Audio format output is wrong

[trumpimar]

Server Version#: QNAP 1.15.4
Player Version#: WIN10 PMP 2.32.0.973-62b2e27f
PlexMediaPlayer.log (467.4 KB)

I have something really strange. I’m trying to play a .mkv file with EAC3 audio encoding, but when I play it on my HTPC in PMP it is output to my receiver as 2.0 PCM. However, when I play the same file on the same PC in Windows MP I get dolby digital 5.1 on the receiver, as one would expect.
The weird thing is that PMS reports that the file is being direct played with EAC3 5.1, as shown in the image. Other files with DTS 5.1 or AC3 5.1 are being played fine. My audio settings in PMP are HDMI 5.1.

In the logs you can see the EAC3 file initializing at 2019-04-26 20:28:40 and an AC3 file at 21:10:13. I see in the log that something is going wrong with the codec initialization for the EAC3 file and it reverts to PCM. Because my receiver can’t take more than 2.0 in PCM I get stereo. I also see it’s trying an S/PDIF codec, but why would that happen if if I’ve indicated I’m using HMDI?

Can anyone help me out here? Is there a way to force a specific working codec or something? It would be much appreciated.

[OttoKerner]

Direct Play is normal, because PMP can decode all audio formats itself, so the server doesn’t need to.

Put your PMP into the ‘TV mode’

Click on your user avatar
Settings - Audio
Device Type = HDMI
Channels = 5.1 or 7.1, depending on your speaker setup
underneath are several surround sound formats listed, and a checkbox on each
tick all those, which your AVR can decode

[OttoKerner]

Please post a screenshot of your audio settings in PMP.

[trumpimar]

Hi Otto,
Thanks for the tip, but I already have all this checked. I’m replying from a mobile device now so I can’t post that screenshot right now. You just have to trust me.
Could you look at the log file for the indicated timestamp and tell me what you think?

Thanks

[Achilles]

2019-04-26 20:21:21 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - cplayer: Set property: audio-exclusive=false -> 1 
2019-04-26 20:21:21 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - cplayer: Set property: audio-device="wasapi/{d9ef893d-9787-4f8b-9bc2-44476c7dfa02}" -> 1 

PMP could not acquire exclusive mode. Did the Display audio drivers get borked by Windows Update?

[trumpimar]

Not getting exclusive mode is correct, because that is what I had set. I checked whether activating makes any difference, but it doesn’t.

What I don’t get is this, 6 channel audio reported:

019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: | + a track... 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |  + Track number: 2 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |  + Track type: Audio 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |  + Audio track 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |   + Sampling frequency: 48000.000000 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |   + Channels: 6 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |  + Codec ID: A_EAC3 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - mkv: |  + Default duration: 32.000ms ( = 31.250 fps) 

019-04-26 20:28:40 [ INFO  ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 596 - cplayer:  (+) Audio --aid=1 --alang=eng (*) (eac3 6ch 48000Hz) 

and 2 channel audio selected for codec:

019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - af: Audio filter chain: 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - af:   [in] 192000Hz stereo 2ch spdif-eac3 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - af:   [out] 192000Hz stereo 2ch spdif-eac3 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - af:   [ao] 192000Hz stereo 2ch spdif-eac3 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao: Trying audio driver 'wasapi' 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao: Using preferred device '{d9ef893d-9787-4f8b-9bc2-44476c7dfa02}' 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: requested format: 192000 Hz, stereo channels, spdif-eac3 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Selecting device by id: '{d9ef893d-9787-4f8b-9bc2-44476c7dfa02}' 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Selecting device '{d9ef893d-9787-4f8b-9bc2-44476c7dfa02}' (LS_V20/30 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)) 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Monitoring changes in device {0.0.0.00000000}.{d9ef893d-9787-4f8b-9bc2-44476c7dfa02} 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Trying stereo spdif-eac3 (16/16 bits) @ 192000hz (exclusive) -> unsupported 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Retrying as AC3. 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Trying stereo spdif-ac3 (16/16 bits) @ 192000hz (exclusive) -> ok 
2019-04-26 20:28:40 [ DEBUG ] PlayerComponent.cpp @ 594 - ao/wasapi: Accepted as stereo spdif-eac3 @ 192000hz -> stereo spdif-ac3 (16/16 bits) @ 192000hz (exclusive) 

And here is the screenshot:

[trumpimar]

Nope. I just did a complete fresh install of the applicable drivers, but no change.

[trumpimar]

Anyone have any fresh ideas about this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[celloch]

I have exactly the same issue, sometimes. I start playback of a 5.1 EAC3 file, I get PCM 2.0. If I stop and restart playback for the same file (without quitting PMP), I get 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus. Weird.

[trumpimar]

But you do manage to get 5.1? So far, I’ve been completely unsuccessful.
Could you describe the exact steps you do, so I can test whether that works for me as well?
Do you exit the playback and go back to the menu? Do you hit escape or use the mouse to click the stop icon, etc…
Thanks!

[celloch]

Yes I’m getting 5.1 DDP (I use a W10 NUC connected via HDMI straight to the TV).
When I get PCM 2.0, I use the ESC button and from the pre-play menu I restart the playback.
If it happens again I will make sure to check and post the logs.