streaming avi files from pc to 360

gruber · 05-12-2007, 12:27 AM

Pleeeease can someone help me out.

I have a MC PC (running XP), streaming media to my 360, with the new console update installed.

I am excited about streaming my video files which are AVI, but receive an error message "cant play this content because it contains audio or video with unsupported codecs".

This is way over my head but I have a hunch that this is basic stuff for some of you guys - can anyone point me in the right direction.

Thanks

*avinitski* · 05-12-2007, 1:05 AM

sounds like the file your trying to play isnt supported by the 360, there are limitations on exactly which kind of divx's the 360 will play, look here.

cybrey · 05-12-2007, 8:45 AM

How are you sharing the videos ?

gruber · 05-12-2007, 2:47 PM

Guys, thanks for your replies.

I realise that some AVI files are not supported, but I downloaded a 3rd party programme last night which tested my video media. The result was that a codec was missing, from memory IBM JPeg or something like this.

Does this mean then that If I download this codec I should be able to stream my videos to the 360? If yes, where can I get this Codec? Microsoft?

To answer the other question, I am using WMP 11 for file sharing and everything else works fine.

Thanks in advance for any help.

gruber · 05-12-2007, 6:07 PM

To update my issue, I have now identified the missing codec for my AVI files, downloaded and installed. I also appear to have the corract audio codec installed.

So, does this mean i give up guys and accept that my files are unsupported ? I just don't understand this, I mean are there tons of different AVI files around, of which the 360 will only support some of these ? if so, why arent all supported.

Soooooo disappointed

SibTiger33 · 05-12-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruber

To update my issue, I have now identified the missing codec for my AVI files, downloaded and installed. I also appear to have the corract audio codec installed.

So, does this mean i give up guys and accept that my files are unsupported ? I just don't understand this, I mean are there tons of different AVI files around, of which the 360 will only support some of these ? if so, why arent all supported.

Soooooo disappointed

the first thing u need to do mate is work out what codec is driving your avi files

to do this use mediainfo or gspot

yes its true that most avis are divx or xvid but some are not

if your files are not then the process to convert them to divx/xvid is very simple (and if using winavi - quick)

gruber · 05-12-2007, 10:52 PM

the first thing u need to do mate is work out what codec is driving your avi files

to do this use mediainfo or gspot

yes its true that most avis are divx or xvid but some are not

if your files are not then the process to convert them to divx/xvid is very simple (and if using winavi - quick

Thanks! Tried the Win AVI fee download. As you said, very fast and looks gr8 on my TV. Is this the best programme to go for in your opinion? I presume that you have to pay for this type of software.

I really appreciate your post.

SibTiger33 · 05-12-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruber

[I]

Thanks! Tried the Win AVI fee download. As you said, very fast and looks gr8 on my TV. Is this the best programme to go for in your opinion? I presume that you have to pay for this type of software.

I really appreciate your post.

For speed its the best without a doubt mate

but for quality you do lose a little bit of quality from your encodings and its very hard to control the quality settings with winavi (i.e exact bitrate of the file)
and yes winavi does cost money

but the 2 programs which i think do a better job are completely free

Super and avidemux

sadly these programs are very very slow at converting compared to winavi

my advice to you would be..

If you wanted to encode mostly HD quality files then stick with something like Super or avidemux but if most of your files are standard dvd quality then using winavi is fine

p.s when converting to avi (using winavi) im losing 5.1 - not sure why - looking into the problem - winavi keeps using mp3 audio for some reason when i want ac3

gruber · 05-12-2007, 11:04 PM

sibtiger33,

I have got "video inspector" installed. This i telling me that my video file codecs are -Video "IBM motion Jpeg" & Audio "microsoft PCM format".

Video inspector says that both of these codecs are installed, therefore i would be most grateful if you could educate me;

Are "IBM motion Jpeg" & "microsoft PCM format" alternative AVI files to Divx/Xvid ?

and

does this mean therefore that the codecs for my video files are unsupported by the 360 meaning i have no option but to go down the file conversion route.

Cheers

SibTiger33 · 05-12-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruber

Are "IBM motion Jpeg" & "microsoft PCM format" alternative AVI files to Divx/Xvid ?

and

does this mean therefore that the codecs for my video files are unsupported by the 360 meaning i have no option but to go down the file conversion route.

Cheers

yes and sadly yes

AVI is just a container

inside the container is usually divx video and mp3 audio or xvid video and mp3 audio. but from time to time you get other video codecs

So you will need to convert your files to xvid or divx video

now although you need to convert you may find that converting them will not take that long.

try any of the programs i mentioned above (they can encode in batches too by the way) setup your PC to encode overnight and you should then have working files for your 360

the other option would be to just use transcoding - this is pretty much encoding on the fly. - i.e using a program like tversity with your 360 to convert a file on the fly whilst you watch it on your 360.

gruber · 05-12-2007, 11:15 PM

mate, I cant thank you enough for sorting this out for me. I am off to bed now a lot more content that last night that's for sure.

Thanks again.

SibTiger33 · 05-12-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruber

mate, I cant thank you enough for sorting this out for me. I am off to bed now a lot more content that last night that's for sure.

Thanks again.

Not a problem

F Nikk · 05-12-2007, 11:35 PM

I cant understand why people want to stream media from their pc to their 360 to watch on their HDTV's, when you can directly connect the pc with a vga cable to the HDTV

It saves electricity! lol. The Xbox spends a good 270Watts in processing mode.

Am I wrong here with the idea that a VGA cable is all that is needed? Surely a time/electicity saver. Plus none of the headaches of file types and coded problems, as you are running them on the pc to the HDTV

SibTiger33 · 06-12-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicked_viper

I cant understand why people want to stream media from their pc to their 360 to watch on their HDTV's, when you can directly connect the pc with a vga cable to the HDTV

It saves electricity! lol. The Xbox spends a good 270Watts in processing mode.

Am I wrong here with the idea that a VGA cable is all that is needed? Surely a time/electicity saver. Plus none of the headaches of file types and coded problems, as you are running them on the pc to the HDTV

also need to connect the sound and somewhere to put the PC

also wireless keyboard/mouse if u dont have already

bottom line: its an hassle unless you have a dedicated HTPC.

before the whole HTPC thing took off i used to have a pc near my TV - ugly thing it was!

Goooner · 06-12-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicked_viper

I cant understand why people want to stream media from their pc to their 360 to watch on their HDTV's, when you can directly connect the pc with a vga cable to the HDTV

My PC is in a totally different room to the TV, so I'd need a very long cable and then there's the sound isssues.

My 360 is right underneath the TV, so streaming is so much easier.

Ultima · 06-12-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

p.s when converting to avi (using winavi) im losing 5.1 - not sure why - looking into the problem - winavi keeps using mp3 audio for some reason when i want ac3

Just tried this on Jaws and set the AVI Encoder Audio Codec to "ZJMedia AC3 Encoder" and it kept 6 channel audio.

SibTiger33 · 06-12-2007, 5:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

Just tried this on Jaws and set the AVI Encoder Audio Codec to "ZJMedia AC3 Encoder" and it kept 6 channel audio.

very strange
are u using the default profiles are creating your own user defined?

Twuntenstein · 06-12-2007, 6:44 PM

Hi all. Got very excited being able to natively stream AVI, but now a bit puzzled. I have a file in avi with AAC 5.1 and seems to be only playing in stereo - I've checked the file in GSpot v2.70a which confirms I have a 5.1 file - any ideas where I may be going wrong? Don't know if the file has been ripped/encoded/etc in any particular format.

Ultima · 06-12-2007, 7:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

very strange
are u using the default profiles are creating your own user defined?

User defined, click on the AVI button, open the source file, output format=user defined, click on advanced tab, AVI encoder - XviD MPED-4 Codec (Video) ZJMedia AC3 Codec (Audio) and make sure enable DirectAC3 box ticked.

That worked for me

Martin

SibTiger33 · 06-12-2007, 7:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

User defined, click on the AVI button, open the source file, output format=user defined, click on advanced tab, AVI encoder - XviD MPED-4 Codec (Video) ZJMedia AC3 Codec (Audio) and make sure enable DirectAC3 box ticked.

That worked for me

Martin

yep i did try that

never worked for me

note: im converting from mkv

also when u click on the dots next to ac3 codec does it give u any options? i dont get any boxes pop up? maybe my zjmedia ac3 coder is not working right or something ?

Ultima · 06-12-2007, 8:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

yep i did try that

never worked for me

note: im converting from mkv

also when u click on the dots next to ac3 codec does it give u any options? i dont get any boxes pop up? maybe my zjmedia ac3 coder is not working right or something ?

No I don't get any pop up boxes or anything when I click on the dots.

I haven't tried converting an mkv but one is running now so will let you know the outcome.

Martin

SibTiger33 · 06-12-2007, 8:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

No I don't get any pop up boxes or anything when I click on the dots.

I haven't tried converting an mkv but one is running now so will let you know the outcome.

Martin

thanks mate

i tried an mkv sample - so its quicker to encode

let me know the results buddy

Ultima · 07-12-2007, 8:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

thanks mate

i tried an mkv sample - so its quicker to encode

let me know the results buddy

the conversion just stopped at 34% on the only MKV file I have....where can I download a MKV sample file with 6 channel audio to have a play with??

Martin

SibTiger33 · 07-12-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

the conversion just stopped at 34% on the only MKV file I have....where can I download a MKV sample file with 6 channel audio to have a play with??

Martin

try torrents and look for mkv samples or if you have access to newsgroups you can find alot of samples there

Ultima · 07-12-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

try torrents and look for mkv samples or if you have access to newsgroups you can find alot of samples there

will report back soon.

Martin

Ultima · 07-12-2007, 4:45 PM

No it doesn't keep 5.1 when converting MKV files.......

Will keep trying.

Martin

SibTiger33 · 07-12-2007, 6:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

No it doesn't keep 5.1 when converting MKV files.......

Will keep trying.

Martin

yep had the same problem but using virtualdub worked perfectly and kept 5.1 :-)

takes a while but im very happy with the results

Ultima · 07-12-2007, 6:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

yep had the same problem but using virtualdub worked perfectly and kept 5.1 :-)

takes a while but im very happy with the results

I'll give it a try.

Martin

SibTiger33 · 07-12-2007, 8:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthacca

I'll give it a try.

Martin

ok tested on the 360 - works great!

no problems at all with it

the process is a little bit annoying but at least it works and keeps 5.1 audio

the guide i used can be found here

http://anime.nickistre.net/blog_entr...dec_conversion