Server Version#: 1.19.1.2701
Player Version#: 2.012
Hi guys, I would like to also describe my dreaded aspect ratio issue in the hope that someone is able to help me identify a solution.
Any videos that I have which are 1920x960 (2:1 aspect ratio) do not display correctly when played with Plex app on my Samsung TV. Basically the height of the picture is “stretched” and the result is very thin horizontal black bars (that should be thicker) leading to a vertically stretched image - i.e. people are visibly much skinnier/taller than they should be. I get the same stretching problem whether I select play back via Direct Play, Direct Streaming, or Transcoding.
I should also add that playing these files via VLC on my PC or directly from my TV (by locating the files directly off my NAS) works perfectly without the problem occurring. VLC opens the window without any stretching, and only shows appropriate black bars when in full screen. My TV simply displays the appropriate 2 x 60 pixel empty black bars at the top and bottom when viewing directly from the NAS.
I’ve had this problem for a long time now for videos in this aspect ratio and have searched Google and Plex forums randomly over the years for an answer. Finally it’s become too much of an annoyance so I’ve started digging around in the bowels of my Plex Media Server to try and work out what’s going on, as well as posting here to see if anyone can suggest a fix.
Below is an example Media Info and associated XML file from Plex Server. As you can see, everything is correct except for the Aspect Ratio of 1.85, and I also question the video resolution of 1080p (as my understanding is that refers to 1920x1080).
Media
Duration 50:09
Bitrate 3747 kbps
Width 1920
Height 960
Aspect Ratio 1.85
Video Resolution 1080p
Container MP4
Video Frame Rate 24p
Web Optimized No
Video Profile highPart
Duration 50:09
File Stranger Things S03E02.mp4
Size 1.31 GB
Container MP4
Web Optimized No
Video Profile high
Codec H264
Bitrate 3358 kbps
Language English
Bit Depth 8
Chroma Location left
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Coded Height 960
Coded Width 1920
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 960
Level 5.0
Profile high
Ref Frames 5
Stream Identifier 1
Width 1920
Display Title 1080p (H.264)
Codec AC3
Channels 6
Bitrate 384 kbps
Language English
Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Stream Identifier 2
Display Title English (AC3 5.1)
Codec MOV_TEXT
Language English
Stream Identifier 3
Display Title English (MOV_TEXT)
The associated XML file also contains the following relevant tags/values. Again I see incorrect values for aspectRatio and videoResolution.
< Media id=“14765” duration=“3009824” bitrate=“3747” width=“1920” height=“960” aspectRatio=“1.85” audioChannels=“6” audioCodec=“ac3” videoCodec=“h264” videoResolution=“1080” container=“mp4” videoFrameRate=“24p” optimizedForStreaming=“0” has64bitOffsets=“0” videoProfile=“high”>
< Stream id=“46319” streamType=“1” default=“1” codec=“h264” index=“0” bitrate=“3358” language=“English” languageCode=“eng” bitDepth=“8” chromaLocation=“left” chromaSubsampling=“4:2:0” codedHeight=“960” codedWidth=“1920” frameRate=“23.976” hasScalingMatrix=“0” height=“960” level=“50” profile=“high” refFrames=“5” streamIdentifier=“1” width=“1920” displayTitle=“1080p (H.264)” />
I also went digging in my server’s library database com.plexapp.plugins.library.db and found the following database values in the media_items table, which I am assuming Plex uses to display some of the Media Info data.
width = 1920
height = 960
display_aspect_ratio = 2.0
The database values are interesting as presumably this aspect ratio value is stored in the database as a simple calculation, so I’m wondering why in Media Info on the Server it’s stored incorrectly as 1.85?
My theories are as follows:
- My assumption is that there is some code Plex Media Server uses to create the Media Info XMLs on the fly (as I cannot find the 1.85 aspect ratio listed anywhere in the database). My theory is the code is assuming a “near-enough” ratio of 1.85 as this is one of the so called standard ratios. This ratio is then being used by Plex app to determine how to display the video on the TV.
- There is an issue with the Plex app on the TV (unlikely considering the aspect ratio displayed on the server is incorrect, that can’t be a coincidence!)
Any help on this issue is greatly appreciated! 
EDIT: I just tried updating to latest Plex Server version and performed an Analyze on one of the problematic videos, but unfortunately the issue is still present and the aspect ratio is still listed as 1.85 in Media Info.
