[3.7.0] A few new user questions about MrMC

[DanielCoffey]

Please excuse the new user questions but having verified that my "problem movie" that confounded Plex would play nicely on MrMC Lite, I purchased the full app and now have access to my full library.

While I was going through the Settings in the app, a few things popped up about which I would appreciate some more explanation.

For reference, my current setup is the NAS box in my signature running Plex Media Server in a Docker to one Apple TV (4th gen) running MrMC 3.7.0 to a 1080p TV with 2.0 stereo audio.

My NAS has all the original MKV files from MakeMKV. The large majority are H.264 video and various audio formats but a few are VC1 video. I have a second copy of every movie transcoded to H.264 and AC3 5.1 plus AAC 2.0.

1. Enable Transcode

In Settings - Enable Transcode, the tooltip states that if set, the app will request that Plex transcode where necessary. Default is No. Given the difference between the processor in the Apple TV (4th gen) vs the NAS (i3-8300), is it advisable to tick that option in MrMC?

2. Power Saving

Settings - Power Saving implies that MrMC can attempt to wake your remote server on access. Does this send a WoL packet and how is it specified? Do I need to know the MAC address or the IP address?

3. Video Transcoding of VC1

When requesting a movie that is in MKV VC1 format, does MrMC need to perform any video transcoding to allow playback? I am not concerned about the audio as that is lightweight enough. If MrMC supports both MKV VC1 and MKV H.264 sources without transcoding, I can point it to the original MKV files I have. If transcoding would be required, I will point it to the pre-done library.

4. MrMC's relationship with Plex Media Server

I understand that I can use Plex Media Server on my NAS to organise the movies and present them in a nice way to MrMC but since I don't use the large majority of PMS's features such as playlists, streaming to mobile devices and trailers, would I be advised to simply point MrMC directly to the Movies share and do away with Plex Media Server?

I already have the library well organised and can always use a tool to make sure the metadata and thumbnail is fully populated.

5. Siri Remote

Finally I saw in the following page IN THE WIKI that the volume buttons on the Siri Remote have no effect in MrMC. When I tested this, they appeared to work perfectly so does the wiki need updating or are there certain hardware configurations where this is actually the case?

[davilla]

1) No, The AppleTV4K can play pretty much everything without having to transcode.
2)Use the WOL extension, You can enter the MAC address there.
3)See 1)
4)Try both and see which you like. Using Plex Server has the advantage of not losing the metadata if tvOS decides to purge app storage (which it will do and we have no control over)
5) Volume control works fine, wiki is stale.

[DanielCoffey]

Thanks for the replies.

I have the Apple TV (4th gen), not the Apple TV 4K - does that make a difference to my queries about MKV VC1 files? All my media is 1080p or lower.

[davilla]

1) No, The AppleTV4K can play pretty much everything without having to transcode.
2)Use the WOL extension, You can enter the MAC address there.
3)See 1)
4)Try both and see which you like. Using Plex Server has the advantage of not losing the metadata if tvOS decides to purge app storage (which it will do and we have no control over)
5) Volume control works fine, wiki is stale.

Correction, 5) volume control in Siri remote control the tv/receiver. MrMC cannot see those buttons.

[davilla]

Thanks for the replies.

I have the Apple TV (4th gen), not the Apple TV 4K - does that make a difference to my queries about MKV VC1 files? All my media is 1080p or lower.

Try them.

[timstephens24]

Thanks for the replies.

I have the Apple TV (4th gen), not the Apple TV 4K - does that make a difference to my queries about MKV VC1 files? All my media is 1080p or lower.

After a few fixes early on in the MrMC development for VC1 all but one movie of mine with VC1 played really well. So yeah, you should just try it and see. If you have issues with the VC1 playback, you can set MrMC to transcode just those.