What video format does NowTV Support?

[liveseytowers]

I want to optimise my media so that Plex doesn't need to transcode it when a NowTV box is streaming from it. Its mainly TV shows and and Kids movies in AVI or MKV. What format is the best for the NowTV so that it can play direct instead of transcoding? I planned to use http://handbrake.fr/ to do the converting.

So from peoples experience what is the best format to play on a NowTV box?

[chesser]

MP4 as I can then use that format on a multitude on devices and I use Freemake Video Converter mate to do it.

[liveseytowers]

I had installed Freemake but was told to use Handbrake by someone at work. Can Freemake do a whole directory at a time?

[chesser]

Yes as long as you multi select more than one file at a time.

[chesser]

Got me curious now mate so tonight I'm going to play a native MKV then convert with Handbrake and convert with Freemake and I'll report back my findings tomorrow

[liveseytowers]

I''ve just set up Freemake for now as it was easier to select the mkvs in my films folder so I'll do them tonight and do avi tomorrow. What audio do you convert to? AAC or AC3?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[chesser]

I use MP3 which seems to work fine
Interestingly I converted a Tv programme last night results below:

MKV was 465MB
Converted through Freemake Custom H264 level 4.1 which Plexrarflix supports MP3 1080p settings and it grew to 710MB
Converted thorugh Handbrake settings as above only increased to 489MB

Looked at them all through my pc, NowTV and my HD TV couldn't tell any difference between the 3, so I guess Freemake and Handbrake are much of a muchness, although Handbrake I would suggest ultimately uses less disk space for conversions, I will double double check the settings though just to make sure I've not got anything additional checked in freemake.

Cheers

Chesser.

[DejaVu]

I'm using x264/AAC combo and no transcoding takes place. I managed to get all 20min animated episodes, like Simpsons/American Dad/Futrama down to 75Mb each and are very watchable/streamable.
I used Freemake Multi-selection thingy, but had a problem with the 3 second 'advert' it adds at the end... so used this.

[liveseytowers]

I didn't realise it put an advert at the end of each video. I've just been doing some reading and it sounds a bit dodgy with the developers being Russian and it seems to send info back even when you tell it not too. With that in mind i've uninstalled it. I'll give Handbrake a try on my Mac which I keep forgetting i've got as its got an i7 so it should fly though. Based on what Chesser was saying I should get smaller file sizes.

Also the isn't the NowTV box 720p max? How does it work Chessers file converted to 1080p?