Chromecast Ultra profile doesn't support HEVC

Plex Players Streaming Devices
141

@sbrudenell said:
This just got fixed!!!

https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1553972/#Comment_1553972

3.25.0
NEW:
Improve 4k support on the Chromecast Ultra
FIXES:
High-bitrate videos cast from Android use original quality

I confirm HEVC 4k HDR playback works too, on my LG C7P.

I also confirm the device has enough receive buffer to stream at high bitrates from remote servers (at least 75mbps from a remote plex server with RTT 20-25ms; hard to tell the maximum right now because Comcast is having some trouble).

Finally!! Huzzah!

142

Let me see if I understood it well. Does it means that just updating the Plex server to the last version, and hard rebooting the CCU I will be able to see 4K content? Or do I need any extra step to update the plex for chromecast?

143

Does this mean that HEVC should not be transcoding now? Mine still is

144

@bryn987 said:
Does this mean that HEVC should not be transcoding now? Mine still is

Same here. I fear they only increased the allowed bitrate, not the supported codecs

145

@JosePiratilla @bryn987 @mouse256

I have double checked and HEVC casting does now work without me needing a custom .xml profile. PMS is the latest version, but I am still using the old Plex Android app version 5.9.1.758 for casting. With the most recent Android app it still transcodes. The difference between the apps is that the older version allows “original” and the newer “maximum”. I guess the casting app(s) need updating as well.

146

So far I have been unable to cast anything at 4k without it transcoding, be that my the Android app or web client. Both web client and android app does have the option to “turn on Play original quality” but it makes no difference, it still xcodes.
I also had to reboot the CCUs to get them to update to 100555

147

Not sure what to tell you guys having problems.

wpwuvvwcni8m.png1175×385 226 KB

Plex Android app 5.9.1.758 (1f0448ce) with Settings->Video->Original quality over wifi & Original quality over mobile network
PMS 1.9.6.4429-23901a099 (no custom .XML needed anymore)

These two things allow every 4K HEVC/HDR file (apart from a hybrid-log gamma clip) that I’ve tried to either Direct Play or Direct Stream.

148

Just figured it out for me. It does work indeed when starting from the android app. It does not work when starting from plex web.

149

No transcoding for me either. Latest server and Android app and everything just works now. Finally :slight_smile:

150

Just updated PMS to latest 1.9.7.4460 and my app is latest. Both android app and web client still all HEVC content gets transcoded. Even 4k x264 gets transcoded.

151

Has there been any progress on this? Does Plex even care?

152

It is still, even with the latest android app that has come out, still not playing any 4k without transcoding, be that HEVC or x264. Here are a few examples, all these will play direct in emby, but in 1.9.7.4460 (CCUs all have latest firmware 100555 and cast firmware 1.28.100555) are all force transcode Even when I go into settings after streaming and chose play original quality.
If I try version 5.9.1.758, my server always shows offline in the app no matter what I do. *edit 1 so the plot thickens. Logs show it is logging me in as guest, which is disabled, even if I select my master account. HOWEVER, if I select one of my other “local users” I have on there, it connects right up, but if I select my primary it will not log in and logs again show as guest. *edit 2 Ok, I fixed that issue, was very odd but I had to restart the PMS service, then log in as a different user THEN switch to my main. After that is done I am now running the 5.9.1.758 version everyone says works, and all 4k set on original is still transcoding.



153

Latest Version 1.10.0.4523 of PMS and still all 4k material to my CCUs are transcoded regardless of they being HEVC, x.264 10bit whatever, they all convert still.

154

Not sure what to say guys, several of us having it work as expected and a few of you aren’t. All my 4K content plays without transcoding.
Have you modified your CC profile or running the default one? You can also try attaching some logs.

155

I was under the impression that no CC profiles need be modified and that it downloads one from plex each time you play something regardless? Either way no changes to my default CC profile have been made.
What log specifically are you looking for, I can go try to stream something and post.

156

I just ran through all my 4k movies, and a few of them do indeed play. Every single one that direct plays is under 17000 kbps bitrate. Everything else I have is 18000+ and those all do not play. Everything else codec wise about these is pretty much the same… all bit depth 10, level 5.1 profile main 10 ref frames 1… standard stuff, only the bitrate and or audio codec changes.

Works
Codec HEVC
Bitrate 16551 kbps
Bit Depth 10
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Range tv
Color Space bt2020nc
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 2160
Level 5.1
Profile main 10
Ref Frames 1
Width 3840
Codec AC3
Channels 5.1
Bitrate 448 kbps
Language English
Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz

Not works
Codec HEVC
Bitrate 57077 kbps
Bit Depth 10
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0
Color Range tv
Color Space bt2020nc
Frame Rate 23.976 fps
Height 2160
Level 5.1
Profile main 10
Ref Frames 1
Width 3840
Codec TRUEHD
Channels 7.1
Bitrate 5666 kbps
Language English
Audio Channel Layout 7.1
Bit Depth 24
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
Title TrueHD Atmos 7.1

157

@boboki said:
I just ran through all my 4k movies, and a few of them do indeed play. Every single one that direct plays is under 17000 kbps bitrate. Everything else I have is 18000+ and those all do not play. Everything else codec wise about these is pretty much the same… all bit depth 10, level 5.1 profile main 10 ref frames 1… standard stuff, only the bitrate and or audio codec changes.

Have you tried the combination of apps and settings described in my previous post? As I know that combination works, I’m content to hold off updating for the time being.

158

Yes, I tried android version 5.9.1.758 and it had no change to what would and would not direct stream.

@only1hammy said:

@boboki said:
I just ran through all my 4k movies, and a few of them do indeed play. Every single one that direct plays is under 17000 kbps bitrate. Everything else I have is 18000+ and those all do not play. Everything else codec wise about these is pretty much the same… all bit depth 10, level 5.1 profile main 10 ref frames 1… standard stuff, only the bitrate and or audio codec changes.

Have you tried the combination of apps and settings described in my previous post? As I know that combination works, I’m content to hold off updating for the time being.

159

@boboki said:
Yes, I tried android version 5.9.1.758 and it had no change to what would and would not direct stream.

@only1hammy said:

@boboki said:
I just ran through all my 4k movies, and a few of them do indeed play. Every single one that direct plays is under 17000 kbps bitrate. Everything else I have is 18000+ and those all do not play. Everything else codec wise about these is pretty much the same… all bit depth 10, level 5.1 profile main 10 ref frames 1… standard stuff, only the bitrate and or audio codec changes.

Have you tried the combination of apps and settings described in my previous post? As I know that combination works, I’m content to hold off updating for the time being.

Not sure if it’s because I’m on PMS 1.9.6.4429-23901a099 or something else in my setup. I think the log @Jose00 mentioned might be Plex Media Server.log from Settings → Server → Help. Here’s a snippet from mine, in case it helps…

Nov 29, 2017 01:08:07.884 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] Received custom message: {“type”:“SHOWDETAILS”,“media”:{“contentId”:“/library/metadata/32775”,“customData”:{“server”:{“machineIdentifier”:“XXXXX”,“protocol”:“http”,“address”:“192.168.1.32”,“port”:32400,“accessToken”:“transient-XXXXX”,“version”:“1.9.6.4429-23901a099”,“transcoderVideo”:true,“transcoderVideoRemuxOnly”:false,“transcoderAudio”:true}}},“cmd_id”:0,“title”:“Suicide Squad”,“content_info”:{“user”:{“username”:“only1hammy”}}}
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:24.272 [6704] ERROR - Extras: Preroll file didn’t exist or couldn’t be read: ‘’.
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:24.794 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] Load: {“requestId”:2,“media”:{“contentId”:“/library/metadata/32775”,“streamType”:“BUFFERED”,“contentType”:“video/mp4”,“metadata”:{“metadataType”:0,“title”:“Suicide Squad”},“duration”:7373.504,“customData”:{“offset”:0,“bitrate”:“”,“directStream”:true,“directPlay”:true,“subtitleSize”:100,“audioBoost”:100,“user”:{“username”:“only1hammy”},“server”:{“machineIdentifier”:“XXXXX”,“protocol”:“http”,“address”:“192.168.1.32”,“port”:32400,“accessToken”:“transient-XXXXX”,“version”:“1.9.6.4429-23901a099”,“transcoderVideo”:true,“transcoderVideoRemuxOnly”:false,“transcoderAudio”:true},“containerKey”:“/playQueues/9499?own=1&repeat=0&window=200”}},“autoplay”:true,“currentTime”:0}
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:25.658 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Augmented profile: { “directPlay”: { “mp4”: { “mimeType”: “video/mp4; codecs="avc1.42E01E"”, “video”: { “codecs”: { “h264”: { “maxLevel”: 51 }, “hevc”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 }, “vp9”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 } }, “maxWidth”: 4096, “maxHeight”: 2160, “maxBitDepth”: 8, “maxFrameRate”: 60 }, “audio”: { “codecs”: { “aac”: { “maxSamplingRate”: 48000, “maxChannels”: 2 }, “mp3”: {}, “ac3”: {} } } }, “mkv”: { “mimeType”: “video/webm”, “video”: { “codecs”: { “h264”: { “maxLevel”: 51 }, “vp8”: {}, “hevc”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 }, “vp9”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 } }, “maxWidth”: 4096, “maxHeight”: 2160, “maxBitDepth”: 8, “maxFrameRate”: 60 }, “audio”: { “codecs”: { “aac”: { “maxSamplingRate”: 48000, “maxChannels”: 2 }, “mp3”: {}, “vorbis”: {}, “ac3”: {} } } } }, “directStream”: { “video”: { “maxWidth”: 4096, “maxHeight”: 2160, “maxBitDepth”: 8, “maxFrameRate”: 60, “codecs”: { “h264”: { “maxLevel”: 51 }, “hevc”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 }, “vp9”: { “maxBitDepth”: 10, “maxFrameRate”: 60 } } }, “audio”: { “codecs”: { “aac”: { “maxSamplingRate”: 48000, “maxChannels”: 2 }, “mp3”: {}, “opus”: {}, “vorbis”: {} }, “maxChannels”: 6 } } }
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:25.804 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Starting analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, truehd, 153, main 10)
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:25.867 [3188] INFO - CodecManager: starting EAE at \?\G:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Transcode\Sessions\EasyAudioEncoder
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:25.966 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] [MDE] Finished analysis of 4k (mkv, hevc, truehd, 153, main 10)
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:25.991 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] canPlay: true
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.012 [6704] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectPlay: false
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.027 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamVideo: true
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.046 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] canDirectStreamAudio: false
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.063 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] bitrate: 55644
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.090 [6704] INFO - [Chromecast] videoResolution: 2560
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.113 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] [PDE] Player decision
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.129 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] Player: html
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.163 [6704] INFO - [Chromecast] Protocol: http
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.184 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] Direct Play: false
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.203 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] [Transcoder] Video (start) options
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.225 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] hasMDE: 1
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.243 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] path: /library/metadata/32775
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.272 [6704] INFO - [Chromecast] mediaIndex: 0
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.287 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] partIndex: 0
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.305 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] protocol: http
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.320 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] fastSeek: 1
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.335 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] directPlay: 0
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.350 [6864] INFO - [Chromecast] directStream: 1
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.364 [2568] INFO - [Chromecast] subtitleSize: 100
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.383 [6576] INFO - [Chromecast] audioBoost: 100
Nov 29, 2017 01:08:26.398 [6704] INFO - [Chromecast] location: lan

160

Chromecast supports to cast a lot of formats such as MP4, MPEG, MOV, WebM, just transform your HEVC movies to one of the common format. Besides, Chromecast supports to stream a lot of movies and TV shows directly. For example, YouTube, NetFlix, Hulu, Amazon Instant video, on demand and a lot of more, just turn on the channel from the Chromecast. But the only movie you can’t stream directly is iTunes movies and TV shows because they are combined with the FairPlay DRM protection. No worries too, you can get an iTunes video converter or iTunes converter for Mac to help you remove DRM. Hope this tip is helpful to all your guys. Cheers.