[BUG] Plex no longer correctly analysing M4b files correctly - incorrect bit rate detected - prevents direct play

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
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Server Version# 1.24.2.5000
Player Version#:

TLDR - Plex is no longer analysing/identifying the bitrate of M4B files correctly.
? a recent change in code.

I’ve recently setup a new audiobook library for the purposes of streaming M4B files using either the Prologue or Bookcamp android apps, but i’m experiencing problems with the apps streaming files.

The server log shows errors with examples such as ‘bandwidth of file exceeds my 21600 kbps limit’ which i don’t understand as this book is a 65kbps 20min/10mb file…

I also see an error line about ’ no direct play music profile ’ existing for http/mp4/aac .

I’ve contacted developer of Bookcamp who has replied
" **The analyzer in the latest version of Plex has broken support for M4Bs direct play on all audiobooks clients(Prologue and Chronicle are also affected).

The Chronicle app developer has also responded to say that '*“Plex is falsely reporting a bitrate of 2 billion kbps for m4b files, and then refusing to serve that”

All my audiobooks have come from audible uk using the openaudible app and converted to the m4b format, which the plex forums indicates there is a long history of the server and these app supporting this format. This test file and the rest of my audiobooks play fine in Plexamp and the webclient.

I’ve tried creating a audiobooks library as both a ‘standard music library’ with the built in music agent, and also a a separate one using a widely used audiobook agent plugin, but it makes no difference.

I would be very grateful if the Plex team can look into this please?

Logs attached.

Plex Media Server Logs_2021-09-14_11-12-38.zip (4.9 MB)

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Hi
I’ve just found this related post where the same underlying issue is discussed by the devs of the various audiobook apps and the plex devs.

It appears that the bug has been recognised and that a fix is in progress.

@dear moderators - please close this thread as appropriate…

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I’m seeing this same behavior. I’m on Plex 1.24.5.5173.

Streaming Resource: Bandwidth exceeded: 2147483647 kbps > 8000 kbps
Streaming Resource: Cannot make a decision because either the file is unplayable or the client provided bad data

This unfortunately is stopping all of my Chronicle and Bookcamp clients from working. I’ve been testing Booksonic as a replacement to Plex (just the Audiobook library) with the family and it’s not going well. :frowning:

I also can’t set my remote stream limit to “Original” because I don’t have the fancy fiber internet…although, this does allow the clients to play but it destroys everyone else’s experience. I.e., bandwidth contention and neverending buffering, due to the lack of transcoding.

Any help is appreciated!

-Brian

1 Like
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@brian_phospher.com

Do you have / can you recreate please and capture the logs ZIP file, then attach it?

I will investigate what appears to be a regression.

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I see this same issue on some FLAC files played from my NAS. This occurs even if the bandwidth is set to Original (No limit):
Streaming Resource: Bandwidth exceeded: 2147483647 kbps > 8000 kbps

This prevents Sonos playing the files. I can, however, cast the files to my Sonos device from the Plex web app so there’s no issue with the file itself or network configuration.

Plex server: 1.24.5.5173

Here’s the XML info for one of the files causing the issue.

<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionTitle="Music (NAS)" librarySectionUUID="02206008-f518-4cee-905d-452fac03e66e" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1634922197">
<Track ratingKey="26735" key="/library/metadata/26735" parentRatingKey="26734" grandparentRatingKey="2498" guid="plex://track/5d07ec5f403c640290d85f77" parentGuid="plex://album/5d07c921403c640290c5f7d0" grandparentGuid="plex://artist/5d07bea5403c6402906bbda2" parentStudio="[no label]" type="track" title="Afterthought" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/2498" parentKey="/library/metadata/26734" librarySectionTitle="Music (NAS)" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/1" grandparentTitle="Eric Gillette" parentTitle="Afterthought" summary="" index="1" parentIndex="1" parentYear="2013" thumb="/library/metadata/26734/thumb/1636367473" art="/library/metadata/2498/art/1635223204" parentThumb="/library/metadata/26734/thumb/1636367473" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/2498/thumb/1635223204" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/2498/art/1635223204" duration="277493" addedAt="1636367460" updatedAt="1636368818">
<Media id="23118" duration="277493" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="flac" container="flac">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="34166" key="/library/parts/34166/1636367302/file.flac" duration="277493" file="/data/music/Eric Gillette/Afterthought/01 - Eric Gillette - Afterthought - Afterthought.flac" size="36815173" container="flac" hasThumbnail="1">
<Stream id="55870" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="flac" index="0" channels="2" bitrate="1061" audioChannelLayout="stereo" bitDepth="16" samplingRate="44100" displayTitle="FLAC (Stereo)" extendedDisplayTitle="FLAC (Stereo)"> </Stream>
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0"> </Extras>
<Related> </Related>
</Track>
</MediaContainer>
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