Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
HI,
I have the latest AirPort Extreme with a 1.5tb HDD connected. I want to stream my video files (VOB) to my ios devices (latest products) and then on to my ATV3's. I have two apps that play the files, but the playback is not smooth with continual freezing.
What can I do to improve performance.(all software is latest)?
Thanks
iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)
Thank you for clarifying those points.
I edited a bit for clarity but the internet dropped out..
this is Australia where we have a broadband run under monopolistic controls of a couple of big businesses and a government filled with Philistines. Average network speed here is 6.6Mbps.. I know because I am on it.
OK tried playing the films on iMac (running VLC) connected by Ethernet and it still stops for a few seconds periodicallly during playback, so not a WiFI issue. I will try another drive, and check both drives format type (as originally formatted on a pc).
Anything else I can try?
Richard Mac User wrote:
OK tried playing the films on iMac (running VLC) connected by Ethernet and it still stops for a few seconds periodicallly during playback, so not a WiFI issue. I will try another drive, and check both drives format type (as originally formatted on a pc).
Anything else I can try?
Is wifi turned on though? In the mac running ethernet.. make sure wifi is off.. not just ethernet on.. as it will depend on which has higher priority.. and even if that is the case it is still slow with wireless on.
Open activity monitor and check if anything on the Mac is draining CPU cycles or memory. And stop it.
If everything on the Mac is running correctly.. plenty of RAM plenty of CPU available.. then your issue is further up the chain.
Well, using the the USB port in the ADSL router (to which the AirPort Extreme is connected) and streaming to iPad and Apple TV now gives a greatly improved experience. I have connected via FTP is that different to the way the files were being transferred using the extreme?
There is big differences in the quality of the image and its fluidity, depending on the app used. Unfortunately the best ones only play the selected file, so whilst watching a film the next file has to be manually selected, even another app whose picture is not so good which does play all files that make up one film, there is a few seconds delay between each file. Very annoying. I need therefore to convert my files to a format which would have only one file per film. For SD films what is the best format (no further compression)? Also is there a conversion tool which I could run which would convert the whole HDD of films?
Thanks
I have connected via FTP is that different to the way the files were being transferred using the extreme?
FTP is the simplest and fastest protocol for file transfer.
I cannot really help you on using various file types.. I think you are trying to do this the wrong way.. buy either into using itunes.. or buy into using a plex server.. use the correct equipment and it will all work fine.. I use a WD live TV with downloaded video files.. no issues at all. Or I use Apple TV and iTunes.. also no problem.. you are trying to use a mishmash of types and architecture and it won't work.
Thanks for all your help. After adding up how much me and my partner have spent on Apple tech (toys) in the last 12 months I can't justify more purchases. I need to perceiver with this. The definate weak point is iPad to ATV. I am going to try my lightning to HDMI (which reduces ease of use as TV is the other side of the room) and then I will try a recent 30 pin device connected to TV.
Hi LaPastenague,
Thought I would update you. I have finally had some time (well made some time - pointless buying lots of toys and not using them to their fullest). I tested converting files via Handbreak to MP4 and then streaming them. Much more stable and smooth than VOB and of course no breaks between files!
I think the lightning to HDMI adapter gives a slightly better picture than the Apple TV, though you loose the connivence (unless you have a long HDMI cable). I think Apple must have made some real improvements with the adapter, as I remember when I tried it with the iPhone 5 the picture was very jerky (many others complained of bad picture quality at the time with their units), I was very disappointed back then and just put the adapter in a box. So either its due to me now using a iPhone 6 or the iOS software has been tweaked to improve the picture with this accessory.
I am just formatting a 3TB drive in FAT32 (so it will be compatible with any device) which is taking an age. I will then transfer and at the same time convert my films. So fingers crossed all should be good.
Thanks again for your help.
I am just formatting a 3TB drive in FAT32 (so it will be compatible with any device) which is taking an age. I will then transfer and at the same time convert my films. So fingers crossed all should be good.
This is not a good idea.. FAT32 has an issue with files larger than 4GB .. and video files often end up bigger than 4GB..
When you share files around a network.. it really doesn't matter what format the drive is.. as long as the device that it is plugged into can read it.. therein I guess is the problem as almost all routers in the world work on FAT32 or NTFS for their USB drives..
I would happily format and use NTFS if you have a windows computer in the house.. I strongly believe in native format.. being the best. NTFS is a good format.. but Macs read it rather slow.. so for Mac you always want to run HFS+ which few routers can handle.. it is kind of catch22 .. you end up back where you started with the USB plugged into the apple router so it can handle the native format.
Switching over to proper NAS.. I think should be a priority.. but I also understand when you add up the heaps of money you spent.. a NAS is an expensive item.. still, it is best way to do things. The good NAS from Synology and QNAP have really good iTunes servers that can even handle video.. and it can work directly to the TV as many models are now coming out with HDMI sockets and decent graphics as well.
I think the lightning to HDMI adapter gives a slightly better picture than the Apple TV
Thanks for the info on your experiments.. I run a home theatre with a 3D projector.. and certainly the difference in graphics quality is clearly visible once you have a screen large enough that the gradients are obvious.. Apple TV works fine on a small screen but gradients on the large screen can be obvious. I find the video from PS3 or PS4 a lot better. It is something if you can integrate a game console into your network.. they can work really well.. or use a Mac Mini as HTPC.. again it can work really well.. if only the bank account and SWMBO would understand the necessary expenditure!!
I took your advice and formatted again in Mac OS Extended (as I am using the Extreme), the time is taken by the encoding, so no problem to transfer the files to a different formatted HDD at a later date if needed.
I am surprised at how much smaller the H.264 files are. Two full 1.5TB drives (VOB) went to less than 1TB with no noticeable loss of quality.
The transfer took a long time, one iMac 24/7 for a week and another computer. 24/7 for about 4 days!
Videos playing very well, I am very happy.
SWMBO can now play my films (without touching the DVDs). All is easy, except when the Extreme gets assigned a new i.p. address and the route has to be changed on the app (hopefully she will get the hang of that).
Next job is to set up the surround sound!
Any way thanks again LaPastenague.
Glad you got it working.
Using static IP instead of dhcp on the Extreme .. either by using dhcp reservation in the main router or directly on the extreme.
See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5981989?answerId=25135547022#25135547022&ac_cid=tw123456#
How to improve video streaming from external HDD?
