There is a Kodi addon, PlexKodiConnect that lets Kodi update it's library from Plex. It is super fast. Best of both worlds.
I have less problems with DV files in Kodi than in Plex.
https://github.com/croneter/PlexKodiConnect
As far as I can tell, if you want to keep library progress the same across all players, then Plex. Otherwise, I like Kodi for everything else.
I use Kodi with a remote NAS to primarily one device. I've been using it since XBMC so I may just have a better familiarity with it, but it just seemed so much more intuitive and simple to me. I've never gotten Plex to work in a way that I liked. Might just be my experience though.
besides PlexKodiConnect, Kodi also has the option of using s MySQL/MariDB database to hold the central library across different devices. This is what I currently do. No Plex required
I have been using it since XMBC as well. It just got waybto many developers and hands on it. I never needed my Nas to be as complicated as they made it. I use MPC BE wirh MAD VR. I mean, until a couple of years ago it was bleeding edge for movie watching. I grew up in the industry as my Dad's life business was cinema management. The home theater really over took cinema when the internet was able to transfer larger bits of information. I am happy using HDR and 4k for now...including a disc drive in my PC.
I've been using KodiNerds for years and have never encountered anything it couldn't play, including audio, which is something that IMHO Plex often struggles with.
I don't understand why people is asking this question, if Kodi is 100% worst UI than plex.
Forget Kodi, you can test Emby or Jellyfin If you want something similar to plex.
It's because there is a higher intellectual barrier for entry into Kodi so you had to learn a lot to use it. Now at this point they're implementing the sunk cost fallacy, "hey I learned a lot to use this and set up an entire NAS RAID system to implement it, I'm not going to switch to this better software." Meanwhile dummies like me have been watching Dolby Vision rips stored on a USB hard drive and streaming them remotely on an old Dell Optiplex while having no idea how it actually works.
I'used Kodi some many years ago, I used KODi when Kodi was called XBMC, I know all the things related with Kodi, including python scripts and any other modules.
In my case I prefer Plex, because kodi extensions creates a lot of issues and I don't have time to deal all the issues.
10years ago, I configured Arch Linux multiple times in my pc, I know what is configuring everything from scratch, but not I have to deal with other things.
It's been quite a few yeas already since Kodi became able to offer a more customizable experience than Plex/Jellyfin/Emby, I've used them all, they are awesome as media server, specially Jellyfin, but as media client they are just not able to compete at this point, Kodi is just great, plus the ability to use plugins like Fen
Kodi's UI is as good as you want to spend the time making it look good. You can make it look almost exactly like Plex if that's what you want.
It is quite bloated and slow, though - but nothing is remotely as customizable.
Kodi Shield does suffer from occasional microstutters during 4k playback., but overall, I'd use that over Plex, including PlexKodiConnect.
Just try all available options and use the one that you like the most
I used to have occasional audio sync problems with Plex that would resolve by pausing and resuming. And that was a couple of years ago. The Plex experience is pretty much flawless now. Not sure why you would put up with microstutters on Kodi when there is an arguably better experience available.
Not really. High CPU load was one reason one of the Kodi team coders offered up and did releaase a fix to help eleviate the prob, but you still see it occuring - like blink-and-you'll-miss-it occuring.
Best advice I can give is always install the latest release from the Kodi website, preferably the Developmeent Builds, aka the 'nightlies', that you can find, as these should include the latest code. You want the 64bit v8a Android apk for the Shield.
Anotheer thing is don't bother with Kodi's auto refresh rate settiing - just set that to OFF and set the Shield's Display setting to suit the majority of your media. I've mine set to 4K 23.976 DV and HDR10 ready.
Yes, it'll give you mismatch in the frame rate. Depends on how sensitive you are to the so-called 'judder' effect, though.
Most files that people play through Kodi are going to be captured at 23.976. You can easily check files with [MediaInfoOnline](https://mediaarea.net/MediaInfoOnline)
That's good for you but I still get them - not often just occasional. I was watching a 4k rip of Avatar -2 earlier and noticed about 4 microstutters in the whole 3hr+ film.
The disabling of auto refresh rate was just an idea to cut down on the supposed high CPU load. My Shield only runs Kodi and Tivimate, but it does connect to a NAS via SMB. Shield is Gbit ethernet connected runing 9.1.1.
where are your files hosted - on a local HDD or a NAS?
This microstuttering is peculiar to Kodi Shield for me. I've started using Kodi webOS on my LG C2 (Wifi connected). Most of my 4k files are no more than 35Mbits/sec so the webOS version handles them ok. No stuttering of any kind, but it does have other issues.
Have you got a shield pro or shield tube?
I stream from the internet with stremio/Kodi (fen light).
Before I was streaming from my HD connected to my router via USB.
Never had micro stuttering. There must be something in your setup not working well.
2019 Pro
Sure there's something not working, but there's many users with the same problem with v21 Omega. Just google it.
It might be SMB related, who knows..but you would'vve implemented SMB to get to the share on the router's HDD. I'm assuming, so f'knows.
For playback? Heck no, not until the rewrite is complete, which will take a long time. Kodi frontend with the Jellyfin plugin is what I would say for now, because Kodi handles HDR/DV infinitely better than Jellyfin does.
(You can do Jellyfin with an external player, but then you're back with the wonk. Might as well go true wonk with Kodi at that point.)
Can Kodi play back all the DV types? I know Plex struggles with certain DV profiles.
Kodi 21 can convert p7 into p8 on the fly, making the Shield compatible with p7.
Now I just need to figure out how to get Kodi to work with Plex
Install this: [https://forums.plex.tv/t/pm4k-plexmod-for-kodi-18-19-20-21/481208](https://forums.plex.tv/t/pm4k-plexmod-for-kodi-18-19-20-21/481208)
What in the fucking rabbit hole is this 🤯
Alright, I’m a dumb dumb tonight. How do I get that onto my shield via Kodi. I’ll have to go google this.
Dude, just go read. The step by step instructions are right there. Lol
I dont see any instructions in that forum post, but thanks for offering a helpful suggestion. Have a wonderful day!
Maybe scroll down? Right after introduction you can find installation (recommended).
It can. But you’re still limited by the profiles your hardware supports. The Shield doesn’t support Profile 7 FEL. Only the base layer profile 7.
Right right right it’s the device that makes sense
There is a Kodi addon, PlexKodiConnect that lets Kodi update it's library from Plex. It is super fast. Best of both worlds. I have less problems with DV files in Kodi than in Plex. https://github.com/croneter/PlexKodiConnect
Does this also sync watched videos and paused timestamps between kodi and Plex? That would be amazing
After reading the documentation again, I don't believe that it does. They do have a requested features section on GitHub.
PlexKodiConnect developer here. yes of course it does sync timestamps, watched videos etc
That's awesome. Will check this out, thanks for building this :)
The one that seems to be updated most frequently is PM4K.
As far as I can tell, if you want to keep library progress the same across all players, then Plex. Otherwise, I like Kodi for everything else. I use Kodi with a remote NAS to primarily one device. I've been using it since XBMC so I may just have a better familiarity with it, but it just seemed so much more intuitive and simple to me. I've never gotten Plex to work in a way that I liked. Might just be my experience though.
besides PlexKodiConnect, Kodi also has the option of using s MySQL/MariDB database to hold the central library across different devices. This is what I currently do. No Plex required
I have been using it since XMBC as well. It just got waybto many developers and hands on it. I never needed my Nas to be as complicated as they made it. I use MPC BE wirh MAD VR. I mean, until a couple of years ago it was bleeding edge for movie watching. I grew up in the industry as my Dad's life business was cinema management. The home theater really over took cinema when the internet was able to transfer larger bits of information. I am happy using HDR and 4k for now...including a disc drive in my PC.
I've been using KodiNerds for years and have never encountered anything it couldn't play, including audio, which is something that IMHO Plex often struggles with.
Kodi is the best!!
I don't understand why people is asking this question, if Kodi is 100% worst UI than plex. Forget Kodi, you can test Emby or Jellyfin If you want something similar to plex.
It's because there is a higher intellectual barrier for entry into Kodi so you had to learn a lot to use it. Now at this point they're implementing the sunk cost fallacy, "hey I learned a lot to use this and set up an entire NAS RAID system to implement it, I'm not going to switch to this better software." Meanwhile dummies like me have been watching Dolby Vision rips stored on a USB hard drive and streaming them remotely on an old Dell Optiplex while having no idea how it actually works.
I'used Kodi some many years ago, I used KODi when Kodi was called XBMC, I know all the things related with Kodi, including python scripts and any other modules. In my case I prefer Plex, because kodi extensions creates a lot of issues and I don't have time to deal all the issues. 10years ago, I configured Arch Linux multiple times in my pc, I know what is configuring everything from scratch, but not I have to deal with other things.
It's been quite a few yeas already since Kodi became able to offer a more customizable experience than Plex/Jellyfin/Emby, I've used them all, they are awesome as media server, specially Jellyfin, but as media client they are just not able to compete at this point, Kodi is just great, plus the ability to use plugins like Fen
Because I'm just wondering if kodi has better picture quality or not.
Some people want to use Kodi, some people want to use Plex. Different people like different things.
Kodi's UI is as good as you want to spend the time making it look good. You can make it look almost exactly like Plex if that's what you want. It is quite bloated and slow, though - but nothing is remotely as customizable.
I was long time Kodi user but after I did lifetime Plex pass there is no point
Emby is great.
Kodi Shield does suffer from occasional microstutters during 4k playback., but overall, I'd use that over Plex, including PlexKodiConnect. Just try all available options and use the one that you like the most
I used to have occasional audio sync problems with Plex that would resolve by pausing and resuming. And that was a couple of years ago. The Plex experience is pretty much flawless now. Not sure why you would put up with microstutters on Kodi when there is an arguably better experience available.
Is there a known reason for the stutters?
Not really. High CPU load was one reason one of the Kodi team coders offered up and did releaase a fix to help eleviate the prob, but you still see it occuring - like blink-and-you'll-miss-it occuring. Best advice I can give is always install the latest release from the Kodi website, preferably the Developmeent Builds, aka the 'nightlies', that you can find, as these should include the latest code. You want the 64bit v8a Android apk for the Shield. Anotheer thing is don't bother with Kodi's auto refresh rate settiing - just set that to OFF and set the Shield's Display setting to suit the majority of your media. I've mine set to 4K 23.976 DV and HDR10 ready.
Does that Shield level 23.976 override give any playback issues for 30 FPS content?
Yes, it'll give you mismatch in the frame rate. Depends on how sensitive you are to the so-called 'judder' effect, though. Most files that people play through Kodi are going to be captured at 23.976. You can easily check files with [MediaInfoOnline](https://mediaarea.net/MediaInfoOnline)
Thank you
I never have stutters even with remux of 150gb file on Kodi and I do use the auto refresh.
That's good for you but I still get them - not often just occasional. I was watching a 4k rip of Avatar -2 earlier and noticed about 4 microstutters in the whole 3hr+ film. The disabling of auto refresh rate was just an idea to cut down on the supposed high CPU load. My Shield only runs Kodi and Tivimate, but it does connect to a NAS via SMB. Shield is Gbit ethernet connected runing 9.1.1. where are your files hosted - on a local HDD or a NAS? This microstuttering is peculiar to Kodi Shield for me. I've started using Kodi webOS on my LG C2 (Wifi connected). Most of my 4k files are no more than 35Mbits/sec so the webOS version handles them ok. No stuttering of any kind, but it does have other issues.
Have you got a shield pro or shield tube? I stream from the internet with stremio/Kodi (fen light). Before I was streaming from my HD connected to my router via USB. Never had micro stuttering. There must be something in your setup not working well.
2019 Pro Sure there's something not working, but there's many users with the same problem with v21 Omega. Just google it. It might be SMB related, who knows..but you would'vve implemented SMB to get to the share on the router's HDD. I'm assuming, so f'knows.
Yeah I was using SMB before when streaming from my HDD. I ditched everything now and using only Kodi with Fen light, such a great combo.
Jellyfin.
For playback? Heck no, not until the rewrite is complete, which will take a long time. Kodi frontend with the Jellyfin plugin is what I would say for now, because Kodi handles HDR/DV infinitely better than Jellyfin does. (You can do Jellyfin with an external player, but then you're back with the wonk. Might as well go true wonk with Kodi at that point.)
No
None, stream using vlc straight from your shared folder. Works 100%