Transcoding not working for AVI and MKV to Sony Bravia

Hi,

My setup is: a modern detached house, windows 7 computer with 2 x 1TB disc drives and duo 2.6 Ghz processors, D-Link DIR 301 modem, Powerline connection to TV via 2 x 200 Mbps plugs, Sony Bravia W905A TV.

The computer and network show no signs of stress but the attached movies don't play properly.

They both play after transcoding via the Sony 2012US profile. But they stutter where there is a lot of action on the screen.

I've made them work by converting each to MPEG4 format, but this required some tweaks. I've concluded that my setup works best with fps in the range 12 to 30, picture width max 1024 (or height 768?), and (particularly, I think) a max overall bit rate of 1200 kbps.

I may have many movies which face this problem, so I wonder if you can provide a fix, please?

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Rog>cd "Program Files\Serviio\lib"
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users\Rog>cd "c:\Program Files\Serviio\lib"

c:\Program Files\Serviio\lib>ffmpeg.exe -i "v:\A Test\Batasi.avi"
ffmpeg version N-54096-ge41bf19 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg developers
built on Jun 18 2013 10:49:28 with gcc 4.7.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --disable-ffs
erver --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libass --enable-librtm
p --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-zlib --enable-libx264 --extr
a-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm -lexpat -lfreetype -lfribidi -lz' --a
rch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-pthreads --target-os=mingw32 --cross
-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-gpl --pkg-config=pkg-config
libavutil 52. 37.101 / 52. 37.101
libavcodec 55. 16.100 / 55. 16.100
libavformat 55. 9.100 / 55. 9.100
libavdevice 55. 2.100 / 55. 2.100
libavfilter 3. 77.101 / 3. 77.101
libswscale 2. 3.100 / 2. 3.100
libswresample 0. 17.102 / 0. 17.102
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100
[mpeg4 @ 01A2EE00] Invalid and inefficient vfw-avi packed B frames detected
Input #0, avi, from 'v:\A Test\Batasi.avi':
Metadata:
encoder : VirtualDubMod 1.5.4.1 (build 2178/release)
IAS1 : English
Duration: 01:41:34.24, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2655 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg4 (Advanced Simple Profile) (XVID / 0x44495658), yuv
420p, 720x304 [SAR 1:1 DAR 45:19], 25 tbr, 25 tbn, 25 tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3 ([0] [0][0] / 0x2000), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 192 k
b/s
At least one output file must be specified

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

c:\Program Files\Serviio\lib>ffmpeg.exe -i "v:\A Test\Andy.mkv"
ffmpeg version N-54096-ge41bf19 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg developers
built on Jun 18 2013 10:49:28 with gcc 4.7.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --disable-ffs
erver --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libass --enable-librtm
p --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-zlib --enable-libx264 --extr
a-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm -lexpat -lfreetype -lfribidi -lz' --a
rch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-pthreads --target-os=mingw32 --cross
-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-gpl --pkg-config=pkg-config
libavutil 52. 37.101 / 52. 37.101
libavcodec 55. 16.100 / 55. 16.100
libavformat 55. 9.100 / 55. 9.100
libavdevice 55. 2.100 / 55. 2.100
libavfilter 3. 77.101 / 3. 77.101
libswscale 2. 3.100 / 2. 3.100
libswresample 0. 17.102 / 0. 17.102
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'v:\A Test\Andy.mkv':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2013-11-13 13:20:04
Duration: 02:36:35.82, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 5997 kb/s
Chapter #0.0: start 0.000000, end 307.507000
Metadata:
title : 00:00:00.000
Chapter #0.1: start 307.507000, end 569.936000
Metadata:
title : 00:05:07.507
Chapter #0.2: start 569.936000, end 750.750000
Metadata:
title : 00:09:29.936
Chapter #0.3: start 750.750000, end 1059.859000
Metadata:
title : 00:12:30.750
Chapter #0.4: start 1059.859000, end 1354.587000
Metadata:
title : 00:17:39.859
Chapter #0.5: start 1354.587000, end 1748.914000
Metadata:
title : 00:22:34.587
Chapter #0.6: start 1748.914000, end 2040.105000
Metadata:
title : 00:29:08.914
Chapter #0.7: start 2040.105000, end 2353.384000
Metadata:
title : 00:34:00.105
Chapter #0.8: start 2353.384000, end 2824.088000
Metadata:
title : 00:39:13.384
Chapter #0.9: start 2824.088000, end 3083.113000
Metadata:
title : 00:47:04.088
Chapter #0.10: start 3083.113000, end 3414.911000
Metadata:
title : 00:51:23.113
Chapter #0.11: start 3414.911000, end 3759.990000
Metadata:
title : 00:56:54.911
Chapter #0.12: start 3759.990000, end 4057.587000
Metadata:
title : 01:02:39.990
Chapter #0.13: start 4057.587000, end 4538.901000
Metadata:
title : 01:07:37.587
Chapter #0.14: start 4538.901000, end 4762.358000
Metadata:
title : 01:15:38.901
Chapter #0.15: start 4762.358000, end 5140.569000
Metadata:
title : 01:19:22.358
Chapter #0.16: start 5140.569000, end 5511.706000
Metadata:
title : 01:25:40.569
Chapter #0.17: start 5511.706000, end 6142.803000
Metadata:
title : 01:31:51.706
Chapter #0.18: start 6142.803000, end 6580.307000
Metadata:
title : 01:42:22.803
Chapter #0.19: start 6580.307000, end 6697.324000
Metadata:
title : 01:49:40.307
Chapter #0.20: start 6697.324000, end 6944.371000
Metadata:
title : 01:51:37.324
Chapter #0.21: start 6944.371000, end 7161.721000
Metadata:
title : 01:55:44.371
Chapter #0.22: start 7161.721000, end 7373.800000
Metadata:
title : 01:59:21.721
Chapter #0.23: start 7373.800000, end 7488.314000
Metadata:
title : 02:02:53.800
Chapter #0.24: start 7488.314000, end 7663.089000
Metadata:
title : 02:04:48.314
Chapter #0.25: start 7663.089000, end 7900.292000
Metadata:
title : 02:07:43.089
Chapter #0.26: start 7900.292000, end 8189.948000
Metadata:
title : 02:11:40.292
Chapter #0.27: start 8189.948000, end 8374.533000
Metadata:
title : 02:16:29.948
Chapter #0.28: start 8374.533000, end 8531.556000
Metadata:
title : 02:19:34.533
Chapter #0.29: start 8531.556000, end 8836.828000
Metadata:
title : 02:22:11.556
Chapter #0.30: start 8836.828000, end 8977.502000
Metadata:
title : 02:27:16.828
Chapter #0.31: start 8977.502000, end 9215.073000
Metadata:
title : 02:29:37.502
Chapter #0.32: start 9215.073000, end 9339.397000
Metadata:
title : 02:33:35.073
Chapter #0.33: start 9339.397000, end 9395.819000
Metadata:
title : 02:35:39.397
Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 2
9.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 1k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)
Stream #0:1: Audio: dts (DTS), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s (default
)
At least one output file must be specified

c:\Program Files\Serviio\lib>

[jhb50]

First your title is misleading because the files are obviously transcoding and playing.
Per the sony2012US profile the mpeg4/ac3.avi file is transcoded to mpeg2video@17000kbps/ac3.mpegts
and per the inherited sony2012 profile the avc/dts.matroska file is transcoded to avc/ac3.mpegts

I don't know what you mean by stuttering. Serviio has done its job so either your network is too slow to move the data to the TV or the TV is to slow to handle the data.
Have you played the files in the MediaBrowser, or used a wired connection? You could also change the 17000 value in the profile down to 10000 to see if it helps.
It would also be better to post this under Sony to get other users experiences. I am only familiar with Samsung which has its own set of problems.
Taking a quick look at Sony, I immediately see a post with suggestions to get some divx avi's to play. Have you looked at these ideas?

Thank you for your reply.

First your title is misleading because the files are obviously transcoding and playing.
So if it shows pictues and makes sounds, it's working? It doesn't matter that they are at the wrong speed and not synchronised. I must tell Sony that.

Per the sony2012US profile the mpeg4/ac3.avi file is transcoded to mpeg2video@17000kbps/ac3.mpegts
and per the inherited sony2012 profile the avc/dts.matroska file is transcoded to avc/ac3.mpegts
I'm a TV viewer who's using a tool to make my movies play. What does your sentence mean? I have to learn to understand and build the tool myself, right?

I don't know what you mean by stuttering. It means that the movie doesn't play at a constant speed.

Serviio has done its job so either your network is too slow to move the data to the TV or the TV is to slow to handle the data.
Sony suggest that Serviio will help play my movies on their TVs. My computer and my network are coping easily, but the movies don't play. It appears that the TV's at fault. Sony will be interested

Have you played the files in the MediaBrowser, or used a wired connection? What would playing my files Mediabrowser achieve? I already know that they play on my PC in raw form, without going through Serviio. I do use a wired connection, as previously described.

You could also change the 17000 value in the profile down to 10000 to see if it helps.

It would also be better to post this under Sony to get other users experiences. I am only familiar with Samsung which has its own set of problems.

This forum is called Transcoding. My issues are related to transcoding.

Taking a quick look at Sony, I immediately see a post with suggestions to get some divx avi's to play. Have you looked at these ideas?

It goes like this. I'm looking for a TV that will play my movies. Sony's marketing says "Buy a Sony and Serviio will play your movies". After a month's learning and working, some of my movies still don't run and I'm preparing to write to Sony's CEO.

Why did you suggest that I put my FFMPEG output on here?

[zip]

If they stutter only when the scene is busy, it'd seem like the bitrate is too high for the TV to handle (MKV/h264 is only remuxed, so we're not limiting the bitrate here). It might be related to network too.

Your network is wired, but using the Powerline plugs - that is not the same as cat5 cabling, and speaking from my own experience, can vary in speed / quality and detoriate quickly depending on the power line quality and connected devices.

Ideally you should try to connect using normal network cables to see if it helps.

Alternatively try the DirecTV profile, which transcodes everything but limits bitrate.

[patters]

For what it's worth - there have been quite a few cases on here where Powerline adaptors have been the problem. As Zip said, it's quite simple to test if this is the case.