Finally, on the fly WMV transcoding for the Xbox 360

We realize the fall update's only been out a few weeks, but it seems like an eternity for those of us that have been waiting since last November to stream media to our Xbox 360s without the need for a Media Center PC. A new TVersity patch allows users to transcode video to WMV -- now in real time -- for immediate distribution to their 360 over Windows Media Connect without the pain of duped files and finding a good WMV encoder. A little fuss, a little muss, and a few minor niggles to keep this from being a prime time solution, but still, there isn't exactly a plethora of ways to get your DivX onto your Xbox, so be grateful you've got at least something for now as the hardworking hacker front actually gives the people what the people want, whether or not it fits into Microsoft's digital media business plan.

[Via Joystiq]

[thasmadawg @ Nov 25th 2006 8:13PM]

Now we just need a mac solution.

[Nick @ Nov 26th 2006 5:55AM]

I'll second that. I hate having to boot my PC every time I want to watch a DivX movie on my xbox.

[n3ldan @ Nov 25th 2006 8:44PM]

Just buy a second hand original xbox and softmod it. That's like $100 and a few hours and you've got a great media center with no need for any of this transcoding bullshit. Buy a big hard drive and then you don't even need a net connection. Plus you can play embedded videos just by clicking on them in FF. It's truly great.

XBMC rocks.

[noob @ Nov 25th 2006 8:53PM]

@ n3ldan

right, so i should spend more money and more time instead of using the hardware i already have. great call.

[Mikey B. @ Nov 25th 2006 9:33PM]

I went to download Windows Media Connect, and got redirected to download Zune software. WMC is gone! Now Zune will control your streaming to the XBox360.

[sracer @ Nov 25th 2006 10:03PM]

Correction: If you use TVersity, then you don't need Windows Media Connect. (actually you CAN'T use it.. it will interfere).

Give the TVersity team a little time. It's only been 2 weeks or so since the official fall dashboard update (which allowed streaming wmv video from non-MCE Windows systems) and we already have successful on-the-fly transcoding.

Finally, (thanks to the fall update and the latest TVersity patch) I now have what Microsoft promised and implied a year ago.

[Matt @ Nov 26th 2006 1:13PM]

Thanks sracer I had windows media connect running and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get this to work.

[_man1c_ @ Nov 25th 2006 10:11PM]

pfft. just install MCE 05 and the troubles are gone..

[Edward @ Nov 25th 2006 10:47PM]

Wow. All this shit, including abilities to do whatever the hell the fall update lets you do, and the lousiness of needing a third-party solution, should have been released with the Xbox 360 a year ago.

Microsoft you've done it again. Anymore shitbox features you forgot to leave out?

[Jon @ Nov 26th 2006 1:33AM]

As much as it sucks that the 360 doesn't support DivX and Xvid natively...I don't blame MS. MS must make nice with movie & recording industry to do things like Xbox Live Video...supporting DivX and Xvid would just piss everyone off and slow down the adoption of legitamate content delivery services.

That being said...I have installed TVersity and it works! Although I am getting a strange grid pattern accross my screen that is visible at times??? I'm going to play with the encoding settings and see if I can fix it.

I recommend shutting off your firewall until after your shure everything works.
Follow these instructions:

HOWTO: Divx Streaming & Transcoding on Xbox 360

Here is a little guide for the inevitable wave of peeps trying to get this to work.

Files required

TVersity:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/download.tversity.com/Setup_0_9_8_2a.exe
TVersity Xbox 360 patch:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/download.tversity.com/Xbox360Patch_0_9_8_4.zip
FFdshow:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDShow.htm
FLVSplitter:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303&package_id=183318

Note: Links subject to change

If you use Windows Media Connect or Windows Media Player 11

If you already have Windows Media Connect or Windows Media Player 11 sharing your media, you will have to disable them. Goto the 360 and remove the PC from the System tab->Computers. Unistall Windows Media Connect and/or disable sharing in WMP 11.

Instructions

On the PC (in my case Windows Vista x64):



1) Install TVersity
2) Make sure the TVersity service is stopped
3) Overwrite the TVersity files with the 360 patch
4) Install ffdshow and flvsplitter (extract to a useful folder e.g. C:\Windows\system32, use a command prompt to install: regsvr32 flvsplitter.ax)
5) Goto: http://localhost:41952/
6) Add the folder you would like to share under the sharing tab by using "Add folder" on the file menu. Change the device to "Xbox 360" in the settings tab.
7) Reboot



You may also wish to delete the internet streams under "Library" by pressing the delete button. This adds too much to the 360 (about 1500 items! making it hard to find your files).

Also you may need to add "MediaServer.exe" to Windows firewall as it may not be added automatically.

On the 360:



1) Goto the blue "Media" tab
2) Goto video - Computer
3) Connect to TVersity on XPC
4) You may need to go back and forward, to refresh list first time
5) Play a DIVX!!!



Other codecs

The only codecs I have installed are: ffdshow, flvsplitter, vsfilter, quicktime alternative and real alternative.

Unofficial known issues

350mb AVIs work straight away, 700mb AVIs require me to load them twice on the 360 (it will say timed out or whatever), just try it again.

Some files will fail to work because the filename is too long - so try shortening it.

Thanks for all your hard work guys, keep it up

Finally DivX on 360 thanks to TVersity

[Art Guy @ Nov 26th 2006 1:59AM]

thasmadawg - The Mac version was done a while ago. Connect360 streams WMVs just fine.

[Nick @ Nov 26th 2006 6:11AM]

Aye but it doesn't transcode on the fly.. and only supports WMV

[Kevin @ Nov 26th 2006 12:04PM]

Finally? Do any other consoles even offer video from your computer? Please stop being a bitch.

[Anthony @ Nov 26th 2006 1:37PM]

this has been out forever.. under the name "transcode 360" check it out. http://runtime360.com/blog/

[SH @ Nov 26th 2006 7:10PM]

Transcode 360 rocks, check out the link above.