Plex Discussion Thread - Page 12

My plex library scrape predates that, so I wouldn't have known. Thanks for the info

Plex should take advantage of that new hd homerun prime that is coming out that converts to DLNA .

Maybe wishful thinking...but I'd be psyched.

I just recently built a new PMS using Windows 8 and ran into problems with TV Series meta data; some of the series were completely missing from the listing although server processed them according to timeline. It all turned out to be related to language settings. When I reverted everything back to English from Finnish the meta data was perfect. See http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/55540-almost-no-metadata-in-tv-series/page__pid__337048#entry337048

I think the only thing that matters is the language setting related to the library section. Part of my shows have localised names and Plex just don't like that. I somehow thought that it would use file hash to make the match regardless of the file names and then return local meta data if available and English meta data otherwise. But for shows like 'Modern Family' ('Moderni Perhe' in Finnish) it fails to add the show completely. The localised content is available in theTVDB (http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=95011&lid=11).

When I renamed all my files to match English series names and switched the library section language to English I've had 100% meta data coverage.

Yea I'm no programmer either, but if this is feasible, as it seems, then this would be HUGE for plex, in my opinion.

It should be easy even now for PLEX to stream from HDHR (I set up VLC to transcode and stream from and HDHR dual), but only unprotected channels, which I assume is a key reason why it has not been pursued. Even with the DLNA, the clients must have DTCP-IP DRM to stream protected channels, which might be something that PLEX can't implement.

Correct, for the current hd homerun prime. But unless if I am assuming too much of the new one scheduled to be released this year...it should be able to convert the protected channels to h264?

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/silicondust-announces-two-new-hdhomerun-network-tuners-with-tr/

I think for the copyonce flag, it needs DTCP-IP for the DRM.

Plex may implement it something anyway just because they can. There are plenty of people who use OTA only or limited basic, so it could be useful. I don't remember if the HDHR4 with the DNLA will only be for the CC version or all. XBMC did their DVR thing without the copyonce flag, so limited on what it can record (by TV provided).

To anyone using a mac mini as their HTPC, and plex as their primary media serving software....how do you handle content purchased on itunes. I've never purchased any, but could see myself buying some TV shows if I cut the cord. I know macs used to have FrontRow (did they discontinue that?....for some reason I remember them doing that recently), do you just back out of plex home theater and use front row in that case?

actually, you're questions should be, anyone use OSX on their HTPC. I have use a Mac Mini, but I only have Windows 7 loaded on it. Add in the fact I don't care for iTunes, I don't have an answer for you.

More on point, I do believe you are correct about Front Row. I thought Apple replaced it with something else. If you have purchased content from iTunes, you could just setup up a library in Plex if you have some downloaded and see what happens. My guess, you'll be able to play the DRM free content. The rest, no go like DVR content for Media Center. Plex's media player may have the codecs for iTunes built in. I just don't know.

If you don't have anything downloaded, you may want try the Mac subsection of this subforum, Plex, or something like Macrumors.

I was able to confirm the DNLA part of the new beta firmware. I just don't have anything, that I'm aware of, that can play the content from the HDHR:

I'm not sure how it's suppose to work. My HDTV (Pansonic PCT-55VT50) has DNLA. It can see the HDHR, each of the three tuners. When I select any of the four, nothing comes up. Thus, something may need to scan for channels to the DNLA can work. I can firm the DNLA was working on the TV because I could use Plex through the TV.

Just released 1.2.0 of the external player support script PlexExtPlay: http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/54335-using-external-player-to-play-blu-ray-isos-and-basicly-anything-you-want/page__view__findpost__p__327973

It now has direct support for using MPC-HC as the external player and also displays splash during playback preparation (eg.file server disk spinup or mount delay).

I'm also using MPC-HC/MadVR autorefresh but for the Blu-rays/PowerDVD I do it through the script. Since refresh setting is now an optional part of the script you can easily set it up to your liking. I was thinking about integrating MediaInfo and using it to match the refresh rate to media but after researching a bit I realised that this kind of mechanism is widely implemented to the most popular play chains.

I just encountered a slight problem regarding using just file extension to determine which files to play externally. I have media files with mkv extension both as movies and tv-series. And the tv-series won't work since the partIdIndexer currently indexes only movies. I wouldn't even want external playback for tv-series since the internal player does a sufficient job on this kind of "lower" quality material. This might be a unsolvable problem since the playercorefactory mechanism does not have the real filename or path available when it's matching the file against the rules. So I cannot make use of the fact that all my tv-series episode files have a SxxExx pattern in them. The only option at the moment seems to be to implement a partIdIndexer also for TV-Series...

Okay guys just wanted to ask a question about sharing your libraries with friends..But first I will say that I have used XBMC for over a year with pretty much no issues. It really is an awesome piece of software. The fact that actually both are free is really mind boggling. I do use Plex as well on my server to serve movies to my android devices as well as Roku players thru home.But to my question,how does sharing your plex server affect the usage on your own computer? Right now my server is a WHS 2011 running a e2200 2.2ghz cpu. Nothing fanvy but ROCK solid,and the fact it was free,saved from dumpster at wifes job helps! But it serves my 400+ plus movies with no issues. And transcodes to Rokus without a problem. Like someone said, it has never failed to do it's thing which is amazing... But if I'm watching a movie thru Roku(being transcoded) and I share my library with anyone and they start to try to watch a movie off my library will it affect my own playback? Or if they need transcoding it will be done on THEIR end ? Just need to know how everything plays together..My cpu keeps up with my house(at 90-100%cpu usage),but it does work without ever pausing! Just wondering if I let a friend or family member at college access my server if my cpu is the one being "abused" so to put? I assume my upload quota as far as my internet will start to go up big time,right? Don't really care about that side of it,but just want to know how it will all owrk.

Thanks Brickie

I agree with lockdown.

I haven't shared my library with anyone. But I do use the Android app quite a bit away from home--work and friends' homes.

If you're really wanting to share something with your friends, you could setup a second PMS on another machine, which may be more powerful that your WHS, and limit what you're sharing. You want have to worry about having loads on the CPU from transcoding to a friend, and trying to watch something on the Android app or at home at the same time. On a side note, you want to limit what is being shared, you could just setup a specific library. I believe you can share just a library, not the whole server.

Thanks for the answers! Most of you guys answers are what I figured. Up to this point I haven't shared with anyone for pretty much the reasons mentioned. Upload bandwith doesn't really concern me,but the cpu usage to send something outside of my home does. And yeah I saw that plex would allow you to share only 1-1000 items..up to you. Unless I switch over to a much more powerful machine then i just won't worry about this.

Would this Pico PSU be enough to power a generic W7 box running PMS? I have an i3 540, a 2TB Media drive & 500GB OS/apps drive & a blu-ray drive. No gaming at all, but the PC does have to do some transcoding and it is responsible for blu-ray & DVD rips. Trying to keep this machine quiet & low power. I have a Corsair 430 in their now.

Thanks!
Edited by matt21484 - 2/4/13 at 1:17pm

Plenty

Calculator showed minimum of 167 W and a recommended PSU of 217W

This is why I hate computers! Anybody else have any thoughts? What happens if you don't supply enough juice to a PC when it asks for it? Does it just shutdown or fry whatever component it feels like? This is also my everyday PC, which means surfing the web and mundane office work. I'm not too worried about the Pico not having enough in the tank for that, but will it have enough to transcode & rip blu-rays?

It sounds tight. If you really want to use a pico and low power and quiet are the keys, consider swapping out the OS HD with an SSD drive. Lower power and quiet. Also consider a green drive for the 2TB drive... if both of these changes are made you should be good to go.

It's already good to go. It meets the minimum requirements with 100% TDP, which will be rare. The HDDs won't be sucking power either, it's only needed for system starts when they spin up at the same time which is still a very small power draw for just 2 drives