Roku Profile Needed - Now Supports DLNA

[npuser]

http://sdkdocs.roku.com/display/sdkdoc/Encoding+Guide#EncodingGuide-22LiveandVOD
Streaming using HLS/ISM in mp4 container supported but serviio won't support mp4 container just yet.

There is an official Plex Roku DNLA profile written by Roku staff in plex. May be we can use this as a pointer to create a roku dlna profile.

NPuser


WARNING - THIS IS NOT SERVIIO PROFILE. DO NOT COPY AND PASTE

  Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Client name="RokuDLNA-5.1">
  <!-- Roku Network Streaming Player -->
  <!-- Author: Dale Luck, Roku, Inc. -->
  <!-- Version: 1.0.0.4 2013/12/04 YMD -->
  <Identification>
    <Header name="User-Agent" substring="Roku/DVP-5." />
  </Identification>
  <TranscodeTargets>
    <VideoProfile container="mpegts" audioCodec="aac" codec="h264" />
    <MusicProfile container="mp3" codec="mp3" />
    <PhotoProfile container="jpeg" />
  </TranscodeTargets>
  <DirectPlayProfiles>
    <VideoProfile container="mpegts" codec="h264" audioCodec="aac,mp3,mp2,pcm" />
    <VideoProfile container="mp4" codec="h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="aac,mp3,mp2,pcm" />
    <VideoProfile container="mov" codec="h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="aac,mp3,mp2,pcm" />
    <VideoProfile container="mpeg" codec="h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="aac,mp3,mp2,pcm"  />
    <VideoProfile container="mkv" codec="h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="aac,mp3,mp2,pcm,flac" />
    <MusicProfile container="mp3" codec="mp2,mp3" />
    <MusicProfile container="mp4" codec="aac" />
    <MusicProfile container="flac" codec="flac" />
    <MusicProfile container="asf" codec="wmav2,wmapro,wmavoice" />
    <MusicProfile container="wav" codec="pcm" />
    <PhotoProfile container="jpeg,png,gif" />
  </DirectPlayProfiles>
  <CodecProfiles>
    <VideoCodec name="*">
      <Limitations>
        <UpperBound name="video.width" value="1920" />
        <UpperBound name="video.height" value="1080" />
        <UpperBound name="video.bitrate" value="12000" />
      </Limitations>
    </VideoCodec>
    <VideoAudioCodec name="*">
      <Limitations>
        <UpperBound name="audio.channels" value="2" />
      </Limitations>
    </VideoAudioCodec>
  </CodecProfiles>
  <ContainerProfiles>
<PhotoContainer name="*">
   <Limitations>
     <UpperBound name="media.width" value="1280" />
     <UpperBound name="media.height" value="720" />
   </Limitations>
      </PhotoContainer>
  </ContainerProfiles>
</Client>


The most reliable profile is "Windows 8/RT".
I have tried all of the profiles, this one supports mp4, mp3 and jpg. Online sources are also recognised by this profile, no other profile recognise online sources.
However the online sources are faulty and are constantly disconnecting or not streaming correctly within a few seconds, I do not think it is a connection error as these streams work flawlessly on a Panasonic TV using the same Serviio network/internet connection.

mkv files are recognised and do attempt to play and then freeze after a few seconds.
avi files do not appear at all so they obviously do not play.

In the log I found this after the Roku refused to play an online stream after a few seconds.
2014-01-03 11:39:04,974 WARN [GETMethodProcessor] A range header was found on the incoming request for a live stream, sending back the whole stream

[atc98092]

...
For the record, Roku does not support MKV files natively. Here is what is supported: http://sdkdocs.roku.com/display/sdkdoc/Encoding+Guide#EncodingGuide-25SupportedVideoFormats

I don't unsderstand, Marksuk said that mkv files play on his Roku (with generic profile and W8RT) ...

If that's true, that's a change from past performance. Roku has supported MKV via the USB port (I think), but never via streaming. Plex has to transcode them, and they have been streaming to Roku for quite some time.

I haven't had time to play with different profiles yet as he has, but I'll try to get to it this weekend. The link I provided only shows MP4, .mov, .m4v, HLS, m3u8 & .ts as supported containers, and the video is supposed to be H.264/AVC. Marksuk has also said that the MKVs don't seem to play very well, and freeze soon after starting.

The generic profile is supposed to not transcode anything, so that surprises me that it at least recognizes the files. When I select either the Chaneru profile, or try the profile above, MKV files don't even appear in the list. I'm also surprised the Windows 8 profile seems to work fairly well. I can't even make that profile work correctly on my Windows 8 phone!

Have to spend some more time experimenting, I guess.

[atc98092]

OK, I see what Marksuk was referring to. The Windows 8 profile and generic will show the MKV files, and begin to load, but then the Roku freezes. I let mine sit a minute and it rebooted itself. The WDTV profile will load the MKV and play, but audio only, no video. I've tried some others with the same result. I haven't found a single profile that will list all my video files, let alone play them. Even the profiles that would play the MKV audio didn't show every video. The most it will ever list is 21 movies, but this server has 140 on it. Many of the ones not showing are Windows recorded TV (.wtv) files from Windows Media Center. Both Plex and Chaneru can play them on the Roku, so I know the transcoding is possible.

I can't understand why the Chaneru profile doesn't work right, but we can't ask Jim to troubleshoot it, since Roku has come out with a free product that competes with his.

When viewing online streams it always eventually fails to stream and this message is in the log but only when using the Roku.

2014-01-04 13:45:04,117 WARN [GETMethodProcessor] A range header was found on the incoming request for a live stream, sending back the whole stream

[atc98092]

Roku support has posted on their forum that there is a bug dealing with transcoded HLS files, which is what we are attempting to use here. In fact, he said the bug was discovered using Serviio, so yeah us!

The bug has been fixed, and will be in the next update of the Roku Media Player. No official release date, but he feels it should be before the end of the month. I say we hold off on any additional attempts with profiles until the next release comes out.

Zip, perhaps it may be worth creating a sub-forum for Roku players. With this new functionality, I have a feeling there are going to be many more people discovering how wonderful Serviio can be!

[zip]

From the above Plex profile, it looks like they are transcoding to mpegts and not HLS. Anyone tried it? For example some of the Sony profiles should remix mkv/h264 to mpegts.

Another observation but online feeds all disappear if connecting by wireless connection. They all re-appear with a wired connection?
Using Windows 8/RT profile as this is the only profile which shows online sources at all.

All the online sources stutter and eventually crash out but could this be down to a slow connection?

[atc98092]

Another observation but online feeds all disappear if connecting by wireless connection. They all re-appear with a wired connection?
Using Windows 8/RT profile as this is the only profile which shows online sources at all.

All the online sources stutter and eventually crash out but could this be down to a slow connection?

I hadn't tried any online sources yet, so I went in right now. Even wired, I saw nothing until I changed to the Windows 8 profile. I went to Crackle, and found The Deep. I've started it, and so far is playing without problem. The picture looks DVD quality or better, so I see no issues with transcoding. Don't know if it means anything, but my network is gigabit and my Internet connection is 50Mbps DSL.

The applications on the Roku all work fine, the only problem is when viewing online sources through Roku Media Centre/Serviio.
There is no problem if using another source to view the online streams. This only happens on the Roku.

[DenyAll]

1. The Roku profile doesn't contain any Online specific transcoding instructions. Has anyone tried copying the Online Transcoding section from the Win8 profile (which seems to work based on the posts above) ie. copy:

  Code:

<OnlineTranscoding>
   <Video targetContainer="mpegts">
      <Matches container="mp4" />
      <Matches container="flv" vCodec="h264" />
      <Matches container="applehttp" vCodec="h264" />
   </Video>
</OnlineTranscoding>

and paste into the Roku profile (between the lines </Transcoding> and <AutomaticImageRotation>true</AutomaticImageRotation>).

2. Also, has anyone tried zip's suggestion to transcode to mpegts rather than to the applehttp container. If that works it will allow you to remux rather than transcode a lot of your stuff eg. try adding:

  Code:

<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="aac">
   <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264"/>
   <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264"/>
</Video>

into the Roku profile (directly below the line <Transcoding> ), and then try to stream a MP4 or MKV containing H264 video.

[atc98092]

1. The Roku profile doesn't contain any Online specific transcoding instructions. Has anyone tried copying the Online Transcoding section from the Win8 profile (which seems to work based on the posts above) ie. copy:

  Code:

<OnlineTranscoding>
   <Video targetContainer="mpegts">
      <Matches container="mp4" />
      <Matches container="flv" vCodec="h264" />
      <Matches container="applehttp" vCodec="h264" />
   </Video>
</OnlineTranscoding>

and paste into the Roku profile (between the lines </Transcoding> and <AutomaticImageRotation>true</AutomaticImageRotation>).

2. Also, has anyone tried zip's suggestion to transcode to mpegts rather than to the applehttp container. If that works it will allow you to remux rather than transcode a lot of your stuff eg. try adding:

  Code:

<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="aac">
   <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264"/>
   <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264"/>
</Video>

into the Roku profile (directly below the line <Transcoding> ), and then try to stream a MP4 or MKV containing H264 video.

I'll try to remember to try this tonight. As to your #2 above, would it be possible to only remux the video and leave the audio intact? All of my BluRay rips contain HD Audio, and I'm curious to see if the Roku can pass the bitstream to my receiver. If so, do we just have to not include the "targetACodec portion?

[DenyAll]

do we just have to not include the "targetACodec portion?

Correct.

[atc98092]

OK, I tried pasting the Online Transcoding section from the Windows 8 into the Roku section. While I can see my folder (Crackle) it didn't show any videos. If I change the console setting for the Roku to the Win 8 profile, I can play the videos with no issue. Impressive quality as well, I must say. Must be something additional in the Win 8 profile that needs to be copied as well.

For local transcoding, I can't see any video other than MP4, which plays natively. Can't test switching between applehttp and mpegts until Roku fixes the player.

I am looking forward to the next release of the Roku Media Player. It is supposed to have the HLS bug fixed, and that might just make it work for me. I've asked to be added to their beta test team. As of right now, Chaneru still beats the pants off of it. Plus, Chaneru has a metadata display with movie information. Of course, it doesn't always get the title right, but almost always is close, right?

[DenyAll]

Must be something additional in the Win 8 profile that needs to be copied as well.

Or something in the roku profile that needs to change. My guess is its something to do with the mime type translations - both profiles use them.

Probably best to compare translations for both and check for differences. Then its a matter of playing....

[atc98092]

Roku released a new version of their Media Player today. It now sees my MKV files, and I've been successful playing my SD videos. Having issues with HD videos, even if they are in MP4 format, which Roku supports natively.

Now on to the profile tweaking!

My connection speed has increased today from 6 Mbps to 12 Mbps and whether it is the internet speed or the application has been updated? then it now streams online video content with no problems at all. using the standard Windows8/RT profile.
It also streams mkv files now as mentioned in the earlier post.

This is all achieved using the standard Windows8/RT profile and using this Roku app

You can add it to your Roku here
http://streamfree.tv/apps/129/usb-media ... hread.html

The Roku is shown by the arrow.

[atc98092]

I've still been playing with the Roku profile this thread started with. I'm going to switch the profile to the Win 8 profile to see if it handles my HD files. Right now, that seems to be the one sticking point. All my SD videos seem to play fine (MKV, MP4, AVI, MPG and I think WMV), but it doesn't seem to handle any of my HD videos, regardless of container. Even a few HD MP4 videos, which play fine through Chaneru, never finish loading and play. I know the Win 8 profile plays online just fine, as I started a number of Crackle movies with no issues, and very satisfactory quality.

I also think Roku has some work to do with the user interface. It only shows title and length. It should at least show if a video is HD (since it will do so with so many other channels) and preferably use the metadata available from Serviio to display title information. Oh well, baby steps. At least they are finally supporting DLNA from the primary developers.

[atc98092]

I've still been playing with the Roku profile this thread started with. I'm going to switch the profile to the Win 8 profile to see if it handles my HD files. Right now, that seems to be the one sticking point. All my SD videos seem to play fine (MKV, MP4, AVI, MPG and I think WMV), but it doesn't seem to handle any of my HD videos, regardless of container. Even a few HD MP4 videos, which play fine through Chaneru, never finish loading and play. I know the Win 8 profile plays online just fine, as I started a number of Crackle movies with no issues, and very satisfactory quality.

OK, switched to the Win 8 profile. Back to square one, as only the MP4 files were visible. Switch back to the Roku profile, all video files are again visible. Plays all my SD files fine, but never seems to load the HD videos. Maybe I need to wait longer, but a long wait isn't necessary with Chaneru. Tried the Chaneru profile, no better than the Win 8 profile.

So, we need a combination of the Win 8 profile to handle online streaming, and the existing Roku profile for local files. I think the existing Roku profile is transcoding MP4, and that should not be necessary. I know the Roku (at least my 2 XS model) can handle some HD MP4 files with no issues. This profile is also maxing out my CPU during the transcoding. I worry that trying to stream more than one video at a time will result in unacceptable performance. There must be something that can be adjusted in the transcoding settings, because Chaneru can stream the same videos without pushing the CPU past peaks of 75%, averaging 50% or less.

Someone asked about changing the target format for transcoding from applehttp to mpegts. Gave it a try, no luck. The videos did not even appear in the player list, same as when I tried using the Win 8 profile. My guess is the Roku player will only recognize HLS and MP4 as containers, even though it handles the MPEG within the container with no issue.

The Internet connection speed has dropped to around 6 Mbps and online video is buffering again. On a Panasonic TV it does not buffer.