DV videos on Roku?

[jkimrey]

Hi.

I recently converted mini DV tapes to my hard drive using an iMovie (older version running on 2007 iMac).

I'd like to now watch these videos on my Roku. When I plug the drive into my Roku, however, it's not recognizing the .dv videos. Do I need to convert these videos?

Thanks.

[JVRaines]

You've got raw DV files. Wrap them in QuickTime (MOV) or AVI containers.

[jagabo]

Very few devices support the DV codec. My Roku TV doesn't play DV AVI with the built in media player. Try converting with Handbrake.

[jkimrey]

So do I need to convert them (via Handbrake) to get them in AVI containers or is that actually a different process? If so, any benefit to converting them vs wrapping in AVI containers?

Video quality is more important than storage space at this point ..

Thanks.

[jagabo]

The container doesn't have to be AVI. But the codec cannot be DV. Use Handbrake to convert to h.264/AAC in MP4.

[jkimrey]

The container doesn't have to be AVI. But the codec cannot be DV. Use Handbrake to convert to h.264/AAC in MP4.

Okay, by default Handbrake is using the following settings; do these look like the best options for keeping the video quality?

Presets:
Fast 1080p30

Format:
MP4
Align A/V Start (checked)

Tracks:
H.264(x264), 30 FPS PFR
AAC(avcodec), Stereo
Foreign Audio Scan, Burned
Chapter Markers

Filters:
Decomb

Size:
720x480 storage, 853x480 display

[jagabo]

If your source is interlaced you should use use Deinterlace:Yadif with Preset:Bob. And set the frame rate to constant at 59.94. I'd use the "Slow" x264 preset for better quality.

[jkimrey]

If your source is interlaced you should use use Deinterlace:Yadif with Preset:Bob. And set the frame rate to constant at 59.94. I'd use the "Slow" x264 preset for better quality.

How can I determine if the source is interlaced?

[blud7]

Handbrake is great but it converts video to 30 fps and VFR by default. It also applies a decomb filter and burns in subs by default unless you turn it off. Adjust these to your liking and you'll be a happy camper.

[jagabo]

If your source is interlaced you should use use Deinterlace:Yadif with Preset:Bob. And set the frame rate to constant at 59.94. I'd use the "Slow" x264 preset for better quality.

How can I determine if the source is interlaced?

Use the instructions I gave then examine the resulting file frame by frame. If every pair of frames is the same your source wasn't interlaced.

[johns0]

Roku only plays h.264 encoded video files up to 4.1 format profile,it will not play xvid or divx in mkv container.

[usually_quiet]

As jagabo stated, AAC audio and H.264/AVC in an MP4 file are your best options for HD and SD video playback with a Roku. This combination is supported by Roku's devices and many others. As jagabo and others suggested, use constant framerate and not variable frame rate, which Handbrake uses by default. Variable framerate is a problem for many playback devices and most editing software. If the video is 16:9 aspect ratio, then 853x480 display is correct. If the video is 4:3 then use 640x480 display.


Roku itself provides the following information regarding supported file types and A/V formats:

Supported media file types
Different Roku devices support different formats. Newer firmware may support additional formats. The type of audio formats supported is dependent on the type of TV or A/V receiver your Roku device is connected to. Formats supported by your Roku device can be viewed by accessing the ?/Help pages from the Media Device and the Media Type selection screens.

The following file formats are supported:

Video – H.264/AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV)
Audio – AAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); MP3(.MP3, .MKV); WMA (.ASF, .WMA, .MKV), FLAC (.FLAC, .MKV), PCM (.WAV, .MKV, .MP4, .MOV), AC3/EAC3 (.MKV,.MP4. .MOV, .AC3), DTS (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV,.DTS), ALAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .M4A), Vorbis (.OGG,.MKV,.WEBM)
Playlists –.M3U, .M3U8, .PLS
Image – JPG, PNG, GIF (non-animated)
The following media formats are supported on Roku devices that support 4K

4K Video – H.265/HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9 (.MKV, .WEBM)
4K Video – H.264 (Roku Premiere, Premiere+, and Ultra only)
The following media formats are supported on Roku TVs

Video – H.262 (.MKV)
Notes:

The Roku Media Player channel will not display unsupported file types or files it has determined cannot be played by your Roku device.
DRM-protected content is not supported.
Support for 5.1 AC3/E-AC3 (Dolby Digital)
Many Roku players can decode Dolby Digital™ (AC3) audio. Some can also decode Dolby Digital Plus™ (E-AC3), but others cannot decode either. If you are trying to play Dolby Audio™ (AC3, E-AC3), but do not hear multi-channel surround sound, try connecting your Roku player via HDMI® or S/PDIF (optical) to a TV or A/V receiver capable of decoding Dolby Audio™. Your Roku player will pass-through the encoded Dolby Audio to the TV or A/V receiver for decoding.

Some Roku players can decode Dolby Digital Plus to HDMI and S/PDIF TOSLINK (optical). This means that content encoded with Dolby Digital Plus will be transcoded (converted) into Dolby Digital if your A/V receiver does not support Dolby Digital Plus, but does support Dolby Digital 5.1.

Roku TVs support transcoding Dolby Digital Plus to Dolby Digital for the S/PDIF (optical) and ARC (Audio Return Channel) connectors, allowing you to connect your TV audio to an A/V receiver (AVR) that supports Dolby Digital 5.1 (but not Dolby Digital Plus).

Note: Dolby TrueHD and lossless Dolby are not supported.

Support for 5.1 DTS (Dedicated To Sound)
Roku devices will only pass-through DTS audio. To decode multi-channel surround sound, you must connect your Roku device via HDMI or S/PDIF (optical) to a TV or A/V receiver capable of decoding DTS.

Note: DTS-HD and lossless DTS are not supported.

Support for AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
Roku devices do not support AAC pass-through. Instead, Stereo AAC is transcoded to PCM stereo.

Roku TVs and some Roku players decode 5.1 AAC to PCM stereo for headphone, internal speaker, and HDMI/ S/PDIF (optical) output. However, Roku devices that support Dolby Audio decode connected via HDMI or S/PDIF (optical) to an A/V receiver that also supports Dolby Audio, will convert the audio to Dolby Digital 5.1.