Streaming MPG (VOB) to the Xbox 360

[Acert93]

I got a NAS but I am having a small issue getting the Xbox 360 to see my DVDs. From the Media Blade on the Guide I can see some videos in the Video Library that are on my NAS. So far, so good. The ones I have tested or WMV.

I also "ripped" one of our movies (Horton Hears a Who; 3.2GB, not compressed) and have it in the NAS Video's folders (technically in its own sub-folder). All the PC's in the house can see the video (just the VOB renamed to *.MPG) but the Xbox says there is no video in this folder.

The following links outline the general procedure I used (exported the movie in DVD Shrink with no compression, changed the file extension). Seems pretty straight forward ... so what am I doing wrong? Any tips?

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/608979
http://www.gizmocafe.com/tv-video/stream-dvd-movies-to-xbox360.aspx
http://www.gizmocafe.com/tv-video/stream-dvd-movies-to-xbox360-ii.aspx

EDIT: If I rename the file as MP4 or VOB the Xbox can see it but cannot play it. As a MPG it doesn't seem to pick it up. I only have a netbook right now (I won't be buying anything from Dell and Nvidia again, you are your bumpgate crap-no-support no-warranty no-customer service garbage) so I don't want to transcode, and I don't want/need to compress.

 

[cal_guy]

In order to stream MPEG-2 files you have to use an Windows Media Center PC to stream to your Xbox 360 in Media Center mode.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Or some other application that can transcode and stream it.

Regards,
SB

 

[manux]

I would recommend ps3mediaserver. Despite it's name the software supports xbox360. PS3Mediaserver even supports .iso images for dvd playback.

http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/
http://ps3mediaserver.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3217

 

[NavNucST3]

I got a NAS but I am having a small issue getting the Xbox 360 to see my DVDs. From the Media Blade on the Guide I can see some videos in the Video Library that are on my NAS. So far, so good. The ones I have tested or WMV.

I also "ripped" one of our movies (Horton Hears a Who; 3.2GB, not compressed) and have it in the NAS Video's folders (technically in its own sub-folder). All the PC's in the house can see the video (just the VOB renamed to *.MPG) but the Xbox says there is no video in this folder.

The following links outline the general procedure I used (exported the movie in DVD Shrink with no compression, changed the file extension). Seems pretty straight forward ... so what am I doing wrong? Any tips?

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/608979
http://www.gizmocafe.com/tv-video/stream-dvd-movies-to-xbox360.aspx
http://www.gizmocafe.com/tv-video/stream-dvd-movies-to-xbox360-ii.aspx

EDIT: If I rename the file as MP4 or VOB the Xbox can see it but cannot play it. As a MPG it doesn't seem to pick it up. I only have a netbook right now (I won't be buying anything from Dell and Nvidia again, you are your bumpgate crap-no-support no-warranty no-customer service garbage) so I don't want to transcode, and I don't want/need to compress.

The 360 video player does not support all of the containers and codecs that the 360 as a Media Center Extender does. If you notice in your links the guide is using Media Center to stream the videos.

EDIT: I was hoping that the Copyright offices decision today would have led to a dashboard update but the language is clearly not for commercial DVDs.

 

[Acert93]

Thanks everyone. The next step will then be to get Windows Media Center to see my Synology NAS.

Got it to work, sweet!

Btw, if I was to encode videos, what is a good quality format that isn't too intensive on the PC CPU for encoding and will play without the Xbox WMC on the 360?

 

[eastmen]

Thanks everyone. The next step will then be to get Windows Media Center to see my Synology NAS.

Got it to work, sweet!

Btw, if I was to encode videos, what is a good quality format that isn't too intensive on the PC CPU for encoding and will play without the Xbox WMC on the 360?

I believe the h.264 or whatever will work fine in that set up and has the best compression / visual ratio out of all of them.

 

[Gerry]

Thanks everyone. The next step will then be to get Windows Media Center to see my Synology NAS.

Got it to work, sweet!

Btw, if I was to encode videos, what is a good quality format that isn't too intensive on the PC CPU for encoding and will play without the Xbox WMC on the 360?

How are you finding the Synology? Was thinking of getting a NAS myself and they're top of my list at the moment.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Thanks everyone. The next step will then be to get Windows Media Center to see my Synology NAS.

Got it to work, sweet!

Btw, if I was to encode videos, what is a good quality format that isn't too intensive on the PC CPU for encoding and will play without the Xbox WMC on the 360?

WMV VC-1 encoding should be fine. Then you won't have to bother with transcoding or any of that stuff to play it on the X360. It's also less taxing (CPU) than h.264 with similar quality and compression.

I believe Media Player in Win7 should have no problem ripping straight to WMV VC-1.

Regards,
SB

 

[Acert93]

WMV VC-1 encoding should be fine. Then you won't have to bother with transcoding or any of that stuff to play it on the X360. It's also less taxing (CPU) than h.264 with similar quality and compression.

I believe Media Player in Win7 should have no problem ripping straight to WMV VC-1.

Regards,
SB

I have Windows Media Player 12 on Win7 and don't see that option. I am a newb at this I have used DVDShrink and Super a handful of times ... but I could use some links on doing it the "right" way.

 

[Acert93]

How are you finding the Synology? Was thinking of getting a NAS myself and they're top of my list at the moment.

It is nice. I am sure if someone wanted to get their own box and do FreeNas or whatnot it could be better. But it is small, well designed, and quiet. The software is great + easy to use. It really has a ton of features. The update their software often (and it trickles down all old versions) and their forum is really active and helpful. I have a DS210j with 2x WD 1TB Green drives. My only real negative so far is that as I didn't get a Windows Home Server to do the Media Center stuff I *must* have my netbook on the network to get those features. Thus if I want to play an MPG I have to be home. I am finishing my degree and my netbook often goes with me to work so I can study after work, so that means the fam has no PC access, hence anything that requires WMC is a no go. A WHS would have avoided this. But then again I don't see much need for those features in general. The Synology has a ton of connectivity and format support and got right onto the network very easily.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Damn, only just noticed there were new posts in this thread and I've left you hanging for a few days now. Ooopsie.

Just checked and yeah you can't rip directly from WMP. I could swear you used to be able to, but maybe I'm confusing it with something else. I did do a quick search and there's a few applications that may be useful.

Windows Media Encoder by Microsoft (free). Looks like it's being phased out for Expression Encoder (free and paid versions)

MS page - http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Encoder4_Overview.aspx
Wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Encoder

Windows Media Encoder is what Anandtech uses for it's VC-1 encoding tests I think. I'm not sure if you can rip straight from DVD however. I think you may first have to rip it to another format.

This guide using AutoMKV will help automate the process of using WME 9 to rip from DVD to WMV (including VC-1). It also includes download links for everything you need.

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/259351-DVD-to-WMV-using-AutoMKV

Hope those help.

Regards,
SB