Playback more than just DivX - Revised Edition

Want to use DivX Connected to play back H.264, Flash, Quicktime, Matroska and other file types?  Since DivX Connected is open enough to be expanded by anyone, I have created some easy to follow examples of how you can expand your DivX Connected servers ability to autoamatically transcode many popular formats during playback.  These examples are easy enough for anyone that can click a mouse to install a few required demuxers and codecs, even if you have no idea what that means.

For those interested in going beyond this, see my “Technical Details Revealed” section here.

All downloads needed in this tutorial, are available in this All-In-One Pack.

Now for the examples:

First, you must have build 1.2.x.x of the DivX Connected server. You will also need to download and configure some demuxers (splitters) and codecs that you may not already have on your PC.  If you want to know more about what these are click here, but they basically are what allows the DivX Connected server to recognize and decode the new file types.

The downloads needed for this example are (you will need all four for this example to work):

For Flash video files: 

      FLV Splitter (osflvsplitter): Click here for download

Just install this as is.

For Matroska (MKV) Files: 

MKV is a container file format that can be used for many different video and audio types. The most popular usage is H.264 HD video. You will need the Haali splitter for this example. 

      Haali Simple Media Splitter (MatroskaSplitter):  Click here for download 

Just install this as is. 

ffdshow: 

ffdshow is a multi codec DirectShow filter pack which means if you install it, you will able to play H.264, FLV1 or MPEG2.  For audio, ffdshow tryouts has support for popular codecs like MP3, AAC, Vorbis, AC3, and DTS as well as not-so-popular ones like LPCM, True Audio, and QDM2. 

      ffdshow tryouts: Click here for download 

When installing ffdshow, choose the "Do not limit" option on the 3rd and fourth screens.  

Hint: If you don't know, how to configure ffdshow and only intend to use it with DivX Connected anyway, take a look at DivX Connected and ffdshow for dummies. 

DCDShowPlaybackPlugin.config: 

This config file will tell DivX Connected how to use the new splitters and codecs. 

Click here to download

C:\Program Files\DivX\DivX Connected\Bin\DivX Connected 

Now restart your server 

After doing the above, press the “Exit” button on the server and then re-launch the server.  You can now add the folders that contain your content if it is not already in a monitored folder.  Your new content types should now show up and play on your TV.  

Additional Info

• FLV Splitter Homepage URL: http://www.free-codecs.com/Flash_Video_Splitter_download.htm
• Haali Simple Media Splitter Homepage URL: http://haali.cs.msu.ru/mkv/
• ffdshow tryouts Homepage URL: http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/

 Complete list of files types supported 

After this configuration is complete, the following file type will be supported by DivX Connected using real time transcoding.

• DivX Media File (DIVX)
• AVI (AV)
• Windows ASF (ASF)
• Windows Media Video (WMV)
• Windows Media Audio (WMA)
• MPEG-I (MPG, MPEG)
• Flash (FLV)
• OGG
• Matroska Video (MKV)
• Matroska Audio (MKA)
• MPEG-4 Part 14 (M4A)
• QuickTime (MOV)
• MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS)
• MPEG-2 Program Stream (VOB)

 Troubleshooting tips

1. Make sure you have the proper Admin permissions to add these types of programs to your PC.
2. If things are not working make sure you have the DivX Connected 1.2 server installed.
3. Make sure you re-started the server after making the above modifications.
4. Make sure you configured ffdshow properly during its installation by choosing the "Do not limit" option on the 3rd and fourth screens. If you're not sure how to configure ffdshow, take a look at DivX Connected and ffdshow for dummies.
5. Some users have had to un-install the DivX Connected server prior to installing the server 1.2 in order to get other formats to playback.