Firetv ExoPlayer streaming crashing when transcoding

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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1

Server Version#: 1.27.1.5916
Player Version#: 9.4.0.33297
Firetv logs: 06-29 16:49:17.843 i: [HttpServer] /192.168.50.63:63111 - GET /logging 06-29... - 86135a85

Hello all,

I think I reported somewhere already this year, that almost all android devices were crashing when trying to transcode a 4K HDR video. It seems to be working now fine, on my smartphone and Nvidia shield. However it is still not working on the firetv, showing a message saying the video was not able to be reproduced. This happens with whatever quality I select, even if it starts from that quality, or it is chosen later.
I have attached firetv logs to see if someone can provide any help on this.

Kind regards

2

It seems to be an issue with the exosplayer:

06-29 16:49:58.461  e: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] playerFailed [eventTime=8.48, mediaPos=526.00, window=0, period=0, errorCode=ERROR_CODE_DECODING_FAILED
  com.google.android.exoplayer2.q: MediaCodecVideoRenderer error, index=1, format=Format(0, null, null, video/dolby-vision, hev1.08.06, 7418000, null, [1920, 1080, 23.976], [-1, -1]), format_supported=YES
      at com.google.android.exoplayer2.t1.handleMessage(SourceFile:43)
      at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:98)
      at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154)
      at android.os.HandlerThread.run(HandlerThread.java:61)
  Caused by: com.google.android.exoplayer2.video.h: Decoder failed: OMX.MTK.VIDEO.DECODER.DVHE.STH
      at com.google.android.exoplayer2.video.i.m(SourceFile)
      at r2.o.render(SourceFile:27)
      at com.google.android.exoplayer2.t1.q(SourceFile:14)
      at com.google.android.exoplayer2.t1.handleMessage(SourceFile:25)
      ... 3 more
  Caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException
      at android.media.MediaCodec.native_dequeueOutputBuffer(Native Method)
      at android.media.MediaCodec.dequeueOutputBuffer(MediaCodec.java:2584)
      at r2.x.k(SourceFile:1)
      at r2.o.drainOutputBuffer(SourceFile:7)
      at r2.o.render(SourceFile:16)
      ... 5 more
]
06-29 16:49:58.462  e: [Player][ExoPlayer] Playback error detected

Any idea?

3

Looks like it’s failing to use the decoder on your FireTV, have you tried rebooting your FireTV to see if that solves the issue? Can you try a non-DolbyVision file and see if that plays?

4

Yes, it seems with non-DolbyVision file it is able to play the transcodes. However the firetv 4k is also able to play DolbyVision files in original quality, since this file was able to be played without transcoding.
So, just wondering what data is exactly Plex transcoder sending to the client, for the client not being able to decode it. It doesn’t make sense to me :sweat_smile:
And yes, I tried rebooting the firetv multiple times, and even updating it since it was not fully updated, even tried reinstalling plex. But nothing worked

5

Any update on this?

6

@sixones were you able to take a look at this?

7

Bumping this

8

Bumping this again…

9

@sixones any chance you could look at this issue?

10

Would you be able to share the media XML of the file? Information is available here; Investigate Media Information and Formats | Plex Support

11

Could you also let me know your FireTV model? It seems to be missing from your logs. I’m suspecting that your attempting to play a Dolby Vision profile that your device doesnt support. This is a bug in Plex as it should be detecting this and using the standard HEVC decoder instead.

12
13

It is the normal Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD.
But is the DB profile maintained even when transcoded to 1080p or lower?
Original quality is working on that same movie, but just giving error when transcoding, which is weird

14

Oh okay, didnt realise Original Quality was working. Would you be able to use original quality and then fetch the logs? Based on what youve said we still think its Dolby Vision, but the transcode wouldnt contain Dolby Vision.

15

Noticed the same thing actually.
I have several Fire Sticks to try it out: While the Fire Stick (the recent 1080p one) plays every transcode just fine, my Fire Stick 4K (not Max) fails to play Dolby Vision transcodes (seems to be no issue with HDR10 files).

Which logs could I provide to help?

PS: And yes, original quality works fine on the 4K Stick.

…and as the Fire Stick 4K fails to play some Dolby Vision titles (Profile 7 FEL; black screen with sound, no automatic HDR fallback even though the media would provide it) and sometimes you may want to remote stream it could be useful to be able to transcode of course.

16

Anybody out there?

17

Just yesterday I figured out that the Fire TV 4K runs with an older Fire OS version than the other sticks, especially the Fire TV AND the 4K Max.

As I don’t have a 4K Max to test right now: Can anybody check and tell me whether the 4K Max runs Dolby Vision transcodes?

18

Continuing my monologue: I don’t know if I tried before, but auto transcode works. So if I don’t set the resolution manually, it transcodes.

Another sign for me that it’s only a minor software bug which should be relatively easy fixable.

19

One more: Been able to test with a 4K Max now. Doesn’t play either when trying to transcode any DV title.

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