As I don't see much of a discussion on this....
I got the A7 not only for its power ( which it does everything 3d wise crazy good ) but also for its video/hdmi...thing is I can not seem to get videos working nicely with this unit.
Ive tried 480p and 720p videos in both mp4, mkv and avi containers at varying encodings ( xvid, h246, ect ) and all of which either "chop" or just are waaay too slow to be considered playable.
I've tried Vplayer, arcMedia, Rockbaseplayer, imbedded player.... running out of things to try to get videos nicely working on this thing...
Sad...as it has a nice HDMI port...
Anyone tried to get videos working on this and if so have you gotten better results?
Thanks
yes MP4, AVI & MKV does work but the h264 codec that's used for the video must be in baseline or main profile level. It does not support High profile. I realized this when my own encodings did not work.
n some ways this is sort of silly as High profile would give you the best encoding option for 1080p/720p videos
What's siller is that the A7 does read NTFS (as far as I can tell) so having a full lenght 720p or 1080p is really sort of tough with a 4GB limit. To get good qaulity for a 2 hour 1080p movie you are definitely going to go over the 4GB limit
rolexconfuse said:
yes MP4, AVI & MKV does work but the h264 codec that's used for the video must be in baseline or main profile level. It does not support High profile. I realized this when my own encodings did not work.
n some ways this is sort of silly as High profile would give you the best encoding option for 1080p/720p videos
What's siller is that the A7 does read NTFS (as far as I can tell) so having a full lenght 720p or 1080p is really sort of tough with a 4GB limit. To get good qaulity for a 2 hour 1080p movie you are definitely going to go over the 4GB limit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any way you can do a quick sample of a video? of both 720p and 1080p?
I'm curious as I may return it if I don't get the quality I'm looking for over hdmi...
Thanks for the quick response and much is appreciated.
Cheers
I just got my A7 and I've been playing with the video a little.
I used Nero Recode to encode to the target of 720 Main Profile (3.1 CABAC 2 Ref Frames) AAC LC 192mbps. It actually worked! I'm not saying it was great, but I don't know of any mobile device that supports CABAC @ 720p (It crushes older PCs and that tablet that starts with an "i"). I may turn it off and try again.
I agree that 1080p is going to be hard if not impossible to wedge into 4GB. I would question why you would even try it. 720p looks really good unless you plan on projecting it.
Anyway, I plan on playing with MP4 and probably WMV. I was really suprised that I couldn't get either a .ts or .m2ts file to play. These are generally easier to decode because the container is less complex than .mkv or .mp4. I may try the PS3 trick and rename it to .mpg to see if it plays.
-----
Just played a 720p (1280 x 528) WMV (VC1/WMA Pro) flawlessly. I'll cook up a 1080p one today. VC1 doesn't do as well at low bitrates as H264, but it's easier to decode.
A couple issues I noticed:
1. Connecting the HDMI Port sometimes kills the touch screen. Putting the unit into standby seems to recover
2. The volume affects the sound level on HDMI, so make sure it's cranked (weird)
3. I could only get 2 channel out from WMA Pro 5.1. I'll have to try something with AC3/AAC. I'm guess it will have the same issues.
4. I couldn't get audio on my old TV (It is kind of a POS). Audio worked via my receiver.
dburckh said:
I just got my A7 and I've been playing with the video a little.
I used Nero Recode to encode to the target of 720 Main Profile (3.1 CABAC 2 Ref Frames) AAC LC 192mbps. It actually worked! I'm not saying it was great, but I don't know of any mobile device that supports CABAC @ 720p (It crushes older PCs and that tablet that starts with an "i"). I may turn it off and try again.
I agree that 1080p is going to be hard if not impossible to wedge into 4GB. I would question why you would even try it. 720p looks really good unless you plan on projecting it.
Anyway, I plan on playing with MP4 and probably WMV. I was really suprised that I couldn't get either a .ts or .m2ts file to play. These are generally easier to decode because the container is less complex than .mkv or .mp4. I may try the PS3 trick and rename it to .mpg to see if it plays.
-----
Just played a 720p (1280 x 528) WMV (VC1/WMA Pro) flawlessly. I'll cook up a 1080p one today. VC1 doesn't do as well at low bitrates as H264, but it's easier to decode.
A couple issues I noticed:
1. Connecting the HDMI Port sometimes kills the touch screen. Putting the unit into standby seems to recover
2. The volume affects the sound level on HDMI, so make sure it's cranked (weird)
3. I could only get 2 channel out from WMA Pro 5.1. I'll have to try something with AC3/AAC. I'm guess it will have the same issues.
4. I couldn't get audio on my old TV (It is kind of a POS). Audio worked via my receiver.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With main profile you should be able to go up higher than 3.1. As for encoding 1080p well, if I or my friends have a 1080P TV why not? (lol). 720p is fine but since it does do 1080p why not use it. I have to say 4 GB could be tight for a long movie even at 720p, imagine doing LOTR at 720p? Honestly it's probaly going to be great for TV shows or really short movies. As for why I would want 720p or 1080p on this thing? It's so I can watch it on my big screen or at my friends big screen. Would be pointless to view it on the built in screen as it's only 800x480
I love my Archos 70 IT, and I'm really impressed by the great multimedia players Archos included. I've been using the video function to browse my local network for SMB shares - I have a 1.5TB NAS storage appliance loaded with TV shows, music and movies. I open the NAS over SMB and can stream videos great. However, a lot of my library is in 720p quality. These files play fine for about 1 minute, then get very choppy.
I haven't yet attempted to copy a 720p video to the Archos locally to see if it will play smoothly. I suspect it will, since it plays just fine for a minute or more in most cases. I think the network buffer is running low. If I pause the video for 5 seconds then resume, it plays smoothly for a few more seconds before getting choppy again. But pausing it for longer doesn't seem to help any more.
I don't see any options in the app to change the buffer length or anything like that. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can improve hi-res network video playback?
Note: I'm using an 802.11g wireless network with the Archos about 5 feet from the WAP. No signal strength issues.
Even with a regular PC or laptop, it's kind of iffy for me to stream 720P consistently. While in theory, a WiFi G connection is supposed to be 54 Mbps, in reality, it's often a lot lower due to interference from other WiFi radios. Where I live there are a dozen WiFi radios that show up when I do a scan. What's amazing is that one or two of them are stronger than my wireless router a few feet away. Who are these people?!
Bye.
Ha, thanks for the response. I can definitely stream 720p to my laptop successfully. The radio in the Archos might not be able to keep up though. Dunno. In any case, some sort of buffer options would help!
sprocket87 said:
I love my Archos 70 IT, and I'm really impressed by the great multimedia players Archos included. I've been using the video function to browse my local network for SMB shares - I have a 1.5TB NAS storage appliance loaded with TV shows, music and movies. I open the NAS over SMB and can stream videos great. However, a lot of my library is in 720p quality. These files play fine for about 1 minute, then get very choppy.
I haven't yet attempted to copy a 720p video to the Archos locally to see if it will play smoothly. I suspect it will, since it plays just fine for a minute or more in most cases. I think the network buffer is running low. If I pause the video for 5 seconds then resume, it plays smoothly for a few more seconds before getting choppy again. But pausing it for longer doesn't seem to help any more.
I don't see any options in the app to change the buffer length or anything like that. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can improve hi-res network video playback?
Note: I'm using an 802.11g wireless network with the Archos about 5 feet from the WAP. No signal strength issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that it plays ok at first, then gets choppy indicates that you're playing through the contents of the buffer faster than it can be replenished by the network stream. A bigger buffer would make it play longer, but it would still run out. Picture a bucket with a hole in it. If you don't fill it faster than it drains out the hole, it will eventually be empty, no matter how big the bucket. Pausing is like putting your finger in the hole. It lets it refill, but it can only get so full. Pull out you finger and it starts draining again. The only solution is a bigger hose or a smaller hole
I too get the choppiness when streaming via smb. But I have put a 6gb 720p movie on my A70S, and it too gets choppy. This was with 2.1.4. AND with the newer 2.1.8. so then I fully restored the device to increase the swap file, and it's not any better. Now im rooted using archangel, and used setcpu to keep the cpu maxed, but not any better than it was.
btw, i used the archos video splitter app to get such a big file on there.
Even 1.5gb 720p cartoons act up, i get the video falling behind when there is alot of motion. I'm hopeful it will get better!
creationblur said:
I too get the choppiness when streaming via smb. But I have put a 6gb 720p movie on my A70S, and it too gets choppy. This was with 2.1.4. AND with the newer 2.1.8. so then I fully restored the device to increase the swap file, and it's not any better. Now im rooted using archangel, and used setcpu to keep the cpu maxed, but not any better than it was.
btw, i used the archos video splitter app to get such a big file on there.
Even 1.5gb 720p cartoons act up, i get the video falling behind when there is alot of motion. I'm hopeful it will get better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you put the movie on your SD card? How fast is your SD card? Try moving it to internal memory and playing it from there.
Yes, i forgot to mention that. I tried it first on the SD card, still crap. Put it on the internal memory, still just as bad. I did think that doing so would fix it, but, no dice. unfortunately.
Of course you should be able to play a 720P video from inside your Archos cleanly. By any chance is the video encoded at a high bit rate, like maybe 10 Mbps? I have a bunch of videos I can play fine on mine, however, I encoded them at maybe 2 - 4 Mbps. The specs for your Archos says:
Video Playback1 • MPEG-42 HD (up to 720p, 30 [email protected])
• MPEG-42 ([email protected] AVI, up to DVD resolution, 30 [email protected])
• H.264 HD ([email protected] up to 720p, 30 [email protected])
• WMV9/VC1 (AP up to 720p 30 [email protected])
• M-JPEG (Motion JPEG Video) in VGA resolution
With optional plug-in (downloadable on www.archos.com):
• Cinema: MPEG-2 (up to DVD resolution MP/D1, 30 [email protected] Mbps)
With the above codecs, the device can play video files with the following extensions: AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, 3GP
Are you well within these requirements? A PC or laptop can usually go way past this.
Bye.
One of the files is 720p avc1 dts at 6425 Mbps, and 4.38 gb. I'll have to check the other files when I get home. But that's not too high quality is it?
No, but if these are Animes the chance is high that they are encoded with "to many" b-frames.
The Archos allows [email protected] most new HD Animes are encoded as [email protected] which has way to many B-Frames for the small buffer on the DSP.
I think you are pushing it on the bit rate. I have tried encoding at various bit rates and quite frankly, encoding at 2 Mbps is good enough visually on an A101. I suggest Handbrake to re-encode down to 2 - 4 Mbps.
Bye.
creationblur said:
One of the files is 720p avc1 dts at 6425 Mbps, and 4.38 gb. I'll have to check the other files when I get home. But that's not too high quality is it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, but we shouldn't have to, ya know!?!
You read my answer?
And if grandma had wheels she'd be a streetcar.
Handbrake is my friend.
Bye.
creationblur said:
I agree, but we shouldn't have to, ya know!?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes yes, I did. BUT...
And wasn't the new firmware supposed to make these higher profile files play better??
wish in one hand....
No.
The decoding of highbitrate files within the specs is better now.
"One of the files is 720p avc1 dts at 6425 Mbps, and 4.38 gb."
avc1 == H.264 and if you look into the specs, there it says -> H.264 HD ([email protected] up to 720p, 30 [email protected])
So you are allready above what the DSP ( the VideoCoProcessor in the Chip ) can handle.
And then normally these type of files have variable bitrate and can go up to 20MBit.
And if then these files have more then the allowed 5 B-Frames the dsp just pukes.
So did anything ever come of this?
I'm having the same issue with the latest firmware (2.3.20).
Being able to increase the buffer and waiting a few minutes before watching something would be a whole lot better than copying the entire thing or just sticking to SD.
Hi,
I have been trying to watch videos streamed from my PC to my tablet but so far I have had little success...
I am using MX Player Pro to watch videos and ES Explorer to access my PC contents. I have no problems with opening any files including videos and streaming of small files (~300MB movies) works perfectly. The problem is - I would like to watch my Blu-Ray and DVD rips, which are 10GB +. Alas, in this case, it buffers 1 second of movie per 20 seconds in real life. It is unwatchable.
So, the question is - how I could I speed it up? The signal is full (I run the tests with PC and Nexus next to my router, Netgear), the PC has all other connections turned off (mail/browser, antivirus updates etc. all turned off) though it shows the connection speed of only ~80-120Mbps. I guess I am lacking ideas...
Thank you for help,
Theriel
theriel said:
Hi,
I have been trying to watch videos streamed from my PC to my tablet but so far I have had little success...
I am using MX Player Pro to watch videos and ES Explorer to access my PC contents. I have no problems with opening any files including videos and streaming of small files (~300MB movies) works perfectly. The problem is - I would like to watch my Blu-Ray and DVD rips, which are 10GB +. Alas, in this case, it buffers 1 second of movie per 20 seconds in real life. It is unwatchable.
So, the question is - how I could I speed it up? The signal is full (I run the tests with PC and Nexus next to my router, Netgear), the PC has all other connections turned off (mail/browser, antivirus updates etc. all turned off) though it shows the connection speed of only ~80-120Mbps. I guess I am lacking ideas...
Thank you for help,
Theriel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are your computer connected through wireless? If streaming BR movies you need a lot of bandwith which maybe you won't get if you have a bad wifi connection.
theriel said:
Hi,
I have been trying to watch videos streamed from my PC to my tablet but so far I have had little success...
I am using MX Player Pro to watch videos and ES Explorer to access my PC contents. I have no problems with opening any files including videos and streaming of small files (~300MB movies) works perfectly. The problem is - I would like to watch my Blu-Ray and DVD rips, which are 10GB +. Alas, in this case, it buffers 1 second of movie per 20 seconds in real life. It is unwatchable.
So, the question is - how I could I speed it up? The signal is full (I run the tests with PC and Nexus next to my router, Netgear), the PC has all other connections turned off (mail/browser, antivirus updates etc. all turned off) though it shows the connection speed of only ~80-120Mbps. I guess I am lacking ideas...
Thank you for help,
Theriel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried VLC player? Don't know if it will help with your problem. I'll be getting my N10 tonight, so I'll be checking on that aspect of it for sure.
hi, i am running my netgear readynas for music and videos. everything works fine with samsung TV, ps3, xbox, asus transformer but when i try and use it to play music with my s4 using the samsung music player it finds it under nearby devices but only finds one file thats actually not even a music file, its a video mp4 calibration file.
any ideas whats happening, same thing happens on my tab 3 8" too.
Hi guys,
finally some weeks ago Nexus Player was officialy released in my country (Italy): low price and official Nexus product suggest me to turn it into my personal media center. I'm using an old i3 notebook running Kodi, but i prefer something more compact, less loudly and with a dedicated remote: Nexus Player seems to have all these features, but searching on the net i'm not sure if it can play H265 smoothly.
Tipically all my media files are on a hd connected to my router and trough samba Kodi search on it: 99% of my files are 720P X265 (tv-show), 1% 1080p X265.
I don't care about 4k.
Someone can confirm that 720P/1080P x265 are smooth on Kodi-Nexus Player?
Thank you so much, sorry for my bad english
BYE!!!
Yes, I am able to stream to kodi and plex 1080p X265 files without issue. Even my larger (+10gb) files stream without buffering. That said, my NP is 5 feet from my router, so there's no interference.
Very good, i have tv on the same room of my router, so no interferences in my case too
Thank you metaljr81, can you tell me what have you installed?
Kodi X86 or ARM? Stock Rom? some tricks?
THanks!!
You need the x86 builds of kodi. I'd recommend joining the Kodi Alpha testing community to get the latest. Or you can do the nightlies from kodi.tv if you prefer the manual method.
CM12.1 here, but not necessary for kodi unless you use external storage for your NP.
Add fusion.tvaddons.ag to your file manager sources for all the good add-ons.
quality
metaljr81 said:
Yes, I am able to stream to kodi and plex 1080p X265 files without issue. Even my larger (+10gb) files stream without buffering. That said, my NP is 5 feet from my router, so there's no interference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are these files you've downloaded in x265 or ones you've converted yourself? only ask because when I try HEVC files on my nexus player, it shows some pretty nasty artifacting that i don't see on my laptop or desktop. as far as I've seen, the nexus player has to SW decode, so router proximity shouldn't affect the playback on small files should it?