Serviio

I'm just wondering why when i use Serviio to play a mkv file that it has to transcode to my samsung. When I run thru Samsung Allshare there is not transcoding at all. I noticed this because when watching the same file thru serviio it was maxing out my cpu and stuttering, but with allshare cpu was not even working and file was played smooth as can be. Guess my question is why is serviio trying to transcode the file at all since my tv can play it without such. thanks for the replies... first post here and love the serviio software and what is stands for...

ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 2h 9mn
Bit rate : 8 341 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.168
Stream size : 7.38 GiB (93%)
Writing library : x264 core 119 r2106 07efeb4
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=8341 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English
Default : Yes
Forced : No

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 2h 9mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 415 MiB (5%)
Default : Yes
Forced : No

It's because it says Level 5.0 in the file's header. The TV normally doesn't play anything above 4.2. But the header can include any value so if the author doesn't get it right (like apparently in this case) Serviio has no way to tell and will trust it -> transcode the file.

AllShare doesn't transcode as it doesn't support transcoding.

You can change level to 4.1 using the H264 level editor (see wiki) and try to re-add the file and play again.

Even at 4.1 or 4.0 its transcoding this one file.

did you remove the file and added it back in (so that the level can be updated in the DB)?

I changed the level, then started and stopped the service. No go.. I will try removing completely in the directory and see what happens tonight. Thanks for the reply...

I have just downloaded and install samsung allshare and it plays all my mkv files , large 3d files as well. Up till just recently I had no problem with serviio. A lot of my large files are level 5 and i am able to ff/rwd all of them. However serviio is trying to transcode most if not all. I am a big fan of serviio, but something has changed at least for this model . I am going to install the latest serviio on my other computer and see what the log comes up with. I'll post it back here.

the detection changed and it's using the header value as well as value based on the ref frames. The TV doesn't normally play level 5 videos but the author can put any value. To get the All Share functionality you can remove the Video transcoding block from the Samsung profile(s) that include