After finally solving my problems related to getting the DVR to fully record shows, I now have the problem that almost all of those shows are corrupt when trying to view them. They skip, buffer, have areas of only audio, or just crash. I have tried both with the DVR transcoder ON and OFF, but it makes no difference. I have also downloaded the mkv files locally to try to play them to rule out network problems, but they are corrupt in exactly the same way played outside of plex, so the problem is clearly in the recording.
Here is my config:
Mac mini running latest MacOS Sierra and PMS (1.7.2.3878)
SiliconDust HDhomerun CONNECT with latest software (Model: HDHR4-2US, Firmware 20161117)
both the mini and the hdhr are connected to the same router via ethernet (an RT-AC68U)
tested signal at various times, the channel strength is always excellent, never seen a hiccup at all
This sounds like the same issue I and others have seen with some recordings which have been reported here in the forums. As far as I can tell there is some issue with the way the files are automatically remuxed under 1.7.0 and above for HD Home Run Connect’s. With 1.7.0 and above the files are automatically remuxed from .ts to mkv which seems to cause these issues. I actually had a beta version of Plex DVR which did this too until I turned off the re-encode option. The only fix at this time seems to be to downgrade to Plex 1.6.1 or lower and change the transcode settings to no until Plex can provide a fix. Here’s a download link for 1.6.1 for OSX if you need it. https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-media-server/1.6.1.3722-4955e31cf/PlexMediaServer-1.6.1.3722-4955e31cf-OSX.zip
Unfortunately you lose Live TV but it’s more important to have proper recordings.
If you can, give that a try and post if it works or not.
I’ve recorded the same show twice and only the newer software version (1.7.2) has the stuttering/corruption while the version on 1.6.1 records just fine.
I’d like to know if these corrupted MKVs are permanently ruined or if there is a way to restore them to TS along with a fix for this problem ASAP
@“John Rush” said:
This sounds like the same issue I and others have seen with some recordings which have been reported here in the forums. As far as I can tell there is some issue with the way the files are automatically remuxed under 1.7.0 and above for HD Home Run Connect’s. With 1.7.0 and above the files are automatically remuxed from .ts to mkv which seems to cause these issues. I actually had a beta version of Plex DVR which did this too until I turned off the re-encode option. The only fix at this time seems to be to downgrade to Plex 1.6.1 or lower and change the transcode settings to no until Plex can provide a fix. Here’s a download link for 1.6.1 for OSX if you need it. https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-media-server/1.6.1.3722-4955e31cf/PlexMediaServer-1.6.1.3722-4955e31cf-OSX.zip
Unfortunately you lose Live TV but it’s more important to have proper recordings.
If you can, give that a try and post if it works or not.
Thanks for the advice and link, I downgraded to that version and scheduled a few shows. The first one aborted with an error, I am waiting to see for the second one. I may try (once again) removing the DVR and re-adding it/setting it up. I will report back here if this solves my problem. Thanks.
I’ve recorded the same show twice and only the newer software version (1.7.2) has the stuttering/corruption while the version on 1.6.1 records just fine.
I’d like to know if these corrupted MKVs are permanently ruined or if there is a way to restore them to TS along with a fix for this problem ASAP
You can try using the mkvtoolnix tool mkvextract to extract the elementary streams (Video/audio/etc) from the Matroska mkv container that Plex PMS created and then remux them into another container using any tool of your choice, see forums.plex.tv/discussion/274343/new-dvr-v1-7-x-matroska-mkv-issues/p1
I’ve recorded the same show twice and only the newer software version (1.7.2) has the stuttering/corruption while the version on 1.6.1 records just fine.
I’d like to know if these corrupted MKVs are permanently ruined or if there is a way to restore them to TS along with a fix for this problem ASAP
You can try using the mkvtoolnix tool mkvextract to extract the elementary streams (Video/audio/etc) from the Matroska mkv container that Plex PMS created and then remux them into another container using any tool of your choice, see forums.plex.tv/discussion/274343/new-dvr-v1-7-x-matroska-mkv-issues/p1
Thank you for the info, but if I have to convert every recording I make, the DVD functionality is rather useless to me.
I’ve recorded the same show twice and only the newer software version (1.7.2) has the stuttering/corruption while the version on 1.6.1 records just fine.
I’d like to know if these corrupted MKVs are permanently ruined or if there is a way to restore them to TS along with a fix for this problem ASAP
Thanks for the response @mcrommert. We need a response from Plex ASAP. This is unacceptable that my Shield was automatically upgraded to a broken version and the only way I could downgrade was downloading an APK from some random website.
Well, I guess I have no choice at the moment except to wait for software that fixes the problem…I was very excited to try this out, but it seems nowhere near ready for prime time, at least on my configuration.
I’ve recorded the same show twice and only the newer software version (1.7.2) has the stuttering/corruption while the version on 1.6.1 records just fine.
I’d like to know if these corrupted MKVs are permanently ruined or if there is a way to restore them to TS along with a fix for this problem ASAP
You can try using the mkvtoolnix tool mkvextract to extract the elementary streams (Video/audio/etc) from the Matroska mkv container that Plex PMS created and then remux them into another container using any tool of your choice, see forums.plex.tv/discussion/274343/new-dvr-v1-7-x-matroska-mkv-issues/p1
I tried that method and the stream was still corrupted.
It is even worse for me than before, now I can’t even get anything to record for more than a few seconds or minutes before the recordings cut off completely. :’(
@ssuess said:
It is even worse for me than before, now I can’t even get anything to record for more than a few seconds or minutes before the recordings cut off completely.
My experience with this issue is it degrades…i started for a week having no issues then it degraded until it was complete garbage
