Stream DVDs using RTMP for Digital Signage

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sfrasernz

234 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#240198 26-Aug-2018 07:07

I'm testing a Raspberry Pi based digital signage solution called PiSignage to replace our DVD players. It supports a range of media including MP4, JPG, RTSP, RTMP, HTML etc.

The PiSignage player can store MP4s but I'd quickly run out of space with the number of DVDs we cycle through - I'm using a 16gb microSD in each Pi. I'm thinking a local streaming server could work - I could rip the DVDs and then each player could request an RTMP stream.

Are there any open source servers that would do this? Or what other solutions might work?

The primary requirement is to play DVDs from a central source but being able to display other content (tickers, web pages etc) is an advantage. PiSignage is good because it allows all 4 players to be centrally managed. OpenELEC/Kodi would do what I want but it would require each TV to be setup in the morning which is just something I'd like to avoid.

Thanks

SirHumphreyAppleby

2938 posts

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#2079222 26-Aug-2018 07:41

I did something similar a few years ago. I ended up creating a simple (JQuery) Webpage that could display static text, full screen images, or industry-specific data with an embedded video next to it. The Web browser would connect to the Web server (Hiawatha in my case), sending a GET request for the next item, and the server would return JSON containing details of what to display, and where video was required, a link to the video on the server. A separate script also contacted the server using Wget to check if the TV should be on or off, and sent the appropriate signal via IR.

The biggest issue I had was software... the Web browsers in the Pi weren't up to the task. Lack of compiled support for hardware acceleration was one issue, and I've forgotten the others. That may no longer be an issue, so I will definitely consider the Pi again when it comes time to source replacement hardware. I used tiny computers similar to the Intel Compute Stick, running Windows 10 Home (Pro would be better, but that's what they were licensed for).

wellygary

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#2079225 26-Aug-2018 07:48

If you are going to rip them, just mp4 encode them with Handbrake and put the files on a shared drive that the pi has access to,

sfrasernz

234 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#2079231 26-Aug-2018 08:44

wellygary: If you are going to rip them, just mp4 encode them with Handbrake and put the files on a shared drive that the pi has access to,

That is an option but the PiSignage player won't reference a mount point which is a shame. I could use Kodi for this purpose and have the staff kick off the playlist each morning but I'm trying to centrally manage the players.

The player can use an RTMP stream...is this an option?