Setup recommendation (Mac + PS3)

[elephant]

I need some advice regarding the setup I will have in a couple of days.

Currently I have a MacBook Pro (early 2008) hooked up to a 24" monitor. I use Plex a lot when watching movies, TV shows, etc etc.

Now, I'm buying a PS3 + a 32" LCD TV in a couple of days, and I'd like to use the 32" TV to watch movies on, instead of the 24" computer monitor. In essence: use the 32" TV for both PS3 games, blu-ray movies/TV shows AND the AVI & MKV video files from my MBP.

The ugly solution would be to disconnect the MBP from the monitor, and then connect it to the TV...but that is way too 1990's for my taste.

Is there a better solution for me?

 

[uberamd]

The PS3 can handle many media types, but not MKV. Run your MKV files through Handbrake and convert them to a different format (PS3 can natively play almost every video file except mkv), install Nullriver (http://www.nullriver.com/) on your Mac, and your PS3 will be able to stream your videos to your TV via the "Videos" menu on your PS3. Simple, as I type this I am watching Seinfeld episodes using this method.

 

[elephant]

The PS3 can handle many media types, but not MKV. Run your MKV files through Handbrake and convert them to a different format (PS3 can natively play almost every video file except mkv), install Nullriver (http://www.nullriver.com/) on your Mac, and your PS3 will be able to stream your videos to your TV via the "Videos" menu on your PS3. Simple, as I type this I am watching Seinfeld episodes using this method.

Ah, very interesting! Although, I kinda love my Plex setup, with the movie posters, TV show thumbs, etc etc...is this available on the PS3? Haven't owned a PS3 before, so I have no idea how the media centre works.

 

[rmb7984]

I have the same setup that uberamd described. It works great. In terms of the previews, the PS3 is not as pretty as Plex. It will generate tiny images of the first few moments of the movie file.

 

[OddyOh]

PS3MS and TSMuxerGUI,

Hi there. You may also like to try PS3 Media Server, which is free, and offers 'transcoding' (converting your non-PS3-friendly file formats on the fly), depending on the speed of you computer and network, etc.

This combo is what has kept me from buying an AppleTV (that and waiting for the next hardware update to AppleTV, if there ever is one).

Here's a link to the latest Beta of the Mac version of PS3MS, and another link to their Mac support forum. It doesn't work perfectly, but it's very good, and free.

The only issues I've had are sometimes it'll cut off Quicktime files and Apple Movie Trailers 5 to 10 seconds before the end of the file.

If you also try TSMuxerGUI, this handy tool can losslessly transcode MKV's to .m2ts files, which the PS3 will happily play back, fast and free. Just remember to change the "change level" box to "4.1" in the video track, the PS3 can't play a higher value than that. Good luck!

 

[dickovski]

I'm about to ditch my ATV for a PS3 so will let you know how I get on.

I'm going to stick a 250GB hard drive in it and copy all my vids and music onto it so it's a self contained solution.

 

[sammich]

Okay, first off, the ps3 is strictly a file browser for any media that you have. There is no fancy Plex/Apple TV like interface available. The current media streamers like MediaLink, PS3MS etc simply give access to your drives, and display album art, nothing fancy.

That said, it does work 'rather' flawlessly, although the latest version of Medialink is messed up, older ones do work better. I asked Nullriver (who make Medialink) about my problems and they said, hang tight, we've got a big update coming and it's got transparent on the fly transcoding built in. And I couldn't get PS3MS to work on my config at home.

I'm very excited for the new medialink update, because I will not settle with converting ALL my movies from mkv to anything else. If you do change the format, don't convert, just do what OddyOh recommended.

 

[uberamd]

Okay, first off, the ps3 is strictly a file browser for any media that you have. There is no fancy Plex/Apple TV like interface available. The current media streamers like MediaLink, PS3MS etc simply give access to your drives, and display album art, nothing fancy.

To me thats my favorite part. Folder view is superior to metadata in my opinion. After all if you have your files organized properly (ex: "TV-Shows -> Lost -> Season 1 ->") you are made like the shade. Your computer hard drive is organized in a file/folder view, so why not your media? There is a reason all of your computer's files are not thrown into one giant folder and tagged with metadata like the Apple TV does. Because thats a poor way of doing things, folders are by far superior.

 

[raymanster]

You could try Rivet, load it on your MBP and then stream to your PS3. I use it with my girlfriend's PS3 and my XBox, works great.

http://cynicalpeak.com/rivet/

 

[dubels]

Hmm I might have to take a look at Rivet, thanks

 

[NOD]

To me thats my favorite part. Folder view is superior to metadata in my opinion. After all if you have your files organized properly (ex: "TV-Shows -> Lost -> Season 1 ->") you are made like the shade. Your computer hard drive is organized in a file/folder view, so why not your media? There is a reason all of your computer's files are not thrown into one giant folder and tagged with metadata like the Apple TV does. Because thats a poor way of doing things, folders are by far superior.

Count me in the 100% disagree camp on this post. If you have anything approaching a large library (including BD archives), this is not possible.

Something like Plex is absolutely necessary for such a situation. I have had to spread my movie collection amongst 3 Drobos, 2 NAS's, 4 mac pro drives, and 2 eSATA drives. Trying to browse through all of those shares on a ps3 is an absolute PITA, and is one of the reasons that I decided to put mac minis in all of my main TV rooms.

As for the OP -- the latest build of PMS is pretty darn good. I use it for my ps3's, and it makes things easier. But the ps3 is a handicapped DMP, without a doubt.

The main limitation to pms (or any transcoding app) is gonna be the horsepower of your backend CPU. I end up using my 8-core mac pro to do all the heavy lifting (which is certainly overkill), but less formidable machines may have trouble, depending on the file.

 

[NOD]

You could try Rivet, load it on your MBP and then stream to your PS3. I use it with my girlfriend's PS3 and my XBox, works great.

http://cynicalpeak.com/rivet/

Does it work w/ mkv's?

 

[hitekalex]

Hi there. You may also like to try PS3 Media Server, which is free, and offers 'transcoding' (converting your non-PS3-friendly file formats on the fly), depending on the speed of you computer and network, etc.

This combo is what has kept me from buying an AppleTV (that and waiting for the next hardware update to AppleTV, if there ever is one).

These solutions requiring transcoding are gross. First off - you're taking a big hit on the resulting video quality, especially noticeable with HD material. You also lose the original 5.1 AC3 multi-channel audio.

Second, on-the-fly transcoding burns a lot of CPU power on the server, so you basically tie it up for that only task (was already mentioned here).

Why do people bother collecting HD 5.1 MKV movies, only to play them back via lossy transcoders (like PS3 Media Server or Transcode 360) is beyond me. Just install Perian on Apple TV - it will then play back any format you throw at it, including MKV. No quality degrading transcoding needed.

 

[wok]

I asked Nullriver (who make Medialink) about my problems and they said, hang tight, we've got a big update coming and it's got transparent on the fly transcoding built in.

Sammich,
Did Nullriver give an estimate as to how long it'll be before they release this update for Medialink? I use Connect360 and love it, but I've heard both it and Medialink are not compatible with Snow Leopard. I'm considering buying Rivet (which is SL compatible) because I'm looking for a way to stream to our PS3, but if a big update to Medialink is about to come out, I may wait. That transcoding sounds awesome, even if it'd have its drawbacks!.

thanks!

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

Does it work w/ mkv's?

Rivet is just the connecting software to the PS3 and 360. PS3 and I'm pretty sure the 360 do not support mkvs.

 

[sammich]

Sammich,
Did Nullriver give an estimate as to how long it'll be before they release this update for Medialink? I use Connect360 and love it, but I've heard both it and Medialink are not compatible with Snow Leopard. I'm considering buying Rivet (which is SL compatible) because I'm looking for a way to stream to our PS3, but if a big update to Medialink is about to come out, I may wait. That transcoding sounds awesome, even if it'd have its drawbacks!.

thanks!

From the customer support dude at Nullriver:

cant give you a specific date as we have some big bugs to iron out and stuff to add, but ti will be worth the wait as were adding support for pretty much every video format via transcoding

Yeah, I'm eager to see first hand how medialink plays with SL. Good thing it's only about 12 hours away for me I'm hoping the transcoding isn't going to actually transcode, and simply lifts the video and audio track and repacks them with a different container.

 

[TINCAN78]

From the customer support dude at Nullriver:


Yeah, I'm eager to see first hand how medialink plays with SL. Good thing it's only about 12 hours away for me I'm hoping the transcoding isn't going to actually transcode, and simply lifts the video and audio track and repacks them with a different container.

Medialink and Snow Leopard are not compatible, show the icon on the ps3 but does not share any files......

Looks like its down to Nullriver to release an update!!! Arrrgghhh!

 

[dickovski]

Just had my PS3 for a few days now and getting on fine so far. Installed Playback http://yazsoft.com/products/playback/information/ and it seems pretty good. Using an ethernet connection it hasn't dropped anything yet. Early days though.

Couldn't get Twonky or PSMS to work but Playback worked straightaway so I'll stick with it for now.

Haven't got Snow Leopard so can't comment on that score.

 

[sammich]

Medialink and Snow Leopard are not compatible, show the icon on the ps3 but does not share any files......

Looks like its down to Nullriver to release an update!!! Arrrgghhh!

Medialink works alright with mine. Ironically, it is an older version (1.6) because the latest one is freaking slow (as I mentioned above). I'll post it here and see if it makes any difference, Medialink v1.6 attached.

 

[TINCAN78]

Medialink works alright with mine. Ironically, it is an older version (1.6) because the new one is freaking slow (as I mentioned above). I'll post it here and see if it makes any difference, Medialink v1.6 attached.

Thanks will give that a go, mine is the latest medialink..... have emailed them re update and compatibility

 

[ajobes]

Medialink works alright with mine. Ironically, it is an older version (1.6) because the latest one is freaking slow (as I mentioned above). I'll post it here and see if it makes any difference, Medialink v1.6 attached.

Hi,

That works great! Thanks for the help!

Was seriously thinking about re-installing Leopard this morning.. 1.72 didn't work after update but a few restarts of mac/ps3 seemed to get it working.. then this morning it went off and nothing could get it working!

The upgraded version sounds great but I'll keep hold of this for now..

Cheers

 

[METOO999]

The PS3 can handle many media types, but not MKV. Run your MKV files through Handbrake and convert them to a different format (PS3 can natively play almost every video file except mkv), install Nullriver (http://www.nullriver.com/) on your Mac, and your PS3 will be able to stream your videos to your TV via the "Videos" menu on your PS3. Simple, as I type this I am watching Seinfeld episodes using this method.

Run MKVs through MKV2VOB (PC program, just use Boot Camp, Crossover or VM). It will remux it without re-encoding into a MPEG container (no quality loss whatsoever) and play on the PS3 perfectly with AC3 or DTS audio. The program will also automatically chop files over 4 GB into FAT32 compliant sizes for USB drives. Since the PS3 can play video files sequentially, you will just get a little skip between files while playing. It can handle all 720p and most 1080p files. The program has been out for over a year I think. DTS support was added in the last few updates.

 

[dickovski]

Playback have just released a Snow Leopard compatible version!

I have been using their PS3 streaming software on 10.5.8 over CAT6 ethernet for a week now and have been very impressed with it - not dropped a thing and seems very fast.

Consider the ATV ditched (unless an excellent update comes out for it next week).