I have an ARM-based NAS, unable to transcode, where PMS is installed. I have recoded a video in H.264 in another computer (using handbrake ATV3 profile) in both M4V and MKV containers. When I use PlexConnect to play with transcoderaction=Auto, the M4V file plays well in the ATV3, but MKV gives "An error occurred loading this content (try again later)".
Currently the transcoderaction parameter only has 3 possible values (Auto, Transcode, DirectPlay). Would it be possible to have a DirectStream value ? I've edited ATVSettings.cfg to code transcoderaction=DirectStream (and that value appeared on the ATV Setting screen in the TV), but I was unable to play the MKV (and even the M4V) files.
The error message received was "An error occurred loading this content (try again later)", which is the same message I receive when transcoderaction=Transcode. But remux should be possible (I think) because I can use a command line with ffmpeg to remux in the ARM-based NAS.
Well, the option you try to set needs some algorithm behind it - it's not THAT easy... :-D
The code you are looking for is distributed across the source files:
-- ATVSettings.py
this is where the "valid" options for each setting are defined, and the ATVSettings.cfg file gets stored/loaded.
-- XMLConverter.py - ATTRIB_MEDIAURL()
Here is the decision point if we/aTV/PlexConnect need the help of the PSM transcoder. If not (setting Auto with suitable file/or forced direct play) everything is fine. If we need help, we ask...
-- PlexAPI.py - getTranscodeVideoPath()
to come up with a nice URL to argue PMS into transcoding. Usually (for setting Auto) the transcoder is free to choose either a direct streaming approach, or doing a full transcode. This is decided in PMS, based on the file/codecs/media info, the capabilities of the device asking (checking the PMS delivered device profiles). Only for setting Transcode, we ask for "no direct stream", which in turn would force a full transcode, hopefully to a format, that fits our needs. :-)
Looking back at what you are asking... for an mkv container holding h264/aac, and option Auto, PMS should pick direct streaming. If this doesn't work, I guess, the transcoder portion of you PMS is non-functional (and that means full transcode as well as the direct streaming portion).
If you only change the option in that settings file (you could also enter blahblah or something..., "direct streaming" currently has no meaning to PlexConnect) it defaults to "let PMS handle the transcoding", which for mkv would be the same as Auto, potentially sticking with direct streaming. But you still need the support from the PMS side of things...
Looking back at what you are asking... for an mkv container holding h264/aac, and option Auto, PMS should pick direct streaming. If this doesn't work, I guess, the transcoder portion of you PMS is non-functional (and that means full transcode as well as the direct streaming portion).
I think I have the transcoder disabled in PMS. I will make some tests and will let you know. Thanks.
