Audio low issues

General Discussions
1

So, I’ve been trying to solve this issue for a while now. I have tested using a Windows PC connected through HDMI, a Laptop with internal speakers, and a Windows desktop using external 2.1 speakers. ANYTHING (sorry for the caps) that I play through Plex on any device has very low audio. I bascially have to turn it all the way up. It doesn’t matter if it’s DVR content, or regular media content. If I play it through VLC or WMC directly, there are no audio issues. This isn’t an issue where the audio is loud and then quiet and then loud, it is just always really quiet.

I am using the latest version of Plex on FreeBSD. Basically, the FreeNAS 11 jail for Plex. I’ve gone through other uses ideas and setting changes, but it never made any difference. To provide a specific frame of reference, I just started a movie through VLC that I was playing through FreeNAS (or copying it to local which yeilds the same results) and I had my volume at 30 of 100. When played through Plex, I had to increase the volume to 60 of 100 to get similar sound. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Same movie, same 5.1 or 2.1 channel audio stream, but half the volume.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I am local. I figured it was obvious with the LAN talk, but I am local to Plex. I have the same volume issue if I am outside of the house and it is Transcoding. Transcoding or no Transcoding, doesn’t seem to help volume levels.

3

So you are saying to me that the problem is how the Plex server is handling downmixing of audio. I don’t have this problem using Kodi, Emby, NextPVR, HDHR Viewer, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, or VLC so I was already pretty certain that it was a Plex issue.

You are correct that if I use 2 channel audio, I no longer have issues with sound inside Plex. I have a 5.1 surround sound system, but I don’t use it for everyday viewing and not everything in my server has both 5.1 and 2.0 in the same file. This issue has appeared to have been around in Plex for a long time judging by the various forum posts in this regard, followed by other people telling them to “Turn their volume up”. Which is kind of hilarious! I was just hoping that there was some legitimate way to up the volume. When I get close to maxing out the volume in my television, it makes me nervous! :slight_smile:

1 Like
5

Interesting. So does this mean that there is be a difference between using IE or Chrome to watch the videos depending on how the browser itself downmixes the audio?

6

There is now an option to “Boost volume when converting multi-channel audio to stereo.” in the “Player” section of the Plex server settings that is labeled “Multi-Channel Audio Boost”. It is there to tackle this specific issue, where transcoding the audio creates a situation of very low volume. Setting mine to “Large” has resolved my problems with low audio.