SkipFire
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
10:00 AM
IIS & M4V
I am trying to host an M4V file on IIS and stream it to the Roku. The file can be accessed over the web by other computers, but when i try to get it on the Roku the debug telnet tells me:
play failed: An unexpected problem (but not server timeout or HTTP error) has been detected.
I am using the Simple Video Player sample and updated the URL and have tried using both mp4 and m4v as the stream format values. I have tried using multiple mime type values for the .m4v extension including video/x-m4v, video/mp4, and video/mpeg. I have also tried renaming the file to .mp4. Everything I've tried so far leaves me with the same error above.
I did find an MP4 file online and tried that and it seems to load to the Roku just fine, but it also is only 6MB as opposed to the 1.8GB for the m4v I am needing to stream out.
I would appreciate any suggestions.
play failed: An unexpected problem (but not server timeout or HTTP error) has been detected.
I am using the Simple Video Player sample and updated the URL and have tried using both mp4 and m4v as the stream format values. I have tried using multiple mime type values for the .m4v extension including video/x-m4v, video/mp4, and video/mpeg. I have also tried renaming the file to .mp4. Everything I've tried so far leaves me with the same error above.
I did find an MP4 file online and tried that and it seems to load to the Roku just fine, but it also is only 6MB as opposed to the 1.8GB for the m4v I am needing to stream out.
I would appreciate any suggestions.
8 REPLIES 8


Roku Employee
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
10:16 AM
Re: IIS & M4V
Shot in the dark... be sure your server supports the HTTP Range header.
SkipFire
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
10:54 AM
Re: IIS & M4V
IIS does support the RANGE header. Any other ideas?

RokuMarkn
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
11:09 AM
Re: IIS & M4V
Neither the mime type nor the file name should have any effect on a file's playability.
Can you run ffmpeg or some similar tool and display the details of the MP4 file (audio and video codecs, codec parameters, etc)?
--Mark
Can you run ffmpeg or some similar tool and display the details of the MP4 file (audio and video codecs, codec parameters, etc)?
--Mark
SkipFire
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
11:59 AM
Re: IIS & M4V
Ok, I'm admitting total and complete ignorance here. I have no clue what I am doing with ffmpeg. Reading through what documentation I see online it looks like it is for conversion rather than info, but as I said I don't know what I'm doing with this part of the project. I'm just a dumb programmer and don't know squat about video files other than that they supposedly contain audio and video tracks.
belltown
Roku Guru
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
01:07 PM
Re: IIS & M4V
If you're running Windows you can use Mediainfo to get that information.

RokuMarkn
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
01:14 PM
Re: IIS & M4V
Or if you do have ffmpeg available somewhere, just type "ffmpeg -i myfile.mp4" and it will print out the info.
--Mark
--Mark
SkipFire
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
04-30-2012
01:54 PM
Re: IIS & M4V
This is what I got from ffmpeg.
ffmpeg version N-40126-ga4b58fd Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Apr 26 2012 03:33:03 with gcc 4.6.3
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-ru
ntime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass
--enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libope
njpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libth
eora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --e
nable-zlib
libavutil 51. 47.100 / 51. 47.100
libavcodec 54. 15.100 / 54. 15.100
libavformat 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavdevice 53. 4.100 / 53. 4.100
libavfilter 2. 72.100 / 2. 72.100
libswscale 2. 1.100 / 2. 1.100
libswresample 0. 11.100 / 0. 11.100
libpostproc 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'd:\videos\test.m4v':
Metadata:
major_brand : mp42
minor_version : 0
compatible_brands: mp42isomavc1
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
encoder : HandBrake 0.9.6 2012022800
Duration: 02:13:33.86, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 7604 kb/s
Chapter #0.0: start -0.083000, end 317.484000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 1
Chapter #0.1: start 317.484000, end 811.269000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 2
Chapter #0.2: start 811.269000, end 1270.770000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 3
Chapter #0.3: start 1270.770000, end 1592.341000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 4
Chapter #0.4: start 1592.341000, end 2262.886000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 5
Chapter #0.5: start 2262.886000, end 2723.638000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 6
Chapter #0.6: start 2723.638000, end 2970.259000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 7
Chapter #0.7: start 2970.259000, end 3413.869000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 8
Chapter #0.8: start 3413.869000, end 3760.590000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 9
Chapter #0.9: start 3760.590000, end 4183.054000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 10
Chapter #0.10: start 4183.054000, end 4519.640000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 11
Chapter #0.11: start 4519.640000, end 4986.398000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 12
Chapter #0.12: start 4986.398000, end 5334.579000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 13
Chapter #0.13: start 5334.579000, end 5756.918000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 14
Chapter #0.14: start 5756.918000, end 5915.952000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 15
Chapter #0.15: start 5915.952000, end 6192.520000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 16
Chapter #0.16: start 6192.520000, end 6582.826000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 17
Chapter #0.17: start 6582.826000, end 7039.574000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 18
Chapter #0.18: start 7039.574000, end 7620.655000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 19
Chapter #0.19: start 7620.655000, end 8013.797000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 20
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1920x816
[SAR 1:1 DAR 40:17], 7246 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 180k tbc
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 159
kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:2(eng): Audio: ac3 (ac-3 / 0x332D6361), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s16,
192 kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:3(und): Subtitle: mov_text (text / 0x74786574)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
At least one output file must be specified
ffmpeg version N-40126-ga4b58fd Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Apr 26 2012 03:33:03 with gcc 4.6.3
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-ru
ntime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass
--enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libope
njpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libth
eora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --e
nable-zlib
libavutil 51. 47.100 / 51. 47.100
libavcodec 54. 15.100 / 54. 15.100
libavformat 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavdevice 53. 4.100 / 53. 4.100
libavfilter 2. 72.100 / 2. 72.100
libswscale 2. 1.100 / 2. 1.100
libswresample 0. 11.100 / 0. 11.100
libpostproc 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'd:\videos\test.m4v':
Metadata:
major_brand : mp42
minor_version : 0
compatible_brands: mp42isomavc1
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
encoder : HandBrake 0.9.6 2012022800
Duration: 02:13:33.86, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 7604 kb/s
Chapter #0.0: start -0.083000, end 317.484000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 1
Chapter #0.1: start 317.484000, end 811.269000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 2
Chapter #0.2: start 811.269000, end 1270.770000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 3
Chapter #0.3: start 1270.770000, end 1592.341000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 4
Chapter #0.4: start 1592.341000, end 2262.886000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 5
Chapter #0.5: start 2262.886000, end 2723.638000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 6
Chapter #0.6: start 2723.638000, end 2970.259000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 7
Chapter #0.7: start 2970.259000, end 3413.869000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 8
Chapter #0.8: start 3413.869000, end 3760.590000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 9
Chapter #0.9: start 3760.590000, end 4183.054000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 10
Chapter #0.10: start 4183.054000, end 4519.640000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 11
Chapter #0.11: start 4519.640000, end 4986.398000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 12
Chapter #0.12: start 4986.398000, end 5334.579000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 13
Chapter #0.13: start 5334.579000, end 5756.918000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 14
Chapter #0.14: start 5756.918000, end 5915.952000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 15
Chapter #0.15: start 5915.952000, end 6192.520000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 16
Chapter #0.16: start 6192.520000, end 6582.826000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 17
Chapter #0.17: start 6582.826000, end 7039.574000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 18
Chapter #0.18: start 7039.574000, end 7620.655000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 19
Chapter #0.19: start 7620.655000, end 8013.797000
Metadata:
title : Chapter 20
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1920x816
[SAR 1:1 DAR 40:17], 7246 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 180k tbc
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 159
kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:2(eng): Audio: ac3 (ac-3 / 0x332D6361), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s16,
192 kb/s
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
Stream #0:3(und): Subtitle: mov_text (text / 0x74786574)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-04-29 00:34:29
At least one output file must be specified
SkipFire
Visitor
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
05-01-2012
03:35 PM
Re: IIS & M4V
Ok, it was a moment of stupidity. I had spaces in the URL instead of replacing it with %20.
Thanks for all the input.
Thanks for all the input.