I’ve noticed in several of my shows, there are artifacts that only occur when the video is played through plex. My server is running on a freenas machine and is direct playing to my pc. The artifacts are usually pixel blocks or artifacts that shouldn’t exist like for example a black mark that appears for a second. When I play the file directly, over my network the video is fine. I set every option to maximum quality. Maybe it is just a plex issue that everyone has, but it seems kinda odd. Any ideas whats happening.
If important, freenas machine specs:
Xeon E5-2670
LSI 9211-8i IT Mode
6 x 3tb WD Red drives
1 x 500gb Samsung 950 EVO for plex
Sounds like the video quality on the original is quite low, or in some sort of disrepair (poorly encoded perhaps) and for some reason the file is in Transcode via Plex. Plex has a bad habit of destroying media with it’s transcoder anyway. If that media is already destroyed - bad things happen.
Is the file in Direct Play or Transcoding?
Attach the XML data and let’s take a look at it:
https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats
copy xml info
paste xml info
highlight xml info
select ‘Code’ from drop down under the ‘backwards p’ in the message options.
You could also zip up the xml info and drop that zip on a message - or export a MediaInfo report:
https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download <— my favorite - no messy xml info that won’t post on a forum
It’s direct playing to my pc, which is what’s confusing me. It’s not even one of my HEVC files, so there is no “intensive” transcoding. This is an episode that had a few very noticeable scenes with bugs in plex, with perfect playback when played directly
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
0 (0x0)
\\192.168.1.141\Media\Anime\Sword Art Online\S02\[HorribleSubs] Sword Art Online II - 03 [1080p].mkv
Matroska
Version 4 / Version 2
541 MiB
23 min 40 s
3 193 kb/s
UTC 2010-02-22 21:41:29
no_variable_data
no_variable_data
OpenSans-Semibold.ttf
1
AVC
Advanced Video Codec
High@L4
CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Yes
4 frames
V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
23 min 40 s
3 072 kb/s
1 920 pixels
1 080 pixels
16:9
Constant
23.976 (23976/1000) FPS
YUV
4:2:0
8 bits
Progressive
0.062
x264 core 120 r2120 0c7dab9
cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:1:1 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=8 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.40:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=8 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=3072 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=6144 / vbv_bufsize=15360 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:0.60
Yes
No
no_variable_data 1970-01-01 00:00:00 / no_variable_data 2010-02-22 21:41:29
3061491
00:23:40.129000000
34049
543464089
2
AAC
Advanced Audio Codec
LC
A_AAC-2
23 min 40 s
2 channels
Front: L R
44.1 kHz
43.066 FPS (1024 SPF)
Lossy
Japanese
Yes
No
no_variable_data 1970-01-01 00:00:00 / no_variable_data 2010-02-22 21:41:29
128000
00:23:40.202000000
61163
22723233
3
ASS
S_TEXT/ASS
Advanced Sub Station Alpha
Lossless
English
Yes
No
no_variable_data 1970-01-01 00:00:00 / no_variable_data 2010-02-22 21:41:29
95
00:23:20.390000000
249
16768
It’s audio is 44Khz instead of 48 - that could cause an audio transcode.
Those ASS subs are very likely causing a video transcode - try Plex Media Player instead of Plexweb (if that’s what you’re using). Top of forum/Downloads/Get an app
Also note this is one of those world famous Anime Junk Files built for playback in VLC ('cause VLC will play any kind of trash you throw at it). Many Plex users have issues with these files.
This is interesting. The file plays fine through a different computer also using direct play. I wonder if it’s the pc that’s causing the issue. Time to do some experimenting
