golfgal said: I have over 500 M4V H.264 files totalling just under 1TB.  It's been "transcoding" for at least a month now and is only 1/4 of the way through the list. How long is this supposed to take!!!!???? Where do the transcoded versions of the M4Vs GO?  The do not appear anywhere on the HDD AFAIK.  (not even as invisible files!)  Can I move them to another drive if I switch drives?  I did switch once and it seemed like all was lost - had to start from scratch. Should I just make my OWN trancoded (handbrake/shrunken) versions of these M4Vs - and where would I put them if so?  The HDD with all the full size M4Vs is on a network drive, and serves an AppleTV1 running XBMC and laptops. iPads and phones on our WLAN wokrin well in full "original" size without being optimized. The goal is to be able to access the full library anywhere on the road - over a mediocre internet connection.  By my calculations "transcoding" will be done in another 3-4 MONTHS.  Even then, I won't be able to backup the transcodes, because I can't find them!   hmmm

Hi golfgal,

With such a large library, it certainly would be quicker for you to transcode your video's using Handbrake. Pogoplug's video transcode feature is terrific but it does take some time because Pogoplugs use a single core processor. If you decide to transcode your videos using Handbrake, remember to disable transcoding in Media Settings.

For future reference, if you want to move your data to a larger drive, you need to copy not only your own files but the hidden file .ceid and hidden folder .cedata Pogoplug creates on each attached drive. In particular, transcoded video is stored in .cedata.

Kindest Regards,

Christopher

on behalf of the Pogoplug Team

golfgal said:

Chris Louie said:  Hi golfgal, With such a large library, it certainly would be quicker for you to transcode your video's using Handbrake. Pogoplug's video transcode feature is terrific but it does take some time because Pogoplugs use a single core processor. If you decide to transcode your videos using Handbrake, remember to disable transcoding in Media Settings. For future reference, if you want to move your data to a larger drive, you need to copy not only your own files but the hidden file .ceid and hidden folder .cedata Pogoplug creates on each attached drive. In particular, transcoded video is stored in .cedata. Kindest Regards, Christopher on behalf of the Pogoplug Team

Super - got it thanks Chris!   Now then just one more related question -  Assuming I did my own transcodes, they would not be in this .cedata folder.  (not to mention not the same format)  Instead it might look like this - MyDrive - Root = All M4Vs MyDrive/Transcodes Since the .cedata folder is at root level, but the DIY Transcodes are not - how does that resolve in the case where I want to watch "Original" over WLAN, then also Transcoded on WiFi remotely on the road?  Best guess (workaround?) is to "share" - MyDrive/Transcodes? Again thanks so much - it's great to see CE a little more active in this forum than in the past!

Hi golfgal,

Your workaround is a nice idea but 'Media Settings' determine which versions of the video playback.

If you use Handbrake to encode your video, as long as you transcode your video with 'Web optimized' checked using H.264 codec Pogoplug will stream this video without transcode. Start with the iPhone or AppleTV presets and check 'Web optimized' and you should be good to go. As mentioned previously, on your Media Settings page toggle 'Optimize your videos for playback:' to 'Never' and 'Apply Changes'. Then your transcoded video will playback locally or remotely.

KR

Christopher