kast 1.3.0

Cast videos (with subtitles) straight from your PC.

Kast

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Seamlessly cast your local video files to chromecast type devices. Regardless of media containers, codecs or subtitles formats.

Features:

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• Detect cast devices in your local network.
• Cast right away video files compliant with chromecast supported formats.
• Automatically transcode and remux incompatible video files before casting.
• Automatically convert subtitles.
• Display local preview of streamed video.
• Thanks to the OS media integration, control your stream with a regular remote media control applications intended for your platform. (e.g. KDE Connect for Plasma linux desktop)

Installation:

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Binary release:

• Windows - Download installer from here.
• Linux Generic - Download installation script from here.
• Linux Arch - Available at AUR under name kast-bin.

PyPI release:

For satisfying user experience it is recommended to install the application in a separate virtual environment. You can use your favorite env creation method like conda or venv.

Installation from PyPI using venv:

python -m venv /path/to/your/venv
cd /path/to/your/venv
source bin/activate
python -m pip install kast

Changelog:

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• Version: 1.3.0
  • Alternative local player backend. (Experimental)(Windows)
  • Made new experimental local player backends into defaults. (Linux/Windows)
  • Improved local player backend switching stability.
  • Improved logger performance by making all prints non-blocking.
  • Dropped support for: Python < 3.10
• Version: 1.2.0
  • Local player subtitles support.
  • Option to disable local player.
  • Alternative local player backend. (Experimental)(Linux)
  • Improved subtitles extraction and conversions.
  • Improved performance and stability of the UI.
• Version: 1.1.1
  • Silent fail with 4K videos fixed. - Most chromecast devices support resolution up to Full HD. All videos are now converted to satisfy that constraint. Full support for 4K devices coming in the future.
• Version: 1.1.0
  • Taskbar progress support. (Windows/Linux)
  • Taskbar preview media controls. (Windows)

FAQ:

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Device search or stream start does not succeed at first try.

It has been noticed that PCs connected via Wi-Fi might encounter this issue. Scenario is the cast device is present in local network. However the application is unable to find or connect to it. Usually succeeding on second or consecutive trial. Easy solution seems to be using Ethernet connection if possible. It is planned to improve on the matter in upcoming releases.

I have a black screen on a local preview on Windows. (Qt backend related)

Easiest solution: Switch to PyAV based player backend. And/or use the binary release which comes with preinstalled fix for Qt backend.

Easy solution: Install codec pack like K-Lite or similar.

Advanced solution: (Read until the end!) Download widows_qt_media_tweak.py and run on your venv. Keep in mind that it is a destructive patch. Use it only if you have a separate venv for the application.

Explanation: PyQt for Windows comes with support for two different media renderers. Direct Show and Windows Media Foundation. The former is older and does not support proprietary codecs. Unfortunately it's used by default and not switchable for: Qt < 5.15.5 Patch from advanced solution removes Direct Show DLL to prevent Qt from loading it.

I hear no sound locally on Linux. (Qt backend related)

Easiest solution: Switch to WinRT based player backend.

Easy solution: Install gstreamer codec pack on your platform.

Explanation: PyQt for Linux uses gstreamer as a backend engine for its media player. If you have no sound you're probably just missing a required audio codec.

I see no progress on taskbar on Linux.

Taskbar progress on Linux is supported only by selected desktop environments. (Like KDE or Unity.) Furthermore, the application would have to be installed in either of root or user environment. However both approaches are discouraged and binary installation is recommended. If you don't want the binary package, please use venv. In which case best approach would be to:

# Copy desktop and icon files to user environment:
cp -fv ${your_venv_prefix}/share/applications/* ~/.local/share/applications/
cp -fv ${your_venv_prefix}/share/pixmaps/* ~/.local/share/pixmaps/

# Create launcher script:
echo "#!/usr/bin/sh" > ~/.local/bin/kast
echo "source ${your_venv_prefix}/bin/activate" >> ~/.local/bin/kast
echo "python -m kast" >> ~/.local/bin/kast
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/kast

# Remember to replace all occurrences of the "${your_venv_prefix}" with an actual path to your env directory!

License

MIT