… in the absence of a ‘newbie’ section of the forum I’m posting here - hope nobody minds.
I have just set up a new QNAP TS251+ to run plex and stream video and photos to my Sony Bravia Android TV (using the Android TV Plex client) and audio to my Pioneer X-HM82D media streamer.
Video questions: I’ve ripped a few blu-rays using MakeMKV and in general the whole process has gone smoothly, however I’m getting the ‘not powerful enough to play video’ message’ on certain movies. Strangely music video blurays seem to be no problem, but regular movies are. I’m testing with two movies in particular - ‘Passchendaele’ and ‘In The Shadow Of The Moon’. No matter what settings I try I’m getting stuttering playback and this error. Interestingly, using the native Android TV ‘video’ app the films play perfectly from the Plex server on the Qnap - they just won’t play using the Plex Android TV client. Any idea why?
Audio question: When I search for available servers from the Pioneer, it shows me three different servers - one Plex on the NAS, and two other servers also on the NAS - any idea why?
Photo question: Thumbnails show fine, but trying to view a full size photo gives me a ‘mountain’ icon. These are normal conventionally named photos from a Nikon dslr in jpg format - unprocessed. Is there a file size limit or some other issue preventing the photo from displaying?
Hope you don’t mind me posting this here - feel free to tell me off!
You’re in the Newbie Section. Welcome aboard.
As you are discovering, NAS means (among other things) Not A Server.
Your BluRays that won’t play are likely VC-1 video streams that will take the biggest bully on the playground and turn him into a crying girl scout. VC-1 video streams can only use a single thread of ANY processor and that makes your ‘Not A Server’ weep uncontrollably. Your ONLY option is to re-encode those VC-1 items to h264 - and yes, that too will make your ‘Not A Server’ break down in tears (single thread) and the crying will go on for an unbelievable amount of time as you watch Handbrake deliver 2 frames per second in what will surely be about 10 days of 24/7, wide open encode time.
Plex and Android are - an adventure - and it’s not one you enjoy going to the Cinema to see. I’m still trying to get my AFTV and Plex to make nice (after 2 years of trying)… the ‘adventure’ continues. Perhaps others may have some tips, but the one that comes up most often is that, at least on AFTVs, the default h264 level is 4.0. Unfortunately most material in the known universe is encoded at 4.1. This means that Plex will stupidly do as it’s told and transcode a suitable version with a 4.0 level that turns your ‘Not A Server’ into that whimpering coward again. This may be rectified by entering the Plex app settings on your device and changing the ‘Max x264 Level’ from 4.0 to 4.1. You’ll have to check and see if that option is available to you.
As for your other issues that’s beyond my experience. Others will chime in.
Happy Plexing.
Thanks for injecting a bit of humour Tony! - I already suspected that everything you said was true before you said it, however I’m an eternal optimist! - Do Plex have a gang of chaps that work to make sure that things don’t happen quite as people want/expect them to?
I’m familiar with Handbrake etc., so I’ll continue my adventure armed with tissues - cheers Tony.
I like your attitude. You’ll do fine here…
