OK, it's time for a media server...

seriousrikk

seriousrikk

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So, it seems I now have a fair amount of digital media. I also have a few ways dotted round the house that I can play digital media (PS3, DNLA hifi, computer in the garage, android tablet... you get the picture).

What I don't have is a decent way of storing and streaming it.

The PS3 is my primary movie player - it's already got bluray covered but doesn't play all formats. Currently I use my desktop for transcoding using ps3 media server. But I'd rather not. So my chosen solution should either be able to transcode nicely at full HD.

I'm pretty settled on using a linux OS and have been looking at the twonky products on recommendation - so really I'm after some ideas on the most suitable hardware. It's got to run 24/7 so low power draw and noise is a must - less fans the better because I really dislike cleaning dust out of stuff.

Budget - well I'm kinda looking at coming in under £300 but can stretch if the right solution is more.

What do folk use?
 
neil_g said:
I started a thread recently for people to show their setup if that helps
Click to expand...

Thanks, found it now so will have a red through

ozbuoy said:
I use this as my file server http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-ProLia...9?pt=UK_Computing_Servers&hash=item27dd2fc073
it has been working perfectly over the past 2.5 years and is running Home Server 2011. I use it to stream my data to both a PS3 and WD Media Player.
Click to expand...

Cool, i've been looking at the HP microservers - do the have the required grunt for transcoding full HD?
 
RichardtheSane said:
do the have the required grunt for transcoding full HD?
Click to expand...
To what? Likely not in real time on the microservers - at least, not at any acceptable quality. Have to say I do no transcoding (other than any initial rip) and have my media stored in a format that all devices can play and mapped via a windows share. I *don't* like DLNA servers and would rather put a box under the TV that doesn't constrain the formats I can play. Most things these days will play full HD H.264 and often you just need to change the media container format, not a full transcode - you need to define what you want to go from/to (and how many in parallel) before you can spec. the CPU.
 
I use a micro server with twonky for DLNA (only ps3 and TVs use DLNA) and iTunes for Apple TV.

Twonky is setup to monitor iTunes and serves up the same files
 
I've got a N40L (not a huge amount of difference) and it struggles to transcode.

Do you really need transcoding though? Streaming from a network share (to PC, iPad via plex and WDTV) is perfect though.

Edit - plex is struggling too on some higher bitrate content.
 
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Thanks folks.

The transcode is for the PS3 as it doesn't play my MKV files natively.

Although, if the right unit were available then I would just pop it under the tv and play out through HDMI - but it would still need be my media server for other devices
 
RichardtheSane said:
The transcode is for the PS3 as it doesn't play my MKV files natively.
Click to expand...
In which case, you are remuxing not transcoding (mkv->mp4 without touching the contents). This is far less work - although I'm not sure if you need to recode audio - not sure what audio formats you have or the PS3 supports. WDTV seems to be the cheapest and most reliable streaming box (ask Neil - he has one). The alternative is a mini PC under the TV running something like xbmc (which can be completely silent - I have 4 here).
 
No complaints about the wdtv, plays everything I've thrown at it.

Only niggle is that if you reboot the storage it insists on rescanning everything. Bit of a pain if you have a large library.
 
I use my Synology for transcoding to my PS3 as well as serving to the various Android/iOS devices around the house, couldn't be happier!

DS214 Play is on good deals around the web now...
 
Thankyou folks.
I've just looked up the WDTV live. While it is not a fully fledged media server, it does look like a superb device if I rethink my strategy.

So, WDTV as a player alongside my ps3 for digital media. Then still build myself a media server but a lower spec machine purely for, well, serving media. Works out pretty cheap too.
 
Yup. Make the playback devices fit the media you have, not the other way around ;)
 
If its MKV why not use iTunes and an apple TV? I use a PS3 for divx and apple tv for mkv/mp4
 
Doh! I was thinking of mpv
 
Dale_tem said:
If its MKV why not use iTunes and an apple TV? I use a PS3 for divx and apple tv for mkv/mp4
Click to expand...

Because I would have to use iTunes... ;)

Sure it's good for some folk though, but not me. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
I'm switching over as although I don't love it, I'm fed up of films not working across all devices with DLNA and movies in iTunes work on whatever device I watch them on.
 
neil_g said:
as long as its in an apple friendly format :)
Click to expand...
Apple: the Ford of modern day computing - you can have any colo(u)r as long as it's black...
 
neil_g said:
as long as its in an apple friendly format :)
Click to expand...

As opposed to. DLNA friendly format that works on 4 out of 6 devices, or the other format that works on 5 but only stereo, not surround sound. The unstandardised DLNA standard has p***ed me off too much over the years with about 20 different devices. The PS3 is the best player, but due to fan noise and size is not bedroom friendly.

Airport express are by far the best music solution and the Apple TV is faultless for netflix (best interface using the iPad/phone) and playing films from server.

I've got to re-encode about 100 films, but it will be worth it in the end. A system that works and is easy enough for the wife to understand. Also the browsing of thumbnails will be nice, not had that since I replaced XBMC with the ps3.
 
Dale_tem said:
not had that since I replaced XBMC with the ps3.
Click to expand...
And there's your problem............

Just build a small PC and run xbmc. Plays ANYTHING (even 10bit if you have a powerful enough CPU). My latest build is this: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/new-htpc-build-log.518621/ OK, not the chepatest system, but will play anything, output any audio format (I think) and is basically silent. Just plays files off windows shares, no transcode, no recode, no audio fiddling..... You could definitely build it cheaper (although I wouldn't go lower than an i3 - I'm doing all decode in software as latest Intel Linux drivers leave a bit to be desired). Controlled by one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220839268649?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 and simple so anyone can use it (and they do).
 
I'll stick to my £99 Apple TV.

I really don't like Apple, but it works really well, wife loves it, airplay, display mirroring etc.

Tried a small PC under PC and we didn't get on with it. I'm away with work quite a bit and it needs to be as simple as possible and PC, DLNA etc aren't simple.
 
I've not had any file compatibility issues with dnla and mkv (from a synology box, different story with the micro server but I think it lacks a bit of transcoding power) to windows or iOS.
 
Started off with the Linksys Slug running Twonky, but had 0 CPU power, then moved to an old dell server (Celeron) then to a new Dell server (i3, 16Gb RAM). The issue has been with different players. If you use DLNA, standardise on 1 player, ie have a WDTV in each room. We have 2 smart TVs, the PS3 and the bluray to play films on. All but 1 film play on the PS3, the rest are hit and miss, depending on where I got the film from/how I ripped it.
 
My Synology streams all of my media, no problems, 100% reliable and to multiple destinations. The remote access is also amazing and this is by far the best investment I have made to simplify media access in the house.
 
Dale_tem said:
and PC, DLNA etc aren't simple.
Click to expand...
No one mentioned DLNA - I use SMB.... And I defy you to even identify the boxes I have under my TVs as PCs...

But no matter... I guess you'll be busy for the next few weeks Lowest Common Denominator recoding.... ;)
 
I will be perfectly happy due to simplicity :)
 
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