I have local videos that are in a m3u playlist that I can play on my windows server in vlc but I would like to create a channel in Channels from this playlist to serve these local files up to my iPad etc on my network. My plan is that I would automatically generate a new m3u playlist each night that Channels would import or refresh and I’d have a fresh playlist of retro tv shows or cartoons or whatever I have in this playlist I already make that includes commercials between my videos. Is this possible with Channels?
I think what your trying to do can be accomplished with virtual channels w/ bumper groups
you add/edit a virtual channels under sources
Looks like virtual channel will let me pick videos that have been recorded or personal videos imported but not a m3u playlist of local videos that are not already imported into Channels. I would like to use external scripts like I already have to create my m3u playlist files that I use for vlc now but I’d like to bring those into Channels to share to my other home devices as a “90’s Cartoons” channel or whatever it is.
I did find where I could add a local m3u file but it is expecting that to include a playlist of externally hosted videos I believe http etc.
I may just need to import my media into Channels to see if I can do what I want to that way, but I was hoping to avoid that as I have a very large library and I thought that providing pre-generated local file playlists may be a more efficient way to do it if possible.
I’m testing the Virtual Channels using imported videos instead with Random and the bumpers option. The random option doesn’t seem to be working that great. Lots of repeated shows because I have a lot more episodes of some shows so it would be nice if there was a smarter shuffle option that wasn’t totally random but used some logic to try to not repeat the same series. Also is there a way to add more than 1 bumper video between shows. Like if I wanted 3 instead?
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I just have it play in order, but I just have a few so far with shows that have lots of seasons, so when I tune in (bedtime) it's always a random spot in the whole series, and some shows are better if episodes go in order.
sorry i'm not much more help, but I knew it was close to what your looking for. I'm sure there are ways to use your playlist with olivetin but im not using it, yet.
edit I just looked, and I do have some on random, I saw the setting for limit, but can't quickly find what it limits (maybe mini marathons)
also I did see that you can use channel collections in virtual channels, so that might be a way to group in collections, then random or whatever in virtual. also collections might work for bumper 'groups'
Thanks I will try it the way I have it for now and see how it goes. In my mind I was thinking if I could use my playlists I already have generating from powershell scripts that I made and just bring those into Channels nightly that would be awesome!
M3U playlists are only supported for live streams, not VOD content. If you want a playlist of local content, you need to import it as personal media. Then, once your content/media is in Channels' library you can create your own Virtual Channels and/or Playlists.
Interesting so this could be a way to make it so I could use these local files in a m3u playlist that is usable by Channels?
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