Sometimes, we can’t get the streaming source for online videos, TV shows, and Live TV so as to send it to TV via DLNA using a DLNA server such as TVersity.
For online TV like PPStream, PPLive, these popular Chinese online TV software, there were some methods introduced using VLC: Link 1, Link 2, and Link 3. The idea is this. VLC captures the online streaming, and generates a secondary streaming, which is taken by TVersity and shared on the local network. But it seems none of these works for me for uusee, pplive and ppstream, since I can’t find the streaming source for these software.
Streaming the whole screen will be an ultimate method that can work with any media source via DLNA streaming.
More details about VLC and TVersity can be found here: https://alenblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/stream-computer-desktop-to-tv-using-dlna-tversity-and-vlc/ and https://alenblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/tversity-dlna-for-samsung-tv/.
Here is how it’s done.
VLC can capture the screen using screen://. But it turns out it can’t capture audio simultaneously using input-slave: dshow://. The workaround would be to use DirecShow with a directshow filter, such as VH Screen Capture.
VH screen captures video or audio only in MP4. But both captured, video is not shown, even though MediaInfo shows video data is stored. For DIV3+MP3 (asf), VH can’t see video at all, even though video data was also stored. Without transcoding, output .asf file is fine. But the data file is so big, and VLC crashes soon. The picture captured in MP4 are really great. It’s the best picture I’ve got compared to other ways mentioned here.
UScreenCapture works fine with DIV3+mp3(asf) and MP4. But the picture quality is a lot worse, even if using larger BitRate and generate big data file. Anyway, for the time being, by using directshow (UScreenCapture), video and audio can be both captured.
Another problem is my SoundMax HD audio sound card doesn’t have Stereo Mix. So I use a stereo audio cable to connect my speaker and mic ports, sending sound from the speaker to mic directly. VLC captures the audio from the microphone.
If you can see your screen, but not the video, you may need disable the hardware accelaration, which can be found at the property of your graphics.
I make the streaming using the VLC GUI. I select the video and audio sources, transcode it to DIV3+MP3, 25fps, 4096 kbps, and then stream it to mms://127.0.0.1:1234 or http://127.0.0.1:1234, which is further shared by TVersity. Then I can watch on my Samsung HDTV anything on PC. It works great, particular for PPStream that I use it very often.
This way, I don’t need worry about that the media type for TVersity or Samsung TV any more. Whatever I can see on PC, I can see it on TV.
** When using VLC, try to transcode with some codecs that are natively supported by your TV. Then TVersity doesn’t need do another transcoding. That will work much better.
Filed under: Internet, Software, TV | Tagged: DLNA, internet TV, Live TV, Online TV, PPLive, PPStream, Streaming, TVersity, VLC |
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Finanlly, VLC works with VH Screen Capture.
Container: Video Codec, Audio Codec ~ File Size
MPEG-TS: MPEG4 (4096 kbps, 25fps),MP3(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 30M
AVI: MPEG4 (4096 kbps, 25fps),MP3(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 30M
AVI: H.264 (4096 kbps, 25fps),MP3(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 2.5M
MPEG-TS: H.264 (4096 kbps, 25fps),MP3(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 3.5M
Video and audio not synchronized, video starts a while after the audio starts.
MKV: H.264 (4096 kbps, 25fps),MP3(128 kbps,44100,2) Not sure, works once, then not worked again. Maybe there’s also delay.
File size changes a lot when showing different things, e.g. playing Movie will make the size a lot bigger.
AAC audio can also be used.
I can’t get any container work for DivX 3.
I checked the files with MediaInfo. When I use MPEG4(Avi), the avi file is shown to have MPEG-4Visual (XviD), while MPEG4(TS) shows MPEG-4Visual. I’m wondering why the file size is so different for XviD and H.264. People are comparing these codecs. I was assuming they would generate similar thing.
Problem:
1. The TS and AVI files that I saved using the method above can’t be played by other software except VLC.
2. MMS, HTTP, RTP, RTSP streamings are tested for AVI/TS(H.264/MPEG4). The streaming is unstable. Sometimes, there’s a long delay. Sometimes, I can’t get the image right away.
Further tested.
TS: H.264(AVC) + AAC
H.264(4096 kbps, 25fps),AAC(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 3.77M
FLV: H.264(AVC) + AAC
H.264(4096 kbps, 25fps),AAC(128 kbps,44100,2) ~ 690K
1. It seems using same parameters, H.264 makes the best quality and smallest file size. For containers, using FLV makes the smallest file size.
2. It seems VH Screen Capture takes less resources than UScreenCapture. The image quality is about the same using the same codecs. It seems it is harder to make connections with VH than UScreen for streaming. But UScreen makes my computer and the network much slower.
3. It’s not consistent for different computers. On one computer (Thinkpad x61t), both files above can play. But VLC+VH can only stream TS properly. VLC+UScreen can stream both TS and FLV fine. But on another computer (Dell Optiplex 755), only TS plays file and FLV only plays audio. Another one (Dell Latitude D610) plays neither. Different computers have different hardware and drivers, that may make a difference. But I’m not sure.
I tested VLC+VH+TVersity, and displayed it on Samsung LN40C650 via DLNA. The codecs are TS/FLV H.264(1024kbps,12fps)+AAC(64kbps,11025,2). The image quality is ok. But the speed is very low, even though FLV and H.264 should already make the data compressed very well. My computer cpu goes to 100%. We can even wach HD movie online. The bankwidth should be fine to stream screen+audio. Now we just streaming local media. It should be even easier. I guess it’s because of the computer. Maybe it will be better to use one computer (good) to capture screen and stream it, and another computer with TVersity to send it to Samsung.
Discussion on this website: http://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=83866&p=297409#p297409
http://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=43626&p=297434#p297434
I’m streaming screen using VH Screen Capture with audio to my TV through TVersity. H.264 makes the best image quality. But the streaming is too slow.
Right now, I’m using H.264, 1024kbps, 12fps, AAC, 64kbps, 44100, 2 ch. But it’s still slow. It’s slow even for 256kbps.
For other codecs, 256kbps makes very bad image quality. I tried MPEG-2, 4096kbps, 25fps, MPEG Audio, 128kbps, 44100,2 ch. The image quality is still not as clear, sometimes even unbearable. By the way, to use this codec I have to use UScreenCapture, I can’t get VH with audio.
DIVX 3, 4096kbps,25fps, MP3,128kbps,44100,2 ch: totally unbearable. MPEG4 + MP3 is about the same.
Hi ,
your post is great.
I have Samsung 37C5000 which support DLNA.
I was looking for a solution to stream the desktop to my TV, until I found your post.
I’ve tried your method , but I’m stuck from the beginning with Tversity. I tried first to use Tversity as media server , but it’s always giving me this message whenever I’m trying to display any video file on the TV : Not supported file format.
Any ideas !!
@malawdan, please check another post: https://alenblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/tversity-dlna-for-samsung-tv/.
Make sure there’s the samsung profile. If still not reading, add the deviceIP line as described in that post. And you need also check what file formats you TV supports. You may need change the codecs in the profile.
Hi,
I found a profile for Samsung TV, but with different model number. however Tversity detects the device and display its IP in the status screen. Also the TV recognize Tversity as DLNA source , and shows the media files but when i try to play a video file (even AVI) it display message “Not Supported File Format”.
So , is this a problem of codecs ? and how to change the codecs in the profile ?
Thanks.
Did you try different videos? What file formats does your TV support? The Media types and codecs listed in the profile will be considered as the ones supported by the TV. Those not listed will be transcoded.
You can try mp3 music and pictures also. If none of videos, music, and pictured can be played on your TV, there is still a connection problem, which is what I got. TVersity sees the TV and TV see the videos on TVersity doesn’t mean it’s all set. I got “file not supported” for every media file at the beginning too. Since the profile id is different from yours, you can put in the deviceIP line. That’s how I solved my problem.
Hi ,
When I add the devicesIP line, the tversity service do not start unless i remove it again from the xml file.
It seems it’s detecting the tv device automatically, and this line is making conflict with the IP it get.
any ideas?
Do you know your TV’s IP? Make sure what you put in xml is your TV’s ip. I actually set a static ip in my TV first. But I guess this should not stop TVersity starting.
Everytime I got this problem, there MUST be some error in the syntax! Please double check and make sure there’s no syntax error. For example, some errors maybe caused by improper usage of <!– etc. It is better to type it in rather than copy it over from the website, because sometimes there'll be some encoding problem.
Hi,
You were right, there was additional “/” in the line. now the service is started with the modified xml.
I made sure of the TV ip address also.
but there is no effect for this change, the video files is still giving the same message.
any ideas?
Did you try music and pictures?
I think if the profile is recognized, there should not be any problem playing mp3 and pictures. There are problems with videos because there are the complication of the codecs.
If none can be played, it probably means the profile in the xml is still not taken. If you can play something, then we need look into the specific codecs.
Hi ,
I added one picture and one mp3 file , but it’s not showing when I browse them in the TV.
so I’m not able to test the pictures and mp3.
Note: when you check mp3 file, you need go to music (Not video) on your TV. Same for the picture, you need go to Pictures. If you go to videos, you may not see the files.
Is this what you did?
If you still can’t see any of these files, I think your TV still didn’t get the right profile yet.
Some people got it work with another profile ID: .
http://forums.tversity.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10992&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60#p73390
But it’s little likely that this profile id is your TV’s id. I thought devicesIP should fix it for any TV.
If you want, you could also try that ID (without the devicesIP line).
Make sure you backup your original profiles.xml file.
Alen
Hi ,
I went to music and was able to play the mp3 file. but when I tried to do the same with pictures, it didn’t work.
What picture format did you try? You could different pictures, such as jpg, bmp etc. The good thing is it at least plays something.
Check what file format does your TV support, particularly for videos.
When you play a media file (video,music,picture), check the status, and see what it shows.
I tried different video formats with different codecs, but all are giving the same result.
What file formats does your TV (DLNA) support? Check it in your manual.
What codecs are your videos? Check with MediaInfo (google it).
What is shown in the TVersity status page, when you try to play a video? (Streaming, Transcoding, Downloading, Server Messages)
Finally the problem was solved. I found this post http://forums.tversity.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48305 , which has a modified profile, when I copied then most of videos are working, and also internet feeds.
so, please tell me how to use UScreenCapture works to display my desktop on the TV.
I have written details in the post.
Basically, install UScreenCapture and VLC, in VLC, go to streaming->Capture device
Capture mode: DirectShow
Video device: UScreenCapture
Audio Device: Stereo Mix
Destination: HTTP or MMS or RTSP,
Choose a codec that works best for you.
Stream.
Add the streaming link in TVersity library, then you can see it on TV.
In the codes’ setting, you can set bitrate and framerate. In the UScreenCapture’s configuration, you can also change framerate. You can change these to optimize the transfer speed and video quality.
For the codecs, try to use one that is supported by your TV natively, so transcoding is not needed.
I tried a lot of different ones. See above posts.
It seems I’m missing something. I followed your steps, however in the destination I selected RTSP , then there are 2 fields : port , path. what should I put exactly in path ? it is rtsp://127.0.0.1 or what ?
You can leave it like that. It’s basically broadcasting. You can use another vlc session to test the link. The url can be rtsp://@:5454, or just rtsp://:5454, or you can use localhost.
What I did was, add a file name xxxx.ts in the path, and in the output window, change sdp to “sdp=rtsp://127.0.0.1:5544/xxxx.ts”, then add rtsp://127.0.0.1:5544/xxxx.ts in tversity.
Hi ,
still waiting for your help.
Did you check my previous comment? What’s the problem now?
just want to know what to put in the path field in case I’ll select RTSP. I tried it many ways, but it is not streaming. sometimes the program crash, other times the program do not start streaming. I even tried to capture the screen to a file for the purpose of testing, but in this VLC always crash.
I replied this above. Did you see it?
You can leave it like ‘/’. It’s basically broadcasting. You can use another vlc session to test the link. The url can be rtsp://@:5454, or you can use localhost.
What I did was, add a file name xxxx.ts in the path, (/xxxx.ts or /xxxx.flv), choose the codec and in the output window, change sdp to “sdp=rtsp://127.0.0.1:5544/xxxx.ts”. You can also test this link. Then add rtsp://127.0.0.1:5544/xxxx.ts in tversity.
The key is to choose a good codec, bitrate, framerate. You need know what codec your TV supports. I would also test streaming to a file first. That’s what I did.
any update
What do you mean? Did you see my reply above? How is it going?
Can someone mayb help me setup VLC desktop stream, using TVeristy to my Samsung UE-46B8050 tv? I’m thinking remote desktop or something.
If you want to watch some local videos or online videos with URL, then TVersity is good enough. Check post: https://alenblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/tversity-dlna-for-samsung-tv/. VLC desktop streaming is tricky.
It sure is, thats where i got the problem and need help 🙂 Is it actually possible or?
I’m actually not sure how to change the profiles.xml file, or even i do- im not sure how to load it :S
1. Don’t make any changes in profiles.xml yet. What are you getting now? Can you see TVersity server on your Samsung TV? Can you see your TV on TVersity? What can you do and what can you NOT do?
2. Did you check the post: https://alenblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/tversity-dlna-for-samsung-tv/?
3. Backup profiles.xml, then make changes.
4. Another useful link: http://forums.tversity.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10992
First of all, thanks for reply alen. I did try to make the changes from the link you gave to the profiles.xml file, unfortunatly it didnt work out. Streaming using the DLNA and TVersity works fine- i did even manage to set up the stream from VLC of the desktop, into TVersity and tried to load the stream on my Samsung TV, but it says ““Not Supported File Format”” – no matter what i tried.
Based on my experience, “Not Supported File Format” could result from two reasons. One, the file format is really not supported by the TV. Two, the speed is not fast enough. Particularly it happens when decoding H.264 codec. In that case, TV may lose patience and simply give up complaining not supported file format or codec.
Now, let me ask you something.
Can you play the streaming source with another client, e.g. VLC on the local computer or another network computer?
What codec did you use? Is it supported natively by your Samsung TV? What streaming method are you using, HTTP? What Capture device did you use? Did you try to play the streaming source via TVersity web brower?
When you choose a codec, try to avoid transcoding.
Basically, you need test: the codec and file format you choose is good, the streaming method is good. Test with local computer, network computer, TVersity web browser, at last, check it on TV.
Based on my experience, some codecs and file formats are easier to transmit than others. Don’t know reason. It may be related to Samsung firmware. Different codes and file formats work different with different Capture device. Hardware requirement is another bottle neck. My experience is not very pleasant since my hardware is not great.
It sounds a bit advanced to me, i havn’t tried to play the stream on another computer because i dont really have any other computer on the local network.
I tried alot of different codec, but no matter what it says “Not Supported File Format”
I don’t know if the speed of the network is the problem, i got 50 mbit. I just wonder how normal DLNA with HD video stream works, if i can’t stream my own desktop.
What streaming method are you using? Let’s say you use http, and you link is http://127.0.0.1:8080/video.flv. Can you open another vlc, “open network stream”, and use the url above to play?
If vlc works fine, then can you try it with web browser at
http://127.0.0.1:41952/flashlib/ ?
By the way, my experience was based on TVersity 1.9.3 pro. The current version is 1.9.6. The built-in profile seems to work with my samsung TV, but it works a little different. Unexpected problems may occur. For example, even though it automatically recognizes my samsung TV, some internet media doesn’t show up in the library. Even if I copy the old profile.xml over, it still doesn’t work.
[…] Watch ANY Online Videos/TV (PPStream, PPLive etc) on TV via DLNA […]
you can capture and restream your audio out in windows 7 + http://betterlogic.com/roger/2010/07/how-to-use-vlc-as-a-free-open-source-alternative-to-playon-tv/