HI, I’d really like to switch from KODI to Plex full time, but there is one feature I cant get to work on plex. All my movies are ripped with AAC as the first audio track and AC3 as the second. By default Plex always selects AAC track despite me ticking the AC3 option in settings. Kodi has an option to upgrade the audio to AC3 where available, which works perfectly. Is there no equivalent in Plex ? ( I know I can set it manually for every … single… movie… or tv series…I … watch ;-))
Your Plex client is not reporting the ability to play AC3 files to the server OR it is not able to make a decision and is instead defaulting to the first track. What is the client?
yes it is defaulting to the first track. I’ve tried PS3 and Fire Tv, both do the same. If I manually select AC3 it does play so it knows it can, it just decides not to.
It’s my understanding that AAC is better than AC3, why play the AC3?
From Here
In a conclusion, AAC is a more advanced lossy audio format comparing with AC3. It will produce better audio quality than AC3 with the same bitrate, especially on low bitrates. The main advantage of using AC3 is for backward compatibility on older Dolby Digital equipments.
Plex defaults to the first audio track. There isn’t an option to prefer a specific audio codec.
@MovieFan.Plex said:
Plex defaults to the first audio track. There isn’t an option to prefer a specific audio codec.
There really should be an option. In order for mp4 files to be compatible with iTunes (at least to sync to iPhone), the first track must be AAC 2.0. I have thousands of MP4s that I created using Handbrake that have (2) English tracks, first is AAC 2.0, second is AC3 5.1. Some clients (Roku I believe is one) correctly play the 5.1 track by default. Most others players play the first track listed by default (AAC 2.0 in my case). I agree there needs to be a setting to playback the 5.1 by default.
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@“MovieFan.Plex” said
Plex defaults to the first audio track. There isn’t an option to prefer a specific audio codec.
Not exactly 100% true, depending on the client. The Roku apps (all of them I believe, Classic, Rarflix and Official) default to the AC3 or DTS track when it is the second audio track in your preferred language. Works with mp4 (no default audio tag available for that container) if the first is AAC, With mkv files the Roku will play the the audio track set as default (unless something has changed recently, I have started using mp4 for direct play reasons)
@leelynds said:
@“MovieFan.Plex” said
Plex defaults to the first audio track. There isn’t an option to prefer a specific audio codec.Not exactly 100% true, depending on the client. The Roku apps (all of them I believe, Classic, Rarflix and Official) default to the AC3 or DTS track when it is the second audio track in your preferred language. Works with mp4 (no default audio tag available for that container) if the first is AAC, With mkv files the Roku will play the the audio track set as default (unless something has changed recently, I have started using mp4 for direct play reasons)
Thanks leelynds!
Yes, I have a Roku Ultra and it chooses the 5.1 AC3 correctly even if it is the second English track. I use Android OS on my (3) other clients (Amazon FireTV, Sony Android TV, and Nvidia Shield TV) The Shield is the one I most want to get this working correctly, as it is the most used. Maybe I should post this in the AndroidTV/Shield section…I also share my collection with family (one of which is my Grandma) and if it defaulted to 5.1 it would save her a lot of trouble and confusion…
@leelynds - Ah, nice catch. Yes, the clients can auto-select a supported surround track over a stereo track. I read your initial question as picking 5.1 AC3 over 5.1 AAC. All thing being equal, PMS will pick the first compatible audio track.
On your Shield, make sure you have audio pass-through enabled and that your AVR supports 5.1 AC3. Please note There are some AC3 layouts that are not supported by the Shield.
@MovieFan.Plex said:
@leelynds - Ah, nice catch. Yes, the clients can auto-select a supported surround track over a stereo track. I read your initial question as picking 5.1 AC3 over 5.1 AAC. All thing being equal, PMS will pick the first compatible audio track.On your Shield, make sure you have audio pass-through enabled and that your AVR supports 5.1 AC3. Please note There are some AC3 layouts that are not supported by the Shield.
The Shield picks the first track (AAC 2.0) instead of my preferred AC3 5.1. My receiver is more than capable of playing AC3 5.1 and plays it perfectly if I manually change the track once playback has begun. I have tried with passtrhough enable and disabled. This is the behavior of all Plex clients I’ve come across with the exception of Roku.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
BP
I know absolutely nothing about the Shield player, but I do know that for AC3 and DTS tracks to be selected automatically on the Roku on my system, the Roku had to be connected directly to the receiver by HDMI, and then to the TV by HDMI from the receiver.
The other thing to remember, once you have manually selected an audio track, Plex remembers that now and forever for all devices. So if you manually selected stereo AAC even once, that will be the track for all devices, until you change that selection. At that point, Plex will always remember your new selection for all devices.
Another possibility is you’ve set your language setting in your profile to automatically select an audio track based on a certain language. If your AAC track has the correct language label, but the AC3 track doesn’t, then it will select the AAC track.
@leelynds said:
I know absolutely nothing about the Shield player, but I do know that for AC3 and DTS tracks to be selected automatically on the Roku on my system, the Roku had to be connected directly to the receiver by HDMI, and then to the TV by HDMI from the receiver.The other thing to remember, once you have manually selected an audio track, Plex remembers that now and forever for all devices. So if you manually selected stereo AAC even once, that will be the track for all devices, until you change that selection. At that point, Plex will always remember your new selection for all devices.
@MovieFan.Plex said:
Another possibility is you’ve set your language setting in your profile to automatically select an audio track based on a certain language. If your AAC track has the correct language label, but the AC3 track doesn’t, then it will select the AAC track.
I have a roku and a shield, both hooked up the same way, I’ve even hooked them up to same AVR/TV HDMI slot. The Roku works correctly, the Shield not. As I’ve said, no clients besides the Roku select the 5.1 track bt=y default. I have several on my home network, and a dozen freinds/family sharing my library with the same issue. This is not working the way you think it should.
Check the forums, lots of people asking about this
Here are pictures to convey what I’m talking about:
I never manually changed the audio track on either client.
First two pics are from Roku (it defaults to 5.1)
The second two pics are from the Shield (and it’s the same on all clients I’ve come across besides Roku):
I realize that the selection of the track persists, but I would have to manually select 5.1 every time I watch a movie on the Shield. Or manually select it for every movie in my Plex library (thousands)
Thank you both for your suggestions.
MovieFan.Plex can you confirm this behavior? I can send you a test file, logs, etc if this will help identify and correct this problem.
Thanks
BP
Just to share, it is possible to rip into 5.1 AAC. This is fully compatible with “iTunes”, iPad, iPhone, as well as Kodi and Plex (Both Samsung clients, PS3, PS4, and iPad/iPhone clients).
I know it’s not what you are asking here, but wanted to share that this is an option. I personally have mp4s containing AVC profile 4.1, and two audio tracks: 5.1 AAC and 5.1 AC3. Works well.
@wdpaynter said:
Thank you both for your suggestions.MovieFan.Plex can you confirm this behavior? I can send you a test file, logs, etc if this will help identify and correct this problem.
Thanks
BP
Post the XML for that movie first.
@edrikk said:
Just to share, it is possible to rip into 5.1 AAC. This is fully compatible with “iTunes”, iPad, iPhone, as well as Kodi and Plex (Both Samsung clients, PS3, PS4, and iPad/iPhone clients).I know it’s not what you are asking here, but wanted to share that this is an option. I personally have mp4s containing AVC profile 4.1, and two audio tracks: 5.1 AAC and 5.1 AC3. Works well.
That’s something to think about moving forward, thanks! Not gonna help on the thousands I’ve already done though.
Is 5.1 AAC compatible with most AV equipment too (Direct Play)? It seems to me that some of the files I have that are AAC, Plex is forced to transcode on my set ups and many of my friends/family that I share my Plex library with. The guidlines when I started ripping my disc collection was to do as I’ve done, AAC 2.0, AC3 5.1 (I think the vast majority those that chose MP4 over MKV do it this way too) I’m sure things have change in regards to compatibility over time though
@MovieFan.Plex said:
@wdpaynter said:
Thank you both for your suggestions.MovieFan.Plex can you confirm this behavior? I can send you a test file, logs, etc if this will help identify and correct this problem.
Thanks
BPPost the XML for that movie first.
Attached is the XML for “Finding Dory”. Which is what I display in the pictures above. Most all of my movies are formatted this way and all exhibit the same behavior.
Let me know what else I can do to help.
Thanks
BP
selected=“1” default=“1” codec=“aac”
You have the default flag set in the file. I’m not sure why the Roku is selecting the AC3 track.
Edit - You’ve also got the aac manually selected so the Roku shouldn’t be selecting that either.
Edit 2 - Hmm. The “default” flag might not do anything. But the “selected” should so it shouldn’t be possible for your Roku to select that track automatically anymore.
Let me do some testing and get back to you.
