Server Version#: 1.41.3.9314
The file doesn’t transcode on the Onn 4k Pro device but does on the Onn 4k that also supports hardware AV1 decode. Nothing in the client seems to be the issue, I think this is just a profile bug in Plex.
“MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations”
Is there anything I can do to dig deeper? This device has been out for years now so am I to assume this will never be fixed?
Okay well to troubleshoot I connected an identical Onn 4k (not pro) box and it direct plays the same AV1 video with Opus audio. Troubleshooting continues. Help appreciated.
What is the actual video info from the Get Info listing for it? Just being AV1 isn’t enough.
Media
Duration 7:21
Bitrate 926 kbps
Width 1920
Height 1080
Aspect Ratio 1.78
Video Resolution 1080p
Container MKV
Video Frame Rate 24p
Video Profile main
Part
Duration 7:21
File (redacted)_1080p_av1.mkv
Size 48.98 MB
Container MKV
Video Profile main
Codec AV1
Bitrate 728 kbps
Bit Depth 10
Chroma Location left
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Coded Height 1080
Coded Width 1920
Color Primaries bt709
Color Range tv
Color Space bt709
Color Trc bt709
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 1080
Level 8
Profile main
Ref Frames 1
Width 1920
Display Title 1080p (AV1)
Extended Display Title 1080p (AV1)
Codec OPUS
Channels 6
Bitrate 107 kbps
Language English
Language Tag en
Audio Channel Layout 5.1
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Title English
Display Title English (OPUS 5.1)
Extended Display Title English (OPUS 5.1)
Codec PGS
Bitrate 91 kbps
Language English
Language Tag en
Display Title English (PGS)
Extended Display Title English (PGS)
@nx6 I connected an identical device and it direct plays the same file. The difference is that one of them is connected by HDMI to the TV and the TV has optical output to a sound bar. Opus to AC3 transcoding is obviously needed because of the optical connection to the sound bar. Why is that causing it to also transcode the 1mbps AV1 video to 88mbps AVC?
Is there a technical reason that the video must be transcoded if the audio is in this case? Subtitles are not on.
Another issue is why Plex would choose such a high bitrate to transcode to.
Bug 1: I don’t think it should be trasncoding this video unless there’s a technical reason I’m not thinking of.
Bug 2: I don’t think it should choose such a high bitrate if it does need to transcode. I can’t find an option to set the quality, I believe the settings that Plex exposes would be the ‘encoder preset’, which is the speed of the transcode and not the output size (bitrate).
If Opus is the culprit for making it transcode video instead of Direct Play, I can start over with my encodes and go with AC3 instead. I can’t think of a reason that would be the case, I suspect Plex just has a profile error for these devices, hopefully that could be fixed easily?
https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/17273vh/plex_transcoding_only_some_4k_movies/
Oh no. I guess with Plex we just need to pick AC3 audio for our media and not get cute with Opus encodes? I have to start over if this is true.
I have Emby too so I’m going to test with that. If it can direct stream to the same device then I’ll know its not a technical limitation and that it’s a bug.
This read like you were comparing two different models, one being a plain Onn 4k (the stick), and the other the Pro model. While they may both support AV1 they aren’t necessarily going to be identical in their video support.
Nothing is jumping out at me in the info about profile it color space, which is what I was interested in seeing.
Initially I was comparing two devices. I dug up a spare of the same exact device I had after my initial post and confirmed that it also works.
I see now that I can make a Profiles directory and make a profile for a specific device, but I’m not sure how to name the XML file for this device.
It might be less headache to go with Emby instead if it works, pending my test.
TY for taking a look.
Maybe it transcodes video when it transcodes the audio because it can’t sync audio otherwise? I wish I could find some official word on this though, and options to avoid it.
Seems like Plex could make a spreadsheet for codecs and devices based on the device profiles and it could be automated so it changes as the profiles do.
It should be able to transcode the audio and just direct stream the video. I belive if you have subtitles turned on it may need to transcode the video as well to keep the subs synced to the audio depending on the format, but you already said you had tried with subs turned off and it didn’t effect it.
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