The Plex Media Server is not sending the “Hey, I’m a 3D signal, need to switch” to the 3D capable display.
Of all the devices I have that can stream 3D MKV’s to my display the ONLY one that is not working is the signal coming from the Plex Server. Image is side by side but not processed. The TV doesn’t know its a 3D signal.
This should happen automatically with the 3D information in the signal coming from the Plex Media Server.
My Meder8er does so just fine. The information that tells the TV to switch to 3D mode is buried in the HDMI signal.
The Plex Media Server is doing something with that information. Not sending it? Sending it but its corrupt? Something is not being included in the signal that IS in the mkv, is being sent by other media playback devices.
I’ve noticed others posting same kind of issue. Some say its not up to the Plex Server to makes sure the TV sets to 3D.
That is true but not the WHOLE story.
The signal coming into the display via HDMI has to include the 3D trigger. And for THAT the Plex Media Server is in play.
Given all other media devices that stream the same MKV file, and yes it is named correctly as the TV shows the side by side images, work this is something about what the Plex Media Server software is not doing correctly.
The Plex Media Server is not aware of 3D. It has no support whatsoever for 3D. It just sends the file.
There is only one class of Plex clients which support automatic switching to 3D mode and these are the Samsung Smarthub TVs. And even they need a hint in the file name of the video file.
“The Plex Media Server is not aware of 3D. It has no support whatsoever for 3D. It just sends the file.”
That’s what I’m saying. My older 1186 chipset media player can send whatever is needed to tell the TV its a 3D input. Seems to me it can’t be that complicated. Yes need to name the file correctly so the Plex software “knows” its a 3D signal. That is on we end users.
But when seeing the file name that says its a 3D signal and doing something with that information to tell the display, “Hey switch to 3D”… that’s in the code.
When file name set to “x” tell TV to “y”…
Whatever “y” is has to be some standard piece of information. Has to be. Otherwise devices like the lowly KDLinks 700 series would not be able to do so.
That’s software not naming the file correctly.
And that piece of code in the software, its missing.
Name the file like:** Avatar (2009) [3D] [H-SBS].mp4**
My TV switches to 3D automatically ONLY with the correct naming.
It’s complete chance that it switches as that is the WRONG naming convention to name the files.
The naming convention is perfectly right if your TV is a Samsung 3D TV, running Orca’s Smarthub Plex app. see the manual, page 64
Name the file like:** Avatar (2009) [3D] [H-SBS].mp4**
My TV switches to 3D automatically ONLY with the correct naming.
It’s complete chance that it switches as that is the WRONG naming convention to name the files.
The naming convention is perfectly right if your TV is a Samsung 3D TV, running Orca’s Smarthub Plex app. see the manual, page 64
@jsmiddleton4 said:
No matter what I name the file my Sharp TV has to be switched manually.
As expected. There isn’t even a Plex client for Sharp.
Unless the Sharp has some own “intelligence” to recognise 3D content, there is no way to automatically switch it into 3D mode.
And that is my point. It could if the software is setup properly to recognize a standard naming scheme and when it sees the naming scheme for a 3D source file send the “3D Incoming…” information so the display sets itself to 3D.
That is exactly how it works with my other media playback devices.
What you’re asking seems massively complicated to code from Plex’s standpoint: which TV set are you sending the signal to, Panasonic, LG, Sony, Samsung, Vizio, etc etc etc? Or maybe it isn’t a TV at all but a projector? Don’t each of these have their own unique way of dealing with the separate types of 3D files, requiring separate coding algorithms for each manufacturer? And does the TV or projector even support the 3D method used in the file – HSBS, OU, etc etc? Are you asking Plex to instruct your server to transcode a 3D file format that might not be supported on the client (say, .mkv on a PlayStation)? Aren’t we setting up Plex users to get really angry at Plex for a lot of reasons, not all of which are under Plex’s control?
My point is don’t get angry at Plex staff for not supporting a dizzying array of possible 3D configurations. I would put the blame on the manufacturer of the 3D TV, since it would be much easier to write code recognizing the type of incoming 3D signal and automatically switch to that mode than what you’re asking from Plex.
But given that 3D seems to be dying as a feature of HDTV sets, I doubt either Plex or the TV manufacturers will get too excited about it any time soon. So the solution remains in your hands: manually change the 3D setting on whatever TV/projector you have when you want to watch 3D. That’s what I do on my 2 TV sets and 1 projector at home (2 Sony’s and an LGTV), and sure it’s a minor hassle but it works fine.
I’m not sure what you are on about. All the plex server needs to do is send the content to the plex client. The client needs to tell the TV or whatever to switch modes. Yeah, I can change it manually. But that… well stinks. We are in the age of automation. Things should just work. Manual is for the 00’s (or 90’s).
Is the 3D feature really dying? Not so sure it is. The focus for HDTV manufacturers at the moment is 4K/8K. 3D features are in a slumber. But they will return.
Whatever the trigger is that other media playing software/FW does by seeing the 3D format in the name of the video file is not that complicated. Can’t be. Too many of them do it for this thing to be complicated coding.
KODI does it based on approved or standardized naming schemes as do other media players. Even the older and lowly KD LINKS 720 can do this 3D trigger/tag.
I think the honest answer is given the state of the home theater 3D market its not something Plex is going to invest any time doing. And that is quite understandable.
KODI/SPMC does this on the Nvidia Shield just fine. I’ve verified that with Nvidia.
Worth pointing out that RasPlex (PHT) did this perfectly. So long as the file had the right naming convention, it would notify the TV which would switch mode automatically (and switch back when playback stopped).
I have been trying out PMP Embedded today and was disappointed to find this functionality missing. Can this thread be moved to feature requests?
