Always transcoding (web, smart TV with Tizen) while no transcoding (Android devices, Windows 11 app)

Plex Players
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1

Hello,

I have a transcode problem.

Each time I use Plex via the web portal (locally or on the internet) on one of my computers, the video always transcode (it’s lagging and it takes around 90% of the NAS cpu). Therefore, I can only play 1/3 of my videos because the NAS is not powerful enough. The problem is the same with my Samsung TV (running the latest version of Plex for Tizen OS). I have the following playback error: This server is not powerful enough to convert video.

However, everything’s fine when I use the Android Plex app with my Samsung Galaxy tab s5e or the Windows 11 Plex app with on of my computers. No transcode process appears in the DSM log (I’m using a NAS Synology) and the video instantly plays and runs smoothly.

Please note that I have disabled the “video stream transcoding”, and that I have enabled the “direct play” and “direct stream” checkboxes. I have no VPN enabled and the 32400 port is open and redirected to my NAS.

Do you know how can I solve this proble, please?

Server Version (with latest DSM update, on DJ216J): 1.32.8

Thank you,

Cyril.

2

Disabling that checkbox doesn’t make the files “magically” Direct Play on all client types.
All it does, is triggering the error message “This server is not powerful enough to convert video” when transcoding is necessary to play a certain file on a certain client type. The checkbox cannot change that fact.

The server writes log files in which you can find the reason why transcoding was invoked.
Enable debug server logging, then stop and restart the server.

3

Thank you very much for your reply.

I’ve downloaded the .log files on my computer, stopped, and restarted the server. Now, how should I read those text files? I guess it’s located in the “Plex Transcoder Statistics” file?

Thanks.

4

Wrong order. You need to first enable the logging, then restart the server, then recreate the failure, then fetch the logs.

The log file of interest is the main Plex Media Server.log file.
Seek for lines with MDE: in them. These (and the lines around them!) are of interest.

5

Thanks. I did exactly what you advised me, but I didn’t find any “MDE” word in the “Plex Media Server” log file. Here is what I got:

////////////////////////

Feb 05, 2024 14:29:11.927 [1929880432] INFO - Plex Media Server v1.32.8.7639-fb6452ebf - Synology DS216j armv7l - build: linux-armv7neon synology-dsm7 - GMT 01:00
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:11.928 [1929880432] INFO - Linux version: DSM 7.2.1.69057-4, language: en-US
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:11.928 [1929880432] INFO - Processor: 2-core Arm
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:11.928 [1929880432] INFO - Compiler is - Clang 11.0.1 (https://plex.tv 9b997da8e5b47bdb4a9425b3a3b290be393b4b1f)
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:11.928 [1929880432] INFO - /volume1/@appstore/PlexMediaServer/Plex Media Server
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:12.217 [1996394512] INFO - [CERT/OCSP] Successfully retrieved response from cache.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:12.795 [1996394512] INFO - Running migrations. (EPG 0)
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:13.761 [1925383024] WARN - Crash: Crash reporting disabled
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:14.814 [1996394512] INFO - Running migrations. (EPG 0)
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:36.387 [1907057520] INFO - Refreshing paths watched by LibraryUpdateManager
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:36.715 [1921164144] WARN - [EventSourceClient/pubsub/178.79.177.129:443] MyPlex: attempted a reachability check but we're not yet mapped.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:37.431 [1996394512] WARN - [DatabaseFixups] Held transaction for too long (/data/jenkins/server/2581927219/Library/MetadataCollection.cpp:523): 0.110000 seconds
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:37.573 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#1f] SLOW QUERY: It took 220.000000 ms to retrieve 6 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:38.975 [1996394512] WARN - [DatabaseFixups] Held transaction for too long (/data/jenkins/server/2581927219/Library/DatabaseFixups.cpp:357): 0.660000 seconds
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:44.991 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#c] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:44.991 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:44.992 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:44.992 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#c] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:44.992 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.125 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#e] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.126 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#e] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.125 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#37] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.126 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#37] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.127 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.127 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.260 [1811334000] INFO - [Req#3c] AutoUpdate: no updates available
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:45.874 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#37] SLOW QUERY: It took 270.000000 ms to retrieve 81 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.404 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.404 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.404 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.428 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.429 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:47.429 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#10] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:48.416 [1847493488] WARN - NAT: PMP, got an error: Not Supported by gateway.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:53.884 [1921164144] WARN - [EventSourceClient/pubsub/178.79.177.129:443] PubSub: Received notifyConnectivity event with incorrect async identifier (, expected 847d033b-ac30-44bc-b068-49276e721b18)
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:59.719 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:29:59.720 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.228 [1915454320] INFO - [Req#c1] AutoUpdate: no updates available
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.255 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#b1] SLOW QUERY: It took 320.000000 ms to retrieve 6 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.715 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#d3] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.715 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#d3] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.802 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#cb] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:00.802 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#cb] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:01.233 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#d3] SLOW QUERY: It took 290.000000 ms to retrieve 24 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:01.244 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#cb] SLOW QUERY: It took 230.000000 ms to retrieve 24 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:01.284 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#d5/Req#da] SLOW QUERY: It took 240.000000 ms to retrieve 69 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:01.611 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#e2] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:01.611 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#e2] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:02.357 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#e2] SLOW QUERY: It took 600.000000 ms to retrieve 45 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:08.843 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#ef/Req#ff] SLOW QUERY: It took 360.000000 ms to retrieve 1 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:09.260 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#ef/Req#ff] SLOW QUERY: It took 770.000000 ms to retrieve 97 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:12.120 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#105/Req#106] SLOW QUERY: It took 230.000000 ms to retrieve 1 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:12.446 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#105/Req#106] SLOW QUERY: It took 590.000000 ms to retrieve 88 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:12.856 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#112] SLOW QUERY: It took 240.000000 ms to retrieve 7 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:12.999 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#109/Req#116] SLOW QUERY: It took 210.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:13.047 [1888748400] WARN - Held transaction for too long (/data/jenkins/server/2581927219/Statistics/StatisticsManager.cpp:301): 0.440000 seconds
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:13.117 [1888748400] WARN - Held transaction for too long (/data/jenkins/server/2581927219/Statistics/StatisticsManager.cpp:304): 0.130000 seconds
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:14.343 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#11b/Req#11c] SLOW QUERY: It took 240.000000 ms to retrieve 87 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:14.800 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#11d] Could not convert "state" ("error") to the correct type
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:17.940 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#10f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:17.940 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#10f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:17.942 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:17.942 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.174 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.174 [1813443440] WARN - [Req#aa] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.805 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#10f] SLOW QUERY: It took 220.000000 ms to retrieve 81 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.875 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#131] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.875 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#131] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.947 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.948 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.948 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.949 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#132] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.949 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#132] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.971 [1750106992] WARN - [Req#134] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:18.971 [1750106992] WARN - [Req#134] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:19.081 [1754280816] WARN - [Req#131] SLOW QUERY: It took 210.000000 ms to retrieve 81 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:19.176 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#133] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:19.176 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#133] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:19.662 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#132] SLOW QUERY: It took 330.000000 ms to retrieve 36 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.247 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.247 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.247 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.249 [1742558064] WARN - [Req#137] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.249 [1742558064] WARN - [Req#137] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.250 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#12e] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.250 [1815552880] WARN - [Req#12e] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.252 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#12f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.252 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#12f] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.287 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#136] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.287 [1836483440] WARN - [Req#136] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.288 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#13d] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:20.288 [1915454320] WARN - [Req#13d] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.852 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.859 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.863 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.864 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.867 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.867 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.918 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.927 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.927 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.955 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'sectionID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.955 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'contentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:21.956 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] QueryParser: Invalid field 'pinnedContentDirectoryID' found, ignoring.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.337 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] SLOW QUERY: It took 590.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.400 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] SLOW QUERY: It took 570.000000 ms to retrieve 50 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.400 [1750106992] WARN - [Req#134] SLOW QUERY: It took 220.000000 ms to retrieve 36 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.555 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] SLOW QUERY: It took 390.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.557 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] SLOW QUERY: It took 290.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:22.999 [1817662320] WARN - [Req#14f/Req#154] SLOW QUERY: It took 580.000000 ms to retrieve 63 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:23.887 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] SLOW QUERY: It took 280.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:23.889 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] SLOW QUERY: It took 250.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:24.244 [1811334000] WARN - [Req#13b] SLOW QUERY: It took 700.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.
Feb 05, 2024 14:30:24.247 [1809224560] WARN - [Req#d9] SLOW QUERY: It took 710.000000 ms to retrieve 3 items.

///////////////////////////

I’m sure 90% of the lines are useless to identify the issue, sorry for that.

6

It appears you did not only disable “verbose” logging, but “debug” logging as well.

8

This is not one of those lines I mean. Look for MDE: the colon is kinda important for knowing the right lines.

9

Thanks for your reply. You were right. None of the boxes was checked. So I enabled “debug” logging.

Here is an example of a MDE line:

Feb 05, 2024 14:42:09.730 [1920959344] DEBUG - Completed: [192.168.0.254:57523] 200 GET /:/timeline?ratingKey=59071&key=%2Flibrary%2Fmetadata%2F59071&playbackTime=0&playQueueItemID=3711&state=stopped&hasMDE=1&context=home%3Ahub.continueWatching&row=0&col=0&time=0&duration=3793000 (10 live) #52 TLS GZIP 47ms 499 bytes (pipelined: 2)

It appears that it involves the 57523 port from my ISP box, which is weird because this port is not used on my NAS, nor by Plex, unless I am missing something.

10

There is no “MDE:” in the line codes.

11

Did you re-enable the video transcoding in the server settings?

12

Nope, the only thing I changed is the following checkbox: “Enable Plex Media Server debug logging”

13

Then do it.

14

Okay, but the issue happens without the transcode enabled, so I left the transcode disabled until now. I don’t know if you understood my issue or if I described it with the right words. If so, don’t hesitate to tell me.

Anyway, I just unchecked the following checkbox: “Disable video stream transcoding”. Then I rebooted the server. I wanted to reproduce the issue but it’s impossible because now it’s transcoding and playing (but it’s useless since it’s tooooooo slow). I’ve nevertheless downloaded the log file. I got those lines:

Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.866 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol dash; container: mp4
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.866 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 47208
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.866 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: Direct Play is disabled
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.866 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: media must be transcoded in order to use the dash protocol
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: selected audio stream is not the first audio stream and direct play stream selection is not enabled
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: selected subtitle cannot be converted to a compatible format, burning into video stream
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: avoiding video remux due to burned subtitle stream
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: E6 - Sunflowers: no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.867 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream audio stream due to codec eac3 when profile only allows aac
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.868 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] MDE: Ted Lasso - S3 E6 - Sunflowers: selected media 0 / 47208
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.871 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Adding session 0x722417c0:1rvbpcu0l0vjwrmeo83n75fz which is using transcoder slot. Used slots is now 1
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.871 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Added session 0x722417c0:1rvbpcu0l0vjwrmeo83n75fz
Feb 05, 2024 14:53:43.875 [1914639216] DEBUG - [Req#30/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=59071 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=47208 part=(id=47296 decision=transcode container=mp4 protocol=dash streams=(Video=(id=62458 decision=transcode bitrate=2147483647 encoder=libx264 width=1920 height=960) Audio=(id=62461 decision=transcode bitrate=256 encoder=aac channels=2 rate=48000) Subtitle=(id=62463 decision=burn languageCode=fra location=embedded))))

15

Disabling the checkbox served the purpose of finding out why transcoding was required.
And it shows immediately:

Burning in subtitles can only be done with transcoding.
Which format are the subtitles?

16

Okay, I understand.

The subtitles are “soft subtitles” (encoded in the .mkv file). I don’t know if you need more information?

It’s weird because I have four setups and, depending on the client, it always transcodes (whatever the options - I tried a lot of combinations before finding help here) or it does not:

  • Plex web: transcodes
  • Samsung Smart TV (Tizen OS): transcodes
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (Android): no transcode, runs smoothly
  • Windows 11 app: no transcode, runs smoothly

I did the test with the same files.

17

Yes, I need more information.
“Soft subtitles” just means that the subs are stored as a separate stream within the file. It doesn’t tell the actual format of them.

The Plex media info will tell you what they are.

18

Thanks for your patience.

I got the info: ASS format.

Maybe I found something interesting here: Reddit - Dive into anything

EDIT: the Reddit thread says that some clients don’t support direct play with ASS subtitles.

19

See if your client has a setting named “Burn subtitles”. Set it to “Only image formats”.
This avoids the burning of subs in many cases (but not all).

The downside is that you won’t see all the intricate text formatting and animation that can be inside an ASS subtitle. If you absolutely need that, you have to either have a server which is strong enough to do the burning in, or you have to live with the reduced choice of client devices – as you’ve already found out.

20

I switched the burn subtitles setting from “auto” to “never” in the Smart TV client. The error message has gone and that specific video can now play correctly. However, it’s still transcoding all the time. From what I found on the internet, there are a lot of problems with subtitles and audio formats, that force to transcode every time (some other videos still won’t play). I will try to buy a Fire TV stick to see if it will be better. In the worst case, I will switch back to Kodi for playing videos, keeping Plex for the music.

21

Maybe this is for you: PM4K / PlexMod for Kodi (18, 19, 20, 21)

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