I am having a long term issue in Plex Media Player where the audio drifts out of synch with the video. When I first start a video it’s fine but over time the video actually starts to lag the audio.
I don’t know what info I need to provide here, but this is a start:
Win10
Asus HDMI Stick
PMP v1.3
PMS v3.2.1
It has done this with all versions of PMP from 1.1.7 up to varying degrees. Currently I’m watching Age of Ultron 3D with 7.1 audio ripped to TAB format. Here is the file data:
Media
Video Resolution 1080p
Duration 2:21:18
Bitrate 24141 kbps
Width 1920
Height 1080
Aspect Ratio 1.78
Container MPEGTS
Video Frame Rate 24p
Audio Profile ma
Video Profile high
Part
Duration 2:21:18
File Avengers - Age Of Ultron - 3D.m2ts
Size 23.83 GB
Audio Profile ma
Container MPEGTS
Packet Length 188
Video Profile high
Codec H264
Bitrate 24141 kbps
Bit Depth 8
CABAC true
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Range tv
Color Space bt709
Duration 2:21:18
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 1080
Level 4.1
Pixel Format yuv420p
This is an m2ts file and I don’t recall what program I used to rip it, but the problem takes place with seemingly HD videos of some sort. For 2D I usually use Handbrake and for 3D I use CloneBD or BDtoAVCHD but have found no pattern other than HD. It doesn’t seem to be connected to a particular ripper.
About every 10 minutes I get rid of the synch issue temporarily by just hitting pause them resume, but it’s very annoying and shouldn’t do that.
Any help is appreciated!
@kegobeer-plex said:
What is the problem?
Sorry. I edited the OP. I hit post prematurely.
Well, m2ts isn’t a streaming format and while it might be working it might be a big part of the problem (since it’s not an officially supported format for Plex). Have you tried using mp4 or mkv containers? You might give makemkv a try, as it is pretty much the best ripper out there (in my opinion of course), and it will give you a completely untouched rip in a mkv container.
@kegobeer-plex said:
Well, m2ts isn’t a streaming format and while it might be working it might be a big part of the problem (since it’s not an officially supported format for Plex). Have you tried using mp4 or mkv containers? You might give makemkv a try, as it is pretty much the best ripper out there (in my opinion of course), and it will give you a completely untouched rip in a mkv container.
Yeah…I hated the fact I used this example it was just handy.
I do use mp4 (m4v) for 2D and MKV for 3D-TAB.
When you play back on the HDMI stick, is it being direct played or is it being transcoded?
@kegobeer-plex said:
When you play back on the HDMI stick, is it being direct played or is it being transcoded?
I have no idea. How can I tell that?
So I am watching one now that I ripped tonight with CloneBD. 15-20 minutes in it doesn’t seem to be out of synch. Here is the file info:
Media
Video Resolution 1080p
Duration 1:54:28
Bitrate 11627 kbps
Width 1920
Height 1080
Aspect Ratio 1.78
Container MKV
Video Frame Rate 24p
Audio Profile lc
Video Profile main
Part
Duration 1:54:28
File San Andreas (2015) 3D-HTAB.mkv
Size 9.30 GB
Audio Profile lc
Container MKV
Video Profile main
Codec H264
Bitrate 11627 kbps
Anamorphic 1
Bit Depth 8
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 1080
Level 4.1
Pixel Aspect Ratio 1:2
Profile main
Ref Frames 2
Scan Type progressive
Width 1920
Codec AAC
Channels 5.1
Language English
Audio Channel Layout 5.1
Profile lc
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Title English
Codec AAC
Channels 5.1
Language English
Audio Channel Layout 5.1
Profile lc
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Title English
Codec PGS
Language English
Title English
Hmmm…
OK, so I am watching San Andreas with above specs. It didn’t happen as fast but audio still went out of synch. At the 30 minute mark, the video is about a half second behind the audio.
Do you have a computer besides the HDMI stick? If so, start playback on the HDMI stick, then on the other computer open a web browser and go to your Plex Server, then look in the settings -> now playing section and you’ll see if it’s being transcoded. You can also examine the Plex Server logs to see if transcoding was requested by the client. Another option is to pull up the debug display on the HDMI stick Plex client.
Have you tried playback on a different client? If you can watch a movie on a computer running PMP and the audio doesn’t drift, then that will help isolate where the issue lies.
Also, where is the media located? Where is your Plex Server? Your first post said it’s version 3.2.1, but that’s not the server version. Go to your Plex Server settings and check again.
This is the only system I have running PMP. I can access the web interface on a few different systems though.
My Plex server is a dedicated Win10 system on my LAN.
@KaraokeAmerica said:
This is the only system I have running PMP. I can access the web interface on a few different systems though.
My Plex server is a dedicated Win10 system on my LAN.
On your Windows 10 system, install the desktop version of PMP and see if you can duplicate the audio drift. In addition, test it from another system via web browser. The more data you can gather the better.
@kegobeer-plex said:
@KaraokeAmerica said:
This is the only system I have running PMP. I can access the web interface on a few different systems though.
My Plex server is a dedicated Win10 system on my LAN.
On your Windows 10 system, install the desktop version of PMP and see if you can duplicate the audio drift. In addition, test it from another system via web browser. The more data you can gather the better.
So…I did install PMP on another system, but haven’t had a chance to use it much yet.
However, I tried an experiment: I usually use Handbrake to rip my DVD/BR. I took a recent BR (Logan) and ripped it in Handbrake. Same behavior where audio goes out of synch over time.
I re-ripped it in CloneBD and it seems to be OK, even on the same system.
Very strange…
SO…I thought I was on to something with the Handbrake/CloneBD ripping thing. I thought perhaps Handbrake was hokey because I found an instance of a CloneBD rip working properly. However, I watched a Blu-Ray rip of John Wick 2 last night that I did in CloneBD and the same thing happened.
What else could cause such a thing? Could it be a hardware thing? It ONLY happens in HD rips. Regular DVD rips are fine. Never have an issue with audio synch.
If it matters I run as my HTPC an Asus HDMI stick with Windows10.
Did you ever test things on a PC?
I have only one other “PC” that is useful in this regard. It is a laptop I use for everyday computing and unhappily it is not 100% right now. I’m trying to work through that. PMP is installed on it but have not watched an HD movie on it. However the Asus stick is a PC and it can’t be that unusual a configuration given that Plex is an HTPC package and meant to be used like this. It runs an Atom processor and full blown Windows10. Granted not a powerhouse but a PC nonetheless.
Your response does make me think though that maybe hardware could make a difference here otherwise this would be a simple answer. Everyone runs the same software.
I know the Asus sticks are woefully underpowered, so it’s a possibility that is adding to the issue. How far away is the stick from your TV?
