Synology DS413j transcoding limitation workaround

At twitter Nikunj Patel asked me for a recommendation on a Synology NAS. Should he buy the DS412+ or DS413j?

As pointed out the DS413j can’t do live video transcoding because of its ARM processor, on the up side is far cheaper than DS412+.

So he asked me for my workaround to that limitation.

My setup

• Hardware
  • Macbook Pro
  • Apple TV
  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • DS413j
• Software
  • iFlicks (conversion tool)
  • Hazel (automation tool)
  • Synology Download Station (downloader)
  • Subliminal (subtitle downloader)

My workaround

1. Download Station downloads what I want to watch in my library to a folder in my NAS
2. My notebook watches that folder (using Hazel) and then download the subtitles for the series/movie (using subliminal) and move the file to a folder named with_subtitles
3. iFlicks watches the with_subtitles folder and convert the video using the preset “Compatible with iTunes” and add it to the iTunes library (which is located on the NAS)
4. Since I own mostly Apple devices that’s “all” I have to do. And because my notebook is always kept on I can watch it from my iTunes library via Home Sharing.

Downsides

My notebook must be kept on for converting and watching. I know I can remove part of that limitation using another software (avconv/ffmpeg) instead of iFlicks, but I do not have the time to change it right now. And maybe I can manage to have the NAS to serve my files through Video Station (DLNA) and bypass the iTunes library limitation.