Any hopes for FF and RW on Roku with transcoded files

1- I found an april thread in the Roku forum that mentioned work was being done on both side (Roku and Serviio) to fix some bugs that are preventing FF and RW to work on transcoded files
http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... io#p484997
I posted to ask for an update on the subject but have not gotten one yet http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=88008

Does someone know what the status is on the Serviio side, and if this has a chance to bear fruits?

2- I also read that Plex was able to FF and RW transcoded files on Roku, can someone confirm that, and if so, does it means there should be a way to make it work with Serviio too (which I would rather use)?

Thanks for any insights

OK so I posted the question in the Roku forum, and was informed that FF and RW should work on transcoded files if transcoded using the HLS format.

So I went ahead and set Serviio’s transcoding to applehttp (HLS) with video codec h.264 and Audio Codec AAC.

I successfully tested it on the following containers: avi, wmv, and most importantly DVD vob files as well at wtv files, and was indeed able to FF and RW!

I did find two limitations while testing vob files and wtv files.

1- I found I needed to set a maximum video bit rate or else some wtv files (that can go pretty high) would not play.
Right now I use a max video bit rate of 15000 and that is plenty so no issue there

2- More problematic is the fact that If the file has more than 2 audio channels (most have 6) it does not play at all or gives no audio. I had to set Serviio to force stereo audio transcoding and then all was good.

I have asked in the Roku forum (below) if this is indeed a limitation of if there may be a workaround, we will see if I get an answer.
http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 37#p496837

If someone here has suggestion on other things I could test to make 6 channel audio work on Roku when transcoding using HLS (h.264 / AAC), let me know.

Right now I am using a modified version of atc98092 where I changed the transcoding section to use applehttp with h.264 vcodec, AAC Acodec, a mav video bitrate and force stereo (see below)

  Code:

         <Video targetContainer="applehttp" targetVCodec="h264" targetACodec="aac" maxVBitrate="15000" forceStereo="true">
            <Matches container="asf" />
            <Matches container="mpegvideo" />
            <Matches container="mpeg" />
            <Matches container="mpegts" />
            <Matches container="avi" />
            <Matches container="flv" />
            <Matches container="wtv" />
            <Matches container="ogg" />
            <Matches container="3gp" />
            <Matches container="rtp" />
            <Matches container="rtsp" />
            <Matches container="rm" />
          </Video>


but already this will make a big difference on the usefulness of the Roku for me as being able to FF and RW recorded TV (wtv) AND DVDs (vob) is pretty important.

[atc98092]

I have no issue with 5.1 sound, but I am feeding it though my Yamaha AV receiver, not directly to the TV. That may be the issue.

One of the Roku moderators told me the next Roku profile that is shipped with Serviio should be changed to applehttp transcoding for the reason you stated. He also said that the force stereo flag would be there as well. I argued against that, but they want to keep it as simple as possible for the greatest number of users.

Unfortunately, as you have discovered the older Roku players can't handle a particularly high bitstream. I too have it throttled around 15-16Mbps. Since most of my WTV files are SD, the bit rate on those are no factor. I do have some Blu-Ray rips that often exceed 35 Mbps. One I even saw (on a Sony player with a data readout) about 60Mbps. I have suggested that there should be different Serviio profiles for different Roku players, but no luck so far.

"I have no issue with 5.1 sound, but I am feeding it though my Yamaha AV receiver, not directly to the TV. That may be the issue."

Is that using the applehttp / AAC transcoding or mpegts / AC3?

Because 5.1 works fine with mpegts / AC3, but I cannot make it work with applehttp / AAC, and I also have the Roku connected to my Denon AVR receiver.

So the issue appears to be with that specific HLS container.

EDIT: Some threads tend to imply that Roku does not support AAC 5.1, others that Roku should be simply passing it through, and my AVR is capable of playing it...
Hoping for a definitive answer on the Roku forum