reply Luke!

 

Since I am only having issues on the Xbox 360 I just wanted to confirm, you are saying that the codecs on the server will carry over to WMC Xbox 360 extenders during Direct Play?

 

I will try your suggestion and uninstall shark007 and install just lav filters.

 

Also, my files bitrate is under 9mbps, so I don't think this issue is coming from there.

 

No, not on the server machine, but on the host pc that is extending to the xbox 360, yes, it will affect it.

[Mozy 1]

Copy that Luke, I'll report back after a few test.

 

Thanks for your help!

[Sammy 735]

There's some more information here.

[Mozy 1]

Thanks Luke: After uninstalling Shark007 and just installing LAV, the quality is much better, but the extender is still doing some transcoding for some reason as artifacts are still present only on the 360. 

I read through this post that seems to indicate that the extenders will always have to, so some degree, transcode .mp4 files? True?

 

Thanks for the link Sammy: Have you setup your system using the method you posted? Will UAC paths fool the 360? I have my share permissions set to "Everyone".  My media is on external usb drives.

 

I did re-install the Xbox 360 Optional Media Update from the app store, but haven't tried deleting it and forcing WMC to do the update as the post suggests.

 

Can anyone confirm that this wmc access tool from 2008 will work on Win 8.1?

 

Thanks again for the tips and tweaks!

Edited February 19, 2016 by Mozy

[Sammy 735]

Thanks Luke: After uninstalling Shark007 and just installing LAV, the quality is much better, but the extender is still doing some transcoding for some reason as artifacts are still present only on the 360. 

I read through this post that seems to indicate that the extenders will always have to, so some degree, transcode .mp4 files? True?

 

Thanks for the link Sammy: Have you setup your system using the method you posted? Will UAC paths fool the 360? I have my share permissions set to "Everyone".  My media is on external usb drives.

 

I did re-install the Xbox 360 Optional Media Update from the app store, but haven't tried deleting it and forcing WMC to do the update as the post suggests.

 

Can anyone confirm that this wmc access tool from 2008 will work on Win 8.1?

 

Thanks again for the tips and tweaks!

I do not use an Xbox 360 to do this. We have one but I haven't tried yet. I just saw the post recently and thought I'd pass it along.

[Mozy 1]

Sammy: copy that, thanks for passing that along.

 

dredrizzah - did you try switching out shark007 for LAV only? 

[BAS 225]

Mozy got your PM, read the links.

 

Unfortunately after years and years of frustration, I have given up on my 360's pretty much. I've just come to accept the fact, that no matter what I will have problems with playback quality when I'm using the 360 especially compared to a Roku or any device that can truly direct play or tap into true transcoding from the Emby server.

 

I use lav filters on the extender hosting pc at this point in time, and my content is all mp4/h264 aac and avi/xvid&mp3 at this point in time. The playback experience works fine on 360 with these files, but the picture quality is always less then what I would call a direct stream.