Server Version#: 1.23.4.4712
Player Version#: 8.18.2.25850
I recently started to stream Dolby Vision videos from Plex and noticed that it’s unplayable on Android TVs due to constant buffering (same symptoms on both my Sony TV and Google TV Chromecast so I’m convinced it’s not the devices to blame; playbacks of all other types of videos, including 4k HDR10 BD remuxes with higher bitrate, are normal, so not due to slow network either). Both video and audio were on direct streaming when buffering happened so it doesn’t seem related to my server’s CPU speed (my Plex server runs on a Synology NAS).
Server logs attached (playback started @ ~3:20pm, constant buffering happened every few seconds starting at ~3:32pm)
It did used to work ok for me, but I cannot remember what version of the server I was running. I think it was one of 1.21.xxxxx or 1.22.xxxxxx. Using latest player and either Beta or normal server I get about 10-15 seconds of playback then buffer for 5-7 seconds then playback and so on and so forth.
Sorry I cannot be any more specific or provide logs as I am in the middle of a full media room & server rebuild.
@MadMungo_1 I’m having this exact issue as well on the Shield Pro. It will buffer initially, but the bitstream is so high on a direct play DV Remux it will sputter on and off every few seconds and not stop itself to buffer. I spent all night trying to figure out the cause, but I think it doesn’t buffer long enough. Some scenes were reaching 700 mbps. Would love to know which version you’re running if you get a chance.
Tried a few things and the only thing that did work for me is to remux the MP4 files to MKV – the files with constant buffering are all in the MP4 format, but playback of the same video/audio streams in remuxed MKV files doesn’t have any issue.
That being said, I do believe there is a problem with Plex for MP4 streaming.
I too got some buffering at times playing a 4K DV + DD+ Atmos mp4 file thru Plex.
Plex server running on a Windows 10 PC, Plex client running on a Sony A80J Google TV (android tv 10) client app.
I verified Plex was using direct play (no transcoding) for both the video and audio tracks.
The most noticeable issue however for me was Plex seemed unable to resume in the middle of the mp4 video while it could start from the beginning OK and manually jump ahead into the middle of the video though that was more sluggish than other videos.
When I remuxed the mp4 file into an MKV (unfortunately the subtitle tracks did not transfer to MKV) the video played perfectly, loaded and resumed fine and fast with no buffering at all. Dolby vision and DD+ Atmos audio both worked perfectly.
So indeed, mp4 container with dolby vision has some issues with Plex currently. However other .mp4 video files with SDR video work fine in plex.
Hi,
Got the same issue.
Mp4 constant buffer, but mkv buffer too.
MKV buffer less more than mp4 but still buffer.
Still have some test to make.
Come back tu you as soon as possible.
Regards
I can confirm this as well. There are also multiple mentions on Reddit, and elsewhere.
This only happens, for myself and others I have read, with some mp4 files, specifically DV profile 5. These files buffer constantly and are unusable despite plenty of bandwidth and direct play. Issue does not occur when the exact same content is remuxed to mkv. It’s gotten to the point where I have a script to automatically detect Dolby vision profile 5 and auto remux to mkv.
I have found that this occurs both on the Shield and on the Chromecast with Google TV, both with Plex. Most of these files play fine on my LG TV’s built in Plex player, but some have sound cutting out or stuttering, although they do not buffer like on the Android Plex versions.
Plex folks, it would be awesome if you could take a look at this as it is a real pain and makes a lot of content unusable without remuxing.
Having the same issue after a recent update (last 1-2 months) when playing MKV containers for high bitrate 4K content with Dolby Vision profile 7 (ripped from UHD Blu-Ray).
Plex folks, this is unfortunately still happening and I wanted to bump this thread. Lots of people reproducing it with these specifics, on this thread and on Reddit and probably other places too. Anything we can do to help get this investigated? I suspect this is a problem with exoplayer, but it would be awesome if someone on the Plex end could help make progress on this in some way.
For those continuing to see issues even with mkv, I think unfortunately that’s a different problem than this one. This issue has a specific behavior where the exact same video streams play smoothly with mkv but buffer massively with mp4.
Can confirm the bug is still present. I have an mp4 video that’s 4k, dolby vision, and it plays in slow motion, very choppy, in Plex on Apple TV when direct playing. I can play it fine in Infuse app which connects to Plex, so clearly something is wrong with Plex itself. I have plenty of bandwidth.
I’ll paste the video file info incase that is relevant
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom)
File size : 76.9 GiB
Duration : 2 h 57 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 61.9 Mb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2019-11-30 18:39:58
Tagged date : UTC 2019-11-30 18:39:58
Video #1
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile : Main 10@L5.1@High
HDR format : SMPTE ST 2086, HDR10 compatible
Codec ID : hev1
Codec ID/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration : 2 h 57 min
Bit rate : 51.6 Mb/s
Width : 3 840 pixels
Height : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 (Type 2)
Bit depth : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.259
Stream size : 64.0 GiB (83%)
Default : No
Encoded date : UTC 2019-11-30 02:52:21
Tagged date : UTC 2019-11-30 19:20:21
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics : PQ
Matrix coefficients : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color primaries : Display P3
Mastering display luminance : min: 0.0001 cd/m2, max: 1000 cd/m2
Codec configuration box : hvcC
Video #2
ID : 2
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile : Main 10@L5.1@High
HDR format : Dolby Vision, Version 1.0, dvhe.07.06, EL+RPU / SMPTE ST 2086, HDR10 compatible
Codec ID : dvhe
Codec ID/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding with Dolby Vision
Duration : 2 h 57 min
Bit rate : 5 858 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 (Type 2)
Bit depth : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.118
Stream size : 7.27 GiB (9%)
Default : No
Encoded date : UTC 2019-11-30 02:52:21
Tagged date : UTC 2019-11-30 19:20:21
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics : PQ
Matrix coefficients : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color primaries : Display P3
Mastering display luminance : min: 0.0001 cd/m2, max: 1000 cd/m2
Codec configuration box : hvcC+dvcC
Audio #1
ID : 3
Format : DTS XLL
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Commercial name : DTS-HD Master Audio
Codec ID : mp4a-A9
Duration : 2 h 57 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 252 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 6 436 kb/s
Channel(s) : 8 channels
Channel layout : C L R LFE Lb Rb Lss Rss
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 93.750 FPS (512 SPF)
Bit depth : 24 bits
Compression mode : Lossless
Stream size : 5.28 GiB (7%)
Title : Complete Main
Language : English
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Tagged date : UTC 2019-11-30 19:20:21
Audio #2
ID : 4
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Format settings : Dolby Surround
Codec ID : ac-3
Duration : 2 h 57 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 224 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 237 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 285 MiB (0%)
Title : Commentary with actor/director Mel Gibson-no-iod
Language : English
Service kind : Complete Main
Encoded date : UTC 2019-11-30 19:20:15
Tagged date : UTC 2019-11-30 19:20:21
I have the same issue. DV content in MP4 cannot be played for more than 7-10 seconds at a time. Up to date Plex server and player, and the player is a Sony A80J.
It’s using Direct Play and the bitrate is not the problem, as testing a similar non DV file works fine. Playing the problematic file via Kodi on Android TV shows no problems as well.
