# Apple TV Video Transcode when Bandwidth Limit & Alternate Version Audio Transcode apply

**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589
**Category:** Plex Players
**Tags:** apple-tv, ios-legacy
**Created:** [July 17, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589 "2023-07-17T20:49:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/1 "2023-07-17T20:49:23Z")

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I’ve observed an issue where Apple TV will erroneously force transcoding of video transcode if the following conditions are met:

1. There are multiple versions; i.e. a 2160p HDR and and 1080p SDR version
2. A bandwidth limit is in-place; i.e. 20Mbps, 1080p
3. The non-applicable, higher-resolution version contains an audio format that would theoretically require an audio transcode, i.e. Dolby TrueHD

I think it’s worth mentioning that Plex Direct Plays the same version if it is the only version (instead of being erroneously transcoded).

It is also worth mentioning that Plex Direct Plays the same version if the higher resolution/bitrate version’s audio codec doesn’t require transcode. This makes very little sense given the version that is NOT being selected by the bandwidth profile is affecting the transcode decision. I’m guessing this might be related to the same code that is causing this issue on Android:

> [@Multiple Version and Audio Transcode Issue on Android](https://forums.plex.tv/t/multiple-version-and-audio-transcode-issue-on-android/830538):
>
> I’ve identified a bug with all Android TV clients I have access to (CCwGTV 4K, Fire TV 4K, Sony Google TV, and Android 12 on Pixel 6). The issue presents itself as the file not playing (spinning circle) only when there are two versions of the file and an audio transcode is necessary. The only work around is to MANUALLY select Play Version and manually select the version to Play. @DaveBinM This is the Android Issue I’ve been pinging you about on Discord. Server Version#: 1.31.0.6654 Player Ve…

…I’d also guess that the code related to this bug might also be what’s causing this issue on the Web Client:  
[https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-web-not-direct-streaming-w-multiple-versions/832449](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-web-not-direct-streaming-w-multiple-versions/832449)

The expected behavior would be that the lower resolution/bitrate version that is auto selected by the bandwidth limit would Direct Play if it were capable regardless of the specs/compatibility of alternate/non-applicable versions.

Server Version#: 1.32.4.7195  
Player Version#: 8.22

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/3 "2023-08-14T16:26:11Z")

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Have any Plex Employees been able to investigate this yet? Thanks!

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### Author: ![Xhaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b487fb/32.png) [@Xhaka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Xhaka)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/4 "2023-08-14T21:58:24Z")

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Sorry to say it’s extremely unlikely that any have even read your post since the redundancies.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/5 "2023-08-18T16:07:08Z")

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> [@Xhaka](#):
>
> redundancies

Redundancies? Could you clarify? Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Xhaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b487fb/32.png) [@Xhaka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Xhaka)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/6 "2023-08-18T21:34:31Z")

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Sure. Plex made 20-25% of their staff redundant.

If you have ever noticed DaveBinnM who was one of the more active (and helpful) Plex employees on Apple devices he is now no longer a Plex Employee.  
One of the Apple TV devs (CHfredrickson) was also made redundant and was one of the few who could actually compile sensible/meaningful release notes.  
So if you thought response on Apple devices was bad before then god help us now.

> **[Plex lays off more than 20 percent of its staff](https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/28/23777418/plex-layoffs-20-percent-staff)**
>
> The company has been affected by the downturn in ad markets.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/7 "2023-08-18T23:34:22Z")

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This sounds like the opposite of redundant.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Xhaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b487fb/32.png) [@Xhaka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Xhaka)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/8 "2023-08-18T23:48:48Z")

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Perhaps a geographical difference.  
In the UK ring layed off and being made redundant is more or less the same thing.

I don’t really see how they are opposites.

Either way. They are no longer Plex employees.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/9 "2023-08-18T23:51:09Z")

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> [@Xhaka](#):
>
> layed off

Don’t you mean being “_laid_ off”? 😉 j/k

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Xhaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b487fb/32.png) [@Xhaka](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Xhaka)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/10 "2023-08-19T00:04:13Z")

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lol.  
Call it what you want, spell it how you want.  
The state of Plex on Apple devices took a serious downturn… before it was shambolic (verging on non existent).  
I have no idea what to call it now.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![SE56](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/se56/32/222425_2.png) [@SE56](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SE56)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/11 "2023-08-19T02:01:30Z")

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So sad… I would call it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![speeddemon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/speeddemon/32/158554_2.png) [@speeddemon](https://forums.plex.tv/u/speeddemon)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/12 "2023-08-19T15:53:00Z")

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The Android version getting an excellent update recently that fixed some critical bugs gives me hope though that they also can do this for the Apple TV version.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/apple-tv-video-transcode-when-bandwidth-limit-alternate-version-audio-transcode-apply/847589/13 "2023-11-17T15:53:49Z")

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