Latest PlexMediaServer on Ubuntu transcoding FLAC to AAC

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: 1.13.9
Player Version#: Web Client (plex.tv)

Hi all!

I’ve updated my server to the latest version (1.13.9) and decided to play Muse’s latest album Simulation Theory. I ripped the Super Deluxe edition of the album to FLAC using EAC.

When I access my server via its local IP address, it plays the FLAC files directly (no transcoding) in the web player. However, when accessing my server through plex.tv, the FLAC files get transcoded to AAC. I don’t understand why, though; I have 100/100 mbit fiber which should be able to serve the FLAC without any issues.

This is a huge deal for me, because I don’t use FLAC for no reason; I would like the highest quality audio available and immediately noticed the huge drop in quality when streaming through plex.tv. This will prevent me from streaming FLAC remotely.

Side note: I tested the plex.tv FLAC stream from the same network as the server, accessing it local will direct play, plex.tv will transcode. I often listen to FLAC’s at work (which also has a stable fiber connection, 500/500) and it used to direct play before this (or previous) version.

Is there a setting I should check?

Thanks!
~Bas

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Yes, there is a setting to check.

Settings - Server - Network.

Verify you don’t have an upload bitrate limit defined
-or-
have the player, when remote, set to Automatic Quality.

Anything in “Automatic” mode will typically resort to the lowest common denominator unfortunately.

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I’ve checked the upload limits, I have no limits set (I never had). I also checked the automatic quality option, however that doesn’t seem to change anything (it wasn’t set).

I don’t understand why it did work before, but it fails now. I ran nethogs on my server, did a bunch of speedtests, checked my network and nothing indicates that the bandwidth is smaller than usual, nor can I detect packet loss; it seems only to occur when approaching through plex.tv

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What does the player setting show?

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I figured I’d perform an experiment; I tested more FLAC files and in my case, only the FLAC files containing ID3 tags caused the issue. To me, this is very weird, as direct play does work when directly connected to the server.

I then SSH’d to my server, removed all ID3 tags from all the problematic files using id3v2 --remove-all and did another scan on my FLAC library. Guess what? Now Direct Play works, by only removing ID3 tags…

Is there something in the proxy through plex.tv that doesn’t recognize FLAC files as FLAC when they contain ID3 tags?

Edit: Is ID3 even supported in FLAC, because I’m starting to doubt EAC’s behaviour now.

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Try FLAC tags (aka Vorbis Comments) instead of ID3 tags. My FLAC files have FLAC tags and they direct play in the web client (via plex.tv).

You can use Mp3tag to convert ID3 tags to FLAC Tags.

Might see if EAC has an option for FLAC/Vorbis instead of ID3 when ripping CDs.

I use dBpoweramp to rip my audio CDs. It is a very nice commercial product for ripping CDs. It has a 21 day trial period before you have to buy it.

Edit: Here’s info on converting tags. Looks like ID3 tags in FLAC files cause issues for many systems. https://community.bose.com/t5/SoundTouch-Archive/FLAC-Files-With-ID3-Tags-Workaround/td-p/8395

2 Likes
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Thank you for the confirmation and the tips on how to convert the tags. I didn’t need those tags to begin with, but your tips will prove useful in the future when I do.

I consider this issue resolved, lesson learned: Don’t use ID3 tags in FLAC files.

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It certainly has: if you use FLAC.exe as your compressor, use these ‘additional command line options’:

--best -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "DATE=%year%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "GENRE=%genre%" -T "COMMENT=%comment%" -T "BAND=%albuminterpret%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albuminterpret%" -T "COMPOSER=%composer%" %haslyrics%--tag-from-file=LYRICS="%lyricsfile%"%haslyrics% -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "TOTALDISCS=%totalcds%" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%numtracks%" %hascover%--picture="%coverfile%"%hascover% %source% -o %dest%
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