Newbie Question about Serviio

Hello Guys,

I'm looking for a Server app service to stream my video files to my Roku.

My preferences are these:

Want to play the videos in its native resolution (most are 1080p or 720p for the moment, any video format most are in MKV container)
Want the audio to be played as in native format of the file (play DD+ when the file is DD+ or DTS when it is DTS od DTS-MA when it is.
Want to use subtitles (they can be contained in the MKV video files or the could be external srt. subtitle file.

Right now the files are in an external hard disk connected to my PC that is running as the Serviio Media Player.

What do I have to do to get all these three conditions?

Changing the Ruku is an acceptable option for me- please suggest a reasonably priced device that will help me get what I want if that is what is needed to be done.
I have an Xbox360 that I never use and have never used it as a media player.
Also, have a Patriot Box Office Media Player crossed flashed with AC Ryan firmware but I have never been able to connect it to the network - I use it directly connecting a hard drive


Thanks.

[atc98092]

The Roku will not output native resolution. Whatever you have the Roku resolution set at, (normally the same resolution as the TV), that's what it will output. The Roku will upscale SD or 720 to 1080 or higher, depending on your TV and the model Roku you have. Also, the Roku will not output lossless audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD). It will bitstream out DD, DTS and DD+ via HDMI. Also, Roku players are less than perfect with captions. It cannot display embedded image captions, like what DVD and BD discs contain. It will display embedded EIA-608 captions, which usually is from recorded TV media. It's hit and miss with SRT files. Also, Roku supports a limited number of codecs and containers, so transcoding is required for all non-supported media.

While not inexpensive, the Nvidia Shield will do almost all of what you are asking. It's more complicated to set up, but it will output native resolution from Kodi or MrMC with the proper whitelisting. But be aware that even it will upscale SD material.

I'm not familiar with the XBox, so can't say what it might be capable of. The Roku is a great player, but only when the media is within their supported sphere. If you're OK with trancoding, then the Roku is an inexpensive player that's easy to use. But you have to accept its limitations. The Shield does (almost) everything without requiring transcoding. Its two main shortcomings are no Dolby Vision support, and it doesn't support YouTube HDR. But that's about it for limitations. But it's almost twice the cost of the most expensive Roku.

The Amazon Fire TV has most of the same limitations as the Roku, and it's the only other low cost player I can think of. There are many Android clone boxes available on the Internet, and these will run Kodi just like the Shield. But you have the same limitation about SD video being upscaled. I don't think there's any player on the market that completely meets your listed criteria.

Thanks a lot for your answer atc98092.
I guess I'm ok with the upscaling of lower resolution video files but what I would prefer is that the subtitles work fine when playing files from the network.

How do I set the Serviio App in my PC so that most subtitles work?
If when a hard disk is directly connected to the Roku I get DTS sound why can I get the same when playing the file through the network?

[atc98092]

Thanks a lot for your answer atc98092.
I guess I'm ok with the upscaling of lower resolution video files but what I would prefer is that the subtitles work fine when playing files from the network.

How do I set the Serviio App in my PC so that most subtitles work?
If when a hard disk is directly connected to the Roku I get DTS sound why can I get the same when playing the file through the network?

A normal, standard Serviio install will provide whatever captions are available. It's up to the player, in this case the Roku, to actually display the captions. And Roku doesn't do that very well. In my experience it's hit or miss if captions will appear. Or by Serviio app do you mean the MediaBrowser?

Check your Serviio console, and look for a checkbox that says something like downmix to stereo. I'm not at home, can can't quote exactly where it is or how it's labeled. But if that is checked, you won't get 5.1 audio. And of course the Roku has to be connected via HDMI to something that supports DTS. Most TVs don't, so connecting to an AVR is the most reliable way to get 5.1 DTS and DD.