Issues on local play on PS3

tornadotj · August 3, 2015, 9:26pm

I have buffering issues with all files some of the time, and black screen with one file. Both PS3’s are on the local LAN and connected through a gigabit switch. Back-end server is Windows 7 Pro, 12GB RAM, Xeon E3-1246v3. For what it’s worth, Mad Max 2 plays fine on my other devices, but black screen only on the PS3.

Thank you BigWheel for the assistance. The code is below.

tornadotj · August 3, 2015, 9:27pm

Looks like my XML did not post. Let me know how to post it and i"ll do so.

BigWheel · August 3, 2015, 9:54pm

select all the text from the xml and use the code tag should work

tornadotj · August 3, 2015, 10:03pm

First buffering file
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionTitle="Movies" librarySectionUUID="1281bcde-bc26-4b22-82db-881ea7a389e9" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1437766932"> <Video ratingKey="103602" key="/library/metadata/103602" guid="com.plexapp.agents.imdb://tt0396555?lang=en" studio="Walt Disney Pictures" type="movie" title="Meet the Robinsons" contentRating="G" summary="In this animated adventure, brilliant preteen inventor Lewis creates a memory scanner to retrieve his earliest recollections and find out why his mother gave him up for adoption. But when the villainous Bowler Hat Guy steals the machine, Lewis is ready to give up on his quest until the mysterious Wilbur Robinson shows up on the scene, whisking Lewis to the future to find the scanner and his mom." rating="6.6" viewOffset="146555" lastViewedAt="1437346956" year="2007" tagline="Think your family's weird?" thumb="/library/metadata/103602/thumb/1437349973" art="/library/metadata/103602/art/1437349973" duration="5620871" originallyAvailableAt="2007-03-28" addedAt="1437349945" updatedAt="1437349973" chapterSource="" primaryExtraKey="/library/metadata/103603"> <Media videoResolution="1080" id="121424" duration="5620871" bitrate="10028" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="dca" videoCodec="h264" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p"> <Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="121510" key="/library/parts/121510/file.mkv" duration="5620871" file="G:\ServerFolders\Videos\Meet the Robinsons (2007)\Meet the Robinsons (2007).mkv" size="7046089978" container="mkv"> <Stream id="182542" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="1" bitrate="8514" language="English" languageCode="eng" bitDepth="8" cabac="1" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" codecID="V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC" colorSpace="yuv" duration="5620871" frameRate="23.976" frameRateMode="cfr" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="1080" level="51" profile="high" refFrames="8" scanType="progressive" width="1920"/> <Stream id="182541" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="dca" index="0" channels="6" bitrate="1510" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" bitDepth="24" bitrateMode="cbr" codecID="A_DTS" duration="5620864" samplingRate="48000"/> </Part> </Media> <Genre id="518" tag="Animation" count="13"/> <Genre id="35" tag="Comedy" count="94"/> <Genre id="142" tag="Family" count="24"/> <Writer id="18661" tag="Michelle Bochner"/> <Director id="18660" tag="Stephen J. Anderson"/> <Producer id="18682" tag="Dorothy McKim"/> <Country id="22" tag="USA" count="173"/> <Role id="18662" tag="Tom Selleck" role="Cornelius Robinson (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/au3wlNaGUSLZD46DJFGRuJ0CBVe.jpg"/> <Role id="18663" tag="Laurie Metcalf" role="Lucille Krunklehorn (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/nMuaJWmZyaCMmdsGlYIOV5JGabL.jpg"/> <Role id="18664" tag="Angela Bassett" role="Mildred (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/tHkgSzhEuJKp5hqp0DZLad8HNZ9.jpg"/> <Role id="961" tag="Nicole Sullivan" count="2" role="Franny (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/yJe73CBLTXrqge9oIw7k4p2qb61.jpg"/> <Role id="18665" tag="Harland Williams" role="Carl (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/ncbsGnC41SsM7VpCOGBJGQ44dwF.jpg"/> <Role id="18666" tag="Daniel Hansen" role="Lewis (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/5z0VSnh46qc7SjHggmq38UGNkA8.jpg"/> <Role id="18667" tag="Jordan Fry" role="Lewis (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9mr4LKxtlSFLFTgQ0eFlD6yHtdI.jpg"/> <Role id="18668" tag="Matthew Josten" role="Michael 'Goob' Yagoobian (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/9o38BI6eKx5LGqR3jzqZj2i1sM8.jpg"/> <Role id="18669" tag="John H. H. Ford" role="Mr. Harrington (voice)"/> <Role id="5103" tag="Dara McGarry" count="2" role="Mrs. Harrington / Receptionist (voice)"/> <Role id="15935" tag="Tom Kenny" count="3" role="Mr. Willerstein (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/uU2VLWHkKZN0UkYVJBf1s1z2l3k.jpg"/> <Role id="18670" tag="Don Hall" role="Coach / Gaston (voice)"/> <Role id="18671" tag="Paul Butcher" role="Stanley (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/qewV82iTmOX8bSiRzaqDjrJNS3b.jpg"/> <Role id="18672" tag="Tracey Miller-Zarneke" role="Lizzy (voice)"/> <Role id="18673" tag="Wesley Singerman" role="Wilbur (voice)"/> <Role id="18674" tag="Jessie Flower" role="Young Franny (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/wjzL0uaBcLSYf9UxIxas6S4N3iU.jpg"/> <Role id="5070" tag="Stephen J. Anderson" count="2" role="Bowler Hat Guy / Grandpa Bud / Tallulah (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/pUIRHfqrlda6gQEwWtAFuoKbKYB.jpg"/> <Role id="18675" tag="Ethan Sandler" role="Doris / CEO / Spike / Dmitri / Laszlo / Fritz / Petunia (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/biCZAwndeR6QiBQ4etNeeI0XUVM.jpg"/> <Role id="18676" tag="Nathan Greno" role="Lefty (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/7MobIiqJBvbgJ2pnUvo6E7XfFFx.jpg"/> <Role id="18677" tag="Kelly Hoover" role="Aunt Billie (voice)"/> <Role id="18678" tag="Adam West" role="Uncle Art (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8pvRGXFF7lsIZrDS2yaV2dZaG72.jpg"/> <Role id="18679" tag="Aurian Redson" role="Frankie (voice)"/> <Role id="18680" tag="Joseph Mateo" role="T-Rex (voice)"/> <Role id="18681" tag="Joe Whyte" role="Reporter (voice)" thumb="http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/nBWyiV2dbhMAebwXagfNWej5on4.jpg"/> <Extras size="1"> <Video ratingKey="103603" key="/library/metadata/103603" guid="iva://api.internetvideoarchive.com/2.0/DataService/VideoAssets(553681)?lang=en&bitrates=80,212,450,600,750,1500,8000&duration=142" type="clip" title="Meet The Robinsons" summary="" index="1" year="2006" thumb="/library/metadata/103603/thumb/1437349955" duration="142000" originallyAvailableAt="2006-11-09" addedAt="1437349955" extraType="1"> <Media videoResolution="720" id="121425" duration="142000" bitrate="1500" width="1280" height="720" aspectRatio="1.78" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1"> <Part id="121511" duration="142000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/553681/video.mp4?bitrate=1500" optimizedForStreaming="1"> <Stream id="182535" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="1500" height="720" width="1280"/> <Stream id="182536" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng"/> </Part> </Media> <Media videoResolution="480" id="121426" duration="142000" bitrate="750" width="640" height="480" aspectRatio="1.33" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1"> <Part id="121512" duration="142000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/553681/video.mp4?bitrate=750" optimizedForStreaming="1"> <Stream id="182537" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="750" height="480" width="640"/> <Stream id="182538" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng"/> </Part> </Media> <Media videoResolution="480" id="121427" duration="142000" bitrate="450" width="640" height="480" aspectRatio="1.33" audioCodec="aac" videoCodec="h264" container="mp4" premium="1"> <Part id="121513" duration="142000" container="mp4" key="/services/iva/assets/553681/video.mp4?bitrate=450" optimizedForStreaming="1"> <Stream id="182539" streamType="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="450" height="480" width="640"/> <Stream id="182540" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" language="English" languageCode="eng"/> </Part> </Media> </Video> </Extras> </Video> </MediaContainer>

tornadotj · August 3, 2015, 10:04pm

Black Screen. This plays fine on my other Plex clients.

tornadotj · August 3, 2015, 10:05pm

This is the file that’s already transcoded that buffers on the PS3.

deactivated · August 4, 2015, 2:56am

Hi tornadotj. Thanks for posting.

Is your PS3 running wireless or wired?

I think one problem hitting you is the AVC levels. See the ‘level=“51”’ for Meet the Robinsons and ‘level=“41”’ for Mad Max 2? Currently with Direct Stream the AVC level is not enforced. Many devices work fine at a higher AVC level as long as the media’s bitrate isn’t super high. Disabling Direct Stream will cause use to transcode using an AVC level controlled by the server. Does that help?

Your bitrates here look mostly fine. Although ‘bitrate=“10028”’ and ‘bitrate=“11634”’ they’re above the recommended Sony recommended PS3 bitrate of 9000. Have you tried disabling Direct Stream to see if transcoding helps reduce buffering? For context when we Direct Stream the video is copied directly in a series of segments. This can lead to some segments being larger than others and putting strain on the device. When we transcode Plex makes sure all the segments are uniformly sized.

That last “already transcoded” file is weird. It’s MP4 with H.264, the bitrate is low, it’s AVC level is “40” and it has stereo AAC. It should “just work”. I don’t have a good answer why it does not. I wonder if the variable frame rate causes a problem. Also, our PlayStation profiles on the server force cabac to 0; it’s “1” in this video stream.

Sorry I’m answering questions with questions but typically the answer isn’t right on the surface and take a little circling.

tornadotj · August 4, 2015, 3:29am

I noted in my first post that everything in the house, including the PS3’s are wired gigabit. I’m a network and server engineer going back to the 80’s, so I’m kind of picky about how my stuff is all connected up. Most devices go to a 16 port smart switch in my wiring closet. The PS3 in question does have a 5 port gigabit switch in-between, but nothing else is streaming off that switch at the same time. The other devices are the HTPC (turned off), the 65VT60 TV (no activity), and the receiver (no activity).

You are right, that already transcoded file is the one that really baffles me. I crank down the quality with MCEBuddy to “Medium”, and stereo, which is a pretty darn lean file.

Mad Max 2, I can’t figure out why I just get a black screen. I haven’t had that happen before with any other file.

Of course I don’t want to transcode if I don’t have to. I do understand I can’t direct play DTS-MA files, which I do have a lot of. But, anything off the TV (which is where one of the PS3’s gets used the most) has been transcoded with MCEBuddy as you saw on the “already transcoded” file.

Tell you what, I have a bunch of gigabit switches, I’ll replace the one where I’ve been experiencing the buffering just for the heck of it. Who knows, maybe something’s going on with that one in there. My wife watched a couple of her TV shows on the other PS3 tonight and did not experience any buffering.

I don’t know if it matters, but both Mad Max and Meet the Robinsons are MKVs, so they should be transcoded by default, no? They can’t direct play I don’t think.

deactivated · August 5, 2015, 10:35pm

Some context. I think bits may be redundant for your situation.

@tornadotj said:
Mad Max 2, I can’t figure out why I just get a black screen. I haven’t had that happen before with any other file.

Will you look into creating and sharing a sample file for this movie? We’ve received reports of audio but no video on the PS3/4 when some videos are Direct Streamed. Unchecking Direct Stream seems to workaround the issue as the expense of a server transcode. If you are able to reproduce with a sample file would you consider sharing the sample with me so I can test too? (NB: Don’t include the word “sample” in the file name. Our media scanners intentionally ignore small videos with filenames including “sample”).

@tornadotj said:
Of course I don’t want to transcode if I don’t have to. I do understand I can’t direct play DTS-MA files, which I do have a lot of. But, anything off the TV (which is where one of the PS3’s gets used the most) has been transcoded with MCEBuddy as you saw on the “already transcoded” file.

You may be able to encourage most of your videos to Direct Stream vs Transcode. Transcoding is easier on the device because Plex controls the size of the audio and video segments the device downloads. Direct Stream is easier on the server since typically the audio is transcoded and the video is copied. The buffering behavior may change if you increase your Local Quality to the max. This can introduce other issues on the PS3 because it’s not a super robust video player. Regardless if you haven’t tried it yet, give it a whirl.

@tornadotj said:
Tell you what, I have a bunch of gigabit switches, I’ll replace the one where I’ve been experiencing the buffering just for the heck of it. Who knows, maybe something’s going on with that one in there. My wife watched a couple of her TV shows on the other PS3 tonight and did not experience any buffering.

From the sounds of it your network is in good shape already; I missed the information previously. I’m with you, eliminating wireless and going gigabit wired in a home is the way to go.

@tornadotj said:
I don’t know if it matters, but both Mad Max and Meet the Robinsons are MKVs, so they should be transcoded by default, no? They can’t direct play I don’t think.

Those videos will be transcoded or direct streamed based on the Local Quality you select.

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