This seems to have just started happening about a week ago. For some reason the audio seems to be cutting out on loud scenes in movies. Attached are the log files. I’ve seen a few posts about this, but from what I can tell the issue was fixed in PMS version 1.5.5 and I’m on 1.5.6. Is there anything else I can try to fix the issue?
You do have a couple of different streams going to the Xbox One, are you able to specify if this was a transcoded stream, direct play stream, or both?
If it was a direct play stream it might be something happening with the recent audio changes on the Xbox One, but if it’s transcoding it might be server related with the changes to the audio transcoding. And if it’s both it could be a combination of things that need to be looked at.
Also is it outputting directly to the TV or is there a receiver in between? It shouldn’t make a difference but I have seen similar things myself happening and actually was just chalking it up to my receiver being dumb again.
Yes, sorry, I should’ve cut out some of the streams in the log. The main offending stream was from about 9 - 10 PM yesterday (6/6). I tried both transcoded and direct play and both experienced the same issue. It seems to occur mainly with blu ray rips and for those files, I think it always transcodes audio anyways. My Xbox One is set with bitstream Out and Dolby Digital, but I tried Dolby Atmos too and…same problem. I didn’t try DTS, but I’ll try that next.
It is outputting through a receiver. I hadn’t experienced issues like that before, but I’ll check if there was a recent firmware update that might be messing something up. I can’t remember when I did the Plex Server update, but I think that was recent too…maybe within the last few weeks.
Well I tried DTS and the audio still cuts out. I also checked on the receiver firmware update and there was an update 3 weeks ago, but I watched Jason Bourne after that update and everything was fine. Jason Bourne had a lot of loud scenes too so it was a good test. We should be getting a public release of the latest PMS update soon though right? Might just need to wait for that update and test it out after.
If it’s DTS audio that is causing the cut outs, then it does also point to the server side of things. There are no 3rd Party DTS decoders for the Xbox One so that audio has to be getting transcoded before being sent to the Xbox One.
Do you know of a specific part in that movie that is causing the issue? I want to try and generate a sample file that is reproducing the issue to forward on so they can look at it to evaluate it better.
My hunch is that there is a ranged cutoff for the audio levels that is going to high and getting out of the range, but it isn’t something I know how to check for.
Also, have you tried one of the 1.7.x versions?
In that branch there was an update to the transcoder, so the developers are curious if it is exhibited there as well.
I haven’t yet. I’ve been waiting for the public release. Since it’s been almost 2 weeks since an update to 1.7.2 it leads me to believe 1.7.2 isn’t stable at the moment. The public release should be here soon right? Within a week or 2? If so, I think I’ll just wait for the public release and give it another try.
That I couldn’t say myself. I haven’t ever followed the release pattern to track it, and even the ninja’s don’t get release details ahead of time.
But if I can find something to reliably reproduce then I can test the different versions pretty easily as well.
@jmckee said:
But if I can find something to reliably reproduce then I can test the different versions pretty easily as well.
Ok, thanks. Appreciate it. I’ll listen to a few movies tonight and mark the points where it cuts out. It’s definitely on Rogue One and I think The Hobbit too. I’ll test out Jason Bourne as well to see if it cuts out now compared to the last time I watched it.
Rather than create sample files, you mind if I just share my library with you temporarily? That way I can be sure the file you’re listening to is exactly the same. I sent the invite already assuming that will work.
Sounds good, I won’t be able to test until later in the evening here as we have errands to run out in town. But I can definitely check it out and see if I notice it as well. My setup does sound similar as well (I have my Xbox into HDMI 1 on my TV and then the TV feeds my receiver via ARC). Unless you have a better movie I will check out the Jason Bourne movie (since you said it reliably was exhibiting it) and try and get things correlated so I can forward everything on.
Ok, thanks. Jason Bourne is a good test. Start watching at 18:30 and as the music is about to hit it’s peak (at about 18:42) the music cuts out. It’s subtle, and you’ll probably need to listen to it loud to hear it. But once you hear it you’ll hear it every time you skip back 10 seconds to listen to it again. Another good test is Rogue One. It might even be better since it seems more dramatic to me. Start at 8:40 and at about 8:46 it cuts out. The music is really building at the point it cuts out, and it almost seems like it cuts out twice within a second or 2.
Hope those examples help.
@jmckee
I got a Denon firmware update for my receiver last night, but that didn’t fix the problem. Definitely looks like a Plex issue. Were you able to recreate the issue and send it to the devs?
Sorry, I wasn’t able to reproduce it on my first tries before heading out for vacation. I still need to test out some more configurations to try and get it reproduced, I haven’t forgotten, just going to need a little time before I can do additional testing.
No problem, thanks for the follow up. Hopefully 1.7.3 will be public soon too so I can test out that version and see if it fixes the issue.
Btw, I tested with an xbox 360 and receiver, and with xbox one and tv, and noticed the problem with both tests. That seems to indicate that it’s server related right?
I would guess so, but there is also the possibility that it’s a decoder issue shared he Microsoft software.
Personally I think it’s a problem with the transcoder trying to level out the audio to reduce the db jump between a quiet and loud scene. But that’s what I need to prove to the developers (and also prove that it carried over into the 1.7.x branch as they will fix that, but if it’s only on the pre upgraded transcoder they won’t touch it as the new branches don’t even use that version anymore)
It looks like it was the version 1.7.x that was needed. I’ve watched a few movies since the update and haven’t noticed the audio cutting out.
Oh wow, Sorry mbarylski. After I got back I ran my tests on with the 1.7.x branch and wasn’t able to reproduce anything that I was seeing on the previous branch. I thought I posted the results here. Again sorry for leaving you hanging.
Not a problem. It seemed to be working with 1.7.x so it wasn’t bothering me. 
