Ultimate DVR Solution

Channels DVR Server
#1

Currently, I am using a variety of programs/devices to achieve my DVR goals.

SD DVR engine for recordings on WD My Cloud (single disk)
Channels for “Live” TV on ATV4 and iOS (SD view on Android for DRM)
Channels Beta DVR for replay of very recent recordings on ATV
Plex on ATV/iOS for movie viewing (commercial free) and ease of selection
MCE Buddy on Windows for commercial skipping and archiving
Plex (Server on both Win and OSX, as I can dual boot, and could have either one or the other os running on my iMac at any time)

My goal is to reduce/consolidate devices (especially, eliminating dual boot of iMac) and have all relevant services on low power devices.

Hopefully, Channels DVR engine will run on the WD MyCloud, then I have DRM, Plex and MCE Buddy to still consider. At this point, I am willing to take DRM out of the equation, leaving Plex and commercial skipping (MCE). At some point in the future, Channels may have the capabilities of Plex and commercial skipping, however, in the interim, I would like to have a solution.

My first thought was to purchase a Nvidia Shield, which can now run the Plex server, hence MCE Buddy would be my only missing component. Upon further investigation, comm skip can be run on Linux (iirc, Aman was a major contributor) and Plex Server can run in Linux.

In conclusion, for the near future, should I buy the Shield for Plex capabilities and continue using Win for comm skip, or set up a Linux server for both requirements of Plex and comm skip.

FYI, I have no prior experience with Linux os and it’s hardware requirements to reach my goals.

Any thoughts?

#2

DebbieFL, quite a few discussion points. I also am researching and experimenting with different equipment and apps to reach a satellite TV replacement that is easy for the family to use, reliable and reasonable for me to support.

To keep things simple I’ve decided on AppleTV4 as the devices for television viewing. My family is familiar with Apple products so AppleTV4 keeps the learning curve down. Limiting to one device also allows me to focus my efforts. I’m currently using Channels for live television and Infuse for media playing and am very happy with both. Channels has been very reliable and I highly recommend the AppleTV and iOS Infuse app as it will play almost any media formats from shared storage on your local network. IMO Infuse is more flexible and simpler then a Plex server. I have a 2TB USB3.0 drive on an Asus router that I use for media storage and Infuse will play any format including HEVC/H265 files without conversion. Infuse will also load and display meta data for your media files.

Don’t have a DVR solution in place yet. Hoping to use the Channels DVR but if it isn’t available soon I will probably give Tablo a shot. Tablo now has an AppleTV4 app so that may work for me.

Check out Infuse if you get a chance. Good Luck

#3

Snow66:

I do have Infuse Pro (ATV & iOS), however, on the ATV, I have to connect it to wi-fi for better performance, which isn’t great for other apps. On moca hardwire, we have to wait up to 15 sec for start on mpeg2 files.

The best app for response for rew/ff/pause on ATV is Channels (DVR Beta), bar none. I’m eagerly anticipating their new ATV app and all the better with the iOS tie in, as a fair percentage of our viewing is on individual iOS devices.

The Channels devs are tremendously responsive, professional and very invested in providing a fantastic product.

Been waiting for SD over a year, what is awhile longer for a premier experience.

#4

Remember, on Channels for live TV, it’s buffered to the disk. So it’s all local. There’s no network involved, so it’s always going to be faster than files that have to seek over the network. :wink:

#5

On Channels DVR Beta, seek time to start/restart viewing recordings is excellent.

Infuse is the snail, Channels is the hare, at least on my network.

Or am I mis-reading?

Correction: Tortoise… Messing up my fables

#6

Infuse is extremely slow. No idea why. MPEG4 is faster.

#7

I’m in a similar (but not quite as complex) situation…

I use Channels for live, and Plex to play back recordings made by NextPVR and commercial cut/sort with MCE Buddy via a Windows box. After seeing that the Channels DVR release will be Mac/Linux I’ve been dabbling with a Linux option in a VM, but I’m cautious to go as far as actually replacing the Windows machine with it (using MythTV/Plex for now) until I know what form the Linux version will take (Docker etc.).

MCEBuddy really is that missing piece though, while comskip appears to be replaceable (maybe built in with Channels? ;)), Buddy sorts the shows just right for Plex to find which is a problem I’m having with Myth. Handy tool.

None of that helps your quandary I know, but at least you’re not alone. :slight_smile:

#8

I added the 16gb Nvidia Shield for use as a Plex Server (got it on Prime Day). It has been great up until the past few days. It just started disconnecting, so I now have some investigating to do.

The shield is very quiet, fast and has low power consumption. I’ve been able to turn off my iMac for long periods of time due to this change and prior changes to workflow from offloading many duties to an ipad.

I use MCEBuddy for commercial stripping/metadata just on recorded movies, so now I only run it 1-2x per week.

Looking forward to Channels DVR, we all may be able to simplify even more.

#9

Only issue with the Shield and Plex is TrueHD and VC-1 that I’ve found. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m guessing you could set up the Shield as a Plex Server, then use SPMC on the Shield and the PlexKodiConnect add-on to connect to the Plex Server and play anything that’s VC-1 or TrueHD until they can update it (probably with the Nougat update).

#10

Yeah I LOVE MCE buddy for auto commercial removal and for converting files to a smaller MP4 file. It’s only on Windows though so hopefully Channels DVR makes it there eventually (and that it supports Windows 7). I didn’t upgrade to Windows 10 so I can continue to use windows media center as my DVR. It’s ui is really clean (the open source Media Portal just isn’t as nice and is a PAIN to set up).

I don’t want to invest into HD Homeruns DVR solution mainly because their apps on iOS and Apple TV suck. Which is where Channels steps in. Hoping their DVR is affordable. I like HDHRs price point a lot.