Best option for streaming Divx & whatnot from Vista MC PC to XB360?

[Yreka]

Its been awhile since I used my 360 as a media extender.. Last go around, I used this method on XPMC.. it worked ok, but it was cumbersome having to go start the encoder & whatnot..

I also tried loading transcode 360 (Vista version of course) and it completely shit the bed... It errors out on bootup, in fact it wont even uninstall ( I need to work on that later, but I digress)

Any other options ? Im thinking on trying tversity next.

 

[PricklyPete]

Are you sure you installed the newest version of Transcode 360? I remember downloading a version that was older because I was on the wrong website.

Also, you need to disable User Account Control for it to not error out on start up. Once I had the newest version (4.something) and disabled UAC, I had no problems using Transcode 360...it works really great except for an occasional hiccup where it skips to a later portion of the media file...but I've found two solutions to that:
1) Pause the program for a minute after starting it
2) immediately hit the "previous chapter" button and it will return you to the point right before it skipped.
According to the Transcode 360 guys, this is a bug in MC for Vista and will not change until MS fixes the MC code.

Hope this helps.

 

[Yreka]

I'll have to doublecheck when I get home.. I believe the Vista version I installed was released in May 07.. Didnt know that about the UAC, thanks that may fix my problem right there.

 

[nycxandy]

TVersity works like a charm.

 

[tatteredpotato]

For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

What tool do you use for that? And will it batch convert many files at once?

This is a bit of a side note, but I just started streaming video to my 360 a few days ago and I'm extremely disappointed with the speed at which thumbnails load. When I enter a folder with many xvid video files (episodes of a TV series), it takes about 5 seconds for each thumbnail to show up. I don't remember the exact grid, but it's about 4x4 so there's 16 icons on the screen 16x5=80 seconds to load the darn page. God forbid I have to scroll down!

My Media Center XP host computer is not slow and says that plenty of resources are available. I thought the simplest solution would be to change the view options so that only text and no thumbnails are displayed, but I can't find an option for this ridiculously basic feature. (MADNESS!)

Once the videos start streaming they've been A-OK. Everything works great with no skips or problems so I really don't think it's a network issue.

Any ideas? Input greatly appreciated.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

h.264? Does the xbox take h.264 .avi streaming? I've been converting my stuff to WMV VC-1. Either way the quality is sure to be good. I just hate re-compressing already compressed files. The optimal solution (native support for all the codecs) will unfortunately never happen I'm sure.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

What tool do you use for that? And will it batch convert many files at once?

This is a bit of a side note, but I just started streaming video to my 360 a few days ago and I'm extremely disappointed with the speed at which thumbnails load. When I enter a folder with many xvid video files (episodes of a TV series), it takes about 5 seconds for each thumbnail to show up. I don't remember the exact grid, but it's about 4x4 so there's 16 icons on the screen 16x5=80 seconds to load the darn page. God forbid I have to scroll down!

My Media Center XP host computer is not slow and says that plenty of resources are available. I thought the simplest solution would be to change the view options so that only text and no thumbnails are displayed, but I can't find an option for this ridiculously basic feature. (MADNESS!)

Once the videos start streaming they've been A-OK. Everything works great with no skips or problems so I really don't think it's a network issue.

Any ideas? Input greatly appreciated.

This is only true for me the first time I go into the folder. If I let all the icons render that first time, I never seem to have the same problem again.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: CKDragon

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

What tool do you use for that? And will it batch convert many files at once?

This is a bit of a side note, but I just started streaming video to my 360 a few days ago and I'm extremely disappointed with the speed at which thumbnails load. When I enter a folder with many xvid video files (episodes of a TV series), it takes about 5 seconds for each thumbnail to show up. I don't remember the exact grid, but it's about 4x4 so there's 16 icons on the screen 16x5=80 seconds to load the darn page. God forbid I have to scroll down!

My Media Center XP host computer is not slow and says that plenty of resources are available. I thought the simplest solution would be to change the view options so that only text and no thumbnails are displayed, but I can't find an option for this ridiculously basic feature. (MADNESS!)

Once the videos start streaming they've been A-OK. Everything works great with no skips or problems so I really don't think it's a network issue.

Any ideas? Input greatly appreciated.

I used MeGUI to do the converting, and yes it does allows you to queue up a lot of jobs, although I think you have to add each video individually.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
For higher quality videos that can't be transcoded on the fly, I just covert the files in my library to h.264.

h.264? Does the xbox take h.264 .avi streaming? I've been converting my stuff to WMV VC-1. Either way the quality is sure to be good. I just hate re-compressing already compressed files. The optimal solution (native support for all the codecs) will unfortunately never happen I'm sure.

The 360 takes h.264 and Mpeg4 codecs since the last dash update, although it's a little picky about the files. The encoder has to be configured correctly or the file won't play on a 360.

 

[Yreka]

Ok, well I got Transcode to load finally disabling the UAC*thanks Pete*.. I uninstalled and re-installed the current version as a service.. It loads up ok, I have my buffer folders in MC, as well as the "Transcode" option in the "More" menu. Problem is, whatever movie I try and "Transcode" on the 360 I get the "Cannot find file to play this video" error.

The movies play fine on my PC, so it seems like the codecs are ok.. Its just not being sent over to the XBox.. Going to tinker with it abit more tonight before abandoing it and trying my luck with Tversity.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: nycxandy
TVersity works like a charm.

I have been wanting to try this out. I got transcode360 to work except that I cannot stand that skip that it does. Would you be willing to write up or link some easy to follow instructions on how to get TVersity installed and working on a Vista Home Premium box?

 

[indamixx99]

I had issues playing Divx on my 360 via TVersity and Vista. Turns out the codecs built into Vista weren't compatible with the 360. After downloading the ffdshow codec pack, everything worked fine. Give that a try.

 

[austin316]

can any of the programs play .iso rips of dvds yet?