This is a general question across all Plex clients, how do they determine the Audio track to use if there are multiple tracks all matching the required language?
Imagine a movie having 3 audio tracks, 2.0, 5.1 and 7.2, the best way would be for the client to select the best quality track that it supports, so a standard smart TV would select the 2.0, but an Nvidia Shield with high end surround sound system would select the 7.2.
But this does not appear to be what happens!
Can anyone confirm how the audio track is selected?
Rokus used to select the 5.1 audio track automatically over a stereo track. I think that still works.
The tracks have to be tagged with the preferred language code, the Stereo track has to be the first track, (so it will automatically be chosen for a system not capable of surround audio) and the surround track has to be the second track. Basically, you never have to choose the audio track, the player knows and selects the right one for the system it’s connected to.
As a bonus, since no audio track is selected manually, the preferred audio isn’t locked in forever so that you are forced into selecting the track best suited for your system each time.
I never understood why it’s possible on a Roku but no other player. I asked about it once, and was told that the other players didn’t know what type of sound system they were connected to, so it was impossible.
EDIT: Just tried a movie with a stereo and surround track. The Roku automatically selected the surround audio (Direct play) and the web app and a Nvidia Shield Pro both selected the stereo track(again, direct play). So it still works!
Not sure about Roku.
For Android (mobile), Android TV, Plex Smart TV, Plex Web, and the Plex Desktop apps:
Plex uses the first audio track that matches your language preferences.
It ignores the default flag.
If you select a different audio track, that selection is remembered the next time you play the same media file.
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