Hi
No it’s the same result, the video takes along time to start then pauses for ages then plays again for a second or so.
Exactly the same symptoms.
Hi
I can turn off direct play on the Plex media server but sadly it makes no difference either.
Thanks for the info.
Can you pull the Plex XML and attach it as a text file to the thread? This will show how Plex has analyzed the file. Maybe something will show up there. See doc below for how to pull info.
Only other thing I can think of is that the mp4/mkv container itself is somehow damaged. You could try remuxing the file with MKVToolNix. It won’t alter content, just put the tracks in a new container.
Using the multiplexer tab, drag the file into the Input window. All tracks should be automatically selected. Click Start Multiplexing to create a new file (check destination to make sure you don’t overwrite, etc).
Hi
Where do I find the Plex xml
See the support document I linked. It shows how to pull up the XML for a file (Get Info -> View XML). Save the info in a text file. The forum does not support .xml attachments.
64257.txt (35.9 KB)
Hopefully this is it
Thanks. That was it.
The movie looks fine. All the “usual suspects” look OK - h264 level, reference frames, fps, resolution, etc.
I don’t know why it will not direct play on your firestick.
Try remultiplexing the file with MKVToolNix (mentioned earlier). That’s the only thing I can think of right now. The output with MKVToolNix will be a MKV file, not MP4, but that should not matter. Put the resulting file in a “Other Videos” library. That will keep Plex from downloading metadata, thinking you have a duplicate movie, etc.
Consider leaving out any audio/subtitle languages you do not need. It should not matter. However, if one of them is malformed it could cause issues even if you’re not listening to/watching it.
Hi
Many thanks for your help.
I don’t really want to redo all the files that won’t play on Plex firestick app.
I’ve found that I can get them to play on the VLC firestick app so will use that instead.
It’s a shame I like the look of Plex over VLC and if the same setting was available on the firestick app as on the iPhone app, I probably could have got it to work.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Understand. There is no guarantee the remuxing would work. It was just another test.
If you’re decent at scripting, the remuxing can also be performed via FFMPEG. That would let you process many movies/shows with minimal manual intervention.
An example from the ffmpeg docs:
ffmpeg -i input.mkv -map 0 -c copy output.mkv
Plex & VLC take different approaches to playing video.
Plex uses ExoPlayer, the media player built in to AndroidTV. VLC includes their own media player, codecs, etc. As a result, VLC can play many files Plex must transcode.
If you’re up for some experimentation, look at Kodi and the Plex for Kodi add-on.
Kodi, like VLC, has its own video player. The Plex for Kodi add-on, give it the look and feel of Plex.
You have to side-load Kodi to the Firestick, which is easily done via the Downloader app (Tom’s Guide directions).
I’ve played around with Kodi on a FireStick. Like VLC, it plays just about everything. I’ve never used the Plex for Kodi add-on, so can’t speak to its capabilities / limitations.
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… and the same way VLC plays everything you throw at it - Both of the Plex Player Apps (at the bottom of this page: Devices/Apps link) will do much the same.
Get one of them to that TV and problem solved (well, the Direct Play problem anyway).
Sorry but I don’t understand.
I have a Plex app on the firestick, what do I need to download?
Thanks for you advice
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