Transcoding too slow (other servers work fine)

[Timmy1024]

Hi there,

I recently bought a Samsung Home Theater (HT-9730W) which supports DLNA, so I started testing every DLNA server listed in the Wikipedia comparison page to settle for one and use it.

I really liked Mezzmo (its UI and simplicity), but I found that transcoding movies was way too slow. For example, the latest Hobbit movie that I have in 1080p and with a size of 16 GB (mkv), transcodes at 9 FPS, making it unwatchable. I don't have the specifics of the codec used now, because I'm not at home.

The thing is, that with other servers (Universal Media Server, Wild Media Server, etc.), the transcoding process breezes at 90 FPS aprox.

Do you know why this would happen? The computer is a Core 2 Duo 2.3 GHz. 4 GB RAM, running Windows 8 x64.

As I said above, I really wanted to like your server and settle for it and I also liked that it wasn´t programmed in Java, but with this issue I can´t really use it. I would have bought it already, specially considering the august promotion, but I´m afraid it will expire before I could resolve my problem.

Thanks in advance for any comments in helping me solve this.

PS: another issue I faced was with external subtitles; no matter what, the server wouldn´t show them on the TV. Plus, this hobbit movie had 4 subtitles embedded but they were grayed out in your server, as if they couldn´t be shown... pretty confusing really, specially because with any of the aforementioned servers, they would pick the same named filed subtitle right away.

Thanks

[Paul]

The problem is most likely related to the device profile assigned to your device. Go to the Media Devices dialog in Mezzmo and check the device profile. Try 'Samsung HTS' and see if that improves things. If no better, then you can try 'Samsung BDP (2013 models)' or 'Samsung BDP' device profiles. If no better, then please post the FFmpeg information for your video. Right-click on the video in Mezzmo and click 'Get FFmpeg information'.

[Timmy1024]

Thanks for your reply Paul. I will try it tomorrow when I get home and let you know how it goes.

Regards,

[Timmy1024]

Hi Paul,

I reinstalled the server and now the subtitles appear available on the client right away. I don't know what changed, but now I have two subtitles to select from the client: 1 embedded in the MKV and the other, the external .srt.

The thing is that the other set of problems and inconsistencies continue. Sadly, is the same experience I've been having since the first day I've started using DLNA (all those years ago) and with every new server I try, there is a new set of problems and solutions; none working 100% fine.

I've tried every Samsung profile available and the problems so far are:

- The Hobbit movie now doesn't even start. Client shows loading screen, your server console start transcoding it, then it ends with "Failed" and also an error on the client. It doesn't need transcoding because it streams directly with the other servers

- The Martyrs movie always get transcoded; no matter what. It doesn't need transcoding, because several other servers I'm trying stream it right away, also with the external subtitles available

- The Martyrs movie (and I haven't tested other transcoded movies) doesn't allow fast forward. Again, for example, I go to the Wild Media Server, force Transcoding of the movie, I check on the computer that it's actually transcoding and it still allows me to fast forward on the client; even if the movie is being transcoded on the server

- The Ancient Aliens season don't play right away with any of the servers I've tried (they need transcoding). None of the servers so far automatically detected that, so I have to manually force transcoding from the client (for those servers that support a "Transcoding" folder for every media file). Most of your Samsung profiles gave me a "not supported file" when playing, but one of them (don't remember which) actually started transcoding the file. The thing is that it was totally corrupted; half screen was right, the other was green, it skipped and fast forwarded by itself, until eventually the client crashed

I'm attaching the ffmpeg info as you requested for each of these files. As I can see, I'm really interested in settling and buying the license for your server (hence why I'm taking all this time to troubleshoot), so please let me know if it would be possible to fix all of these quirks/issues/annoyances.

Thanks again for your support

[Paul]

Thanks for the information. Email us at support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we'll prepare a device profile to better match your Samsung model. In your email, we'd like to see a set of logs when "The Hobbit" fails to transcode. Turn logging on (see http://forum.conceiva.com/showthread.php/419-FAQ-How-to-turn-on-diagnostic-logging) and restart your Mezzmo server. Try streaming "The Hobbit" and when your see the transcoding Fail on Transcoding pane in Mezzmo, then stop your Mezzmo server and exit Mezzmo. Zip up all the logs and email them to us. Actually, include logs for other files that you find are failing as well & that will help us tweak the device profile.

[Timmy1024]

Hi Paul,

I've just sent you the mail (I'm Martin) with all the data I gathered. Please check it along with the included files, comments, screenshots and tests I ran and let me know if you are able to create a profile for my device.

Thanks in advance for your support

[Paul]

Thanks - got your email. We'll create the device profile and email you details when it is ready.