HOW TO USE NERO DIGITAL TO STREAM MOVIES TO YOUR XBOX 360.

This spring, a new update for the 360 now allows playback, and streaming of the h.264 codec.   This is a short guide to explain how we can take advantage of this to stream home movies, and ripped non-copy protected DVDs to the 360 using Nero digital.   Lets get started!

Things you will need.
1. Nero Ultra!
2. XBOX 360    ( with the spring 2007 dashboard update installed .)
3. Zune software installed on your computer.   No you do not have to have a zune player to download this.   It is free, and unlike windows media player 11, it will stream the .mp4 file type.   You could also use Nero Media Home to stream the .mp4 file.   Your choice.   I prefer zune.

OK here we go!!!

First just Bring up Nero Recode, and select "encode Main movie to Nero Digital. " Now go ahead and import your DVD into Nero Recode by clicking "Import title " and pointing it to your DVD-ROM drive.   After a short anaylze period, you will be ready to go.

Now there is a drop down box with all the different Nero Digital Profiles we can use to encode.   I have tested a few and found that for our purposes, (streaming) That the Standard Profile will work the best.

We MUST select the encode option of Nero Digital AVC, as this is the one that uses h.264.   This is the format that the Xbox 360 will read.

After this is selected, we can now go to the "fit to target " drop down box and select whatever makes you feel happy. I use either the 74 min CD, or the 80.   Depending on the movie, I will choose either 700 mb or 1400 mb.   Just a preference, but it does make a difference.

Lets go to audio options now.   The xbox update, for some unknown reason will not support the use of 5.1 surround sound in the h.264 codec.... only the 2 channel.   Hopefully 5.1 will be supported in the fall 360 dashboard update(I guess this is still the stone age... I dont know...).     Anyway, select 2 channel, and then hit "Next. "

I always like to do a 2-pass encode, but this is also a personal preference.   I encode overnight, so it doesn't bother me if the 2-pass encode takes a little longer.   Plus the extra quality is great in my opinion.

*NOTE* If you want to convert .avi files .xvid files and .divx files, I use nero Vision Express.   Just import the file and select the "Export " button.   Then encode as above!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once it is done, we need to go into Zune and set up sharing.   All you have to do is....

1. In the Zune software, click Options, point to Library, and then click Media Sharing.
2. In the Zune Media Sharing window, click Share my media.
3. In the Media Library Name box, type a name for your media library.
4. Select the type of media that you want to share..... (I picked all of them)
    • All Music
    • All Video
    • All Pictures
 
5. Select one of the following Xbox 360 console sharing options:

    • Share with all Xbox 360s
This option lets you share your Zune library with all the Xbox 360 consoles that are on the network.

    • Only share with these Xbox 360s
This option lets you select the Xbox 360 consoles with which you want to share your Zune library.

Once we are done with this, all we have to do is configure our XBOX 360.

1. Navigate to the media blade, and go to videos.   Now select Computer, and it will look for windows based PC's.   Your network should be visible.   Just click it and browse to your movie.  

2. Select your movie.   The first time you select a file encoded with h.264, It will say that your xbox needs to obtain a codec update and ask you to confirm the download.   Once complete, It should work!!

Congratulations!!   You are now streaming Nero Digital over your home network to your xbox 360!

If anybody has questions/comments, please feel free to post!