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Re: [Shop-talk] tv - home theater cabling problem

To: Ian McFetridge <shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org>
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] tv - home theater cabling problem
From: Ronnie Day <ronnie.day@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:15:22 -0500
Cc: Shop-Talk List <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: shop-talk@autox.team.net
References: <1UWEeyVGER.4SHT5z0lyvZ.ref@johns-desktop> <1UWEeyVGER.4SHT5z0lyvZ@johns-desktop> <CAMHhs6fh=iYqrRR1f2jmTv1wyJ1WR6sx8i--MuFXUcW4-nF_KA@mail.gmail.com> <CAFnfnRUY=88+VDBohUd8n=w-cG38DYfbK_VZfSnumGXmjvT9-A@mail.gmail.com> <CAMHhs6dpTKxz2nUHfWVJtmDw1FJJ4ofQWrYjzoK3vuEAPtme2A@mail.gmail.com> <CAMHhs6cwYWYjDGKQ+FDZnGq1s9p9f8xYhbyztqqdZEBjutyszw@mail.gmail.com> <CAFnfnRWmXs2LD=4YgU3dbR+Zw1TnSPcZf=XA-jsqNNPmFE=HXg@mail.gmail.com>
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Thanks, Ian, I'll check it out. Right now playback using the Plex app on
the TinyPC stutters slightly. Haven't tried using the Plex app on the TV.

On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 3:16 PM Ian McFetridge <shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org>
wrote:

> Hi Ron,
>
> What issues are you having with MKV files?  I backed-up most of my
> Blu-ray=E2=80=99s into MKV containers, but I believe I have some 4K encod=
ed with
> H.264 HEVC.  Have you seen this page?
>
>
> https://support.plex.tv/articles/203810286-what-media-formats-are-support=
ed/
>
> Best,
> Ian
>
> On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 2:52 PM Ronnie Day <ronnie.day@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I found out that Plex doesn't play nice with MKv files. I may look into
>> converting them, but for the time being I can play them using VLC. IMO,
>> this just emphasizes how complex making all of this stuff can be. The ne=
xt
>> step over the next couple of days is to integrate a HDMI switch between =
the
>> Tiny-PC and the AV receiver and the TV.
>>
>> Ron
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 10:47 AM Ronnie Day <ronnie.day@gmail.com> wrote=
:
>>
>>> Thanks, Ian. I'll keep your offer in mind. I received the Tiny PC and
>>> the Monoprice scaler/switch, but haven't plugged the switch into the sy=
stem
>>> yet. I'm just moving the HDMI cable from the 4K DVD player to the compu=
ter.
>>> It's best to deal with only one variable at a time, IMO. I've "added" t=
he
>>> 4K movies and files from the other large drive to the Plex library, but=
 I'm
>>> not getting smooth playback of the 4K files via Plex, however, they pla=
y
>>> fine using VLC! 'Splain that one to me Lucy! I figure I have some Plex
>>> configuration issues to sort out. It'll come as I learn more, I'm sure.
>>> Once I get it all working as I want I'll start  getting ready to move t=
he
>>> hardware to my office, but no big hurry on that, unless the Boss decide=
s
>>> she wants closets built where the hardware is right now.
>>>
>>> Ron
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 10:21 AM Ian McFetridge <
>>> shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> RD, I=E2=80=99ve had similar challenges with evolving AV tech (4K) and=
 I=E2=80=99ve
>>>> essentially done what you did (Plex server).  I=E2=80=99ve moved all o=
f my movies,
>>>> DVD, pictures, etc. onto a Synology Network Attached Storage (RAID 10)=
 that
>>>> runs Plex Server.  I have a mix of clients all over the house, everyth=
ing
>>>> from mini-PCs, to Amazon Fire sticks/boxes, and Nvidia Shields.  I=E2=
=80=99m not an
>>>> expert, but I=E2=80=99ve been running Plex for about 10 years now if y=
ou have any
>>>> questions.
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Ian
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Aug 15, 2020 at 3:03 PM Ronnie Day <ronnie.day@gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> John & group -
>>>>>
>>>>> Things got complicated when I decided to playback 4K movie files from
>>>>> hard drives or other removable devices. I've got a couple of USB3 8TB
>>>>> drives full of movies. One is all 4K files. Some of these are formatt=
ed
>>>>> slightly differently than others and require a seperate audio codec. =
plus
>>>>> the TV has only 1 USB port. After posting questions to a worldwide me=
dia
>>>>> list I've been on since the late '90s when I built my first digital A=
/V
>>>>> editing system, the consensus was that I needed a "media player" to c=
onnect
>>>>> the two hard drives to the TV, so I ordered a MyPin M29 media player,=
 $60
>>>>> from Amazon. It supported the file formats I needed, but it wouldn't =
let me
>>>>> turn off subtitles/closed captioning (bummer) and I get frequent, sub=
tle
>>>>> "stuttering" in the audio (MAJOR bummer). If I plugged the 4K hard dr=
ive
>>>>> into either my Mac or PC and used VLC, everything worked fine, but I =
want
>>>>> to watch these movies on the 55 inch in our bedroom. An added problem=
 was
>>>>> that the output of the MyPin player is HDMI and I was already out of =
HDMI
>>>>> ports on the TV. So, after several discussions with several folks, I
>>>>> ordered a Lenovo M75 Tiny mini PC and plan to run Plex server as the =
core
>>>>> of a home media server down the road. The hard drives plug into it, a=
nd
>>>>> there's plenty of room for expansion.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, how to get these additional souces into the TV? While working to
>>>>> connect all of these input devices I noticed that TESmart has a 4 x 1=
 HDMI
>>>>> switch. I'm using one of their KVM switches to let me control a coupl=
e of
>>>>> Macs and a PC with a single keyboard and mouse for some time and it w=
orks
>>>>> great. I sent their tech folks a note describing my issues with 4K an=
d they
>>>>> said try it. The switch was $25 and they offer a 30 day return.
>>>>> Unfortunately it won't work with 4K so it's going back next week. Aft=
er
>>>>> talking to a Ford AV systems engineer in Austin that I've worked with
>>>>> before, I ordered a Monoprice (31057) switch/scaler that Monoprice pr=
omises
>>>>> will do what I need. It, too, has a 30 return.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry if i've been a bit long winded but setting up all of these boxe
>>>>> to work together, especially with 4K is a bit complex. The reason I'm=
 going
>>>>> through all of this detail is that if anyone's not doing 4K video, al=
l of
>>>>> the simpler routing and switching should work fine. However, if you h=
ave
>>>>> ANY thoughts of going to 4K, plan for that now. Hopefully I can save =
other
>>>>> folks some blood, sweat & tears!
>>>>>
>>>>> RD
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks, Ian, I&#39;ll check it out. Right now playback usi=
ng the Plex app on the TinyPC stutters slightly. Haven&#39;t tried using th=
e Plex app on the TV.</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" =
class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 3:16 PM Ian McFetridge &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org";>shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org</a>&gt;=
 wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px =
0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><di=
v dir=3D"auto">Hi Ron,</div></div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"a=
uto">What issues are you having with MKV files?=C2=A0 I backed-up most of m=
y Blu-ray=E2=80=99s into MKV containers, but I believe I have some 4K encod=
ed with H.264 HEVC.=C2=A0 Have you seen this page?</div><div dir=3D"auto"><=
br></div><div><div><a href=3D"https://support.plex.tv/articles/203810286-wh=
at-media-formats-are-supported/" target=3D"_blank">https://support.plex.tv/=
articles/203810286-what-media-formats-are-supported/</a></div><div dir=3D"a=
uto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Best,</div><div dir=3D"auto">Ian</div><br>=
<div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Au=
g 21, 2020 at 2:52 PM Ronnie Day &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ronnie.day@gmail.com=
" target=3D"_blank">ronnie.day@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquot=
e class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px s=
olid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">I found out that P=
lex doesn&#39;t play nice with MKv files. I may look into converting them, =
but for the time being I can play them using VLC. IMO, this just emphasizes=
 how complex making all of this stuff can be. The next step over the next c=
ouple of days is to integrate a HDMI switch between the Tiny-PC and the AV =
receiver and the TV.<div><br></div><div>Ron</div></div><br><div class=3D"gm=
ail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 10=
:47 AM Ronnie Day &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ronnie.day@gmail.com"; target=3D"_bl=
ank">ronnie.day@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmai=
l_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,20=
4,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks, Ian. I&#39;ll keep your o=
ffer in mind. I received=C2=A0the Tiny PC and the Monoprice scaler/switch, =
but haven&#39;t plugged the switch into the system yet. I&#39;m just moving=
 the HDMI cable from the 4K DVD player to the computer. It&#39;s best to de=
al with only one variable at a time, IMO. I&#39;ve &quot;added&quot; the 4K=
 movies and files from the other large drive to the Plex library, but I&#39=
;m not getting smooth playback of the 4K files via Plex, however, they play=
 fine using VLC! &#39;Splain that one to me Lucy! I figure I have some Plex=
 configuration issues to sort out. It&#39;ll come as I learn more, I&#39;m =
sure. Once I get it all working as I want I&#39;ll start=C2=A0 getting read=
y to move the hardware to my office, but no big hurry on that, unless the B=
oss decides she wants closets built where the hardware is right now.<div><b=
r></div><div>Ron</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr"=
 class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 10:21 AM Ian McFetridge &lt;<=
a href=3D"mailto:shop-talk2@mcfetridge.org"; target=3D"_blank">shop-talk2@mc=
fetridge.org</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" styl=
e=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);paddin=
g-left:1ex"><div><div dir=3D"auto">RD, I=E2=80=99ve had similar challenges =
with evolving AV tech (4K) and I=E2=80=99ve essentially done what you did (=
Plex server).=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99ve moved all of my movies, DVD, pictures, etc=
. onto a Synology Network Attached Storage (RAID 10) that runs Plex Server.=
=C2=A0 I have a mix of clients all over the house, everything from mini-PCs=
, to Amazon Fire sticks/boxes, and Nvidia Shields.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99m not an=
 expert, but I=E2=80=99ve been running Plex for about 10 years now if you h=
ave any questions. =C2=A0</div></div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=
=3D"auto">Best,</div><div dir=3D"auto">Ian</div><div><br><div class=3D"gmai=
l_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Sat, Aug 15, 2020 at 3:03=
 PM Ronnie Day &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ronnie.day@gmail.com"; target=3D"_blank=
">ronnie.day@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_q=
uote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,2=
04);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">John &amp; group -<div><br></div><di=
v>Things got complicated when I decided to playback 4K movie files from har=
d drives or other removable devices. I&#39;ve got a couple of USB3 8TB driv=
es full of movies. One is all 4K files. Some of these are formatted slightl=
y=C2=A0differently than others and require a seperate audio codec. plus the=
 TV has only 1 USB port. After posting questions to a worldwide media list =
I&#39;ve been on since the late &#39;90s when I built my first digital A/V =
editing system, the consensus was that I needed a &quot;media player&quot; =
to connect the two hard drives to the TV, so I ordered a MyPin M29 media pl=
ayer, $60 from Amazon. It supported the file formats I needed, but it would=
n&#39;t let me turn off subtitles/closed captioning (bummer) and I get freq=
uent, subtle &quot;stuttering&quot; in the audio (MAJOR bummer). If I plugg=
ed the 4K hard drive into either my Mac or PC and used VLC, everything work=
ed fine, but I want to watch these movies on the 55 inch in our bedroom. An=
 added problem was that the output of the MyPin player=C2=A0is HDMI and I w=
as already out of HDMI ports on the TV. So, after several discussions with =
several folks, I ordered a Lenovo M75 Tiny mini PC and plan to run Plex ser=
ver as the core of a home media server down the road. The hard drives plug =
into it, and there&#39;s plenty of room for expansion.<br></div><div><br></=
div><div>Now, how to get these additional souces into the TV? While working=
 to connect all of these input devices I noticed that TESmart has a 4 x 1 H=
DMI switch. I&#39;m using one of their KVM switches to let me control a cou=
ple of Macs and a PC with a single keyboard and mouse for some time and it =
works great. I sent their tech folks a note describing my issues with 4K an=
d they said try it. The switch was $25 and they offer a 30 day return. Unfo=
rtunately it won&#39;t work with 4K so it&#39;s going back next week. After=
 talking to a Ford AV systems engineer in Austin that I&#39;ve worked with =
before, I ordered a Monoprice (31057) switch/scaler that Monoprice promises=
 will do what I need. It, too, has a 30 return.</div><div><br></div><div>So=
rry if i&#39;ve been a bit long winded but setting up all of these boxe to =
work together, especially with 4K is a bit complex. The reason I&#39;m goin=
g through all of this detail is that if anyone&#39;s not doing 4K video, al=
l of the simpler routing and switching should work fine. However, if you ha=
ve ANY thoughts of going to 4K, plan for that now. Hopefully I can save oth=
er folks some blood, sweat &amp; tears!</div><div><br></div><div>RD</div><d=
iv><br></div><div></div></div><br></blockquote></div></div><br><br></blockq=
uote></div><br><br></blockquote></div><br><br></blockquote></div></div>
</blockquote></div>

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