I am using Plex to stream high quality 5.1/4.1/4/2.1 (multichannel) audio. The source of my music is exclusively from SACDs ripped to flac multichannel files to enable streaming. I maintain the following collections :
A. FLAC MULTICHANNEL RIPPED FROM ABOVE SACDs (streamed via PLEX and Jriver)
B. DISCOGRAPHIES : LOSSLESS (FLACS) STEREO (streamed via Plex and Jriver)
C. DISCOGRAPHIES : LOSSLESS (MP3s) STEREO (streamed via Plex and Jriver)
SCENARIO 1: In all the cases above MULTICHANNEL PLAYBACK/ STEREO PLAYBACK on BROWSER is OK!
SCENARIO 2 : MULTICHANNEL PLAYBACK is not mixed down to STEREO in PLEX ANDROID APP.
I am not able to tweak the servers or the android apps to mixdown to stereo on phones!
I have attached the server logs for both the servers!
Kindly help!
Thanks in advance.
Marc.
Server Version#1: Windows 7 Latest : Version 1.19.3.2764
ServerVersion# 2: Raspberry Pi Plex Media Server - Version 1.19.3.2764
Player Version#: Android App: 8.0.1.1
The Plex for Android app has the ability to downmix FLAC to stereo locally. It does not need PMS to transcode the file. Are these files not playing back with sound on your device? You’ll need to provide the log from the app after reproducing the issue.
Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I have uninstalled and installed the Plex APP and trued may setting and unsetting but did not work. Here is the log of the APP : plexApp_logs.txt (202.0 KB)
The actual issue I am facing is that when those multichannel flacs are played in the app, only 2 channels out of the 6 is heard due to the fact that it is not down-mixed to stereo and the phone has only 2 channels. Therefore I am hearing songs which are incomplete!!! This is the only issue!!!
That sounds like your device is unable to perform the downmix itself, which it is suppose to do. You can force PMS to transcode these down to stereo by setting the music quality setting down to say 320 kbps. Your multi-channel flac files should be higher than 320 so this should cause them to get transcoded.
I tried that too. Also I tried with other 2 new android phones!
Coming to the server part, I have done all combinations possible.
I have the same setup also with JRIVER MEDIA SERVER. The android phones are ALL OK!
Hi, I tried everything!! Can you provide me how you have configured this? I am no pro in reading logs, so kindly provide here step by step for both the android client side and server side settings!
One more thought: I don’t mind the bandwidth consumed due to streaming multichannel. So, I wish there is a FLIP switch on the android client side which down-mixes the multichannel to stereo!! My aim is to stream HI-Res music!! Jriver does it beautifully!
I just realized, that setting is only for remote access. If you are on the local network it will still try to play as-is.
Seriously though, if your device can’t playback the FLAC file, there is something seriously wrong with it. Is your device is running it’s original factory ROM, not a custom one? I’ve never seen a device not playback regular FLAC files. I’ve seen reports of issues with 24-bit/192kHz files, but that’s not what you have.
With Cellular 4g it is working remotely. Thanks!!!
Why cannot plex enforce transcoding flac files even in a local environment? When I listen 5.1 flacs in local on phones, then the audio is still incomplete unless trans-coded and down-mixed! If I use the phone as a client to plug it into an amp, still of no use unless remotely done!
OTHER THOUGHT: Also I am wondering using the phone’s HDMI pass through to plug it in a receiver with 5.1 channel with an HDMI cable. Will this work out of the box ? If it works, then I have got a helluva DAC! (Normal standalone SACD players cannot passthrough HDMI because of licensing!!)
My plex server is hosted on a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ and I wish to keep it minimal and portable.
It shouldn’t need to, that’s why there’s no option for it. Like I said, it’s an Android standard to support multi-channel flac. I have no idea why your device can’t do it. I’ll check with the devs to see if there is something I’m missing.
I have no idea. Never tried. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.
Ok thanks I will try.
My other query: Having a flip switch or button on the android client side which down-mixes the multichannel to stereo!! Will this be feasible in the later updates?
