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Local HD Buffering

6

6AL5

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 24, 2015
50
6
My Apple TV seems to be choking on Local HD content purchased from the iTunes store, when you play a HD film/movie from Computers from a local iTunes "Home Share" it keeps buffering it doesn't cache ahead like the Atv 3 so you keep getting buffering it happens on wired and wifi.

When I play the same film on a Atv3 it is fine and on the progress bar you can see it caching ahead a good 20 or 30 min's

When I play a SD film on the Atv4 it caches ahead fine

If I play the film via the store after it caches enough the film plays fine, im beginning to get the feeling Apple would prefer we didn't manage our own content libraries....
 
No im hard wired at the mo from the computer to the router which is 1Gbit and the Atv4 has been hard wired and wifi with the same outcome...

On the HD versions of films there is no cache ahead of the position bar
 
Here is the SD progress bar
 

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Here is the HD Progress bar
 

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Mine is pre-buffering just fine in HD. If it works with SD but not HD for you, it looks like there is a bandwidth bottleneck somewhere (on the ATV, your network/router, or the computer).
 
The HD film has no read ahead cache and if I pause the film network activity ceases, but when watching a SD film it has plenty of read ahead cache and when you pause the film on the atv it continues to pull the film across for read ahead cache
 
6AL5 said:
The HD film has no read ahead cache and if I pause the film network activity ceases, but when watching a SD film it has plenty of read ahead cache and when you pause the film on the atv it continues to pull the film across for read ahead cache
Click to expand...
Hm, weird. Just to make sure: The HD file is purchased iTunes content (i.e. not a self-encoded file)?
 
Rigby said:
Mine is pre-buffering just fine in HD. If it works with SD but not HD for you, it looks like there is a bandwidth bottleneck somewhere (on the ATV, your network/router, or the computer).
Click to expand...


Mac Pro with iTunes on it it has a 1Gbit connection to a Mikrotik RB951G-2HND and as I said a Atv3 in the next room has no issues with the content.
 
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Rigby said:
Mine is pre-buffering just fine in HD. If it works with SD but not HD for you, it looks like there is a bandwidth bottleneck somewhere (on the ATV, your network/router, or the computer).
Click to expand...


Just downloaded Speedy Net to test bandwith between devices "no TVos version yet hint hint nudge nudge

Wifi Mac Pro to MBP 35 Mbps

Mbp to Mac Pro hardwired using Atv4 network cable 755Mbps

Phone to Mac Pro 40.5 Mbps
 
@6AL5 The smaller the files are, the more video caching ahead i have. Totally different to the ATV3. I have those problems with both, purchased and own ripped movies. The app airvideo has a network connection test included, i have perfect results there. I think its a ATV4 bug.
 
xsmett said:
The smaller the files are, the more video caching ahead i have. Totally different to the ATV3. I have those problems with both, purchased and own ripped movies. The app airvideo has a network connection test included, i have perfect results there. I think its a ATV4 bug.
Click to expand...
After what was posted here, I tend to agree that it's probably a bug. Perhaps an issue with buffer management on the ATV4. It's just strange that it affects some people but not others. I did some binge watching yesterday (all local HD content purchased from the store), and the only problem I had was that the "Computers" app crashed once. But playback worked fine.
 
xsmett said:
@6AL5 The smaller the files are, the more video caching ahead i have. Totally different to the ATV3. I have those problems with both, purchased and own ripped movies. The app airvideo has a network connection test included, i have perfect results there. I think its a ATV4 bug.
Click to expand...

I think this is a bug as I can unplug the Atv4 replace it with the Atv3 and everything is fine and has been for years, it is only on HD content and using resume film causes even more grief. This came to light when I was watching a HD version of Dances with Wolves but it happens with all my HD films on the Atv4.

Something in the Atv4 is bottlenecking HD films.
 
Silly question 6AL5 the HD movie your trying to watch that doesn't buffer properly have you tried another HD movie to see if it does the same or if its just that one movie.
 
I'm also having this problem on all my HD movies and TV shows. Real shame as this is what I use the Apple TV most for, rarely happened on the atv 3.

Looks like I'm going to have to send the atv 4 back
 
MacFanBoi said:
Silly question 6AL5 the HD movie your trying to watch that doesn't buffer properly have you tried another HD movie to see if it does the same or if its just that one movie.
Click to expand...

No it happens on all purchased HD content......
 
6AL5 said:
No it happens on all purchased HD content......
Click to expand...
Stupid reaponse from me, but it's not streaming from iCloud is it? In the settings there is an option for loading local content from iCloud if it is purchased on iTunes. If so, there might be an issue with iCloud?
 
moxxham said:
Stupid reaponse from me, but it's not streaming from iCloud is it? In the settings there is an option for loading local content from iCloud if it is purchased on iTunes. If so, there might be an issue with iCloud?
Click to expand...

Where in the settings is that because I cant find it...? Im trying to play movies from the "My Computer" app on the Atv not the store.
 
6AL5 said:
Where in the settings is that because I cant find it...? Im trying to play movies from the "My Computer" app on the Atv not the store.
Click to expand...
In your iTunes in the movies tab do you see a little cloud picture on the movie poster. If so that means its not stored on your mac's hdd and is streaming it online while your watching it.

I have a couple HD movies in my iTunes i never bothered to download but im getting it now to test out if I also have the buffer problem and ill let you know how it goes.
 
6AL5 said:
Where in the settings is that because I cant find it...?
Click to expand...
MacFanBoi said:
In your iTunes in the movies tab do you see a little cloud picture on the movie poster. If so that means its not stored on your mac's hdd and is streaming it online while your watching it.

I have a couple HD movies in my iTunes i never bothered to download but im getting it now to test out if I also have the buffer problem and ill let you know how it goes.
Click to expand...

All the content is on my HD
 
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6AL5 said:
My Apple TV seems to be choking on Local HD content purchased from the iTunes store, when you play a HD film/movie from Computers from a local iTunes "Home Share" it keeps buffering it doesn't cache ahead like the Atv 3 so you keep getting buffering it happens on wired and wifi.

When I play the same film on a Atv3 it is fine and on the progress bar you can see it caching ahead a good 20 or 30 min's

When I play a SD film on the Atv4 it caches ahead fine

If I play the film via the store after it caches enough the film plays fine, im beginning to get the feeling Apple would prefer we didn't manage our own content libraries....
Click to expand...

I've been watching this thread and testing on mine. I've watched about 5 movies from home sharing so far without buffering and improved startup time (compared to older apple tv). Three were iTunes purchased HD movies and a few were 1080p movies from my own collection. I'm streaming from a 2012 mac mini connected over wifi to the 802.11AC airport extreme. Apple TV is connected to wifi as well.

Perhaps try switching to wifi on your apple tv. If you have a solid connection and a good router it will be faster than using the 100Mbps ethernet port. Maybe there is an issue and my unit isn't effected.
 
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