Why is Mezzmo transcoding files it doesn't need to transcode?

[Tiger22]

I'm very new to the whole DLNA scene after finally ditching my old CRT telly and getting a Samsung LE40C650.

Anyway I thought I'd look at Mezzmo as a DLNA server as I've heard good things.

I have found that when trying to play standard mpeg2 video files from ripped DVDs (i.e. mpeg2 streams taken straight from DVD VOB files) Mezzmo is transcoding these files before sending them to the Samsung TV.

Now if I disable transcoding within Mezzmo and again choose that file from the TV, Mezzmo then sends that file natively where it is perfectly playable using the codecs of the DLNA client.

Why then is Mezzmo transcoding this file? Is this just a profile issue in Mezzmo that doesn't understand the capabilities of the DLNA client on the TV (it correctly shows the device as "Samsung C") or something else?

How does one know what formats a DLNA client is capable of receiving? Does the DLNA spec allow the client to announce what file formats it can decode/play?

[Tiger22]

I'll answer my own question - it was a problem with the Samsung C profile. After editing the profile and adding an additional setting for one of the mpeg audio streams it seems that Mezzmo is now not performing any transcoding for the problematic mpeg2 files.

[Paul]

Great! Can you please tell me what you've added, so that I could add it to the stock profile as well?

[Mark]

Yes, please post. I have the same issue using the DirecTv profile. I have mpeg2video w/ M mp2 audio that don't need transcoding yet Mezzmo transcodes them. Curious too if the framerate has to match. My files are 25fps which plays fine on the HR23-700, however the device profile has 29.97fps. Any doc reference on how to modify prf files would be helpful.

[Paul]

Can you please post FFmpeg information on that mpeg2 file?

There're no official docs on how to modify prfs, but feel free to ask any questions here :)

[Mark]

Apparently I misinterpreted the Mezzmo action. It was transcoding other files that I thought were the mpeg2video files. My bad...

[Tiger22]

Great! Can you please tell me what you've added, so that I could add it to the stock profile as well?

Under the mpeg_ntsc container in the ac3 audio container I added a further channels entry for only 1 channel. The Samsung codec can handle mono audio streams and so these should be passed directly without transcoding. Many of my Criterion Collection DVDs have mono AC3 audio streams.

[Paul]

Thanks - we'll adjust the profile here.

[seboh9]

I too am having an issue with my PS3 on a file that's being transcoded that doesn't need to. The file works just fine with windows media player streaming, but not mezzmo, after 3min of playback on the PS3 the first transcoded file would just die out (unless i fast forward past that point) the second transcoded file looks like it goes into fast forward and plays only static. This is a movie we watch all the time. I am still within the 15 day trial of the product but I am very much liking it and will probably buy it because it can transcode on the fly and ease of use. An option I think you should added in the properties of the movie files an option to individually disable transcodeing file by file. Hopefully all the info you need is below. Thank you for your time.

-Larry Jr.

The PS3 is the new 320GB Slim

FFmpeg info is:

FFmpeg version git-N-28463-gc5dcb3d, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
built on Apr 11 2011 15:09:07 with gcc 4.4.2
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-ffprobe --disable-ffplay --prefix=/media/windows/ffmpeg --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --pkg-config=pkg-config
libavutil 50. 40. 1 / 50. 40. 1
libavcodec 52.117. 1 / 52.117. 1
libavformat 52.106. 0 / 52.106. 0
libavdevice 52. 4. 0 / 52. 4. 0
libavfilter 1. 78. 0 / 1. 78. 0
libswscale 0. 13. 0 / 0. 13. 0
[mpeg4 @ 02d90540] Invalid and inefficient vfw-avi packed B frames detected

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 23.98 (65534/2733) -> 23.98 (2997/125)
Input #0, avi, from 'D:\Movies\cartoon\How to Train Your Dragon[2010]DvDrip[Eng]-FXG.avi':
Metadata:
encoder : VirtualDubMod 1.5.10.2 (build 2540/release)
Duration: 01:37:51.53, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 998 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 696x288 [PAR 1:1 DAR 29:12], 23.98 tbr, 23.98 tbn, 23.98 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: mp3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 128 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified


---> DB Level Info: -99

[Paul]

We found that the PS3 is a bit picky about DivX/Xvid files and thus such files are transcoded by default.

If your files play properly, then you can adjust the device profile not transcode them. To do that:

1) stop your server
2) open up SonyPlaystation3.prf in Notepad (see this thread for its location: http://forum.conceiva.com/showthread.php/467-FAQ-Where-are-device-profiles-located) - you may need to remove the read-only flag from it prior to that
3) find this comment: "<!-- Remove these comments to enable Native DivX"
4) delete that line and the next "-->"
5) save the file, restart the server and try again

Let me know how that goes.

[seboh9]

Thank you very much for the quick response. That fix did the trick, i'll be buying the software when I get home then :). It definitely seems well worth it.

-Larry Jr.

[RuKuS77]

Hi,

I have been trying out the software and so far it is the best overall I have tested with. I too was having this issue and your suggestion of modifying the PS3 Profile worked. Most of my file Divx/Xvid files play fine on my PS3 without the need for transcoding.

With that being said, there a few Divx/Xvid files that are using an alternate audio type, which do need transcoding in order to hear audio. Is there a way to force transcoding on a per file basis? This is a feature available in Tversity, which gave a little more flexibility for those oddly encoded files here and there.

Or a way to detect these different audio sources and automatically transcode? Or does the profile mod I did an all or nothing solution?

Thanks for creating this software... So far loving it!

Mike

Here is an FFMPEG details of a particular file in question, that will not play audio unless it is transcoded:

FFmpeg version git-N-28463-gc5dcb3d, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
built on Apr 20 2011 10:16:52 with gcc 4.4.2
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-ffprobe --disable-ffplay --prefix=/media/windows/ffmpeg --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --pkg-config=pkg-config
libavutil 50. 40. 1 / 50. 40. 1
libavcodec 52.120. 0 / 52.120. 0
libavformat 52.108. 0 / 52.108. 0
libavdevice 52. 4. 0 / 52. 4. 0
libavfilter 1. 79. 1 / 1. 79. 1
libswscale 0. 13. 0 / 0. 13. 0

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 23.98 (65535/2733) -> 23.98 (2997/125)
Input #0, avi, from '\\mev-server1\g$\Moviez - AVI\Cinderella\Cinderella.1950.DVDRip.XviD.avi':
Metadata:
encoder : Nandub v1.0rc2
Duration: 01:15:06.00, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1304 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 576x416 [PAR 1:1 DAR 18:13], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 23.98 tbn, 23.98 tbc
Stream #0.1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 448 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified


---> DB Level Info: -99

[Paul]

You could try removing the "ac3" format from the "avi" container (close to where you removed the comments) - this will make all AVIs with AC3 sound to be transcoded.

We don't have a per-file transcoding yet, but it's a planned feature for a future version.

[RuKuS77]

Thanks for the quick response Dennis! I will try that later tonight and see how it goes.

It's good to know that you guys are also planning to include this feature.

I'm enjoying the trial and do plan on purchasing, based on my current experience. I've also recommended to a few friends that always come to me for advice on their home theater setups.

Thanks again,
Mike