Thank you thank you thank you thank you! The transcoding was overwhelming my server. Now with this profile, no more transcoding! I thought it was the network, but I ended up finding “CPU overheated” messages in dmesg / syslog (Linux). This was causing the CPU to throttle and the transcode stutter. I ended up installing package lm-sensors and using that to monitor the CPU temp while transcoding fwiw.
+1 on separate CC / CC Ultra / CC Audio profiles
Thanks guys for the XML, if you want to use the Ultra on a normal HD tv you also need to change the video resolution lines to this:
<UpperBound name="video.width" value="1920" isRequired="true" /> <UpperBound name="video.height" value="1080" isRequired="true" />
Else transcoding will still be triggered on the plex-server!
I’ve replaced the default Chromecast profile with the XML that was provided, but the video content is still getting transcoded. Here’s what I’m seeing in the logs:
INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Starting analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 150, main)
WARN - [Chromecast] [MDE] Invalid profile property; level: 150 > 42
INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Finished analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 150, main)
INFO - [Chromecast] canPlay: true
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectPlay: false
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamVideo: false
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamAudio: true
INFO - [Chromecast] bitrate: 8000
INFO - [Chromecast] videoResolution: 1080
INFO - [Chromecast] [PDE] Player decision
INFO - [Chromecast] Player: html
INFO - [Chromecast] Protocol: http
INFO - [Chromecast] Direct Play: false
INFO - [Chromecast] [Transcoder] Video (start) options
There’s a lot more log data about the transcoding, but I’m not sure it’s valuable. If it helps, I’m running version 1.4.3.3433 on Windows. Am I doing something wrong? I’d really appreciate some insight, if anybody has some to spare! Thanks!
@morganbell said:
I’ve replaced the default Chromecast profile with the XML that was provided, but the video content is still getting transcoded. Here’s what I’m seeing in the logs:INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Starting analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 150, main)
WARN - [Chromecast] [MDE] Invalid profile property; level: 150 > 42
INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Finished analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 150, main)
INFO - [Chromecast] canPlay: true
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectPlay: false
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamVideo: false
INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamAudio: true
INFO - [Chromecast] bitrate: 8000
INFO - [Chromecast] videoResolution: 1080
INFO - [Chromecast] [PDE] Player decision
INFO - [Chromecast] Player: html
INFO - [Chromecast] Protocol: http
INFO - [Chromecast] Direct Play: false
INFO - [Chromecast] [Transcoder] Video (start) optionsThere’s a lot more log data about the transcoding, but I’m not sure it’s valuable. If it helps, I’m running version 1.4.3.3433 on Windows. Am I doing something wrong? I’d really appreciate some insight, if anybody has some to spare! Thanks!
I don’t know much but seeing as nobody’s replied yet I’ll give it a go. Going to assume you’re trying to cast to a CC Ultra…
I just checked now with the profile I attached on the previous page and it can still direct stream a HEVC file I tried (FWIW it was this Astra clip).
Things to try. Did you place the .xml in the correct folder (for me it’s C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Resources\Profiles)? Did you restart PMS afterwards? If you can, download the clip I linked and tell us what it says in the Status/Now Playing section of your Plex admin/web.
Yes it’s an ultra, and yes, I’ve modified the file from the provided path and restarted the service. I’ll try your sample clip tonight and see if it transcode.
Thank you for taking the time to try and help- I appreciate it!
I used the provided Astra clip to test. When I mouse over the Now Playing thumbnail in the web admin tool, it says:
Video: Transcoding HVEC to H264
Audio: Direct Stream
For good measure, I rebooted the computer between test runs. I’ve also checked AppData to see if PMS made a temp copy of the profile that it might be working from, but didn’t find anything.
@morganbell said:
I used the provided Astra clip to test. When I mouse over the Now Playing thumbnail in the web admin tool, it says:
Video: Transcoding HVEC to H264
Audio: Direct StreamFor good measure, I rebooted the computer between test runs. I’ve also checked AppData to see if PMS made a temp copy of the profile that it might be working from, but didn’t find anything.
Interesting. Mine definitely says “Direct Stream” for both audio and video.
I had a look at my logs and for the same section you posted it says:
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.156 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Starting analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 153, main 10)
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.375 [5900] WARN - [Chromecast] [MDE] Invalid profile property; bitDepth: 10 > 8
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.406 [2208] WARN - [Chromecast] [MDE] Invalid profile property; bitDepth: 10 > 8
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.469 [3744] INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Finished analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, aac, 153, main 10)
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.484 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] canPlay: true
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.516 [3744] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectPlay: false
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.531 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamVideo: false
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.547 [3744] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamAudio: true
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.578 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] bitrate: 18485
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.594 [2208] INFO - [Chromecast] videoResolution: 2560
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.625 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] [PDE] Player decision
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.641 [2208] INFO - [Chromecast] Player: html
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.656 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] Protocol: http
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.687 [2208] INFO - [Chromecast] Direct Play: false
Mar 15, 2017 05:31:24.703 [7600] INFO - [Chromecast] [Transcoder] Video (start) options
Hi guys,
I have the exact same issue as @Djcurley, were you able to resolve it by any chance? My configuration is the same and I am getting the exact same PMS logs as he does. I have a Vizio P65 which is supposed to be bundled with a Chromecast Ultra I believe. The “status” in the plex webapp says “Transcoding (Throttled) - Video Direct Stream - Audio Direct Stream” (same as the image above). I have changed my Chromecast.xml to what was posted by @frggl but it didn’t make it work either…
Sorry I have opened another post before seeing this one, but there’s more info there on my setup: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1402770
Any help, or at least guidance to try to troubleshoot would be greatly appreciated, I’ll make cookies to the person solving my issue! 
Thank you very much.
Btw, I see @seth586 mentioned “local HEVC streaming” is now disabled by a TV firmware update, what do you mean by “local HEVC streaming”? Do you know if it also breaks when you stream from an external plex server? Also, did buying a chromecast work? It’d be really a bummer to have to buy a chromecast for this TV…
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.
When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AAC
Is it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
@mikejc2 said:
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AACIs it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
I think the problem here is that the stream contains a DTS-HD MA track which is not supported by the CC Ultra and therefore is correctly transcoded to AAC.
Source: Supported Media for Google Cast | Google for Developers
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AACIs it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
I think the problem here is that the stream contains a DTS-HD MA track which is not supported by the CC Ultra and therefore is correctly transcoded to AAC.
Source: Supported Media for Google Cast | Google for Developers
That makes total sense, thanks for the catch. Can I assume the video is being left alone and only audio is being transcoded, or could that effect the video as well? Wondering if it’s worth running it through Handbrake to change the audio codec.
@mikejc2 said:
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AACIs it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
I think the problem here is that the stream contains a DTS-HD MA track which is not supported by the CC Ultra and therefore is correctly transcoded to AAC.
Source: Supported Media for Google Cast | Google for Developers
That makes total sense, thanks for the catch. Can I assume the video is being left alone and only audio is being transcoded, or could that effect the video as well? Wondering if it’s worth running it through Handbrake to change the audio codec.
Yeah, the video is essentially being left alone with only the container being changed (Direct Stream vs Direct Play). They both produce identical results with no degradation of picture quality.
This explains it better than I can 
→ https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250387-Streaming-Media-Direct-Play-and-Direct-Stream
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AACIs it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
I think the problem here is that the stream contains a DTS-HD MA track which is not supported by the CC Ultra and therefore is correctly transcoded to AAC.
Source: Supported Media for Google Cast | Google for Developers
That makes total sense, thanks for the catch. Can I assume the video is being left alone and only audio is being transcoded, or could that effect the video as well? Wondering if it’s worth running it through Handbrake to change the audio codec.
Yeah, the video is essentially being left alone with only the container being changed (Direct Stream vs Direct Play). They both produce identical results with no degradation of picture quality.
This explains it better than I can
Thanks so much.
Looks like this is my scenario below:
Partially-Transcoded Direct Stream
You might have a file that has a stream-compatible video track, but an audio track that needs transcoding. For example, your playback device cannot handle DTS tracks, but works with AC3. In this case:
The Audio track will be transcoded from the standard DTS core audio track to AC3;
The original Video track will not be touched; and
The transcoded audio track is sent with the unaltered video track to your device.
@mikejc2 said:
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
@only1hammy said:
@mikejc2 said:
I may or may not be having an issue using the updated XML file with my CC Ultra. I am playing an X264 encoded UHD file in an MKV container, and the bitrate is only 35mps.When I look at the status of the stream, it says this:
Transcoding (Throttled)
Video: DirectStream
Audio: Transcoding DCA to AACIs it possible the audio stream is above a max bitrate and being throttled but the video is not being touched? The audio track is DTS-HD MA (not sure how to tell bitrate of just the audio track?), which is supported by the receiver my CC Ultra is plugged into (Denon X1300)
I think the problem here is that the stream contains a DTS-HD MA track which is not supported by the CC Ultra and therefore is correctly transcoded to AAC.
Source: Supported Media for Google Cast | Google for Developers
That makes total sense, thanks for the catch. Can I assume the video is being left alone and only audio is being transcoded, or could that effect the video as well? Wondering if it’s worth running it through Handbrake to change the audio codec.
Yeah, the video is essentially being left alone with only the container being changed (Direct Stream vs Direct Play). They both produce identical results with no degradation of picture quality.
This explains it better than I can
Thanks so much.
Looks like this is my scenario below:
Partially-Transcoded Direct Stream
You might have a file that has a stream-compatible video track, but an audio track that needs transcoding. For example, your playback device cannot handle DTS tracks, but works with AC3. In this case:
The Audio track will be transcoded from the standard DTS core audio track to AC3;
The original Video track will not be touched; and
The transcoded audio track is sent with the unaltered video track to your device.
Yep, pretty sure that’s what’s happening.
Now I’m just taking a wild guess here but doesn’t plex transcode it into AAC with 5.1 channels? Can’t you still somehow get surround sound from your receiver, albeit not of the DTS variety?
oh nice, seems like im not the only one with an chromecast ultra and issues playing HEVC content.
Any how, my Chromecast Ultra tells me “unable to play content” using the modded Chromecast.xml with FHD resolution. Tried several encodings, scc, he-acc, opus… nothing works so it seems to be HEVC related. I encoded via default ffmpeg and libx265.
Media Info tells me
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format-Profil : Main@L4@Main
Codec-ID : V_MPEGH/ISO/HEVC
Dauer : 1 min 0s
Breite : 1 920 Pixel
Höhe : 1 080 Pixel
Bildseitenverhältnis : 16:9
Modus der Bildwiederholungsrate : konstant
Bildwiederholungsrate : 23,976 (24000/1001) FPS
ColorSpace : YUV
ChromaSubsampling/String : 4:2:0
BitDepth/String : 8 bits
Titel : Remux Pate
verwendete Encoder-Bibliothek : Lavc57.86.103 hevc_nvenc
Sprache : Deutsch
Default : Ja
Forced : Ja
Statistics Tags Issue : mkvmerge v8.0.0 (‘Til The Day That I Die’) 64bit 2016-10-19 20:43:54 / Lavf57.67.100
FromStats_BitRate : 25839040
FromStats_Duration : 00:01:00.040000000
FromStats_FrameCount : 161300
FromStats_StreamSize : 21729192565
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format-Profil : LC
Codec-ID : A_AAC
Dauer : 1 min 0s
Kanäle : 8 Kanäle
Kanal-Positionen : Front: L C R, Side: L R, Back: L R, LFE
Samplingrate : 48,0 kHz
Bildwiederholungsrate : 46,875 FPS (1024 spf)
Video Verzögerung : -21 ms
Titel : DTS-HD 7.1
verwendete Encoder-Bibliothek : Lavc57.86.103 aac
Sprache : Deutsch
Default : Ja
Forced : Ja
Statistics Tags Issue : mkvmerge v8.0.0 (‘Til The Day That I Die’) 64bit 2016-10-19 20:43:54 / Lavf57.67.100
FromStats_BitRate : 5206974
FromStats_Duration : 00:01:00.021000000
FromStats_FrameCount : 630849
FromStats_StreamSize : 4379753244
and my xml contains
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Client name="Chromecast">
<!-- Edited with Clmcm400's code from https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/244663/chromecast-ultra-profile-doesnt-support-hevc/p2 -->
<TranscodeTargets>
<VideoProfile protocol="http" container="matroska" codec="h264,h265,hevc" audioCodec="eac3,ac3,aac,mp3" context="streaming" />
<MusicProfile container="matroska" codec="mp3" />
<PhotoProfile container="jpeg" />
<SubtitleProfile container="ass" codec="ass" />
</TranscodeTargets>
<DirectPlayProfiles>
<VideoProfile container="mp4" codec="Hevc,mpeg1video,mpeg2video,h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="eac3,ac3,aac,mp3,mp2"/>
<VideoProfile container="mkv" codec="vp9,hevc,h265,mpeg1video,mpeg2video,h264,mpeg4" audioCodec="eac3,ac3,aac,mp3,mp2,pcm,flac,alac" subtitleFormat="srt,ass"/>
</DirectPlayProfiles>
<CodecProfiles>
<VideoCodec name="h265,hevc,vp9">
<Limitations>
Tried casing from chrome as well from my andorid plex app.
Ideas`? Thanks a lot!
@Krautmaster said:
oh nice, seems like im not the only one with an chromecast ultra and issues playing HEVC content.
Have to admit I hadn’t tried any sub-4K HEVC material yet with the profile. I was just able to Direct Stream (from Chrome and Android Plex app) the ‘Tears Of Steel’ clip from here: https://x265.com/hevc-video-files/
I’ll attach my current profile to this post. PMS needs a reboot before it will work.
thanks for your support. I always restarted my Plex server running on Win Server 2016. Ill try with your xml and report. Thx again.
Edit: It seems to work! Thanks a lot. Im able to play 1080p HEVC with 7.1 Opus audio - it seems to only transcode the audio. Direct stream is availiable once I play HEVC samples from the web.
As the Chromecast is able to play Opus, what would be the correct entry for the xml?
This is absolutely ridiculous on the Plex side of things. This should be fixed already, and as suggested, a separate profile for ChromeCast Ultra/HD.
I have no idea why I cant direct stream HEVC to my ultra. I’ve tried every xml build here, restarted PMS in between changes, nothing. Even the linked sample file wont direct play. My i5 plex box cant crunch transcodes fast enough so its impossible to play anything back. Very frustrating.
On my end I cannot direct stream HEVC files on my Chromecast Ultra with (srt) subtitles enabled, even though the setting for ‘Burn subtitles’ is set to ‘Only image formats’. With subtitles disabled (set to ‘none’), it direct streams without transcoding.
I think I remember it working last month, so it may be occurring since a recent update. I am using only1hammy’s latest xml with width and height changed to 1920 and 1080.
Anyone got PLEX and Chromecast Ultra direct streaming HEVC/h.265 with subtitles turned on? If so, I’d love to know your settings!
