Converting CD, DVD & BlueRay...Playback and Plex

My Cloud OS 3 Personal & Network Attached Storage My Cloud Pro Series
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I’m toying with the purchase of WD Network Cloud type drive for a few reasons. It all started with needing amalgamated Sonos playlists, which sparked my residual goal of video playback.

Does anyone know whether I’m capable of utilizing a network drive such like the PR2100 with Plex and/or an alternative piece of software for CD, DVD & Blu-Ray digital conversion allowing playback to TV and/or Streaming to mobile devices and/or other smart TV’s?

Thanks,
Raz

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Yes it can be done as lots of people here are doing what you wish to do. Time to get educated on all this if you are serious. It will take some time to get up to speed on this. Google is your friend and educator.

3

you dont need to convert anything if an app (or the nas) can play them.

for example… i have ripped my movies to the nas as mkv’s (originals, not converted). Plex could play the, but the nas isnt powerful enough to play them (plex relies on the server side transcoding), but apps on my phone/tablet/tvbox/comp can handle them.

so… im not using plex to watch them but other apps - like vlc, nplayer, infuce, kodi, mrmc…

4

Thanks Guys,

I am serious about purchasing a NAS plugged directly to my router to create a private cloud. I’d like to be able to play and/or stream any movies to either it’s adjacent TV (wired if needed) and other smart TV’s located in the house wirelessly. I also intend to use this NAS for all music via Plex to Sonos. I’d also like to be capable of playing any of this content using a mobile device, laptop or PC via the internet when I’m on the go.

For music, especially given the need for amalgamated playlists to Sonos, Plex seems to be the choice here.

For video, it’s critical the NAS be capable of playing to it’s adjacent TV (wired if needed) and/or streaming movies 100% reliably to other TV’s in the house wirelessly, assume bandwidth isn’t a problem or the Smart TV being the bottleneck. I would also like to be capable of playing such content via the web to a mobile device as well.

I recently came across VUDU via Walmart, which is interesting, especially given their ability to convert standard DVD’s into HDX, but wondering whether their inability to covert all may be a problem? However, if such software is available for purchase, I’d likely prefer accessing the movies via my NAS regardless. Any comments regarding VUDU would be appreciated.

From what I’m gathering, Plex may be capable of supporting video playback via a NAS but I’ll need a NAS powerful enough to do so, correct? Is the PR2100 not powerful enough to do so? If not, does WD offer a NAS that plenty powerful enough to support my needs?

Thanks,
Raz

5

Like I suggested, you need to do a lot of homework when starting from scratch. Otherwise, things can be a bit overwhelming. For example, you would not have asked the above if you had spent some time perusing the DL and PR series NAS devices at www.wdc.com – you would have known they are basically the only two NAS series that are powerful enough and have enough memory so that they can handle PLEX. The PR series appeared this summer, and the DL series appeared over a year ago. I have a DL2100 with added RAM memory and it handles PLEX fine. The PR series also can accept additional memory, and PLEX needs it.

I can watch movies stored on my NAS I have converted from my DVDs and BD discs on my WDTVs, Kodi on FireTV stick, on to my WDTVs/TV, and computers. I have made mp4/m4v files that I can watch on iPhones, iPads, Kindle tablets at home or remotely from any decent remote internet connection. Can access music as well.

In none of these situations do I exclusively or consistently use PLEX, because I really do not like it very much; I prefer other ways (other software) to view my media.

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Hi Mike,

I do appreciate the help and information. I have looked at both DL and PR, figured it would be difficult to determine whether the PR offered sufficient power for such, so I thought it prudent to reach to the community, thankfully :slight_smile:

A few questions if you don’t mind…

  1. How many gigs of ram did you find needing to support HD video fluidity? Good enough for 4K?

  2. Do you stream full HD movies, via the internet, wirelessly using Plex or alternative software using an app friendly HDTV?

  3. By other software choices, do you mean media player TV apps in conjunction with software installed on your NAS similar to PLEX and/or additional hardware such like WDTV? I’m still learning here… My aim is of course to use a sole application for everything :wink:

Any further help here would be greatly appreciated…

Thanks,
Raz

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Did you see this link at wdc.com?
All Products: Shop Hard Drives, SSDs, USBs, & Memory Cards | Western Digital

The page has not yet been updated to show the PR series, but it likely will be there soon; right next to the DL series. It shows the WD NAS devices that can handle Plex. But, only TWO series can accept additional RAM cards – the DL and PR series. The additional RAM is added so that more than one or a few apps can be run on the NAS. Plex can run OK on the DL and PR devices with native memory and especially well more likely than the others as they have more built in memory (more than 1GB) but further added apps can cause Plex to run slower on the lesser NASs.

My DL 2100 accepts a 4GB RAM card (around $25 from Amazon) It is a no brainer to spend this little amount to beef up a $600+ NAS whether one uses Plex or not.
The PR series can accept a good bit more memory, as it is intended for photo and video professional folks who are editing HD and even 4K video files. (More than enough power for Plex users).

Yes, I can stream HD mp4/m4v files (I make for the iPad) with Handbrake program. I do not stream MKV files as they are much larger files, and I have really made less and less videos from BD discs; even MKV files from them I can play to the WDTV. They can take over 20GB of disk space, whereas an m4v file takes around 2GB. They look and sound great on a tablet or small TV under 50". Over that size, and the lower bitrate becomes very apparent, and I would rather watch a DVD (or its ISO file} or the actual BD disc (or MKV from it). I also have these same m4v files posted on my virtual cloud service and can easily stream them from there, too. These same files are also on my WD My Passport Wireless drive, so the videos can also be viewed from it if there is no other way to do it (i.e. no internet, or I if am not on my home network).

I do not deal with 4K source materials; not a lot of it available yet.

Software/apps I use to stream video are mostly the My Cloud app, and app for my router, and other fav apps I have for my iOS and Android devices.

I also don’t have a “Smart” TV, because they are not necessary with having various networked media players such as WDTV, Roku, FireTV and Chromecast. Basically, many regulars at this forum believe that Smart TVs are a bit of a scam, and unnecessary if one has a “smart home network” including some/all of the devices mentioned above

Lastly, if one wants to stream high quality video, the home network needs to be topnotch, meaning all devices wired when possible, excellent bandwidth from a dual or tri-band gigabit router and solid home wireless coverage, using range extenders when necessary.

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Mike,

Very helpful here, thank you. I hadn’t been worried about file size storage, mainly the ability to view as high quality, natively possible (no resolution loss) but sounding like I may be dreaming here. I do have rather high speed internet bandwidth from Xfinity, their blast service actually. Roughly 130Mbps downstream, router 100meg capable (I think)

My intent was to stream HD content wirelessly to a 70" HDTV from the NAS located roughly 50’ from the router. I am currently capable of watching HD Netflix content on an Ipad without trouble (where the 70" HDTV would be) but I’m guessing this likely 720P (maybe 1080P) via Netflix. Wiring via Ethernet would be preferred, but far to great of a construction project.

The need for the “remote” HDTV to be smart is to be capable of utilizing the NAS content without external boxes. The HDTV would be mounted to wall, no other devices below it, other than a sound bar.

Raz

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I also have Xfinity Blast but that is internet speed, not home network speed. 100mbps is too slow for today. You need a router that is gigabit speed (1000mbps). If you have rental router and modem, you need to know their specs. I own my own router and modem. Router is DOCCIS 3, router is gigabit dual band wireless. For streaming you need to use the 5G faster band either in a dual band or tri-band (AC) router. Router needs to be setup so that you can distinguish between the slow 2,4G and faster 5G – I never use 2.4G except for devises that do not carry video streams.

Hopefully, your 70" TV uses 5G signal as well. BTW, Netflix checks your bandwidth before sending signal, and with Blast you have top internet speed for Netflix. Why does your TV has issues with Netflix?.

There are plenty of issues with Plex showing video in full rez. See this thread of the past few days which I was a part of. Plex has big limitations other software/devices don’t have.

My best video streaming from NAS is with full rez ISO and MKV files to WDTV or to FireTV stick running Kodi when I can stream same kinds of files to FireTV as I can to WDTV. Both setups can handle DVD ISO and MKV files (from BD discs). Streaming to iPads and Kindles is flawless using the quality 5G wireless signal. Plex is an also ran which can only handle my lesser quality mp4 files of same videos.

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Mike,

I was mistaken. I do own both my own router and cable modem as I was having trouble with the Xfinity gateway. My router is the ASUS RT-N66U capable streaming up to 900mbps via 2.5 and/or 5Ghz with Gigabit Ethernet. I do the same, only using 5Ghz for the iPad upstairs, all my other wireless devices (iPhone, IPad Mini, etc) are on 2.4. Would you think streaming full res MKV

Netflix via the iPad in the room where the HDTV will be mounted to the wall (planned for either a 65 or 75" actually) runs perfectly smooth via 5Ghz. 2.4Ghz also streams HD content at that location to the iPad just as well, possibly just slightly better range. I haven’t purchased the TV yet or thought to consider whether the TV is 5Ghz capable, good point. However, not finding such listed within posted specs?

Hmmmm, very interesting and very helpful. Also, thanks for being so descriptive with the differences between file types. Did you use Handbrake for the conversion? Do you use both WDTV and FireTV hardware for online movie content only or for other reasons? Kodi is new to me, I’ll need to look into it some. Are you referring to Kodi software as being installed on your NAS providing playback to a remote HDTV, either being a smart TV (having a Kodi app) or used though an external piece of hardware such like WDTV and/or FireTV to display the NAS files to your HDTV?

Thanks,
Raz

11

Raz,

Just so you know more about my setup, and you understand where I speak from:

I, too, have my own Asus RT-N66U and Motorola DOCCIS 3 modem. They are connected to a CAT5e box in a bedroom closet over near the center of the 2-story house. This gives me best coverage, although the closet wall the antenna face is one/two layer sheetrock to house center. I have four room walls throughout house with Ethernet ports built in walls (each have network switches connected to them, so many/most all devices are wired, not wireless). Because of house size, I use three WD range extenders (RE) to handle fringe areas for wireless; one set for 2.4G (mostly for Amazon Echo, Dot, that handle only audio – no video. Another RE is for 5G (so we can stream video from anywhere in house to iPhones, iPads and Kindle tablets; all our phones/tablets are on the 5G signal, as 2.4 G is rarely used except for Echo devices). I have an Android app on Kindle for measuring Wi-Fi strength, channels router is on, etc. (called Wi-Fi Analyzer) that helps fine-tune Wi-Fi. No such app for iOS devices, although there is an app for computers called inSSIDer that can do same task on a laptop. I suggest you stream to all mobile devices when using 5G anywhere. I even have the mobile devices “forget” the 2.4G signal so I continue to stay on our 5G. Get range extenders if necessary for best 5G results.

Streaming MKV files made from BDs: I can do this successfully to WDTV that is wired to network, but also to FireTV stick that is wireless downstairs/upstairs. I even have a separate RE on a different 5G signal for just FireTV and Chromecast devices connected directly to TV (a 2010 model 54" Panasonic plasma, 1080p model. No problems streaming to them this way. BTW, we access Netflix via a Roku 2 which is also wired to network; not wireless.

For making MKV files, I don’t make them from DVD ISO files, the ISOs just play from NAS to WDTV, and it does the processing and on to TV. I only make MKV files for WDTV from very few BD discs I have (files are gigantic). I use Handbrake to make “iPad” m4v files for the mobile devices from either ISO or the BD MKV files. All work well streaming to mobile devices and FireTV or Chromecast. I do not usually use the iPad files for the TV; I use the original (parent) files for the WDTV/TV display.

KODI is well regarded software that can be installed on various devices other than the FireTV. Installing on a FireTV takes some special instructions, and there are posted videos of how to do it. I found that even those instructions were not foolproof and had to come up with a modification last month to install it on a second Fire stick for new TV.

Quite a few people here have installed Kodi on a Raspberry PI3. Joey Smyth is a true believer of the RBP 3, so maybe he will jump in here. So far, I have not felt the necessity to add the Pi to my gadget collection – yet!

Kodi is not installed on the NAS; only Plex is. It would be nice if Kodi could be installed on the NAS! Kodi is not necessary for a WDTV, since it is a great decoder/media player. Problem is, WD apparently quit making them over a year ago and has remained silent about them ever re-appearing.

So, two of our TVs have a WDTV attached, so Kodi and Fire stick are not used to view our movies. The new TV in a guest bedroom does not have a WDTV, so is why there is a FireTV w/Kodi installed since it can do most of what the WDTV can do.

If I left one of your questions unanswered, let me know. I have given you detailed replies because you have apparently done you homework enough to ask
informed questions, appear to have the right equipment, and you show a genuine interest to get up and running with this task. Continue doing your research via Google on this topic.

Back in late 2010, I got a WDTV, and knew I needed to create a home network which I knew nothing at all about doing. But, being computer savvy, I dug in. I continued doing my research, got a network setup, and stayed a reader and later a participant, of this forum, and today I have every gadget working like it should and a great and functional home network. All it takes is sticking with it.