Server Version#: 1.18.0.1913
Player Version#: 6,2 (iOS)
QNAP Model: TS-453Be-4G-US, CPU: Celeron 1.5 GHz, Ram: 4GB
Problem:
I switched from a Plex server running on my Windows 10 desktop to a new Plex server running on a QNAP TS-453Be.
What I’ve noticed is that I now get intermittent pauses when playing back video on my iPad Pro. The pauses are consistent during the playback session. So it’ll always stop at that specific point in the video if I rewind it. If I start a new playback session, the pause will now appear at a different point instead. Playback on my Windows Plex server works fine.
The QNAP is not directly connected to the router. It’s in a separate room that’s connected to the router via built-in ethernet cabling inside my apartment.
Originally, the QNAP was on a switch with my desktop PC. I unplugged the desktop PC so the QNAP is the only thing connected to the switch, but that didn’t seem to have an impact.
I’m on a U-Verse setup with the TV service, and I’ve heard the multicast on it can sometimes mess things up, so I’ve tried unplugging the TV set top but the pauses still happen.
I’ve tried adjusting the Transcoder settings to both Make My CPU Hurt and Slow, but neither seemed to have an impact.
I’m not sure what else I could try at this moment… I’d appreciate any suggestions or insights to help me figure this out. I’ve upload my server log below.
Were you ever running it successfully on the previous version (1.17 etc.)? The problems you’re describing sound suspiciously like those that I and some others started having just after updating to the PMS version you’re running (1.18.0.1913) - you may want to take a look at the thread below, just in case something similar is going on with your server:
Im having the same problem as well on my synology nas. It has been working perfect for months until I updated my plex media server to the latest version at which point it pauses for 1-3 seconds every now and again. Nothing has changed anywhere except the update to pms. From what I seen it happens when playing any .avi file but ill test .mkv and .mp4 to see if it does the same thing. Hopefully a update is released soon because it is quite annoying.
From you server log, I can see that every attempt to play a video is causing subtitle decision=burn.
Oct 13, 2019 08:30:06.259 [0x7f17845d0700] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=6110 codes=(General=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK. Direct Play=3000,App cannot direct play this item. Direct play is disabled. Transcode=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK.) media=(id=5995 part=(id=6177 decision=transcode container=mpegts protocol=hls streams=(Video=(id=15401 decision=transcode bitrate=6663 encoder=libx264 width=1280 height=720) Audio=(id=15402 decision=copy channels=2 rate=48000) Subtitle=(id=15403 decision=burn languageCode= location=embedded))))
Subs must be transcoded on the CPU. That’s likely bogging down your system. You are not the first person this is happening to on QNAP 4.4.1 + PMS-1.18.0 lately. See also PMS on QNAP TVS951x - Buffering. all the time
There are some other errors in there too. Let’s check on those while you’re here.
Can I ask you to stop the PMS application on the QNAP, then start it again, and give it 6-10min to initialize. Then hop on the web app and Settings - Troubleshooting - Download Logs for me please. Zip up what it gives you and attach it with your next reply. That will show a clean boot and any foundational problems.
Hi @Panthercules. I hadn’t tried it on 1.17. So I followed your advice and installed that version.
The pausing disappeared, but it was replaced by much less frequent skipping of maybe half a second or less. Under 1.18, playback would pause for 1-3 seconds every 3 minutes or so. Under 1.17, I’m getting the half second skip every 7 minutes or so. It’s a significant improvement still because videos are at least playable.
I also looked into a few more things just to rule things out under 1.18. I set up Plex server on both my desktop and my Nvidia Shield, accessing the same files on the QNAP. The only playback glitching is when accessing the Plex server on the QNAP.
@nibbles, I will try your suggestion on stopping the PMS and getting new logs when I get home tonight. I’m still on 1.17 though, if it matters.
Regarding settings subs to be transcoded on the CPU, is that a setting I can enable in Plex?
On the CPU is the only place subs can be transcoded. And if the decision is to burn, then it’s a transcode of the video on the CPU afaik. You should be able to tell Plex that you want to manually select audio and subtitle tracks, and then it shouldn’t attempt to burn.
I’ve gone ahead stopped the Plex server and started it up again after 10 minutes. I also played some more videos to see if there were still glitches, and I did still encounter the intermittent skips.
I also disabled “Automatically select audio and subtitle tracks” option, per the thread you linked to.
I’m attaching my most recent logs. I deleted the prior logs to try and keep this streamlined.
Hello, you’re still getting the strange error about your Services bundle can’t be extracted.
in com.plexapp.system.log
2019-10-15 19:26:54,554 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (storeservice:521) - Required plug-in 'Services' [com.plexapp.system.services] isn't installed.
2019-10-15 19:26:54,555 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (storeservice:359) - Starting automatic update installation
2019-10-15 19:26:54,556 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (installservice:276) - Performing an installation of com.plexapp.system.services
2019-10-15 19:26:54,556 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (installservice:96) - Setting up staging area for com.plexapp.system.services at /share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/.qpkg/PlexMediaServer/Library/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Data/com.plexapp.system/DataItems/Stage/com.plexapp.system.services
2019-10-15 19:26:54,557 (7fddf0c45700) : DEBUG (networking:166) - Requesting 'https://bundle-archive.plex.tv/plexinc-plugins/Services.bundle/archive/62fcf1f.zip'
2019-10-15 19:26:54,606 (7fddf0c45700) : ERROR (networking:219) - Error opening URL 'https://bundle-archive.plex.tv/plexinc-plugins/Services.bundle/archive/62fcf1f.zip'
2019-10-15 19:26:54,606 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (installservice:232) - Unable to download archive for com.plexapp.system.services
2019-10-15 19:26:54,607 (7fddf0c45700) : INFO (installservice:103) - Unstaging files for com.plexapp.system.services (removing /share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/.qpkg/PlexMediaServer/Library/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Data/com.plexapp.system/DataItems/Stage/com.plexapp.system.services)
I’m also seeing a decision to burn subtitles on two different items.
There’s quite a few errors in your server log and a lot of servers it’s trying to contact.
I can’t make sense of what’s the fundamental problem, nor why you get kex protocol errors.
I would suggest a few things. Disable IPv6, and look at your Settings - Authorized Devices in order to remove the servers you don’t run anymore.
You might have more luck with the latest stable PMS-1.18.
Sorry I’m not more help
