PS3 Video Server, Media Server Preliminary Setup and Tests

**bob1029** · **07-08-07, 02:35 PM**

Ok, ive been messing around with a lot of x264 encoding tools, and so far the quickest and least buggy one is handbrake. During my preliminary tests, I encoded minority report (2:25:04 length) to a 2000 meg file, which includes a 320 kbps (44.1kHz) 5.1 channel audio track. The video quality was more than acceptable in my opinion, but that is for everyone else to decide. The best part about it is that the encode time was about half the movie run time. I am unable to confirm that the generated mp4 file actually plays on a ps3 as I do not have one available right now, but it plays back wonderfully on a pc, so if you simply have a htpc setup, this is still something to seriously consider.

A quick cost analysis (assuming the 2000 meg file avg):

To store 1000 dvds on a hdd setup:
4 drive esata enclosure: 200$
4x500gb: 520$

720$ for enough storage to maintain a 1000 dvd collection seems to be a fair deal to me. If you dont need the external enclosure and can mount the drives internally, you could cut the cost to 520$... This sounds very tempting to me. If you are concerned about data integrity, you could always store 500 dvds with the assurance that your collection is 100% safe by using raid 0+1 on the external enclosure.

I will post more details later.

**mechman** · **07-08-07, 03:48 PM**

Excellent work Bob! The only thing that would convince myself would be how it looks on my 100" screen. That's where any problems with the video compression would reveal themselves to me. I'll have to give it a shot sometime and report back.

**wbassett** · **07-21-07, 11:59 PM**

My son came home to visit for the week and him and a friend are over tonight playing games on the big screen. His friend happens to have an XBOX 360!

So of course I had to hook up the USB drive to it and check it out. It detected the drive and we were able to navigate through the directories, but it won't playback mpeg2 files. I'll have to check what format the 360 uses, but it can also be used as a media server with an external HD.

My son's friend though said after seeing the PS3 running through a 1080p set and how easy it was to put flicks on the external drive that he may sell his 360. I told him I wouldn't if I was him, but if he does to let me know and I might buy it!

Format neutral and console neutral!

**dbrady** · **08-27-07, 04:04 PM**

Quote:

wbassett wrote:

if he does to let me know and I might buy it!

Format neutral and console neutral!

yeah, let us know if he decides to sell, I wouldn't mind having a 360 around too!

I broke down and picked up a PS3, loving it so far, although from an integration standpoint, I still want a way to power it on without using a controller or the bluetooth remote.... I am using the USB-PS2 adapter with the PS2 remote and it works great, learned all the codes into my T2+ and can do pretty much everything, except I need that stupid PS code that allows you to power on and off the unit and such.

I could see the PS3 becoming a main hub for entertainment in the HT realm, with some minor tweaks and whatnot.

I was able to get my photos and music streaming via the net with no big issues, so I am happy with that.

**wbassett** · **08-27-07, 07:29 PM**

What did you use for the server streaming side?

**dbrady** · **08-29-07, 07:13 PM**

I haven't gotten that far yet, but I will most likely just use my external HD and plug directly in to the PS3 to watch any stored movies.

As for my clients, I will stick with using either KScapes or other DVD management devices for movies. The whole encoding process would be too much for them.

**gators96** · **10-28-07, 09:46 PM**

did my first one pn my ps3 . all i can say is awsome.

thank you so much

**ALIENWARE** · **11-28-07, 09:02 AM**

Thanks for the tutorial,is the best thing I ever learn,but you skip one verry good thing,when I played the movies on PS3,they have 5.1 dolby digital sound,I was impresed.I will never use any convertrer again,they only convert sound to 2.0 stereo.I have a 2.01 firmware ps3 upgraded w/a 115 GB HDD (not to mention my FAT32 formated 150GB external HDD)

**wbassett** · **11-28-07, 11:25 AM**

You're right Alienware, I didn't mention that it retains the original sound track that the DVD has. Essentially it is just like watching the DVD but without the menu just the movie.

I've loaded up more and it's a breeze to do.

**ALIENWARE** · **11-28-07, 02:25 PM**

I have one problem,I rip and renamed the anime movie APLLE SEED,but on ps3 plays with no sound and I can't fastfoward (it freezes).I rip the movie 3 times and have the same problem,but in the pc plays fine.I'm doing evrething as you explain in the tutorial and this is the first time that have problem.
(sorry for my bad english,Im a spanish guy)

**wbassett** · **11-28-07, 02:28 PM**

Check and make sure it's not over the 4GB fat32 restriction. Also check your PS3 sound settings.

I had one that just would not play either, and not sure why. It was a Bond special feature bonus disc that Best Buy gave away awhile back. Other than that I haven't had any problems.

**drauch** · **12-06-07, 06:19 PM**

Has anyone else had mixed results with this process? I came across a similar approach at another forum. The only difference is instead of copying to a external USB drive I use TVersity to copy it directly to the PS3's HD. About 1/3 of the movies I copy work great. The other 2/3 have either no sound or show an incorrect time length and won't play all the way through. Multiple re-rerips all show the same issue. The confusing part is that they work fine on the PC. So I am thinking it is somehow getting messed up in the copy. I don't have access to a USB drive so I thought maybe someone else had some insight.

Rich

**wbassett** · **12-06-07, 06:23 PM**

That's interesting Rich. I only put them to a USB drive, and put audio CDs on the internal drive. I'll try checking it out and see if I get the same thing.

**ALIENWARE** · **01-03-08, 09:43 PM**

Well,well,well...with the new update the PS3 gets DivX support.DivX have a converter that converts movies in HD,with less of a gig per hour,and the same video quality of the movie you convert.I will delete all my 4g per movie and satrt converting in DivX..

**EQDruid** · **01-03-08, 11:08 PM**

I have about 3,500 DVD's that i want to convert, and watch on my PS3, and Computers on the fly, I was wondering if anyone knows what i will need?

Hoping to get DVD quality for a 65 inch HDTV.

Want to keep the files down to a resonable size to help save cost on the Hard drive/ Drives.

What software would be the best to convert all these DVD's.

Currently only hae a budget of about $10,000. Wife won't let me spend more then that =/

Currently have a Quad Core running a Duel Boot XP/Vista with 8 Gigs ram, and over clocked to 4.2 Ghtz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAqNylbtpxM&feature...

So wondering how long all this would take to complete.

Thanks for your replies, and information. New to doing this, so I'll be the first to admit I'm a Noob.

EQDruid

PSN EQDRuid

**wbassett** · **01-04-08, 09:28 AM**

Hi Charles and welcome to The Shack!

As you know I am a fan of the .vob rename since it remaind DVD quality, but the files are of course larger.

DivX is popular, but I think you've seen over Sony's PS3 forum there are some more more steps, mainly with conversions. What concerned me was one comment that it's 'close' to DVD quality, and I personally don't want close.

It sounds like you're planning on streaming, is that correct? You might want to test DivX though and see if it's acceptable to you as far as PQ. I'm not really familiar with it though and can't comment on whether it retains the same audio tracks.

With that many DVDs you want to make sure of a method before getting half way in and deciding to change! You're looking at 14TB if you go vob rename and I see why you want to save some space.

**drauch** · **01-04-08, 11:18 AM**

What converter are you planning on using? Have you tested it out to see what the encoding time is?

**wbassett** · **01-04-08, 01:02 PM**

I am with drauch... curious to hear your reports back. If it works and the quality is the same as DVD, I'll switch over too, as long as it doesn't take 20 hours to do one movie!

**ALIENWARE** · **01-04-08, 09:49 PM**

DivX is the best converter I tried,it converts a 2 hour movie in 1 hour(thats 30 min per hour).Just testit for yourself,go to Divx homepage,the converter is free,and have support for hd,

**wbassett** · **01-04-08, 10:47 PM**

does this need 2.1 or will it work with 2.01?

**ALIENWARE** · **01-04-08, 10:56 PM**

2.10,and I think is the best update.Also I discovered today that if you rip a dvd movie and copy to the ps3 at it is (.vob)with the new update it will play,so you dont have to reneame to .mpeg.THE PS3 NOW PLAYS .vob FILES,YEA BABY....

**eugovector** · **01-05-08, 12:16 PM**

Quote:

wbassett wrote:

Hi Charles and welcome to The Shack!

As you know I am a fan of the .vob rename since it remaind DVD quality, but the files are of course larger.

DivX is popular, but I think you've seen over Sony's PS3 forum there are some more more steps, mainly with conversions. What concerned me was one comment that it's 'close' to DVD quality, and I personally don't want close.

It sounds like you're planning on streaming, is that correct? You might want to test DivX though and see if it's acceptable to you as far as PQ. I'm not really familiar with it though and can't comment on whether it retains the same audio tracks.

With that many DVDs you want to make sure of a method before getting half way in and deciding to change! You're looking at 14TB if you go vob rename and I see why you want to save some space.

Divx will allow you to keep the unaltered AAC (which will obviously take up more space). I like FairUseWizard because it's what I've used in the past, but I'm sure there is better software out there.

I think DIVX is your only option if you really want to do every movie you own.

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