Server Version#: Windows 11 Pro up to date
Player Version#: Fire TV by Insignia
I started to build my 4K library which is working great on my Samsung TV but on my Insignia Fire TV which is 1080 did not play just got the spinning circle. I started to put another version of the Movie in 1080 to the same folder which works. Using the Play Version option. Which brings me to my question.
Since I have this Nvidia P2200 card which works fine for transcoding why doesn’t it convert the 4K movie to 1080 on Home network which is gig speed and not using the Internet. I thought PLEX was supposed to be Automatic when it talks to the client what it can handle. I have transcoding turned on in the Server settings or am I just have to make dupilcate movie files.
Also when my Family goes to stream they will have no clue how to use the Play Version. Since my Fire TV doesnt even tell me why its not playing when I found out I needed a 1080 file.
So did I do something wrong or do I need to have both files ?
Longer answer it is probably the HDR to SDR tone mapping that is killing you. Prior to Plex adding support for this my 4K videos that had HDR would barely play on devices on my own local network as the CPU was swamped trying to do the tone mapping. Check your Plex Server CPU usage when you try and play one of your 4K titles. If it’s at near 100% the CPU is doing the tone mapping.
I believe the tone mapping (should be) getting done using the P2200.
Make sure you’re using the 64-bit server version.
Another thing that can kill a CPU when you’re transcoding is burning subtitles
Focus on in the part in bold letters
Multiple Versions of the Same Movie
You can gather multiple versions of the same movie together (that have different resolutions or encoding formats) and collapse them to a single item. For example, you can have 3 versions: ones suitable for a mobile phone, a tablet, and a 1080p TV. The multiple versions will be collapsed to a single item in the library. When a Plex app goes to play the collapsed item, it will automatically request and play the most suitable item by default. Many apps will also allow you to select a Play Version action, where you can choose which version to play.
My question…
When you have a 4k and 1080p file is Plex automatically selecting the correct one to play? That’s how it’s suppose to work but in many cases I’m finding that it just selects the 4k version on an incompatible device. Sometimes it transcodes the 4k version to 1080p and sometimes the 4k version direct plays but terribly. Constant stuttering and jumping all over the place
For the most part I’ve resorted to keeping my 4k movies in a different library because of this
Well what little muscle my machine has is Windows 11 Pro 64 bit with 64 bit PLEX SERVER 1.32.7.7571-13cdc68dc with i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz with 32 gig and Nvidia Quadro P2200.
No it does not PLAY the 1080 automatically I have to use the PLAY VERSION option which is buried. Hence my Family Streaming else where.
Usage Bandwidth avg 34 Mbps spikes 51
CPU> sys 20% Plex 8%
Ram 5% sys 26%
Transcoding > Make my CPU hurt
Buffer 60
Background X264 Veryfast
HDR tone mapping> OFF
Use Hardware acceleration > ON
Use Hardware Transcoding device> Nvidia Quadro P2200 > ON
Max simultaneous streams Transcode> (6)
My 4K movies are in their own folder. That’s when I found out they wouldn’t play on 1080 TV is when I started converting them to 1080 and placing them in the same folder.
No one was online last night but me
PLEX had just updated my FireTV 2 days ago here is photo
Are you sure ? I remember one of those settings pretty much doubles your library space. Which Im glad I caught it in time. One thing I do not need is PLEX chewing up hard drive space. If I am wrong let me know and I will turn it on.
Well Tried the HDR settings on didn’t work. So gave up on my Fire TV dug out my old Amazon 8" tablet guess what it works ! It Transcoded 4K to 1080 on the fly perfectly so no I do not need to have a second copy of the movie in 1080.
So this falls back on PLEX and its software client on Fire TV on Insignia. And yes it was just updated days ago. So its a BUG
You are correct that the P2200 has no issue transcoding 4k down in size for other clients with lower resolution. It plays perfectly on a 10-year-old Amazon 8" tablet. So now checking other devices like my Andriod on my Car Stereo plays it. So this is a bug on Fire TV Insignia. Who do I alert ? Amazon , Insignia or PLEX ?
It’s not Insignia because it happens on all my regular Fire TV’s
My android devices, both mobile and tv are in an unusable state. (unrelated to this issue) Even after things are reported and officially recognized as a bug, no fix ever comes
If you find a way to make it onto someone’s priority list, I will applaud you
@Rickt1962 from your screen shots… 3 things I have differently… I have Transcoder Quality set to Automatic, I do specify my transcoder temp directory (I made C:\TranscoderTemp and pointed Plex there) and “Enable HDR tone mapping” checked.
While I’m using the Intel U630 gpu built into my i7-8700K, rather than NVIDIA, I haven’t had issue with my FireTV sticks on 1080p tv’s playing back 4K files which my Plex Server transcodes to 1080p.
Well for giggles I used your C:\TranscoderTemp
Make my CPU hurt is old setting before I got the Transcoder Crusher Nvidia P2200 card ! LOL Even with the hurt settings my CPU never gets over 20 to 30 % it used to be 100% without the card. So I put it back to automatic.
But after checking many devices this is a Bug on Fire TV. Can’t wait for this weekend I will be at my vacation home to check the Fire Sticks up there which I have 1000/1000 Fiber for internet. This will determine whether FireTV is not working on ethernet only
or over the internet.
Well since Covid is over and people are now out and running FREE ! And Plex laid off 37 people which is a lot since they don’t have many. I am with you, don’t hold your breath for repairs.
YEP its a HUGE BUG for PLEX on Insignia FIRETV 4K went to my vacation home which has several Fire Sticks and my Home PLEX server Transcodes them to 720p 4 meg because my upload with Comcast is 20 meg. So brought a Stick home and tried it on my home network which is a 1000-speed ethernet and Wifi 6E Stick plays my 4K movies on 1080 TV’s just fine ! Just the Insignia FireTV will not play 4K. After all the years still no Raspberry Client without loading KODI
To confirm your instructions:
Clicked during the spinning circle to playback settings it shows
1> Play Original 5.8 Mbps(2 gb per hour)
2> Changed it to Convert Automatically still spinning
3> Clicked Show All> Selected the next setting (convert to 720p HD High 4 mps - 2 GB hour- 20 seconds it starts playing correctly.
Yes your work around WORKS ! So when something doesn’t play its a back door fix FOR ME, but anyone in my Family or visitors will not remember that.
So Fire Sticks doesn’t need this workaround but built-in FireTV in Insignia does NOT.
In my book its a HUGE BUG checking on my options for returning the TV with a NOTE its BROKE.
P.S. thank you for the help showing me the workaround Next stop BEST BUY take this untested crap back.
Step 4 should be that you can go back to the play original quality and it continued to play…
I have a hisense andriod tv. I dont think it is limited to just fire tv os.
Also, another factor. I have noticed that if you are transcoding audio and have a subtitle selected during the initial play request its spins. If you add the subtitle afrer you start play, it will work fine.
4> Change it back does not show up on PLEX dash board , Subtitles NONE
Went in turned off Transcoding Hardware with P2200 card ,Started again same until back to 720P Dash shows 4K (HEVC main 10) to 720p HD Audio OPUS transcode EAC 3 5.1 , went back to convert to Automatically 4K 65.5 mbps No P2200 card bandwidth 35 mbps, CPU PLEX 65%, RAM 4.62%. Only works on 720P
Back to P2200 Hardware Vid Card, Bandwidth 16 Mbps, CPU Plex 00.08% , Ram 3.47% PLAYING only 720P HD .
The Insignia has FIRETV built in as O.S. system Not like other Smart TVs who have built in apps.
Hard to believe they never tested 4K videos transcoded to 720p on this TV what a huge Blunder !
That’s 2 brands PLEX killed for me never to buy again. Vizio and Insignia TV’s
Well, a brand NEW update popped UP today on PLEX app on Insignia FireTV !
Drum roLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, please ! NOPE still BROKE but the added feature is now under playback options I get 1080 HD medium 12 Mpbs- 5GB hour. It plays when I manually change to that and the Automatic option still broke.