First, let's mention online services. Many of them rely on other streaming or video sharing platforms to transmit video streams and are only auxiliary for synchronization. This method requires everyone to subscribe to streaming services or at least be able to access these platforms, which is not suitable for most people, and the available videos are also limited. (Restricted by the authorization of the source, these commercial services also have no "future")
For example, TeleParty is a browser extension that also has an Android client. It allows users to synchronize video playback on multiple computers. It supports Netflix, YouTube, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video. Extension address: Netflix Party is now Teleparty - Chrome Web Store (google.com)
The above tool comes from 13 Apps to Watch Videos with Online Friends - Make Tech Easier, you can check it out if you are interested.
There is also one called Koi Watch that is based on Google Drive: Koi Watch, but I haven't used it.
Now let's get into the main content.
This article includes three methods: screen sharing, progress bar sharing (Syncplay), and video sharing (Jellyfin). Among them:
- The best effect, low cost, and slightly difficult method is progress bar sharing (Syncplay)
- The easiest method is screen sharing
- The most convenient method is video sharing (Jellyfin)
Overall, AhFei highly recommends using Syncplay for progress bar sharing. Now let's introduce them in order of difficulty.
Screen Sharing#
Screen sharing is an additional feature of remote control software. The first remote control software I used was Sunflower, which had acceptable control capabilities but couldn't meet the requirements for watching movies (bandwidth limitations in server relay solutions). Moreover, the drawback of remote control software for screen sharing is that only two people can watch at the same time.
Tencent Meeting can overcome the limitation of not being able to watch with multiple people, but it also loses progress control and has started charging fees.
I recommend using Parsec: https://parsec.app/. It is software designed for remote gaming development, and its promotion also includes the sentence: "Parsec connects you and your friends to the games you love from anywhere, on any screen." Well, my understanding is that multiple people can remotely control a computer together? I haven't tested it, but if it works, then multiple people can watch together.
In addition, it prioritizes peer-to-peer connections without the need for server relay. The upload speed of general home broadband is at least 30Mbps, so the video quality will be much better. Since Parsec's servers are located overseas, in order to establish better peer-to-peer connections, it is recommended to use ZeroTier/Tailscale together. As long as ZeroTier successfully punches through, it can directly connect to another computer.
The specific process will be described in another article when there is time, but that article will start with Parsec remote gaming.
Using Syncplay#
Syncplay can synchronize the progress of media players, which means that you and your family and friends don't need to count down together every time you pause a movie.
Note: The principle is to synchronize the progress of the player. The metaphorical understanding is that a pair of code hands synchronously operate the player on each computer, so each computer must have the same video file.
Therefore, as long as there is a source, you can watch any media, and the synchronization process is very smooth. There is no upper limit to the video quality. Good source + good display + good headphones + friends = excellent experience.
In the frequent recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we grow older and face our own growth (starting a family) and the constraints of reality, it is much more difficult to have face-to-face conversations and catch up with each other than in the past. Watching movies together synchronously and combining it with online calls can create a good environment.
Preparations#
- Syncplay: https://syncplay.pl/, used for synchronization.
- mpv.net: https://github.com/stax76/mpv.net, a player that supports Syncplay. mpv.net is fully functional but has a simple interface. VLC also works, but the synchronization effect is not as good as MPV, for example, the response is relatively slow and it is prone to freezing.
- Local video resources.
Installing the Software#
Taking the zip compressed packages of the two software I prepared as an example (download links at the end of the article), they are both portable versions that can be used directly after extraction.
Win10 extraction method: Right-click - Extract All
Place them in your preferred location, and remember the location of the player mpv.net, which will be used later.
Steps to Use#
Start Syncplay
Enter Settings
Here, I will use the server I hosted as an example. From top to bottom, they are (version 1.7.0 has simplified Chinese translation):
- Server address: the server and port, vfly2.cn:8999
- Server password: the server password, vfly2
- Username: the username, you can choose any, such as AhFei
- Default room: the room name, you can choose any, such as we2family
- Path to media player: select the player, left-click Browse, find the location where you placed it earlier, click Run and then click Open.
After completing the settings, it will look like this:
There is an Advanced Settings in the lower-left corner, which I think does not need to be modified. You can check it out if you are interested.
The server here is just an example of the one I deployed. The server address on the official website can be found on the homepage: https://syncplay.pl/. Leave it blank for no password.
Self-hosted server process: Deploying a Native Syncplay Server on Ubuntu in 10 Minutes - 承飞之咎 (vfly2.com)
Click Store configuration and run Syncplay to start.
The player will be automatically launched. Whether you close the player or Syncplay, the other will be closed at the same time.
The appearance after starting:
Specify the Media Path
Open the folder where the media file, such as the movie, is located in the file manager, and drag the media file into the white box in the lower right corner (the red text says Drag file). The other people watching should also drag their corresponding files into it.
Click I'm ready to watch in the lower right corner to prepare.
Start Synchronized Playback#
Go to the player interface and start playing. All computers will play synchronously, and pausing and skipping will also be synchronized.
Enjoy watching movies together remotely with your family and friends.
Tips
- The input box in the lower-left corner is used for chatting.
- In the upper-left corner, go to file - Set media direction, and set the media directory here. Add a folder to add a path.
If your friends also set the path and you all put the media files in this path, as long as one person drags a media file into it, everyone will synchronize the drag. This is suitable for watching TV series together.
Download links for the software prepared in this article:
Syncplay download link: https://nextcloud.ahfei.blog/index.php/s/2Kjt3KQ56angMqm
mpv.net download link: https://nextcloud.ahfei.blog/index.php/s/nkewwQE9FLxtEX3
Plex or Jellyfin#
Basically, you can only use this method by setting up your own Plex or Jellyfin server, so it is the most difficult method, and to achieve good results, you need to spend more money: essentially, the server simultaneously transmits video streams to clients, so it is limited by latency and bandwidth, and the performance of ordinary machines is only at a usable level.
However, this method is also the most convenient, as long as you have a browser, the process is very simple. Taking Jellyfin as an example (without payment, Plex can only watch the first three minutes), after setting up the server, go to the website, and there will be a feature with three people in the upper right corner for synchronized playback. You will figure it out by exploring.
Related URLs: Watch Together | Plex Support
Original article link: https://blog.vfly2.com/2023/04/3-methods-to-watch-videos-with-online-friends/
Copyright Notice: All articles on this blog, except where otherwise noted, are original works by AhFei and are licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Please indicate the source as 承飞之咎 (blog.vfly2.com).
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