Ideal equipment for large library of MKV files

[Tyson454308 1]

Hello,

I'm having trouble streaming 4k UltraHD MKV files with emby on roku ultra. I'm willing to start over to make this work if necessary.  I currently use Windows 10 with 60tb storage via Drivepool and use a wired connection to Roku Ultra using a network switch.  The videos stutter and barely seem to play despite multiple setting changes.  Is a NAS media device a better option than storing everything on a local PC and trying to use the emby server? I'm considering the NAS option with 3 20tb hard drives, but wondered what others are having seamless success with? 

[ebr 16187]

Hi.  Have you tried a wireless connection with the Roku?  I think the Roku is limited to 100mb lan port.

[HolyGigi 13]

I have no issues playing large (80GB) files from my PC, in my LAN. 

Given the fact that you already have a PC, I don't understand why you would also use the roku as an additional layer of potential failures. Why not stream directly from your PC, without going through roku?

[arrbee99 1817]

IMHO, though you've probably done all this already, start with the cheapest stuff first. As mentioned try wireless, if there's an Emby app for your TV, try that, can you run a wire to bypass the switch, can you try / borrow a Fire TV 4K or even a Shield, does it fail with all 4Ks or just the higher bitrate ones...

[Tyson454308 1]

Great question HolyGigi... I haven't been able to get the Harmony remote to work with my computer so it's a hassle to get that all connected each time.  However, it would work in that location.  I do have two other WIFI only connections via TCL RokuTV and the WIFI has even more trouble playing the media.   From what others have experienced, the Roku Ultra seems to work well for them, but my only difference in setup is my PC.  It only fails with the UltraHD 4K videos, specifically Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies.  Everything non-4K Blu-ray works fine without stuttering or problems with fast forward.  My system is getting older so I'm definitely willing to go with a NAS Pool with CPU/GPU and Shield, but am open to suggestion on how to make all of my media accessible and streamable to devices both wired and wireless within the home.

 

[Guest]

@Tyson454308being told to just do it differently isn't an acceptable response. Your setup is valid. I also host on a Windows 10 PC, I also have several disks set up with DrivePool, and even use Snapraid. I also stream to several Roku televisions, including one TCL 4k TV. I have also had problems with stuttering playing 4k videos. Unfortunately only the 4k TV supports 4k, so the other TVs are transcoded while playing and do not stutter for me. Streaming to a Samsung Galaxy S10+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ all work fine as well, but they all must also be transcoded to play 4k videos. So, unfortunately I only have one point of reference. They are all connected to the same wireless network.

Fwiw my system has a GTX 1660 for hardware acceleration and I don't really ever see the system "pegged" when transcoding.

 

[Q-Droid 989]

On 6/16/2023 at 3:13 AM, Tyson454308 said:

Hello,

I'm having trouble streaming 4k UltraHD MKV files with emby on roku ultra. I'm willing to start over to make this work if necessary.  I currently use Windows 10 with 60tb storage via Drivepool and use a wired connection to Roku Ultra using a network switch.  The videos stutter and barely seem to play despite multiple setting changes.  Is a NAS media device a better option than storing everything on a local PC and trying to use the emby server? I'm considering the NAS option with 3 20tb hard drives, but wondered what others are having seamless success with? 

Your first step is to figure out why the video stutters and then throw hardware at the problem if that's where it lies.

[ebr 16187]

10 hours ago, Tyson454308 said:

It only fails with the UltraHD 4K videos, specifically Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies

And what bitrates are they?

[Tyson454308 1]

EBR, how do I find the bitrate?  I am going to try a few new things tonight with the network setup and wire everything together.  Then I'll add the mkv file to the desktop so its off of the raid to see if that improves the stuttering.  

Andrewds, is it better for the file to be transcoded or for it to be supported and directly streamed? In your discussion, it sounds like transcoding eliminates the stuttering.  Thanks for the perspective from your setup!

 

[rbjtech 5284]

16 minutes ago, Tyson454308 said:

EBR, how do I find the bitrate?  I am going to try a few new things tonight with the network setup and wire everything together.  Then I'll add the mkv file to the desktop so its off of the raid to see if that improves the stuttering.  

Andrewds, is it better for the file to be transcoded or for it to be supported and directly streamed? In your discussion, it sounds like transcoding eliminates the stuttering.  Thanks for the perspective from your setup!

 

use the MediaInfo option in Emby.

In my example below - the bitrate is 68Mb/sec (reported as 75 by Emby)

This is what's know as a Remux, or uncompressed 4K file.

These will only play on certain clients - but I believe the Roku Ultra should play these ok.

The issue you may find is actually the HD Audio - the Roku 'may' be transcoding because it needs to convert the HD Audio tracks.

We really need a transcoding log (starts with ffmpeg..) to determine why you are having playback issues, but a direct file attached server (your Windows 10 machine with Drivepool) should have zero issues playing these types of file over a wired connection - even via 100Mbit/sec - you may get the occassional pause when your Peak bitrate exceeds the buffer - such as a very intense battle scene for example.  HOWEVER - the official Roku 4K max bitrate is actually only 25Mbit/sec .. 

I use a Shield Pro - so need others who have Roku Ultra's to comment further on this possible limitation.

Edited June 20, 2023 by rbjtech