I have some mkv files which Plex has issues resuming playing. I think it's something to do with mkv headers. Here's the background:
http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/77523-playback-will-not-resume-after-ffwd-skip/
Note that the files in question play perfectly from the beginning, it's only attempting to skip position that causes a problem.
On iOS clients, and PlexWeb, setting "Direct Streaming = OFF" allows these files to resume playing. Presumably because Plex is now forced to transcode the video, rather than just remuxing it. Hence replacing the problematic headers. Not sure.
Anyway, I expected that with PlexConnect, setting "Force transcode = ON" would achieve the same result. Unfortunately no, the file still refuses to play. Which seems to indicate that transcoding is NOT being "forced".
The only way to get the file to play on PlexConnect is to reduce the quality settings to something below the quallity of the file, eg 480p, I guess because such a setting DOES force transcoding to occur.
So, my questions to PlexConnect experts:
1) What is the purpose of the "Force transcode" setting? Is it just the inverse of "Direct streaming" on iOS/PlexWeb?
2) If the answer to 1) is "to force transcoding, you idiot", then would you agree it doesn't seem to be working as intended?
By the way, PlexConnect has changed my life. I bought an ATV3 because of it, my jailbroken and troublesome ATV2 now sits unused on the shelf. Once the Plex Queue is available on PlexConnect, my life will be complete. Thanks!
