# Is plex supposed to transcode everything now? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232 "2017-09-22T23:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/1 "2017-09-22T23:08:13Z")
When I watch from my pc, the stream is being transcoded every time. Any ideas? It shouldnt transcode if it isnt needed. My machine can play the ts video fine without it. I could understand this if I was remote. Am I missing a setting somewhere? I have pretty much scoured them all. -Casey ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/2 "2017-09-22T23:09:52Z")
Running ubuntu 16.04 and latest plex version. Also noticed it with the prior version as well. -Casey ---
**Author:** ![hotleadsingerguy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/hotleadsingerguy/32/103507_2.png) [@hotleadsingerguy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/hotleadsingerguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/3 "2017-09-22T23:41:46Z")
Pretty sure it’s the ‘Auto Bitrate’ option. Try turning it off and see if it helps. Also, get Plexpy. You’ll thank me. ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/4 "2017-09-23T00:56:11Z")
Very cool tool. Thanks for that. I hadnt seen that yet. I dont have an auto setting. I am also accessing my machine on the same local network. This is a .ts (raw) mpeg 2 file. I could understand this one being transcoded locally. This is a much lower quality mp4 file and there is no reason at all for a transcode to take place. ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/5 "2017-09-23T01:16:32Z")
So here is the stats from the mp4 convesion. It was converted from HVEC to H264 I do all my conversions in HVEC because I use hardware encoding and it cuts down the time and file size a bunch. ![](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/uploads/default/original/3X/d/8/d80ade2c4002fa0a2b97c8645931dd3cb1bb8f22.png) ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/6 "2017-09-23T01:21:39Z")
Ok, I just tried IE and it through an error saying that streaming this media type is unsupported. So did something get changed in chrome? ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/7 "2017-09-23T08:00:01Z")
> @casedog21 said: > So here is the stats from the mp4 convesion. It was converted from HVEC to H264 > I do all my conversions in HVEC because I use hardware encoding and it cuts down the time and file size a bunch. Are you converting from HEVC to H264 or the other way around? Your file shows it is HEVC. It also looks like you are using Plex Web. Browsers can’t handle HEVC video. ---
**Author:** ![Darkzoid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/darkzoid/32/16909_2.png) [@Darkzoid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Darkzoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/8 "2017-09-23T16:30:28Z")
Its funny I just came here for the same thing. Before I thought my wife’s Roku 4 was always transcoding DTS and AC3 instead of using the AAC track I have in my files also. But tonight on my Roku 4 I noticed it says what is getting transcoded. Mine says copying DTS audio and transcoding h.264. Which is nuts the Roku 4 can play that format. I also have bitrate on local network set to original. But Yes it seems it wants to transcode everything. If it h.265 is the only thing that direct plays for me now, I think. ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/9 "2017-09-23T23:16:35Z")
Not all h264 is the same. There may be something within the h264 that is not supported. Please provide the XML for that video. Also check if you’ve set a limit on the server. That overrides the local client setting. ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/10 "2017-09-24T01:07:58Z")
> @MovieFan.Plex said: > > > @casedog21 said: > > So here is the stats from the mp4 convesion. It was converted from HVEC to H264 > > I do all my conversions in HVEC because I use hardware encoding and it cuts down the time and file size a bunch. > > Are you converting from HEVC to H264 or the other way around? Your file shows it is HEVC. It also looks like you are using Plex Web. Browsers can’t handle HEVC video. My files are in HEVC. My browsers can play them just fine. They always have. Same with the Roku. It plays them fine as well. No transcoding. I rolled back to 1.8 something and now they play correctly again. -Casey ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/11 "2017-09-24T01:14:47Z")
> @MovieFan.Plex said: > Not all h264 is the same. There may be something within the h264 that is not supported. Please provide the XML for that video. Also check if you’ve set a limit on the server. That overrides the local client setting. All of my videos are h.265 and the server is transcoding them to h.264. It worked fine before the new web/player interface in the past release or two. I rolled back to 1.8 something and it works as it did before. My process essentially is this. Record the show. At night MCEBuddy picks up the show Copies it to another machine that is watching the plex server. Converts it with hardware encoding using FFMPEG and NVIDIA 970 Puts it back and deletes the original TS file. All of my files are converted the same format. Where is the xml file that I would need to grab? -Casey ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/12 "2017-09-24T01:20:39Z")
> @MovieFan.Plex said: > Not all h264 is the same. There may be something within the h264 that is not supported. Please provide the XML for that video. Also check if you’ve set a limit on the server. That overrides the local client setting. I have also thoroughly checked for any limitations either in the player, transcoder, and any other server settings. Not sure what the deal is. I appreciate you guys looking into this. Here are the FFMPEG settings I am using as well for the conversion. I have been using these for the past year with no issues until just recently. order=ffmpeg,handbrake ffmpeg-general=-threads 0 ffmpeg-video=-ss 3 -vf yadif=0:-1:1,hqdn3d -vcodec nvenc\_hevc -preset medium -x265-params crf=18 -map 0:v -sn ffmpeg-audio=-acodec libfdk\_aac -ab 128k -cutoff 18000 -map 0:a ffmpeg-audioac3=-acodec libfdk\_aac -ab 160k -cutoff 18000 -map 0:a ffmpeg-ext=.mp4 ffmpeg-audiodelay=skip ---
**Author:** ![Darkzoid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/darkzoid/32/16909_2.png) [@Darkzoid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Darkzoid)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 5:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/13 "2017-09-24T05:14:16Z")
: 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : High@L4.1 Format settings, CABAC : Yes Format settings, ReFrames : 11 frames Codec ID : V\_MPEG4/ISO/AVC Duration : 2 h 50 min Bit rate : 6 000 kb/s Width : 1 280 pixels Height : 544 pixels Display aspect ratio : 2.35:1 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel\*Frame) : 0.359 Stream size : 6.97 GiB (72%) Title : HQMi encode Writing library : x264 core 133 r2334 a3ac64b Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=11 / deblock=1:-3:-3 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy\_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed\_ref=1 / me\_range=64 / chroma\_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast\_pskip=0 / chroma\_qp\_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead\_threads=2 / sliced\_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / bluray\_compat=0 / constrained\_intra=0 / bframes=9 / b\_pyramid=2 / b\_adapt=2 / b\_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open\_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint\_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra\_refresh=0 / rc\_lookahead=60 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=6000 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.65 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip\_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00 Language : English Default : Yes Forced : No Color range : Limited Color primaries : BT.709 Transfer characteristics : BT.709 Matrix coefficients : BT.709 Here is one of my files that it has to encode. They are older files last time I just re-encoded to h265 to clear it up. But if all my old Wd Tv Live can play these the Roku 4 should laugh at them. Plus this used to not happen. It has only started within the last few updates, oh and when the Roku 4 was first released because Plex did not support is very well yet. ---
**Author:** ![Cort3znica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@Cort3znica](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Cort3znica)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/14 "2017-09-24T17:28:12Z")
I suggest downloading the plex media player app instead using web player. Really… new web player is buggy as hell… AND YES… web browsers DOESNT support all kind of codecs as media players do, specially if you are using hevc… wth. ---
**Author:** ![bigd2337](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@bigd2337](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bigd2337)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/15 "2017-09-24T20:14:05Z")
I have a similar issue only with the app on iOS 11. A few select HEVC mp4 files will transcodes only when on cellular data even when all the quality settings are set to max and the play smaller videos at original quality is on. Now when on WiFi it never transcodes. Why would it transcode when it doesn’t need to. Any suggestions ? Also they are encoded with the fourcc being hvc1 as apple doesn’t support any other fourcc like hev1 And for some odd reason I can re encode some of them using a different source and then it will direct play over cellular data. Any reason why this would happen ? ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/16 "2017-09-26T20:43:20Z")
> @casedog21 said: > > > @anon18523487 said: > > Not all h264 is the same. There may be something within the h264 that is not supported. Please provide the XML for that video. Also check if you’ve set a limit on the server. That overrides the local client setting. > > All of my videos are h.265 and the server is transcoding them to h.264. It worked fine before the new web/player interface in the past release or two. I rolled back to 1.8 something and it works as it did before. The Plex Web App has never supported HEVC. I don’t know how you are getting it to direct play on PMS 1.8. Can you provide a screenshot of the Now Playing page while playing an HEVC file and it’s XML? You can get the XML by following this guide. [https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats) ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/17 "2017-09-26T20:49:25Z")
> @Darkzoid said: > Here is one of my files that it has to encode. They are older files last time I just re-encoded to h265 to clear it up. But if all my old Wd Tv Live can play these the Roku 4 should laugh at them. Plus this used to not happen. It has only started within the last few updates, oh and when the Roku 4 was first released because Plex did not support is very well yet. Those WD boxes were awesome. They would play almost anything you throw at it. Too bad they never opened the box to allow 3rd party apps. That thing would have been an amazing Plex client. The Roku’s, although very good, still don’t support everything. My guess why it is transcoding would be: > Format settings, ReFrames : 11 frames The Roku allows a maximum of 8 for 720p videos. ---
**Author:** ![Darkzoid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/darkzoid/32/16909_2.png) [@Darkzoid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Darkzoid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/18 "2017-09-27T01:59:50Z")
> @MovieFan.Plex said: > > > @Darkzoid said: > > Here is one of my files that it has to encode. They are older files last time I just re-encoded to h265 to clear it up. But if all my old Wd Tv Live can play these the Roku 4 should laugh at them. Plus this used to not happen. It has only started within the last few updates, oh and when the Roku 4 was first released because Plex did not support is very well yet. > > Those WD boxes were awesome. They would play almost anything you throw at it. Too bad they never opened the box to allow 3rd party apps. That thing would have been an amazing Plex client. > > The Roku’s, although very good, still don’t support everything. My guess why it is transcoding would be: > > > Format settings, ReFrames : 11 frames > > The Roku allows a maximum of 8 for 720p videos. Thanks that answers it for me than. Just taking me forever to move everything to h.265. I had every WD TV up to the release of the Roku 4 for h.265 support. But will never look back now. I still have one tied into my plex network but copying over to the storage drives on it is painfully slow. ---
**Author:** ![casedog21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/casedog21/32/22368_2.png) [@casedog21](https://forums.plex.tv/u/casedog21)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/19 "2017-09-28T00:05:44Z")
> @MovieFan.Plex said: > > > @casedog21 said: > > > > > @MovieFan.Plex said: > > > Not all h264 is the same. There may be something within the h264 that is not supported. Please provide the XML for that video. Also check if you’ve set a limit on the server. That overrides the local client setting. > > > > All of my videos are h.265 and the server is transcoding them to h.264. It worked fine before the new web/player interface in the past release or two. I rolled back to 1.8 something and it works as it did before. > > The Plex Web App has never supported HEVC. I don’t know how you are getting it to direct play on PMS 1.8. Can you provide a screenshot of the Now Playing page while playing an HEVC file and it’s XML? > > You can get the XML by following this guide. [https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats) I apologize. You are indeed correct that it was transcoding the HEVC files. I perceived it as no transcoding because the playback said (original format) on the settings for the videos I was watching. That being said though on my machine the seek/load times were almost instantaneous until the new web player came out. I have windows 7 on my home machine so I do not have access to the webplayer as I do on my windows 10 laptop. The load times on the Web player , plex app, and the Roku have slowed down significantly since the update. My Galaxy S8 however stayed the same in load times. Cpu usage is much higher than it was when using the 1.8 versions for a slower result. If you look at my original post I have plenty of cores to get the job done. 24 cores / 16 gig of ram in a Ubuntu 16.04.3 running SSD for the OS drives and an 8 drive ZFS array for the Plex storage. What can I gather up for you log-wise? XML for a few files and what else? -Casey ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232/20 "2017-09-28T01:24:03Z")
The best logs would be from PMS and your client after starting playback so I can see why it’s taking so long to load. [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/is-plex-supposed-to-transcode-everything-now/207232.md?page=2)