Are there any WDTV models that play flv directly without conversion?

[yoda313]

So are there any WDTV modles that play flv directly without conversion? I own the first gen non mini model. I think it refused to play flv the one time I tried. It was last falls firmware update. Is there a new firmware update available?

Also Is it possible for any hardware media players to play flv without conversions? I don't really want to buy a new one since I hardly use my wdtv as it is. However I have been downloading a lot of flv videos lately. It is somewhat of a pain to convert to dvd all the time.

I can watch it directly off my computer as it is connected to my tv but it is not the most comfortable interface for watching on the couch.

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Side question - is there an easy way to transcode a flv to something the wdtv can handle? Its a mix of sd and hd flv that I'm working with. More sd than hd but there is a podcast series that is hd that I'm watching. I'd rather not have to convert that to m2ts or something to preserve the hd frame size - which would result in reencoding anyway since its not a 720 or 1080 frame size.

Thanks for any suggestions.

If hardware isn't avaialble to do flv directly and transcoding isn't any quicker than a full reencode than maybe I'll stick with converting to dvd.

I do have a ps3 and a 360 but streaming isn't perfect either. I prefer to have a physical file on the device that is playing the video.

FYI is there something like mkv2vob for flv files? Something that would transcode it quickly into a recognizable container?

Or can you demux flv and remux it into say mkv?

[johns0]

When i last had a flv file i just demuxed it and remuxed it to mkv,if its avc format then no need to re-encode.

[yoda313]

When i last had a flv file i just demuxed it and remuxed it to mkv,if its avc format then no need to re-encode.

Ok two questions -

1 - demux a flv with what?

2 - how often are flvs in avc?

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also what would be the most common codecs used for flv?

does gspot work on flvs?

[johns0]

FLV Extract

[jagabo]

I believe VP6 and h.263 were common a while back.

[yoda313]

Thanks johns0 and jagabo. I've got a couple a projects running right now. I'll work on it later.

Can h263 be read natively by the wdtv upon a remux to mkv? I know h264 can be - is h263 an older version of the same thing or is it different architecture?

[jagabo]

I just checked, the WDTV Live can play FLV files with AVC video. It does not play FLV files with VP6 or FLV1 (h.263) video.

Can h263 be read natively by the wdtv upon a remux to mkv?

I just tried an FLV file that MediaInfo told me contained h263 video, GSpot said the fourcc was FLV1. The FLV file would not play on the WDTV Live. FlvExtract gave me an AVI file and and MP3 file. The fourcc in the AVI file was FLV1. I muxed those together with MkvToolnix. The resulting MKV file played on my PC but not on the WDTV Live.

[davexnet]

I've seen many FLV1/mp3 videos, usually low res. Typically used for old, poor quality, music videos on youtube.
I used to re-encode them in Virtualdub to XVID. Not surprised your WDTV doesn't play them.

[jagabo]

I've seen many FLV1/mp3 videos, usually low res. Typically used for old, poor quality, music videos on youtube.
I used to re-encode them in Virtualdub to XVID. Not surprised your WDTV doesn't play them.

Actually, it does play them if they are streamed from Youtube. It just won't play them when they are stored locally.

[yoda313]

the WDTV Live can play FLV files with AVC video. It does not play FLV files with VP6 or FLV1 (h.263) video.

So that would work for a certain percenatge of flv files but obviously not all that I would encounter.

it does play them if they are streamed from Youtube.

Interesting.

I'll try a demux and remux and see how it goes.

If I get one with h264 I have even thought about demuxing and remuxing to mkv than using mkv2vob to play on my ps3. Though maybe I should save the step and just do mkv and try that on my wdtv.

Thanks everyone.

Edit - yeah I tried demuxing and remuxing a vp6 flv to mkv. I loaded it onto the harddrive for my gen1 nonplus wdtv media player. It saw the file but was not able to play it. I muxed with mkvtoolnix.

Now I am trying a different route. I opened multiavchd and it can open flv vp6 directly without demuxing. I am outputting the hd flv to avchd and then I'll copy that to the wdtv. Unfortunately this is going to take some time to convert. But it will keep it high def.

Meanwhile I do have some mp4 flvs that are avc. I'll try demuxing and remuxing those and see how my gen1 likes that in a mkv container.

Thanks for the ideas.

Edit 2- well a couple of muxes and reencodes I've tried haven't worked out to well.

I think for sd I'll stick with format factory and converting to dvd. For hd I'll try some other stuff.


For the time being for the flvs I have on hand I'll just stick to watching them on the computer (which is connected to my tv but its just not as easy to surf as a remote controlled deck is.

Thanks for suggestions and everything.

[DarrellS]

I've been playing with experimental versions of Virtualdub which have an external encoder option that allows you to use certain CLI encoders.

For FLV, you can encode with x264 and passthrough the mp3 audio. You may have to use null transform to crop the bottom or right side of the frame because the FLV decoder seems to add ten pixels to the bottom or right side. Usually the bottom.

There is a tutorial on Virtualdub's forum for using the external encoder feature.

Here are some sample encoder sets and encoder settings...

Video Encoder

x264

C:\Tools\x264.exe
--preset medium --bitrate 1000 --thread-input --b-pyramid strict --vbv-maxrate 2000 --cqm "jvt" --fps %(fps) --direct temporal --output "video.264" - %(width)x%(height)
video.264

Audio Encoder

Aften

C:\Tools\aften.exe
-b 192 - "%(tempaudiofile)"
%(outputname).ac3

AC3 Passthrough

C:\Tools\FFmpeg-0.6-svn-23607\bin\ffmpeg.exe
-i - -acodec copy "%(tempaudiofile)"
%(outputname).ac3

MP3 Passthrough

C:\Tools\FFmpeg-0.6-svn-23607\bin\ffmpeg.exe
-i - -acodec copy "%(tempaudiofile)"
%(outputname).mp3

NeroAac

C:\Tools\NeroAACCodec-1.5.1\win32\neroAacEnc.exe
-ignorelength -lc -if - -of "%(tempaudiofile)"
audio.aac

Lame

C:\Tools\lame.exe
-V6 - "%(tempaudiofile)"
%(outputname).mp3

Multiplexer

MP4

C:\Tools\MP4Box-0.4.5\MP4Box.exe
-add "%(tempvideofile)" -add "%(tempaudiofile)" "%(outputfile)" -fps %(fps)
* Delete output file before starting

MKV

C:\Tools\mkvmerge.exe
-o "%(outputfile)" --default-duration 0:%(fpsnum)/%(fpsden)fps "%(tempvideofile)" "%(tempaudiofile)"
* Delete output file before starting

[DarrellS]

For the H264/aac FLV's use FLVextract to demux the audio and video and either use MP4Box or MKVmerge to mux into a container that WDTV can read.

[yoda313]

Thanks.

For the time being I've decided this actually more trouble than its worth. Since not all flvs are h264 this isn't a fool proof method.

I think I'll just stick to watching hd flvs on the computer. For sd I'll stick to converting to dvd with format factory.

I appreciate the assistance.

[DarrellS]

It's reaaly pretty easy to put the H264/aac into a mkv container,

Open FLVextract > check video and audio > drag the file (or files) you want into the program. Drag the demuxed video and audio files into mkvmerge and mux the final.mkv. This usually takes less than a minute for the whole process.



Using Virtualdub or Avidemux to convert to avi would be better than converting to mpeg/DVD.

[yoda313]

It's reaaly pretty easy to put the H264/aac into a mkv container,

Open FLVextract > check video and audio > drag the file (or files) you want into the program. Drag the demuxed video and audio files into mkvmerge and mux the final.mkv. This usually takes less than a minute for the whole process.



Using Virtualdub or Avidemux to convert to avi would be better than converting to mpeg/DVD.

I understand. Its just that not all of my flvs are h264.

Regarding avi what codec? I could do that but I do like the flexibility of getting the flv to dvd for ease of playback on any dvd player.

[jagabo]

The WDTV Live plays FLV with h.264/aac natively so there's no need to remux into MKV or MP4.

[yoda313]

The WDTV Live plays FLV with h.264/aac natively so there's no need to remux into MKV or MP4.

Thanks. But I only have the first gen model.

I think I'll stick to software conversion.

[jagabo]

The WDTV Live plays FLV with h.264/aac natively so there's no need to remux into MKV or MP4.

Thanks. But I only have the first gen model.

Do you have the most current firmware?

[yoda313]

The last one I could see on their website for gen 1 was last fall. Am I not looking in the right spot?

Yep I just checked and 11/09 was the last for the gen 1 model.

Are there "safe" hacked firmwares available? Also what would advantages be for hacked firmware? Is bricking a serious risk of hacked firmware?

More importantly hacked firmware doesn't do anything to the harddrive its loaded on does it? You don't risk the harddrive as well as the wdtv do you?

[DarrellS]

It's reaaly pretty easy to put the H264/aac into a mkv container,

Open FLVextract > check video and audio > drag the file (or files) you want into the program. Drag the demuxed video and audio files into mkvmerge and mux the final.mkv. This usually takes less than a minute for the whole process.



Using Virtualdub or Avidemux to convert to avi would be better than converting to mpeg/DVD.

I understand. Its just that not all of my flvs are h264.

Regarding avi what codec? I could do that but I do like the flexibility of getting the flv to dvd for ease of playback on any dvd player.

DivX or XviD

DVD is becoming obsolete for most media player users. I have three DVD players and I never use any of them. The only time I burn a disc is for software backups.


Firmware version 1.03 was the last update for gen.1 (11-9-2009).

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/wdtv/

[yoda313]

DVD is becoming obsolete for most media player users. I have three DVD players and I never use any of them. The only time I burn a disc is for software backups.

I guess part of me still likes having something physical in hand. Collections and all that you know. (packratter???? Maybe.....)

I know media players are much better for that in terms of ease of of storage and everything.

But I do get your point.

Perhaps instead of bothering with flv to dvd I could start doing flv to divx/xvid. Probably divx if I still want to play on a dvd player. I do have some but not all players that can do divx - hence the need to encode to dvd/mpeg2.

I guess I can start rethinking my processes.......

[jagabo]

The last one I could see on their website for gen 1 was last fall. Am I not looking in the right spot?

Yep I just checked and 11/09 was the last for the gen 1 model.

I don't specifically know if any updates or mod firmware supports FLV on the WDTV. I was just speculating that WD might have added the ability to the original WDTV at some point. Since the WDTV and the WDTV Live are base on chipsets from the same family.

Are there "safe" hacked firmwares available? Also what would advantages be for hacked firmware? Is bricking a serious risk of hacked firmware?

Safe-ish? Yes. And, yes, as with any firmware update on any device, it is possible to brick the player installing new firmware.

More importantly hacked firmware doesn't do anything to the harddrive its loaded on does it? You don't risk the harddrive as well as the wdtv do you?

The firmware shouldn't screw up your drive full of video files. Anything's possible with computers though!

[johns0]

[I know media players are much better for that in terms of ease of of storage and everything.

I rather have my videos on dvd(blu-ray when it gets cheaper)cause if your hdd fails.......

[jagabo]

[I know media players are much better for that in terms of ease of of storage and everything.

I rather have my videos on dvd(blu-ray when it gets cheaper)cause if your hdd fails.......

Yes, I've lost a drive full of video file in the past. But it's not much more expensive buy an extra drive to back up your files than it is to back up to DVD+-R. It's certainly much faster and easier!

[yoda313]

[I know media players are much better for that in terms of ease of of storage and everything.

I rather have my videos on dvd(blu-ray when it gets cheaper)cause if your hdd fails.......

Yes, I've lost a drive full of video file in the past. But it's not much more expensive buy an extra drive to back up your files than it is to back up to DVD+-R. It's certainly much faster and easier!

Yes to both.

I do like having physical disc back ups and all just in case. However I do know it is so much easier now to buy two drives and use one for dedicated backups.

Thanks jagabo for info on firmware. I may just stand pat.

One option I think I may go with is wmv. I have a last gen zune 30gb. I think it might be better for me to convert my sd flv files to 320x240 wmv for my zune. Then I can either copy those to the harddrive for the wdtv or straight to my zune.

Bonus being I have a 360 and I can simply plug my zune into the 360 and play straight off the zune.......

Remember I'm talking about my sd flvs..... I think I might just keep my hd flvs on the computer and not convert them. I can play em directly on my tv.