HE-AAC 5.1 with direct play set to auto doesn't play sound on ROKU

Plex Players Streaming Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.20.3.3483 ds918+
Player Version#: 6.6.12…6662

I have a roku streaming stick + (headphone edition) it is a relatively new device
direct play set to auto
for the first time ever - i noticed today, if I start playing an item with an audio stream of english (he-aac 5.1) - The sound will work if i play from the beginning, but if i fast forward a bit (to get to my spot) the sound will vanish. If I disable direct play the sound does work.

i am on the same network as the server, but i have friends who use rokus remotely and as of now i don’t know if they’re having the same issue.

i assume leaving direct play to auto is default for a reason, and easier for my server when there are multiple streams going.

i don’t think many of my files have he-aac 5.1 so perhaps this is why i never noticed the issue.

any and all help is appreciated,

EDIT: I tested another roku in my house, as well as called a friend - neither of them have this issue. Clearly a problem with my roku - but still looking for a solution

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2

I was able to force roku to reinstall software 9.3.0 and it plays HEVC 5.1 Audio again. I don’t know how long this can be done but the ROKU app for PLEX needs a fix for the OS 9.4.0

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thanks for the info, can you give some direction on how to install the 9.3.0?

is there a way we can report this issue to plex?

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I do not know of a way, i would have thought that they noticed as we have by now! On the ROKU remote hit the home button 5 times, then forward button 3 times the reverse button two times. At the service menu choose “update software” and the option should still be 9.3.0 for now.

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5

wow thank you so much, worked like a charm!

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6

Happy to help, let’s see how long it takes the engineers to fix it! I wish I knew where to post this that they could see it. Soon ROKU will not be able to roll back like this, it’s a short time frame when it’s allowed. Weird too how it’s only 5.1 Audio in HEVC and not 2.0 nor 1.0 only 5.1 does not play properly and seems to edit out the center channel.

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@trumpy81 edited my initial post (I used incorrect tags.) Him and @ChuckPa helped me out a ton in the past. Perhaps they can forward this problem to the right people.

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Thanks, as I have no idea who to contact!

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Trumpy does Synology systems while I handle Linux systems at large.

We have some knowledge of players but my specialty is the OS & packaging (How PMS is setup on the host).

I can reach out to the Roku dev. He’s very responsive if we can give him well defined problems.

Can you help me understand (catch me up?) and provide some DEBUG log files which capture this problem?

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I’m not sure how as it’s only at the ROKU app where the center channel audio appears to be missing. If you play the same HEVC MKV file with 5.1 audio on a Samsung or an Apple TV device for example the issue is not present. If you convert the 5.1 to stereo and repack the MKV the issue is not present on the ROKU anymore. I’m not sure how I can help. This started when ROKU update to OS 9.4.0 from 9.3.0 this is all i know for sure.

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May I have some debug logs ZIP file which capture the problem(s) so I may see them?

I can’t help if I don’t know what the exact problem is.

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@_JOHN seems to be much more knowledgeable about this than I am, but the problem is simply that 5.1 audio cannot direct play - direct play has to be set to “disable” for the audio to work.

i’m attaching my log files but i don’t know if that will show you the issue…Plex Media Server Logs_2020-10-24_23-05-24.zip (5.3 MB)

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When playing a HEVC movie (or any tv show etc.) with 5.1 audio, the center channel is missing… no audio for voices for example, you hear background sounds but thats it. . Only on ROKU with the OS 9.4.0. If you force the ROKU back to OS 9.3.0 the HEVC with 5.1 audio plays normally once again, this is as simple as I can put it. I am not that knowledgeable at all on this I tried something and it fixed it but the fix is only temporary.

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I wish I was but I got lucky with this fix or I would be stuck too racking my brain.

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I managed to find my Roku 3 (model 4200x).
It has not been firmware updated since January 3rd 2020.
It is using firmware version 9.2.0 - build 4804-04

It now has current Plex player app on it.

I don’t know if this contributes or not but I can DirectPlay DTS 5.1 1080p to the television in my office.

Given you are seeing 9.4.0 with the problem, 9.3.0 appears to work, and I can confirm 9.2.0 also works, then it must be a Roku firmware regression.

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Wonder why it’s only the center channel of the audio? That’s really odd to me that it seems to be that track alone.

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Looking at the binary bits:

  • 3.1 (L-C-R w/ sub)
  • 5.1 (FL-C-FR, SL-SR w/sub)

You’re getting 2.1 when 3.1 is expected and 4.1 when 5.1 is expected ?
If so then the channel bit mapping has regressed for center assignment.

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18

This is why you are team master!

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19

Nice! What do we do about it?

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I’ve reached out the the Roku Master :wink:

I’m not team master, I am just the short order cook. lol

I would report it to Roku. Only they can correct firmware regressions.
Write up how easily reproducable it is.
Use the information I’ve presented here if it is of benefit