I have just bought the DS216play and transferred all data onto new WD Red HDD’s. The data includes a large number of mp4 video files, varying between SD, 480,720 and 1080p predominantly AAC. When trying to stream/play video files the large majority (of lower resolution files) do not play. Instead I get the message "The server is not powerful enough to convert video’.
Within Plex settings the Player for Local Quality is set to original. My old WD MyCloud continues to play all of the mp4 files without any problem. Is this an issue with the DS216play or with Plex software for this NAS? Any advice/support would be greatly appreciated.
Are you using the same device(s) to watch your media on? Seems like Plex triggers transcoding, and the DS216Play has very limited capabilities on that front. I’m not familiar with your setup, but how did you serve media from your WD Mycloud?
Despite what others are saying, it’s Plex that is most likely the problem. Even with the Plex set to play the video without transcoding, it still transcodes everything. I have the same problem and everywhere I look for answers I just read the same lame excuses blaming the various servers/web browsers, etc.
At least for me it’s Plex. While monitoring the server, I stream a video through Plex (keep in mind it’s set to NOT transcode) and I can see my server CPU jump to 80% usage. Do the same thing but stream directly to my TV using DLNA and the CPU never gets above 5%. In both instances the only difference is Plex. For some reason it ignores the setting to stream the video without transcoding. Makes it pretty useless for home streaming if it can’t do something so basic and just send the audio/video data like DLNA does.
I’ve got a DS215j and also get the message ‘The server is not powerful enough to convert video’ for some media if I use the Plex client on PS4 – however if I use the PS4’s generic DLNA Media Player App and point it at my Plex library, in many cases the same file does play.
Not always, but this does seem to indicate that Plex isn’t always correct in checking if a file is playable or not.
@erbkaiser and @joewagner501, as Trumpy says, DLNA player and Plex player are two different programs, with different capabilities. Take windows, for example. Some video players support HEVC codec, others do not not. It’s similar in the PS4 and SmartTV’s, some players support some codecs, others don’t.
As said many times and this forum, Plex cannot use open source codecs without paying royalties: As a consequence, Plex players usually support less codecs than other tools, therefore transcoding is triggered more often.
When one has a slow machine he/she has to pay special atention to the codecs used in his/her library in order to assure that it is compatible with the Plex clients used. When you have a home theater system you have to consider this too. You have to establish your own “standard”, and when you step into files that do not adhere to that standard you have to use tools such as Handbrake to convert the media.
Each case is a case, and evaluating several media servers is highly advisable. There are people that prefer Kodi, others Plex, Synology, Emby, iTunes, etc. and there are many many other options available.
Find a container format, with a video and audio codec that best supports the hardware you are trying to play. Then transcode your content to that format. Personally I find that an MKV container, with x264 video codec with AC3/DTS works well. However other people swear by MP4.
Playing an x265 codec video stream on pretty much any device which doesn’t have hardware support, or a pretty decent processor will cause playback issues.
You are aiming for your Plex Server to be Direct Playing the content, which basically means it is just serving the files from the synology for your playback device to handle (Trancode) (TV, Andriod Device etc). Look at the On Deck function with plex server, and then the info, it will tell you if your synology is having to transcode.
If you want the hardware transcoding of your 216play to be used, then use VideoStation which comes with your Synology. Since that uses the hardware transcoding.
It does get easier once your get a better understanding of how things fit together.
Also when you are doing the testing make sure that you are using a LAN connection, so you can rule out any WIFI issues.
Hi,
I have a DS216Play with Plex (0.9.15.0.1621) and I don’t have any problems to transcode video and see in my ipad2 anyone movie (avi or mkv until 1080p). But if I install the new version of Plex Media Server don´t work.
Sorry, but with the version of Plex Media Server 0.9.15.0.1621 my DS216Play transcode.
I can watch AVI movies with Plex iOS app on an iPad, which would be impossible without transcode. Moreover, the CPU of my NAS is set to 99% symptom that is transcoding.
But if I upgrade to version 0.9.15.2 or 0.9.15.3 (I tested with both) ceases to transcode, the iOS app iPad does not work with AVI movies and the NAS CPU does not do anything.
I am looking forward to update the version but even that does not work, I will not be updated.
I’m sure both of you are right and I would not argue about terminology.
The fact is that in my DS216Play with plex 0.9.15.0, I can play movies AVI (MPEG4 Video Codec, Bitrate 723 kbps Audio Codec MP3 Bitrate 128 kbps) on an iPad 2. And if I upgrade to version 0.9.15.2 or 0.9.15.3 don’t work.
PMS 0.9.15.1 had some changes for iOS devices. 0.9.15.2 and 0.9.15.3 include these changes.
As Trumpy suggests, please review your iOS settings, probably something needs to be changed, otherwise the change in PMS may have “revived” an old error (where iOS forced PMS to transcode when not needed).
Please refer also to the iOS forum, maybe you could find some answer there.
@trumpy81 said:
Your NAS is NOT able to transcode when using Plex and that is because it only has a Dual Core CPU. Transcoding requires using the Hardware Transcoding Engine which is Quad Core and Plex does NOT support that.
So basically my NAS IS ABLE to transcode media files. Synology advertises with the ability to convert 4K material on the fly. So the correct answer would be that Plex just don’t cares about using the build in transcoding chip (that I extra paid for when I bought the 216play instead of a 216j etc.).
I mean when the built in Video Channel is able to transcode, why isn’t Plex?
It’s such a big disappointment. I’m so glad that I didn’t bought the Plex Pass Lifetime Membership when I first installed it.
Hi, what if I have Plex runnig fine on my tv thru my Wd my mirror and it fails on ps4 plex? It says that the server is not strong enough. It’s not strong enough when it whants to play on ps4 but enough to play on Tv??
@trumpy81 said:
Yes, your NAS does have the capability to transcode, just not with Plex.
Plex are currently working on adding Hardware Acceleration, but unfortunately, Synology NAS are not included in the current beta.
If you can hold out for a while, hopefully Plex will be able to support Hardware Acceleration on your NAS, no guarantees though.
In any case, all is not lost, it just means that you need to be careful when downloading video to use with your NAS and if you are ripping from DVD, BD etc. make sure you use parameters that do not require transcoding.
it’s really nice to hear that Plex is actually working on Hardware Acceleration.
I thought the idea has been abandoned long ago.
Thank you for your answer. Everything seems logical. But I have another question. When I had an external hdd connected to my laptop, and exactly the same library on it, there was no reason to re-encode movies to play it on my ps4. Everything was working fine. Is that means that all the work was doing my laptop? I was specificly looking for NAS with the possibility of installing Plex on it, and WD my cloud mirror looked to me like a right choice. They say that you can transfer even 4k movies straight to your tv or any other device. Looks to me like I have spent money for thing that don’t work.
Been reading the comments here and there’s a defense of Plex and advice to convert videos to a format that Plex can play. This shouldn’t be necessary in many cases. Many times the client can play the video (eg. TV being via SMB or DLNA) but the Plex app can’t.
I’ve seen comments saying something like ah but yes, DLNA will only play video that can be played but Plex can transcode for you - which is a distracting comment and irrelevant. Let’s only focus on the case where the same video plays on DLNA or SMB but can’t play on Plex. Plex should use the client abilities to play the video not try to transcode. I’ve still not seen a decent comment explaining why on some devices (or latest Plex builds) Plex cannot passthrough (direct play) vids properly. Odd thing is that in earlier builds, some going back months, it worked perfectly fine. For example, I still have an older Samsung TV that can play specific HD avis with Plex that Plex won’t play on a new Samsung. The difference is the Plex app version/build. I say still have, maybe not any longer since I gave up on Plex for a more reliable solution. I only revisited this (and hence posting here) because I forgot why I didn’t use Plex on my new Samsung.
