Play MP4 videos from the Movies library?

[bigjohn]

No, I suspect you have another issue somewhere.

Let's clarify a few things. Do you have the Movies strip in WMC on the extender and it's just empty? The movies there and just don't play? Is the movies strip not there entirely?

Have you tried to play the files through the "pictures and videos" strip on the extender (can't remember if that exists) and are you able to see the files there?

Great question. answer in detail:

- folder is added to MC7 "libraries" as type MOVIES
- On MC7 PC, in media center mode, shows up in the MOVIES strip 5 movies that I'd recorded from TV, plus the 4 test MP4 files
- On xbox, in movies strip, just the 5 'recorded from TV' movies. Nothing else.

[LuckyDay]

I believe there is, as mentioned above, still a problem with files that have multiple or unsupported AAC streams on the 360. I'm not sure if that's the issue, but may be worth checking out.

What are the settings you're using to convert the MP4 to in your software? Both the video and audio settings would be helpful.

[bigjohn]

I believe there is, as mentioned above, still a problem with files that have multiple or unsupported AAC streams on the 360. I'm not sure if that's the issue, but may be worth checking out.

What are the settings you're using to convert the MP4 to in your software? Both the video and audio settings would be helpful.

I would think that the 'file' should still show up in the strip, right?
It would not play back if there was a file problem?

[bigjohn]

I believe there is, as mentioned above, still a problem with files that have multiple or unsupported AAC streams on the 360. I'm not sure if that's the issue, but may be worth checking out.

What are the settings you're using to convert the MP4 to in your software? Both the video and audio settings would be helpful.

compression done by VidCoder/handbrake.

Here is what "mediaInfo" says about one of my test files:

Code: Select all

Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42
File size                                : 437 MiB
Duration                                 : 1h 44mn
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 584 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-04-23 13:56:39
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-04-23 14:15:26
Writing application                      : HandBrake 0.9.9 2013051800

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : Main@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 1h 44mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 450 Kbps
Width                                    : 720 pixels
Height                                   : 356 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 2.40:1
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 19.965 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 36.600 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.073
Stream size                              : 337 MiB (77%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 130 r2273 b3065e6
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=9 / lookahead_threads=1 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=30 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=22.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=14000 / vbv_bufsize=14000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-04-23 13:56:39
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-04-23 14:15:26
Color primaries                          : BT.601 NTSC
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 1h 44mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 128 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 279 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 83ms
Stream size                              : 95.7 MiB (22%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-04-23 13:56:39
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-04-23 14:15:25

Text
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : Apple text
Codec ID                                 : text
Duration                                 : 1h 44mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 1 bps
Stream size                              : 423 Bytes (0%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-04-23 13:56:39
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-04-23 14:15:25

[LuckyDay]

Yeah I might be missing something but I don't see any issues with that.

[bigjohn]

Yeah... damn. I gotta figure this out.

[LuckyDay]

Yeah... damn. I gotta figure this out.

Give it a day and see if anyone responds, I'm sure someone who has had the problem will come across the fix.

While you're waiting you might check out both MyMovies and Recorded TV HD.

Both work with extenders and grab all of the metadata for TV and Movies for your collections. MyMovies may solve your problem, plus it will take care of everything YAMM does but easier and more automated.

[bigjohn]

got a link to mymovies?

I'll play with that a bit today and see what happens.

Also, when I convert - optimum bitrates? Should I convert AC3 audio to AAC?

[Dkeyguy1]

Take the time to just make sure the file is properly associated.... Right click on one, select properties, make sure it is set to open with Windows Media Player
When you install the Shark pack it will automatically set defaults for everything.

[bigjohn]

Take the time to just make sure the file is properly associated.... Right click on one, select properties, make sure it is set to open with Windows Media Player
When you install the Shark pack it will automatically set defaults for everything.

Good catch - but as i mentioned earlier it plays from the movie strip just fine on the actual media-center PC.
The pc has divx installed
the pc has Haiial splitter installed
the pc has the registry (64 bit) from http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/01/adding-m ... ry_22.html

Everything works exactly as I want it to on the PC.
But that PC is in my bedroom, with the 4 dish boxes attached for live TV. I watch TV in the bedroom about 1% of the time.
The other 5 xboxes don't see the movies in the movie strip, or in the videos strip.

[mcewinter]

Did you build seperate libraries on the xbox's? Libraries down automatically populate based on the PCs libraries. Just checking.

[bigjohn]

Did you build seperate libraries on the xbox's? Libraries down automatically populate based on the PCs libraries. Just checking.

When I started the xbox for the first time and went to the movie library, it gave the popup about finding files.
Is that what you mean?

because when i add directories for archived old recorded TV, those are automatically included in the 'recorded tv' view.

[mcewinter]

Build your libraries manually.

MyMovies adds its own movies strip and will even transcode DVD (TS Folder) to extenders.

[bigjohn]

Build your libraries manually.

MyMovies adds its own movies strip and will even transcode DVD (TS Folder) to extenders.

I don't want anything but me to transcode content, thanks...

I've installed my movies. lots to configure - guess I'll take the defaults for now.
Why on earth does this 'expensive' program not have the ability to sort on Genre? really?

[mcewinter]

I would build your libraries before moving on to metadata software.

Transcoding isn't ideal, I just thought I'd point that out as it does the trick and you're set on watching movies on extenders. You're trying too much at once to get this working while it should be quite simple.

[bigjohn]

I would build your libraries before moving on to metadata software.

Transcoding isn't ideal, I just thought I'd point that out as it does the trick and you're set on watching movies on extenders. You're trying too much at once to get this working while it should be quite simple.

Well, heres the good news:
Went to the xbox, and the MyMovies movie strip was there. it included the sample Mp4's. and they played back.

The bad news:
I have the mymovies interface. overly complicated.

I'm going to try to uninstall it, and see if the movies will now show in the default library. then I may try YAMM again...

[bigjohn]

Damn it.
How do I re-activate the default 'movies' strip?

[Scallica]

Why not use Media Browser? It is very easy to configure and it works great on extenders, including the Linksys DMAs.

[bigjohn]

Why not use Media Browser? It is very easy to configure and it works great on extenders, including the Linksys DMAs.

Simple.
I need everything to be SIMPLE.

I had media browser installed. Too many options. Yamm just adds the "metadata" to the existing 'movies' strip.
Then I can sort by genre, year of the movie release, date added to the system. Simple stuff.

If something goes titz-up on the media center pc, and i'm out of town, it needs to be something I can walk the wife through over the phone or easily get to using vnc.

Simple is a must.
Oh, and we only have Xbox360 as extenders, so other functionality is not required.
I have remote-potato server installed to watch recordings or live TV from my android phone/tablet.

[LuckyDay]

I would build your libraries before moving on to metadata software.

Transcoding isn't ideal, I just thought I'd point that out as it does the trick and you're set on watching movies on extenders. You're trying too much at once to get this working while it should be quite simple.

Well, heres the good news:
Went to the xbox, and the MyMovies movie strip was there. it included the sample Mp4's. and they played back.

The bad news:
I have the mymovies interface. overly complicated.

I'm going to try to uninstall it, and see if the movies will now show in the default library. then I may try YAMM again...

You thought MyMovies was overly complicated? How so?

You can have it automatically monitor folders and add them automatically. Even if you do it manually all you do is press about two buttons and it does the rest itself. I must be missing something, it's extremely easy.

If you're ever missing a strip in WMC, you can use this tool to customize what shows up (Make sure you run it as an admin):

http://get.mikinho.com/wmc/hidemediacenterstrips.exe