Panasonic Viera and Serviio

I was wondering if the functionality with adding subtitles in ffmpeg could be usable. When I attempted to create output file with below command
ffmpeg -i Californication.S04E05.720p.HDTV.x264-IMMERSE.mkv -vcodec copy -acodec copy CalifornicationS04E05.mkv -i Californication.S04E05.720p.HDTV.x264-IMMERSE.srt -scodec copy -slang pol -newsubtitle
I could play the output file with included subs.
But when I tried to use command which is the combination of the above one and that used in serviio
ffmpeg -i Californication.S04E05.720p.HDTV.x264-IMMERSE.mkv -y -vcodec copy -vbsf h264_mp4toannexb -copyts -acodec copy -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map 1:0 -f mpegts transcoding-temp-82-MPEG2TS.stf -i Californication.S04E05.720p.HDTV.x264-IMMERSE.srt -scodec copy -slang pol -newsubtitle
this output file was played without subtitles.
Am I right that the main reason is mpeg-ts format?

[zip]

Most likely. MKV can embed subs, I don't think MpegTS can.

Well, success with subtitle streams multiplexed in MPEG-TS was poor so far:

1. -copyts -scodec copy -slang ger (which effectively gives the original dvdsub format)
2. -copyts -scodec dvbsub -slang ger
3. pgssub stream using tsmuxer (which takes the srt as input)

The best results I had with #2, where
- ffplay displayed the subtitles (but did not erase them)
- Panasonic Viera recognized the subtitle track language "ger" in the OPTIONS menu, but still did not display anything

I would still love to get this working because MPEG-TS is the only container where Viera 2010 support a decent codec (x264).
But I am stuck.

- Panasonic Viera recognized the subtitle track language "ger" in the OPTIONS menu, but still did not display anything

I would still love to get this working because MPEG-TS is the only container where Viera 2010 support a decent codec (x264).
But I am stuck.

Me too, I've got the same issue with track language (pol) which appear in the OPTIONS menu but there is no subtitles on TV nor query for them on serviio log

Some progress on this issue. I found a transport stream which nicely displays pre-rendered subtitles on Viera (via Serviio):
http://streams.videolan.org/streams-videolan/ts/video_subs_ttxt+dvbsub.ts
You have to press the "STTL" key on your remote control to enable subtitles.

Now the question is, how to author such a thing.

Applying ffmpeg's "-scodec dvbsub" option to DVD VOB's I presently have the following situation:

vlc and ffplay display the subtitles in ugly very bold yellow (original is white) and do not clear them in time
Viera displays yellow garbage and does not clear it in time

Any other trials (-scodec copy or muxing an srt file) did not display anything.

This is with a 2-day old ffmpeg.

[Illico]

Thanks, I'll also check that on Sony Bravia TV and if its work, I could probably help you to find ffmpeg option.

Just to say I'm really impressed with Serviio - thanks.

It works much better than TwonkyServer 4 - actually serves up .m4a files to my TX Panasonic.

.AVI works fine to it, but not .mkv or .mp4 - is that a transcoding need?

All I'm doing is running on a Mac - haven't quite plucked up the courage to install on the Linux NAS yet.

Also, it's be really, really great if audio files would support the COMPOSER tag. Listeners to classical music care more about this than the performer.

Could that be done?
Thanks a lot.

[zip]

It probably could, create a ticket on bitbucket

I have a Panasonic Viera L32D25. I tried Twonky, Mezzmo, and WMP11 on my Vista PC. I found that I could play more video formats with Serviio and it used significantly fewer memory and CPU resources than the others I tried. It is also more configurable. So a big thankyou.

The single most annoying 'feature' of the Viera is its inability to FF or REW reliably. By 'reliably', I mean that the TV jumps out of the movie back to the movie list at random points while FF or REW. I'd seen some earlier postings about this subject and added a few lines to my profile in the Panasonic's transcoding block.

<Video targetContainer="mpegts">
<Matches container="mpegts" />
</Video>

<Video targetContainer="mpeg">
<Matches container="mpeg" />

This does allow the TV to FF and REW reliably but not very quickly (about 1 sec to jump 1 minute) but that is an improvement. While experimenting I was flicking from one mpeg movie to another. This really was extreme behaviour. I would not expect to behave like this normally. I noticed that the response times were getting worse and worse and some movies would no longer play. When I went to the PC, the disc was rattling away. A bit of investigation showed that there were lots (twenty or more) ffmpeg processes running. I presume they were busily transcoding the files that I had looked at. This leads to ask when do you clear out the temp transcoding folder?

The Panasonic Viera clearly has a problem with scrubbing. The transcoding 'patch' that I tried does get round the problem. I understand that the transcoding causes a different search method to be used. Any chance of being able to force that search method without the need to transcode? I know that it isn't the right way but, hey, it works with this piece of kit and I can't see Panasonic doing anything to fix the TV's software.

[zip]

A bit of investigation showed that there were lots (twenty or more) ffmpeg processes running. I presume they were busily transcoding the files that I had looked at. This leads to ask when do you clear out the temp transcoding folder?

That seems like a bug. There should be only 1 ffmpeg process per client IP address. I'll file a ticket.

Any chance of being able to force that search method without the need to transcode? I know that it isn't the right way but, hey, it works with this piece of kit and I can't see Panasonic doing anything to fix the TV's software.

I was looking at this recently and theoretically it's not that difficult. The problem, though, is that I need to know the duration of the video - and FFmpeg sometimes reports wrong duration - that might make playback on some devices impossible.

Hi all,

First all let me congratulate you about serviio. Many thanks !!!

I have a Panasonic L42D25E, connected to my router via LAN, then my server is connected to the router via WiFi.

All is working ok, except MKV files amb MP4 files. I changed profile to Panasonic Viera and I could see mkv files on TV...but I do not why..now I can not view mkv files anymore (file not supported message), I have changed several times the profile but I am still can not see mkv files.

I have check log file but i do not see anything remarkable.

Any ideas?

Thanks Again.

[zip]

Most likely the profile is wrong. Make sure you select the proper one in the console and also use static IP address for your TV, so that you don't have to change it every time a new IP is assigned to the device.

I have tested all of them, and I have selected Panasonic Viera One, that was the only one I could see mkv files on TV, but not now, although Panasonic Profile is selected ans saved. Sure, Panasonic TV has always the same IP.

Thanks!

[zip]

post the detailed log (see my signature for how to)

@recreativos

Check what kind of mkv files are problematic? Maybe only these with dts audio, if so, read this thread and update your profile.

@zip

Zip, will you update source profile for Panasonic in the new 0.5.1 version to ensure transcoding dts to ac3 for matroska container. Required lines of code were placed in this thread earlier. It should eliminate all of this repeated questions.

Hi Jagrys, thanks for your response, but how can I check the kind of mkv files?? Are you referring to Intel UpnP Tools?

thanks !

[zip]

Zip, will you update source profile for Panasonic in the new 0.5.1 version to ensure transcoding dts to ac3 for matroska container. Required lines of code were placed in this thread earlier. It should eliminate all of this repeated questions.

Can you point me to the post? Ta

@recreativos

use some info tool (http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en) to check what kind of audio is in your mkv

@zip

these additional lines were here viewtopic.php?f=13&t=555&start=40#p7899

I've spent a little while looking at various transcoding tools, output video formats and how they play on the Viera. I thought it I should share my findings. If I've misunderstood anything or someone has a better suggestion then I'd be grateful to hear.

I cannot play a DVD folder so I use Vob2Mpg to combine the VOB files into a single mpg file. The merging of the VOB files is very fast. This plays well on the TV but the TV cannot reliably FF or REW mpg files, and they are the only files it can play natively. I cannot get more than one audio track to the TV or any of the embedded subtitles by this route. ffmpeg reports the presence of all the audio and subtitle streams. The problem is consistent with other servers so the problem is the TV.

I looked for alternatives that would provide multiple audio tracks, subtitles and reliable FF. *** These would have to rely on Serviio's transcoding capabilities. ***

I tried DivX and I can't believe they would want me to pay for it. Truly awful. Nothing like enough control over the output, nonsensical automatic clipping and incredibly slow. While playing with this I observed that an ultra-widescreen move (greater than 16:9) was automatically clipped by DIvX to 424 vertical lines. The TV then obligingly automatically stretches the movie to the full height of the TV resulting in very tall thin people.

I then went back to an old favourite, Handbrake. I've used this for a while for portable devices with a lot of success. I used the High Profile Preset, selected a DVD folder, selected my audio and subtitle streams and set it off. It takes about an hour to process a DVD into either a MKV or MP4 container. I saw exactly the same problem with ultra-widescreen movies. However, Handbrake has control over the clipping. On the Picture tab you can select custom clipping and set the top and bottom clipping to zero to get back to 576 lines. Bingo, a good picture on the TV, with multiple audio tracks, but no subtitles. ffmpeg reports the subtitles as being present and VLC can play them.

I've also use ffmpeg with the Avanti Gui with good success. The only problem with this route is that ffmpeg will only output a single audio stream (or am I mistaken). ffmpeg will not merge VOBs like Handbrake. I've found Handbrake to be a friendlier program to use than Avanti/ffmpeg but I would suggest looking at both and make your own mind up.

I've converted WMV and DVR_MS files into mpg and mp4 using Avanti and Handbrake with excellent results.
I've also displayed AVCHD 1920*1080 and mp4 video from my Sony camera just using Serviio's transcoding. Earlier Canon AVIs and Sony mpeg1 videos don't play with the default Viera profile. I could have modified the profile very easily but I chose to transcode them manually.

As an aside, I've tried all of my files (dvd, mpg, mkv, mp4) on three PC viewers: Media Player Classic, VLC Media Player and Windows Media Player. I've found that VLC is the only one of the three that is reliable with audio tracks and subtitles. WMP is very easily confused and MPC seems to lose the subtitles or make them permanent.

I am disappointed with the Viera and its inability the FF and REW reliably on its native mpeg format. (Nothing wrong with it as TV.) But I am pleased that Serviio can help in working round those limitations.

I would be pleased to assist in testing of future versions of Serviio.

Is there any known issue about subtitles in CP 1250( Central Europe )? I was able to see an English subtitles in my Panasonic TX-P42G20E, but no success with Czech subtitles (no problem in VLC player on my computer). No problem with those subtitles in PS3 Media server.