Added experimental force remux setting to remux raw ts streams to mp4 container

README.md

@@ -129,10 +129,38 @@ For streams with Dolby Digital (AC3/EAC3) audio that browsers can't decode nativ
 NodeCast TV is optimized for **HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)**.
 
 -   **✅ HLS (`.m3u8`)**: Fully supported and recommended. Best for adaptive bitrate and network resilience.
--   **✅ MPEG-TS (`.ts`)**: Supported via the backend proxy. Works well for standard IPTV providers (Xtream Codes).
+-   **✅ MPEG-TS (`.ts`)**: Supported via Force Remux or Force Audio Transcode settings.
 -   **⚠️ High Latency/P2P**: For sources like Acestream, prefer HLS output (`.m3u8`) over raw TS streams to avoid timeouts during buffering.
 -   **❌ RTMP/RTSP**: Not supported natively by browsers.
 
+## Streaming Settings
+
+All streaming settings are found in **Settings → Player → Streaming**.
+
+| Setting | What It Does | When to Enable |
+|---------|--------------|----------------|
+| **Force Backend Proxy** | Routes streams through the NodeCast TV server, adding proper CORS headers | When streams fail with "Access-Control-Allow-Origin" errors, or when using IPTV middleware |
+| **Force Audio Transcode** | Transcodes audio to AAC using FFmpeg (video passes through unchanged) | When you have video but no audio (Dolby/AC3/EAC3 streams) |
+| **Force Remux** | Remuxes MPEG-TS to MP4 container using FFmpeg (no re-encoding, very lightweight) | When using raw `.ts` streams from m3u-editor, dispatcharr, or similar middleware |
+| **Stream Output Format** | Controls whether Xtream API requests use HLS (.m3u8) or TS format | Try TS if you experience buffering issues with HLS |
+
+### Which Setting Do I Need?
+
+```
+Stream won't play at all?
+├── CORS error in console? → Enable "Force Backend Proxy"
+├── Raw .ts URL from middleware? → Enable "Force Remux"
+└── Still not working? → Check codec support table above
+
+Video plays but no audio?
+├── Stream has Dolby/AC3/EAC3? → Enable "Force Audio Transcode"
+└── Using Safari? → Should work natively, check volume
+
+Buffering issues?
+└── Try changing "Stream Output Format" to TS
+```
+
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 ### Video Won't Play (Black Screen or Loading Forever)
@@ -198,6 +226,7 @@ If you're using IPTV middleware like **m3u-editor**, **dispatcharr**, **Threadfi
 | Setting | Location | When to Enable |
 |---------|----------|----------------|
 | **Force Backend Proxy** | Settings → Player → Streaming | Always recommended when using middleware |
+| **Force Remux** | Settings → Player → Streaming | For raw `.ts` streams (lightweight, no re-encoding) |
 | **Force Audio Transcode** | Settings → Player → Streaming | If you have no audio (Dolby/AC3/EAC3 streams) |
 | **Stream Format: TS** | Settings → Streaming | If HLS streams buffer excessively |
 
@@ -209,8 +238,8 @@ m3u-editor includes an internal proxy that remuxes streams to MPEG-TS.
 
 **Setup:**
 1. In m3u-editor, configure your playlist and enable the proxy if needed
-2. In NodeCast TV, enable **"Force Backend Proxy"** in Settings → Streaming
+2. In NodeCast TV, enable **"Force Remux"** in Settings → Streaming (for raw .ts streams)
-3. If audio doesn't play, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"**
+3. If audio doesn't play, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"** instead
 
 **Note:** m3u-editor's proxy preserves original codecs. If your source has HEVC or Dolby, you'll need transcoding or a compatible browser (Safari).
 
@@ -222,8 +251,8 @@ dispatcharr uses FFmpeg stream profiles to process streams. By default it output
 
 **Setup:**
 1. In dispatcharr, streams are proxied by default via stream profiles
-2. In NodeCast TV, enable **"Force Backend Proxy"** in Settings → Streaming
+2. In NodeCast TV, enable **"Force Remux"** in Settings → Streaming (for raw .ts streams)
-3. If audio doesn't play, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"**
+3. If audio doesn't play, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"** instead
 
 **Custom dispatcharr profile for browser compatibility:**
 If you want dispatcharr to transcode audio for you instead of NodeCast TV:
@@ -240,8 +269,8 @@ These HDHomeRun emulators work similarly to other middleware.
 
 **Setup:**
 1. Add your Threadfin/xTeVe M3U URL as an M3U source in NodeCast TV
-2. Enable **"Force Backend Proxy"** in Settings → Streaming
+2. Enable **"Force Remux"** in Settings → Streaming (for raw .ts streams)
-3. If needed, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"**
+3. If needed, enable **"Force Audio Transcode"** instead for Dolby audio
 
 ### TVHeadend
 

public/index.html

@@ -365,6 +365,17 @@
                     but no audio (fixes Dolby/AC3/EAC3). Requires ffmpeg-static.</span>
                 </div>
               </div>
+              <div class="setting-item">
+                <label class="setting-toggle">
+                  <input type="checkbox" id="setting-force-remux">
+                  <span class="toggle-slider"></span>
+                </label>
+                <div class="setting-info">
+                  <span class="setting-label">Force Remux</span>
+                  <span class="setting-hint">Remux streams to MP4 container (no re-encoding). Enable for raw .ts streams
+                    from IPTV middleware like m3u-editor or dispatcharr. Very lightweight.</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
               <div class="setting-item">
                 <div class="setting-info" style="flex: 1;">
                   <span class="setting-label">Stream Output Format</span>

public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js

@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             lastVolume: 80, // Last used volume (if rememberVolume is true)
             autoPlayNextEpisode: false, // Auto-play next episode in series
             forceProxy: false, // Force all streams through backend proxy
-            forceTranscode: false // Force audio transcoding (fixes Dolby/AC3 audio)
+            forceTranscode: false, // Force audio transcoding (fixes Dolby/AC3 audio)
+            forceRemux: false // Force remux to MP4 (fixes raw .ts streams, lightweight)
         };
         try {
             const saved = localStorage.getItem('nodecast_tv_player_settings');
@@ -263,9 +264,40 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             const finalUrl = needsProxy ? this.getProxiedUrl(streamUrl) : streamUrl;
 
             // Detect if this is likely an HLS stream (vs direct video file like MP4)
+            // Note: .ts files are raw MPEG-TS, NOT HLS manifests - exclude them
             const looksLikeHls = finalUrl.includes('.m3u8') ||
                 finalUrl.includes('m3u8') ||
-                (!finalUrl.includes('.mp4') && !finalUrl.includes('.mkv') && !finalUrl.includes('.avi'));
+                (!finalUrl.includes('.mp4') && !finalUrl.includes('.mkv') &&
+                    !finalUrl.includes('.avi') && !finalUrl.includes('.ts'));
+
+            // Check for raw TS streams that browsers can't play directly
+            const isRawTs = finalUrl.includes('.ts') && !finalUrl.includes('.m3u8');
+            if (isRawTs) {
+                // If Force Remux is enabled, route through remux endpoint
+                if (this.settings.forceRemux) {
+                    console.log('[Player] Raw TS stream detected. Using remux to convert to MP4...');
+                    const remuxUrl = this.getRemuxUrl(streamUrl);
+                    this.video.src = remuxUrl;
+                    this.video.play().catch(e => console.log('[Player] Autoplay prevented:', e));
+
+                    // Update UI and dispatch events
+                    this.updateNowPlaying(channel);
+                    this.showNowPlayingOverlay();
+                    this.fetchEpgData(channel);
+                    window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('channelChanged', { detail: channel }));
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                console.warn('[Player] Raw MPEG-TS stream detected. Browsers cannot play .ts files directly.');
+                this.showError(
+                    'This stream uses raw MPEG-TS format (.ts) which browsers cannot play directly.<br><br>' +
+                    '<strong>To fix this:</strong><br>' +
+                    '1. Enable <strong>"Force Remux"</strong> in Settings → Streaming (lightweight)<br>' +
+                    '2. Or enable <strong>"Force Audio Transcode"</strong> if you also have audio issues<br>' +
+                    '3. Or configure your source to output HLS (.m3u8) format'
+                );
+                return;
+            }
 
             // Priority 1: Use HLS.js for HLS streams on browsers that support it
             if (looksLikeHls && Hls.isSupported()) {
@@ -465,6 +497,14 @@ class VideoPlayer {
         return `/api/transcode?url=${encodeURIComponent(url)}`;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get remuxed URL for a stream (container conversion only, no re-encoding)
+     * Used for raw .ts streams that browsers can't play directly
+     */
+    getRemuxUrl(url) {
+        return `/api/remux?url=${encodeURIComponent(url)}`;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Decode base64 EPG data
      */

public/js/pages/Settings.js

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class SettingsPage {
         const autoPlayNextToggle = document.getElementById('setting-autoplay-next');
         const forceProxyToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-proxy');
         const forceTranscodeToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-transcode');
+        const forceRemuxToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-remux');
 
         // Load current settings
         if (this.app.player?.settings) {
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ class SettingsPage {
             if (forceTranscodeToggle) {
                 forceTranscodeToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.forceTranscode || false;
             }
+            if (forceRemuxToggle) {
+                forceRemuxToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.forceRemux || false;
+            }
         }
 
         // Arrow keys toggle
@@ -93,6 +97,12 @@ class SettingsPage {
             this.app.player.saveSettings();
         });
 
+        // Force remux toggle
+        forceRemuxToggle?.addEventListener('change', () => {
+            this.app.player.settings.forceRemux = forceRemuxToggle.checked;
+            this.app.player.saveSettings();
+        });
+
         // EPG refresh interval
         const epgRefreshSelect = document.getElementById('epg-refresh-interval');
         if (epgRefreshSelect) {

server/index.js

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ app.use('/api/proxy', require('./routes/proxy'));
 app.use('/api/channels', require('./routes/channels'));
 app.use('/api/favorites', require('./routes/favorites'));
 app.use('/api/transcode', require('./routes/transcode'));
+app.use('/api/remux', require('./routes/remux'));
 
 // SPA fallback - serve index.html for all non-API routes
 app.get('*', (req, res) => {

server/routes/remux.js

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+const express = require('express');
+const router = express.Router();
+const { spawn } = require('child_process');
+
+/**
+ * Remux stream (container conversion only)
+ * GET /api/remux?url=...
+ * 
+ * Remuxes MPEG-TS to fragmented MP4 for browser playback.
+ * This is a lightweight operation - no video/audio re-encoding.
+ * Use this for raw .ts streams that browsers can't play directly.
+ * 
+ * Note: This does NOT fix Dolby/AC3 audio issues - use /api/transcode for that.
+ */
+router.get('/', (req, res) => {
+    const { url } = req.query;
+    if (!url) {
+        return res.status(400).json({ error: 'URL parameter is required' });
+    }
+
+    const ffmpegPath = req.app.locals.ffmpegPath || 'ffmpeg';
+    console.log(`[Remux] Starting remux for: ${url}`);
+
+    // FFmpeg arguments for pure remux (no encoding)
+    // Very lightweight - just changes container from TS to fragmented MP4
+    const args = [
+        '-hide_banner',
+        '-loglevel', 'warning',
+        '-fflags', '+genpts+discardcorrupt',
+        '-i', url,
+        // Copy ALL streams without re-encoding
+        '-c', 'copy',
+        // Fragmented MP4 for streaming (browser-compatible)
+        '-f', 'mp4',
+        '-movflags', 'frag_keyframe+empty_moov+default_base_moof',
+        '-' // Output to stdout
+    ];
+
+    console.log(`[Remux] Full command: ${ffmpegPath} ${args.join(' ')}`);
+
+    let ffmpeg;
+    try {
+        ffmpeg = spawn(ffmpegPath, args);
+    } catch (spawnErr) {
+        console.error('[Remux] Failed to spawn FFmpeg:', spawnErr);
+        return res.status(500).json({ error: 'FFmpeg spawn failed', details: spawnErr.message });
+    }
+
+    // Set headers for fragmented MP4
+    res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'video/mp4');
+    res.setHeader('Access-Control-Allow-Origin', '*');
+
+    // Pipe stdout to response
+    ffmpeg.stdout.pipe(res);
+
+    // Log stderr (useful for debugging)
+    ffmpeg.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
+        const msg = data.toString();
+        // Only log warnings/errors, not progress
+        if (msg.includes('Warning') || msg.includes('Error') || msg.includes('error')) {
+            console.log(`[Remux FFmpeg] ${msg}`);
+        }
+    });
+
+    // Cleanup on client disconnect
+    req.on('close', () => {
+        console.log('[Remux] Client disconnected, killing FFmpeg process');
+        ffmpeg.kill('SIGKILL');
+    });
+
+    // Handle process exit
+    ffmpeg.on('exit', (code) => {
+        if (code !== null && code !== 0 && code !== 255) {
+            console.error(`[Remux] FFmpeg exited with code ${code}`);
+        }
+    });
+
+    // Handle spawn errors
+    ffmpeg.on('error', (err) => {
+        console.error('[Remux] Failed to spawn FFmpeg:', err);
+        if (!res.headersSent) {
+            res.status(500).json({ error: 'Remux failed to start' });
+        }
+    });
+});
+
+module.exports = router;