Server Version#:1.20.2.3402
Player Version#:5.4.2
Hello, the problem is pretty much explained in the title.
Quick note: sorry if I ask dumb questions, but I’m new to media servers so again, I’m sorry.
The file I have is 3840x2160 HDR 10-Bit 60fps 80Mbps (Yes, it’s Gemini man lol), it’s encoded in HEVC h256 into an MKV container.
When I try to play it on my 4K HDR tv it always transcodes it and as a result, washes out the colors (also it buffers a lot and that is also not ideal).
If I need to provide any other information please let me know and I will gladly provide it to solve this.
Is that bitrate exactly 80 Mbps? Samsung TV’s have a hard coded limit of 80 Mbps for HEVC content.
Edit - Also. Plex doesn’t just base if a transcode is needed on the average bitrate. It analysis your file to determine the actual required bandwidth. You can see this info in the XML from PMS. If the analysis shows values higher than 80 Mbps, it will transcode.
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately it’s 86.5 so I guess that’s the issue. I have gigabit ethernet in my home so bandwidth shouldn’t be a problem. Any programs other than handbrake to get it down to 60 Mbps maybe?
I was thinking about getting an android box to see my movies so I shouldn’t have any limitations since my hdr phone plays the same file flawlessly but is limited by the poor ISP’s wifi modem/router/access point combo (that will be the upgrade I make on Christmas).
For now, the Mi Box S seems like the best one since I am reading complaints about the Fire Stick 4K not direct playing after an update. Nvidia Shield is way out of my budget but seems like the best overall product. Any suggestions?
So uhh, new problem. Just finished transcoding the h265 50Mbps version and made both an mp4 and an MKV and both just indefinitely buffer, and then I get a playback error message. I am on the verge of giving up and just putting it on a USB drive and sticking it in the back of the tv. The most frustrating thing is that the transcoded 80Mbits worked fine with no buffering, so why is this now buffering indefinitely
That’s not enough information to know why the file doesn’t play. At least provide the XML for that video.
The buffering can be caused by spikes in the bitrate. When PMS transcodes, it sets an upper limit of x2 the average bitrate so there won’t be any huge spikes.
Now it plays fine, I only set the wrong settings when I tried transcoding them. Only that now after two or three seconds of playback it just becomes a PowerPoint presentation, so it plays at maybe 2 fps and the audio disappears. But I think I will open another discussion because it’s already off-topic as is.
Here are two XML files that might help a bit https://pastebin.com/jcWBupBZ (Big Hero 6) https://pastebin.com/zpepJQKr (Gemini Man)
Does you TV support TrueHD audio? That’s what you’ve got in those 2 files that don’t work, but the one that does work does not have TrueHD. You can get video problems trying to play back an unsupported audio. Have you tried changing the audio track on those that don’t work to AC3? That’s working for Mulan.
I don’t knwo if it does, but i’ve always tested with AC3 after reading multiple threads that had similar issues and mentioned that some Tvs won’t play 4K HDR and TrueHD audio at the same time so I always set it to AC3. I will now test as soon as possible to ensure I am testing properly
Your XML for Big Hero 6 showed TrueHD as being the selected track. Gemini Man has both English (TrueHD) and Italian. Not sure if you have the preferred audio settings enabled which could end up choosing the English TrueHD track.
Now it’s getting weird, when I leave it on TrueHD it works, but when I set any ac3 track it becomes a slideshow again, I saw that it was transcoding from TrueHD to Eac3, which should be Dolby Digital +. I am really confused and kinda frustrated because I am fine with watching them in English, but if I want to watch them with my family or friends it wouldn’t be ideal. At this point, I’m considering transcoding all tracks to the wrong format, leaving plex all the transcoding work
