# How do I find what is causing transcode?

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-mac, lg-webos\
**Created:** [November 20, 2020, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466 "2020-11-20T11:02:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jaffa374](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jaffa374](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Jaffa374)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466/1 "2020-11-20T11:02:34Z")

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Hi all.

Quick question. I have an issue with direct playing some media files, and I want to locate where in the logs it states the reason it won’t direct play? I’ve ruled out throughput, gigabit network and can play media 4 times the bitrate at 85mbps, but a 27mbps file won’t play. I don’t necessarily want to know the reason, more how to find it, but for completeness i’ve added details of a working and non working file (direct playing, and failing direct play file)

WORKING FILE DIRECT PLAYING:

Media

Duration 1:42:24  
Bitrate 84772 kbps  
Width 3840  
Height 2160  
Aspect Ratio 1.78  
Video Resolution 4K  
Container MPEGTS  
Video Frame Rate 24p  
Video Profile main 10  
Part

Duration 1:42:24  
File Skyscraper.2018.Remux-2160p.ts  
Size 62.72 GB  
Container MPEGTS  
Packet Length 188  
Video Profile main 10  
Codec HEVC  
Bitrate 81295 kbps  
Language English  
D O V I B L Present true  
D O V I E L Present true  
D O V I Level 6  
D O V I Present true  
D O V I Profile 4  
D O V I R P U Present true  
D O V I Version 1.0  
Bit Depth 10  
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0  
Coded Height 2160  
Coded Width 3840  
Color Primaries bt2020  
Color Range tv  
Color Space bt2020nc  
Color Trc smpte2084  
Frame Rate 23.976 fps  
Height 2160  
Level 5.1  
Profile main 10  
Ref Frames 1  
Stream Identifier 4117  
Width 3840  
Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)  
Extended Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)  
Codec TRUEHD  
Channels 8  
Bitrate 2836 kbps  
Language English  
Audio Channel Layout 7.1  
Bit Depth 24  
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz  
Stream Identifier 4352  
Display Title English (TRUEHD 7.1)  
Extended Display Title English (TRUEHD 7.1)  
Codec AC3  
Channels 6  
Bitrate 640 kbps  
Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)  
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz  
Stream Identifier 4352  
Display Title Unknown (AC3 5.1)  
Extended Display Title Unknown (AC3 5.1)

NON WORKING FILE:

Media

Duration 2:23:58  
Bitrate 26947 kbps  
Width 3840  
Height 1600  
Aspect Ratio 2.35  
Video Resolution 4K  
Container MKV  
Video Frame Rate 24p  
Video Profile main 10  
Part

Duration 2:23:58  
File X-Men.Apocalypse.2016.Bluray-2160p.mkv  
Size 27.17 GB  
Container MKV  
Video Profile main 10  
Codec HEVC  
Bitrate 20681 kbps  
Language English  
Bit Depth 10  
Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0  
Coded Height 1600  
Coded Width 3840  
Color Primaries bt2020  
Color Range tv  
Color Space bt2020nc  
Color Trc smpte2084  
Frame Rate 23.976 fps  
Height 1600  
Level 5.1  
Profile main 10  
Ref Frames 1  
Width 3840  
Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)  
Extended Display Title 4K (HEVC Main 10 HDR)  
Codec TRUEHD  
Channels 8  
Bitrate 5352 kbps  
Language English  
Audio Channel Layout 7.1  
Bit Depth 24  
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz  
Display Title English (TRUEHD 7.1)  
Extended Display Title English (TRUEHD 7.1)  
Codec AC3  
Channels 6  
Bitrate 640 kbps  
Language English  
Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)  
Sampling Rate 48000 Hz  
Display Title English (AC3 5.1)  
Extended Display Title English (AC3 5.1)  
Forced true  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 1 kbps  
Language English  
Title English (Forced only)  
Display Title English Forced (PGS)  
Extended Display Title English (Forced only) (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 29 kbps  
Language English  
Title English (SDH)  
Display Title English (PGS)  
Extended Display Title English (SDH) (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 17 kbps  
Language 中文  
Title Chinese (Mandarin Simplified)  
Display Title 中文 (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Chinese (Mandarin Simplified) (中文 PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 16 kbps  
Language 中文  
Title Chinese (Mandarin Traditional)  
Display Title 中文 (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Chinese (Mandarin Traditional) (中文 PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 20 kbps  
Language Dansk  
Display Title Dansk (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Dansk (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 19 kbps  
Language Nederlands  
Display Title Nederlands (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Nederlands (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 19 kbps  
Language Suomi  
Display Title Suomi (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Suomi (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 22 kbps  
Language Français  
Display Title Français (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Français (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 22 kbps  
Language Deutsch  
Display Title Deutsch (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Deutsch (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 22 kbps  
Language Italiano  
Display Title Italiano (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Italiano (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 15 kbps  
Language 日本語  
Display Title 日本語 (PGS)  
Extended Display Title 日本語 (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 21 kbps  
Language Norsk  
Display Title Norsk (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Norsk (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 9 kbps  
Language Română  
Display Title Română (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Română (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 21 kbps  
Language Español  
Display Title Español (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Español (PGS)  
Codec PGS  
Bitrate 21 kbps  
Language Svenska  
Display Title Svenska (PGS)  
Extended Display Title Svenska (PGS

Thanks in advance.

Server Version#: 1.20.5.3600  
Player Version#: 5.4.2 Plex for LG

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466/2 "2020-11-20T19:18:42Z")

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Look in the log for “MDE:” That’s where the decision is made. One of them should have the reason. My guess is the PGS subtitles you have in that file that won’t play. The Plex app on the LG does not support playing PGS subtitles so they get transcoded. If you don’t select a subtitle, that may play without the transcode.

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**Author:** ![Jaffa374](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jaffa374](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Jaffa374)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466/3 "2020-11-21T23:36:44Z")

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I can’t believe that’s all it was… I never select subtitles so assumed they were off… thankyou, clearly much more to learn.

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**Author:** ![TeknoJunky](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/teknojunky/32/165055_2.png) [@TeknoJunky](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TeknoJunky)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466/4 "2020-11-21T23:38:07Z")

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See also @ [[INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-4k-transcoding-and-you-aka-the-rules-of-4k-a-faq/378203)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-do-i-find-what-is-causing-transcode/655466/5 "2021-02-19T23:38:14Z")

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