Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

Best to Stream to PS3 (TV, TW...)

27941 Views 45 Replies 34 Participants Last post by PSEng, Jun 12, 2009

CDLehner

Discussion Starter · Jan 13, 2008

Well, those of you who frequent this forum have probably seen my name a lot lately. I'm just bedeviled trying to get PS3 to stream correctly. It's not that I don't know what I'm doing, or that I'm getting totally shutdown; I feel like I'm close. I can see machines, I can see streamers...I can see files; I just can't seem to get transcoding to work on those that aren't supported natively by the PS3.

I'm especially trying to get FLAC to work for audio, and I'll worry about the video later (I'd probably prefer a single .vob, and maybe that'll even work now, but I haven't fooled with it much yet because I've been focused on the audio). I've tried TVersity and not had much luck. I'll probably play with Twonky next. I've seen some saying not to bother, that WMP11 works just fine (although I'm not sure which formats WMP11 to PS3 will support)...and others who are trying to skip transcoding all together (again, not sure of the downside there...what to you have to rip or convert to in order to avoid transcoding all together).

I've done my research; I've read long threads here, AfterDawn, different PS3 boards. Everyone's got an opinion; everyone's had varying levels of success or failure. So before I get too much further in the way of digging-in on one method vs. another, I'd like to get your opinion: what do you think is the best, easiest, or most successful interface to stream to PS3?

Please feel free to post or point me toward threads that helped you and thanks in advance. Again, I'd like to start with reading FLAC successfully and then I'll fight the good fight on video from there.

CD

1 - 20 of 46 Posts

hazel_wu

· #2 · Jan 13, 2008

Why don't you add Nero into the list as well as it's also a major software.

Turd Furguson

· #3 · Jan 13, 2008

Streaming is only the first part of getting your files to play.

We are currently working on getting file formats to play properly first. Please join in with any relative information.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=969198

shanewalker

· #4 · Jan 13, 2008

Just installed 'MediaLink' from Nullriver. Its shaping up to be every bit as good as their 'Connect360' solution for the Xbox. For Mac-based servers, btw.

I've only streamed my iTunes music library (which worked flawlessly) so far, but others are having some success w/ movies and iPhoto pix (which I'll test as soon as I'm ugraded to iLife '08).

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=972371

Since my HD recordings are all .TS files, streaming solutions are going to work for me right now. Unless I'm missing something...

sauroneru

· #5 · Jan 14, 2008

I'm getting a Popcorn Hour A-100. I was very disappointed in the number of files the PS3 couldn't handle. I was hoping to have only 1 device, as the PS3 GUI is fairly slick, but it just doesn't support enough yet (really spotty Xvid).

CDLehner

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 14, 2008

Well god bless ya, everyone seems to love TVersity. But I'm starting to lean toward the it's-a-piece-of-crap camp. Everytime I try to 'Refresh Media Library'...even just testing with one single FLAC file...it just spins and spins and spins.

CD

CDLehner

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 14, 2008

Stick a fork in me, because I'm just about done. The PC that I use as a dedicated front-end to my HP Server looks like AfterDawn threw up on it. I have TVersity, RipIt4Me, DVD Decrypter, DVD Shrink, ConvertXtoDVD, VOB2MPG. I may...may...be on my way to making one lousy file play...that isn't already native that is...and it took an hour and a half to rip the .VOBs and it's taking another hour to convert them to MPEG. But aren't I ever so grateful that the file appears to be showing on my PS3! Of course that doesn't mean it'll play...or play past 1GB...or have the proper sound...or have any sound.

Edit-When I tried to play the file, PS3 flashed green along with the video.

And as for audio, I just can't get TVersity to transcode my FLAC files, or even work for that matter (it keeps hanging when I 'Refresh Media Library'). I know there are people that are having some success; I guess if you beat on a square peg long enough, eventually, you get it into a round hole. And I know there are some who are trying to bend the PS3 without TVersity or Twonky, but I just don't know if I have the time to battle on the front-lines of this war. At the end of the day my SB3 beats the daylights out of PS3 for audio (streaming Rhapsody is BIG for me, and it doesn't give a second thought to FLAC or lots of other codecs for that matter), and I just don't need video that badly right now.

Thanks to all who voted. TVersity was the clear winner (one of the reasons I didn't even try Twonky), so at the very least, when I pick up the fight sometime in the future, I'll know where to start.

CD

See less See more

sauroneru

· #8 · Jan 14, 2008

I tried WMP, TVersity, and Twonky. They all seemed to kinda suck. Transcoding wasn't very good, the GUIs were very underdeveloped, and the options weren't very specific to the PS3. It just felt like I was missing something big.

I think TVersity in "File" display mode was the winner. If TVersity could make a not-on-the-fly transcoder that would produce x264/Xvid compatible files of any input, then I'd be able to stick with the PS3 as a media streamer.

Jiffylush

· #9 · Jan 14, 2008

WMP, no transcoding.

MP3, MPEG2, XVID.

I kind of have a guide under the Streaming to PS3 No Transcoding post for mpeg2.

llanelwy

· #10 · Jan 14, 2008

media link gets my vote

CDLehner

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 15, 2008

2

OK, one last chance before I admit defeat and come to the realization that all 17 of you, who voted TVersity the greatest thing since AVSForum, are smarter than me

Why am I having trouble getting my FLAC to play through TVersity? I don't even mean through TVersity, streaming to PS3...I mean I can't even get an FLAC file to play in TVersity! I suspect once I get this licked, perhaps the other will follow.

Here's exactly what I do: rip just a single track through dBpoweramp, go to TVersity, add file, I add just that single file to the Library and try to play it. It sees the file, sees the tag, but just spins and spins.

When it times out it gives me the generic "timeout loading this track, please make sure Tversity is running, the audio track exists and can be converted to mp3. Are you missing a directshow filter?"

OK, one, why would it ask if it can be converted to mp3; doesn't TVersity convert FLAC to WAV? Two, I even thought maybe the fact that the file was on my WHS server might be the culprit (even though I went into the Log On properties of the media server and assigned a user and password that allows Tversity to access my shares), so I moved it locally right to my freakin' desktop. Three, I know my likely issue seems to be missing codec, but I installed the TVersity Codec Pack on set-up, and ffdshow lists FLAC as 'libavcodec'. What the heck could I be missing??

Come on 17...

CD

See less See more

fcorona76

· #12 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by hazel_wu /forum/post/12800295

Why don't you add Nero into the list as well as it's also a major software.

I think he only wanted to know which ones work

I own the Nero 8 suite and it completely fails to work on 5 different, modern machines. On all machines Nero Home doesnt work at all, some Recode doesnt work, most Media Home doesnt work, blah. I can only conistently get Burning & Tools to work on all machines.

See less See more

singaporeguy

· #13 · Jan 17, 2008

1 vote for Nero Media Home

I am have all my videos (mostly mp4, a few mpeg2) , audio (mostly mp3) and photos (mostly jpg) on my Thecus NAS. Unfortunately build-in DLNA server on the Thecus does work with PS3 for mp4 files (shown as unsupported format) so I am currently streaming the files to the ps3 using Nero Media Home on my mini pc which mounts the NAS as a shared drive. It has been working great for the past 5 months, the only thing is that my mini pc needs to be on on to do the streaming.

I would be interested in trying out the Twonky Media Server plug-in for the Thecus in the near future to see if it can stream my mp4 files (encoded using Nero Recode 2) correctly to the ps3. If so, I can bypass the mini pc.

gridbug

· #14 · May 1, 2009

In case anyone's still watching this thread, here's your solution:

PS3 Media Server .

Works brilliantly well for video/music playback, full codec support, no need to transcode mkv files.

As far as streaming TV thru the PS3, that's a whole 'nuther can of worms.

See less See more

ajamils

· #15 · May 1, 2009

save yourself the frustration, just put together a HTPC and enjoy

See less See more

ludivigo

· #16 · May 1, 2009

Did Lehner ever get something to work? I use PS3 Media Server to transcode FLAC to WAV and stream to the PS3 no problem.

Martez

· #17 · May 1, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by ajamils /forum/post/16379356

save yourself the frustration, just put together a htpc and enjoy

+1,000,000,000

gridbug

· #18 · May 1, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by ajamils /forum/post/16379356

save yourself the frustration, just put together a HTPC and enjoy

True, but with "disposable income" at an all time low, for many of us it's all about going with what you've already got.

Anyone got any good insight on how to stream TV thru the PS3? Tried Hulu last night and while it's certainly a workable option, for some reason playback froze up on me aftar about ten or so minutes into the program (Ghost Hunters) and I couldn't get the PS3 browser to respond so I could get back to the main page and try again.

Checked into PlayOn but I've been reading that the results are less than satisfying, with broken streams, inconsistent playback etc.

As I don't watch too much "regular" TV, I can get by with the old torrent download routine, which is in a sense like Tivo'ing stuff so you can watch it later, only you don't get commercials and stuff and you can dl the show in HD. Also, the price is nice. *lol*

Looking forward to seeing more of this!

See less See more

imdjenk

· #19 · May 1, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by ajamils /forum/post/16379356

save yourself the frustration, just put together a HTPC and enjoy

For the average person this is not so simple. Setting up and configuring a HTPC is a frustration in itself, not everyone works in IT.

Lord_Zath

· #20 · May 1, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by gridbug /forum/post/16379289

in case anyone's still watching this thread, here's your solution:

ps3 media server .

Works brilliantly well for video/music playback, full codec support, no need to transcode mkv files.

As far as streaming tv thru the ps3, that's a whole 'nuther can of worms.

:d

qft

1 - 20 of 46 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.