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Level 1

0 points

Buffer, and buffer...

I have some 720P HD Movies (3584K bps), I put these movies in my xp(sp3) machine, I use iTunes 9.0.1 streaming to my appletv(Ver 2.4) with 100M ethernet connection. Appletv can play these movies, but it like to buffer for every 8~10 minutes. I don't know the reason or method to solve this problem.

Thanks for your help.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 26, 2009 8:01 PM

41 replies

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Sep 29, 2009 7:39 AM in response to Winston Churchill

When a movie has one chapter, the tv is writing and reading that chapter at the same time.

It simply doesn't work that way. I don't know how else to say it, the technology simply doesn't work that way.

<Edited by Host>

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Sep 29, 2009 7:51 AM in response to Liu Wenjie2

I don't think this is a user error that a movie with only one chapter.

It shouldn't make any difference if a movie has no chapter, one chapter, or a hundred chapters, the ATV software should be able to detect the chapters accurately. If there is a problem with one chapter movies, it's due to a bug in the ATV software.

Quite frankly, however, I believe the problem you're having is more likely due to either a file format or encoding problem, or possibly more general problems that others are experiencing that may be related to either iTunes or the ATV software, or possibly even the hardware limitations of the ATV itself. You might try re-encoding your file with a lower bit rate and see if that makes a difference.

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Sep 29, 2009 8:01 AM in response to capaho

lets leave this debate for another time shall we and deal with the OPs issue?

are all the files you are having buffering issues with MKV conversions? if they are then you need check to see if you have the same issue with other files.

if not, then the issue may be with the conversion of those files.

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Sep 29, 2009 8:03 AM in response to Chenks

are all the files you are having buffering issues with MKV conversions?

I'm not having any buffering issues (I gave up using my ATV for streaming a long time ago). You should address that question to the OP.

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Sep 29, 2009 8:05 AM in response to capaho

capaho wrote:

are all the files you are having buffering issues with MKV conversions?

I'm not having any buffering issues (I gave up using my ATV for streaming a long time ago). You should address that question to the OP.

yes i know, lets try and bring this thread back to the issue in hand ?

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Sep 29, 2009 8:08 AM in response to Chenks

yes i know, lets try and bring this thread back to the issue in hand ?

I did that in my last reply to the OP, before you addressed me rather than him.

Liu Wenjie2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2009 4:08 PM in response to Winston Churchill

The first, I have over 50 movies, the problem is same.

I try to convert several movie with no chapter. When I sync to ATV, ATV plays these movie correctly. When I stream to ATV, ATV splits these movies automatically. The bad news is buffering is always happen. The good news is I found every buffering times is shorter than before.

Oct 1, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Liu Wenjie2

No chapters doesn't appear to be a problem for the tv, as you have noticed it automatically splits them into 20 sections.

Are you saying that these movies play fine if you sync them to the tv, but not if you stream them.

capaho

Level 4

3,673 points

Oct 1, 2009 6:10 PM in response to Liu Wenjie2

If they sync OK but still don't stream smoothly, you may be encoding them at too high of a bit-rate.

Liu Wenjie2 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 2, 2009 9:13 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Yes, So I always try to solve streaming problem. I used 3584K or 4096K bps before, the sync is OK, but stream has problem.

Oct 3, 2009 6:30 AM in response to Liu Wenjie2

If they play OK when synced then the likely cause is the speed of your network, if however as you imply this is only some movies then you need to look at the movie encoding themselves.

As I said before I've found that a one chapter movie can be a problem, but I don't actually recall you confirming how many chapters your movie has. Other things that might be a problem are the codec profile used to encode the movie, however you might simply find that the original file you used was not properly encoded itself, as I've also already said before I am always dubious of mkv movies.

Buffer, and buffer...