BETA - STRM file support for Imports

Fofer · February 11, 2023, 1:07am

No, that’s what .strm files are for.

.strmlnk files are ones that direct to other apps and services:

xtinct101 · February 11, 2023, 1:27am

I feel like I'm going in circles.
Yes I understand that strm files play natively in channels BUT they only seem to support direct links to files.
When I asked if it is possible for strm files to play url streams, I was told thats what strmlnks are for but they don't play url streams natively so again I'm asking, is it possible with whatever strm format to play a url stream directly in channels like jellyfin/emby are able too?

tmm1 · February 11, 2023, 1:28am

What do you mean by "direct links to files"

For STRM you put in a URL to a video and then Channels app plays the video. It works the same way as Emby/Jellyfin

Fofer · February 11, 2023, 1:29am

I’m also not sure what a “url stream” is in this context.

What’s the underlying content you are trying to play? Does the filename in your URL end in mp4, mkv, avi, mov, etc? Does that same URL play in the VLC app on your computer?

Or is it a web page with copy-protected content embedded?

xtinct101 · February 12, 2023, 2:22pm

You're correct.
It seems strm is the format I'm looking for but it wasn't working when I tried it. After examining the logs there seems to be an issue when trying to play the files.
This is the error I get:
[HLS] Couldn't generate master playlist: Couldn't probe recording:

I play a lot of old films from archive.org and create strm files for them. This works just fine in emby/jellyfin but in channels it fails with that error.

Here's an example URL I'm trying to play.
https://ia800400.us.archive.org/28/items/All.Quiet.on.the.Western.Front.1930_201605/All.Quiet.on.the.Western.Front.1930.mp4

tmm1 · February 12, 2023, 3:59pm

Where are you trying to watch? It only works in the Channels app

xtinct101 · February 12, 2023, 4:35pm

I'm trying on the iOS app.

and the accompanying entry in the logs.
2023/02/12 08:31:40.970173 [HLS] Couldn't generate master playlist: Couldn't probe recording: /data/recordings/Imports/Movies/All Quiet on the Western Front.strm

xtinct101 · February 12, 2023, 4:42pm

Ohhh interesting, I just tested this on android and it works as expected. Seems to be a bug on iOS.

tmm1 · February 12, 2023, 4:54pm

Is it set to home original in the iOS app?

xtinct101 · February 12, 2023, 5:32pm

Home was set to original but my channels-dvr is remote so I'm connecting to it Away from Home.
Internet streaming was set to 8mbps, I changed it to original but that didn't fix it.

Fofer · February 12, 2023, 5:42pm

Just as a data point, I created a STRM file with this URL, imported it into Channels DVR, and tested it on my AppleTV as well as my iPhone, and the movie played back fine on both. I then turned WiFi off my iPhone, force-quit and relaunched the Channels app just for good measure, and tried again, and this time it failed with the same error you got. My Streaming Quality is set to Cellular Streaming.

tmm1 · February 12, 2023, 5:53pm

Okay there's a bug with STRM when playing remotely then

Fofer · February 12, 2023, 6:00pm

Yes, even when Cellular Streaming is set to Original - Direct, it doesn't work. It also doesn't work when I am on WiFi at home and its set to Home Streaming - Original - Stream. It only seems to work on WiFi, at home, when using Original - Direct.

xtinct101 · February 12, 2023, 8:53pm

Just to add a little more info. This seems to be restricted to iOS only as I have both androidTV and iOS set to remote stream original. AndroidTV works, iOS fails.

xtinct101 · February 20, 2023, 1:39am

Just circling back to this regarding a fix?

maddox · February 20, 2023, 1:46am

I think this was resolved in a recent beta. It just wasn’t listed in the notes. Please give it a try.

xtinct101 · February 22, 2023, 12:41am

Just installed beta iOS and working perfectly. TY!

Javier492 · March 6, 2023, 11:58pm

Which streaming services will work with stream files? And how do i get the correct url from the compatible streaming services>

Fofer · March 7, 2023, 11:12pm

I don't think any do, because of DRM (copyright protection.)

I did however find lots of interesting documentary content freely available on NHK World:

It's a Japanese channel but lots of their videos are in English and if they're in Japanese they have English subtitles.
With Chrome browser I use the Live Stream Downloader extension to identify the address of the .mp4 file that is playing and then use that as a Stream File in Channels DVR.

Example, from this:

To this:

https://hls-abr-api-wse-nhkw.stream.co.jp/make.m3u8?app=mz-nhk10&plfm=kitdvod&bcp=mm/flvmedia/&media=1271808:5905/v/9/n/v9nt8r31_eby23yxg_h264_1244K.mp4,677888:5905/v/9/n/v9nt8r31_h7d0x2ou_h264_664K.mp4,391168:5905/v/9/n/v9nt8r31_xk568210_h264_384K.mp4

I've also found some usable .mp4 URLs over at the Internet Archive. For now, at least.

babsonnexus · September 25, 2024, 5:04pm

Stream Link Manager for Channels now has the ability to help manage Stream Files (STRM)!

[RELEASE] Stream Link Manager for Channels

I was feeling froggy and Stream Link Manager for Channels now supports Stream Files (STRM)!

Channels Support - Import Content from Streaming URLs with Stream Files

This includes the reprocess function that refreshes metadata.
* NEW: STRM (Stream File) support
* NEW: 'Special Actions' allows the user to make a STRM (Stream File) link instead of a Stream Link
* MODIFIED: Reprocess function now takes STRMs (Stream Files) into account

Check it out: