Is it possible to include an option for preventing transcoding when using soft subtitles in different text formats.
I know the most common format is SRT and Plex is capable of converting this to whatever format the client device is capable of playing and the streaming the file without transcoding. But when using another format that has more information included in the file, like SSA or tx3t the most clients will have to have the subtitles burned in since this isn’t as supported as SRT. I have the issue because I use an Apple TV4 as my primary playback device but I also have a Chromecast. To use my movies on the AppleTV I have repacked all my movies into MP4 with tx3t subtitles. This makes it possible for the AppleTV to natively play the files with no repackaging required. This is useful because the files start faster and also the small thumbnails on the timeline works, if the file is repackaged these will be blank. However when playing the file of my Chromecast Plex has to burn in the subtitles because the tx3t format contains subtitle sizing and stuff like this. I have seen the same behaviour when using a SSA subtitles since this include stuff like positioning and colour of each individual line.
What I suggest is this:
Extending the subtitle converter to be capable to convert between a lot more formats. So it is possible to use a SSA in an MKV, or any other format for that matter, and have it played on a client that only reads SRT or tx3t. I would think this is pretty easy to do since there are a lot of different subtitle converters out there that can convert between almost all thinkable formats.
Of course you should be able to select if you want this active or not. Some might prefer having their content transcoded to have the subtitles showed as the original file intended but I think this is a minority.
I think this could solve some of the issues people are having with transcoding of content that have subtitles included.
Yes! That would be so great. Its the most annoying thing about plex. Maybe an automated OCR that converts subtitles files like pgs to srt files could be the solution for the image subtitles (in extension to your request). The OCR process wouldnt need much CPU power.
I’d love to see this. I usually have to play through VLC instead, as it’s able to toggle them on and off with ease. Surely Plex should be able to incorporate external players if needed. If we could choose VLC as the playback engine for devices that support and already have it installed we’d be set.
So I would like to suggest this once more since I have encountered a pretty annoying issue when using the latest nightly Handbrake. I will pressume this will be the case when they release a new version. I have used Handbrake to encode my movies to H264 in the past using a SRT subtitle as an added subtitle which will be in the TXTT format for maximum compability with my AppleTV 4. The ATV4 will have no issue with the subtitles and scale them however I see fit. However other players like Chromecast and the Plex webplayer will need transcoding for playability reasons.
TXTT has a size tag that in the past versions of Handbrake had a small size which in turned meant that the webplayer and Chromecast would have a regular size subtitle. But the new build of Handbrake will scale the subtitles according to the resolution of the movie being converted. Which result in this when being played on the Webplayer or Chromecast
Chromecast being cast from my Iphone 8:
Webplayer:
If I choose tiny in the webplayer they will be in a reasonably size. But I cannot get them any smaller on the Chromecast
Please note that these work perfectly on the ATV or on my Iphone.
This shows the issue clearly. I know this is because of the font size in the TXTT but this shouldn’t be an issue at all. It ought to be possible to choose a size regardless of the size in the subtitle file. At least a override check mark on the player
So once again please expand the soft subtitle compability to prevent stuff like this
