StreamToMe Support:
Problems playing files
Playback error: The movie could not be played
If one, some or even all of your files cannot be played, the most likely reason is that StreamToMe cannot read the file format or formats that you are trying to play.
Media files come a huge range of formats, codecs and configurations. StreamToMe supports a large range of formats and codecs but cannot support everything.
Please look at the list of supported formats and codecs and verify if the format and codecs of your files are among them.
If your file is listed in the supported formats but still won't play (and your don't think there should be any problems with the files), then please email the address below with full details about the file and its format. If the file is smaller than 20 MB, you can send it along with your email enquiry.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to support everything — StreamToMe is reliant on the capabilities of its underlying transcoding library (FFmpeg).
Sometimes the video pauses and the audio falls out of sync briefly
This can occur when the media player decides it needs to change to a different bitrate stream. While every effort is made to minimise these segment transitions, a small discontinuity is unavoidable in the current transcoding configuration.
To avoid these quality changes, select a single, manual bitrate (you will need to select one that will download in realtime over your connection or it may pause during playback).
Selecting subtitle and audio tracks
Every playable item will have a small blue button on the right-hand side of the row. If you tap this button, the settings for the track will be displayed.
From this screen, you can apply an extra adjustment to the audio (this is in addition to the normal audio controls on your device which will also work).
You can also set the audio track and subtitle settings for playback and disable album artwork for music tracks.
Finally, any of these settings can be saved to the "Global Settings" so they will be applied to all files.
Can I select the bitrate manually?
Yes, you can. From the "Track Settings" screen (select the blue "disclosure" icon at the right of any row) you can select the "Stream Bitrate".
StreamToMe provides a list of 7 different stream qualities to the device. By default, the device choses the highest quality stream that it believe the current connection will support at any time (it will switch qualities while playing if it feels this is necessary).
What are the bitrates StreamToMe uses
All of StreamToMe's bitrates are variable but they are nominally:
- 64kbps — 128p, 4fps (used on 3G only)
- 96kbps — 128p, 12fps (used on 3G only)
- 144kbps — 160p, 15fps (default on 3G)
- 320kbps — 240p, native fps
- 720kbps — 320p, native fps (default for remote WiFi connections)
- 1440kbps — 480p, native fps (default for local iPhone+iPod Touch connections, unavailable on 3G)
- 2048kbps — 720p, native fps (default for local iPad+iPhone4 connections, unavailable on 3G or iPhone+iPod Touch)
The default is the bitrate that StreamToMe will try first, only switching to another rate after 10-20 seconds if it thinks it can stream faster or needs a slower rate.
The resolution seems too low on my iPad
720p video but it is only possible if your computer can transcode the video fast enough to deliver it to your iPad. Generally, a 2.2Ghz Core 2 Duo or faster is required to hand this in realtime, otherwise the quality will need to drop so that your computer can keep up.
If you are running ServeToMe version 3.1.1 or greater, you will need to allow video "Up to 720p" by selecting it from the "Video quality" popup menu in the ServeToMe window.