Ya I mean technically it works but training knuckleheads to know what direct play is in itself frustrating. I don’t mind transcoding but would like to see it implement itself as direct play when available both in bandwidth and compatibility (device/file). I still stand by my point that it makes no sense why they do not already have this tiered compatibility anyways. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to Plex Devs anyway? I mean that is a lot less of a headache to say your video quality sucks tough luck versus let me use all your bandwidth to ‘upconvert’ a bad quality video running at 2mbps to the same bad quality video but now running at 20mbps.
Why are you explaining anything? Tell them how to enable it and call it done. Enable Direct Play (ON) and Auto Adjust Quality (ON).
DONE.
If they can’t do that much then I’m afraid either you’ve hired the wrong people or you have a “training solution” that is not appropriate to your audience. (I’m dead serious here, as someone who provides professional development trainers/resources).
If this is happening, I think something isn’t right somewhere. Do have logs that show this? And for which client and the settings?
Hello Everyone!
My transcoding problem was: FreeNAS 11.2 + Samsung QE55Q6FN (Tizen) playing 4k with subtitles transcodes all the time.
My solution: PGS format subtitles almost every time cause transcoding. Try using an external SRT file. I copied my file into the movie folder and renamed to have the same file name (except the extension, lol). Then I followed the instructions here for local subtitles: https://support.plex.tv/articles/200471133-adding-local-subtitles-to-your-media/
Have a nice day!
I bought 4k TV Samsung 7 series, installed Plex and I’m playing with it whole day … like WTF, it is not able to play anything (because 4k transcoding on my Synology is soooooo slow, why do you even bother?? I don’t want any transcoding!) … and also direct DLNA works (but I miss subtitles auto download etc.).
Honestly I’m used to play media directly over network without any crazy transcoding/DLNA using INFUSE on Apple TV. I took it for granted, now I tried hell (Plex, DS Video, DLNA, subtitles downloading, encoding problems, … 2019 ??) and in the morning I will run to the store for Apple TV 4k just to be able to use INFUSE again.
I have just canceled my Plex subscription and started using emby which direct plays perfectly.
I think the issue for most people is that Plex can and has direct played our media but an update will break it and it just starts transcodes everything, this has happened a few times in the past and a couple of updates later it is working properly again but then it happens again, I understand the need for a continual improvement cycle in development but key functionality should not be compromised.
Listen to your users, its no good saying Plex is designed to direct play and transcode if the hardware is not capable if the hardware is capable and Plex has previously direct played without issue.
Any update on this feature from the plex team?
Can you tell me why Roku has the “Force” setting under “Direct Play”, which makes my TV Direct Play files that transcode with the Samsung Plex App?
Sounds like the same issue as so many people on this thread;
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Samsung TV with Plex app transcodes & buffers for formats the TV should support (x264)
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Chrome on laptop transcodes & buffers for formats the laptop should support
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Roku plugged into TV with “Force” selected under “Direct Play”, the same files direct play
It’s the apple way of customer appreciation
which plex team?
oh, it sounds so easy to watch a movie with plex these days
We know that clients can play directly, if the format is compatible. But many clients still use transcoding even though it is not necessary. An option to enable following would be great:
- Client wants to play a movie
- Tries direct play. If the bandwidth is not big enough to handle the stream, transcoding is enabled.
I have a 900/900 Mbit/s flatrate connection, so i really don’t care about data-usage or bandwidth. Many of the clients are also on fast connections (100+ Mbit/s).
So there is absolutely, no reason - in my use-case - to transcode, if it is only to save bandwidth.
I actually don’t think i know anybody that has less than 100 Mbit/s at home, which is more than plenty to stream with direct play. I know this may be different in other places, but an option to enable this behaviour would be appreciated.
I pre-encode everything in my library to h264 / mp4 which is able to play directly on most of my clients. But plex still decides to transcode by deafult. It is annoying when my server has 80% CPU usage because somebody is unnecessarily transcoding a movie.
I bet there’s a reason – either a setting on the client, subtitles, or something. Plex doesn’t do transcoding by “default”.
Hi, Have you solved the problem? I’ve the same issue. Samsung client QE65Q8 and PC NAS with PLEX SERVER. If I use subtitles after some minutes (2 about) the video stops. Without subtitles choice the video correctly runs.
Hi,
I’ve seen that you have the same TV (i’ve the QE65Q8FAMT),
I’ve this problem, if I play a mkv video with PGS subtitles PLEX doesnt’ work.
So, I’ve used SRT subtitles format but when I play a mkv H265 with subtitles enabled Plex after 2 minutes stops. Can you help me?
TY
I run my server on the exact same machine as I run plex media player and it still insists on transcoding the bloody file as if its streaming outside of my local network instead of just playing the file! If I open the file location and play it through vlc it looks fine but play it through plex on the same computer and it looks like a poor quality 720 to… sort it out!
I’d help you sort it out but you’ve given precisely zero details. At the very least, please post a screenshot of the Server Dashboard when you’re experiencing poor quality and / or transcoding when you think you shouldn’t.
Why would plex need to transcode from the same machine it’s stored on? It plays fine in any other player, in fact it direct plays to my phone over WiFi but transcodes on the same machine? huh?
And sorry, wasn’t having a go but I’ve had nothing but issues with plex recently
If you are using Plex Media Player, then under most circumstances it won’t transcode.
UNLESS, you’ve set the playback quality to a lower setting than original/maximum. Check that.
It’s set as original and direct play etc, I think for some reason it’s going outside the network and streaming it back in to the exact same pc (no idea why it would even do that)
