4K Video transcoding or should I switch to VLC player?

PaullyD · April 10, 2020, 4:13am

Server Version#: Version 4.22.3
Player Version#: Plex for LG 4.29.2
WebOS 2.1
LG 55UF6450 4K UHD

Hi All!

I guess after digging in Plex forum for all possible solutions for this issue but can’t seem to find and good answer to this.
What possible needs to happen for Plex server/app that it can play 4K UHD file without transcoding like VLC player can? How many hoops we need to jump through to get it actually working?

They LG TV model I have is 4 UHD compatible but Plex app just wont play any 4K movies.
99% of my collection is in MKV containers.

For example take this file here:

Fury.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p.mkv

Media

Duration 2:14:38
Bitrate 63990 kbps
Width 3840
Height 2160
Aspect Ratio 1.78
Video Resolution 4K
Container MKV
Video Frame Rate 24p
Video Profile main 10

Part

Duration 2:14:38
File Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p.mkv
Size 60.18 GB
Container MKV
Has Thumbnail 1
Video Profile main 10

Codec HEVC
Bitrate 59638 kbps
Bit Depth 10
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Coded Height 2160
Coded Width 3840
Color Primaries bt2020
Color Range tv
Color Space bt2020nc
Color Trc smpte2084
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 2160
Level 5.1
Profile main 10
Ref Frames 1
Width 3840
Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)



Codec AC3
Channels 6
Bitrate 640 kbps
Language русский язык
Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Title Dub, UHD Blu-Ray
Display Title русский язык (AC3 5.1)

Here is Plex log when it tries to play it:
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.436 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - We’re going to try to auto-select an audio stream for account 1.
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.436 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Selecting best audio stream for part ID 3668 (autoselect: 0 language: en)
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.436 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Audio Stream: 19290, Subtitle Stream: -1
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Scaled up video bitrate to 268371Kbps based on 4.500000x fudge factor.
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Scaled maximum bitrate for resolution reduction to 67092Kbps.
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Selected protocol hls; container: mpegts
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: analyzing media item 3492
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): Direct Play is disabled
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/dca
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/dca
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/truehd
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p - video.width limitation applies: 3840 > 1920
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Scaled up video bitrate to 268371Kbps based on 4.500000x fudge factor.
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Scaled maximum bitrate for resolution reduction to 67092Kbps.
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.451 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - MDE: Ярость.2014.UHD.Blu-Ray.Remux.2160p (2019): selected media 0 / 3492
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.452 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Adding session 0x7fb0d0693810:yyygsnkxw4edij7k8w85a8wf which is using transcoder slot. Used slots is now 1
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.452 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Added session 0x7fb0d0693810:yyygsnkxw4edij7k8w85a8wf
Apr 09, 2020 23:08:53.452 [0x7fb0ac7f8700] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=3495 codes=(General=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK. Direct Play=3000,App cannot direct play this item. Direct play is disabled. Transcode=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK.) media=(id=3492 part=(id=3668 decision=transcode container=mpegts protocol=hls streams=(Video=(id=19289 decision=transcode bitrate=67092 encoder=libx264 width=1920 height=1080) Audio=(id=19290 decision=copy channels=6 rate=48000))))

What is the issue here and what do I need in order to play this file?

All help is appreciated!

FordGuy61 · April 10, 2020, 4:47am

In the Plex app on the TV, check the video quality settings. Set them all to Original.
Also, make sure the Direct Play and Direct Stream boxes are checked.

If the TV is remote from the server, check for bandwidth limitations on the Plex Media Server Remote Access configuration page.

ChuckPa · April 10, 2020, 5:18am

Without knowing the CPU, there is no way to determine if it can perform the task.

Hardware transcoding can do this with ease but requires a PlexPass.
Hardware transcoding is a PlexPas feature.

Transcode=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK.) media=(id=3492 part=(id=3668 decision=transcode container=mpegts protocol=hls streams=(Video=

The DEBUG log ZIP file would make diagnosis easier and more accurate but I was able to find the above information in the snippet provided.

PaullyD · April 13, 2020, 12:39am

Thanks for reply. Yes I have all of the above enabled in the Plex app on TV. No remote streaming ever. I simply don’t use that feature and why in the world I would try to stream 4K in original quality over WAN?
My local network is fully 1Gb connection, despite that LG TV Ethernet port is only 100Mb/s but that should not prevent it playing in direct mode.
I can play all other content(less than 4K) in direct mode but as soon as it hits 4K it starts to transcode. It will not work for me as I have my plex server in virtual machine with very little specs, only storage.

PaullyD · April 13, 2020, 12:40am

Thanks but I am not looking to transcode at all. I want to play 4K moving in direct mode which is not working in Plex app.

FordGuy61 · April 13, 2020, 1:06am

For some reason, Plex thinks your TV is 1080p, not 4K (see first log message I referenced).
Based on second log message, this seems to be due to a setting either in the Plex app or on the TV.
That’s why I asked if TV was local or remote and to check b/w settings.

Please do the following:

Set your Plex server for debug logs only. Server Settings -> General -> Show Advanced.
Set the LG Plex app to log to the server (Settings -> Privacy if I remember correctly).
Play a 4K HDR movie. Choose either AC3 or dts audio. Do not choose TrueHD, as it will transcode. Make sure subtitles are turned off.
Check the Now Playing section in the Plex Dashboard. Expand if necessary. Does it show if the audio or video is transcoding? If possible, make a screen capture and attach to thread.
Let the movie play for about a minute. Stop playback.
Wait two minutes for the server to settle down.
Download log files. With Plex Web: Settings -> Troubleshooting -> Download Logs.
Attach the entire ZIP file to this thread.
Pull & attach the Plex XML for the movie you played. Zip the XML file or save it as a .TXT file. The forum does not accept .xml attachments. See Investigate Media Information and Formats for information on retrieving the XML info.

This will provide visibility into how the Plex Server sees things and how the Plex client sees things.

PaullyD · April 13, 2020, 2:32am

Thank you for the fast response! It it definitely transcodes video. Here is the attached log, XML file is inside. Plex Media Server Logs_2020-04-12_22-18-51.zip (3.9 MB)

Info about the movie:


Media

    Duration 2:08:39
    Bitrate 59331 kbps
    Width 3840
    Height 2160
    Aspect Ratio 1.78
    Video Resolution 4K
    Container MKV
    Video Frame Rate 24p
    Audio Profile ma
    Video Profile main 10

Part

    Duration 2:08:39
    File The Lost World- Jurassic Park_t00.mkv
    Size 53.32 GB
    Audio Profile ma
    Container MKV
    Has Thumbnail 1
    Video Profile main 10

    Codec HEVC
    Bitrate 55491 kbps
    Language English
    Bit Depth 10
    Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
    Coded Height 2160
    Coded Width 3840
    Color Primaries bt2020
    Color Range tv
    Color Space bt2020nc
    Color Trc smpte2084
    Frame Rate 23.976 fps
    Height 2160
    Level 5.1
    Profile main 10
    Ref Frames 1
    Width 3840
    Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)

    Codec DCA
    Channels 8
    Bitrate 1536 kbps
    Language English
    Audio Channel Layout 7.1
    Bit Depth 24
    Profile ma
    Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
    Title Surround 7.1
    Display Title English (DTS-HD MA 7.1)

    Codec DCA
    Channels 6
    Bitrate 1536 kbps
    Language English
    Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
    Bit Depth 24
    Profile dts
    Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
    Title Surround 5.1
    Display Title English (DTS 5.1)

    Codec DCA
    Channels 6
    Bitrate 768 kbps
    Language русский язык
    Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
    Bit Depth 24
    Profile dts
    Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
    Title Surround 5.1
    Display Title русский язык (DTS 5.1)

Thanks for any help with this!

FordGuy61 · April 13, 2020, 4:05am

Thanks for the info.

For some reason, Plex thinks your TV is 1920x1080, not 4K. I’ve no idea why.

From your log files:
Apr 12, 2020 22:12:59.912 [0x7fb0aeffd700] DEBUG - The Lost World Jurassic Park T00 - video.width limitation applies: 3840 > 1920

When I play the same movie on my LG B7 OLED, it direct plays. Other than my TV is webOS 3.8, I don’t see a difference. We have the same version of the Plex app, 4.29.2.

My TV uses the same profile:

Apr 12, 2020 20:23:04.749 [0x7fb0d8ff9700] DEBUG - [Now] Device is webOS (LG 55UF6450-UA).
Apr 12, 2020 20:23:04.749 [0x7fb0d8ff9700] DEBUG - [Now] Profile is HTML TV App

One more thought:

During playback, pull up the information overlay (this is on my TV, hoping on yours as well).
Pull up the on-screen controls (pause, etc).
Select the circle with an “i” inside it.
What does it show for settings?

Example from my TV:

PaullyD · April 13, 2020, 9:08pm

Thanks a lot for diggin in the logs!
I have confirmed that it is definitely Plex app that is having issues. I loaded this same .mkv movie to USB drive and it plays no problem at 4K resolution.

To say I am disappointed with plex is to say nothing. This is not first post here with similar frustration. People have to jump through millions of hoops to get decent quality movies working or to have it not to transcode. I am not buying their pass for sure or any other products until it works.
They should learn from VLC player as it palays anything you feed to it!

PaullyD · April 19, 2020, 3:05am

I hope that Plex devs are checking feed back sometimes on this forum. Why pay for a product that only works on 80%? 4K forma will be more and more in our daily streaming and plex does not have it solved yet.

system · July 18, 2020, 3:05am

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

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4K Video transcoding or should I switch to VLC player?

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