MKV Transcoding?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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1

Version 1.15.3.858
CentOS 7
Hardware transcode on.

All media is pre-processed into MKV, H.264 & AAC. This generally prevents all transcoding as most of my users have Roku as their primary player.

However, 1.15.x.xxx have been direct playing video and audio, but transcoding the container to mpegts.

The load this imparts on the cpu is minimal but unneeded, as Roku can direct play the format these are in.

2019-04-02%2018_34_09-Plex
2019-04-02%2018_34_09-Plex551Ă—200 38.3 KB
transcode
transcode1442Ă—347 492 KB

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I can confirm the same behavior with an MPEG2/AC3 file in the MKV container. Direct Streams both audio and video but changes container to MPEGTS.

I couldn’t remember if the Roku used to direct-play MKV, so I wasn’t sure if it was new behavior when I noticed it recently.

3

There are several instances in the forum where plex employees indicate h264 mkv should direct play on roku. (one example: Roku 3 Supported file formats)

Unless they changed something, this is a bug / unexpected behavior.

4

Your server and/or Roku logs should give indication why it decided to transcode. It might be because auto quality adjusting is enabled for example.

5

This is probably related to a regression in a server update. Please see below, and update the server.

note: it’s possible the media that isn’t direct playing will need to be analyzed again. This should happen over time, but you can also kick that off manually.

6

I hadn’t realized these topics were related! I’m updating now and will test.

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Definitely getting direct play for H264 with AAC after the update. Still getting direct stream with MPEG2 and AC3 but it’s possible that’s an unrelated limitation. Thanks.

8

Yeah, for now MPEG2 codec will require a transcode session, but can be copied during the transcode session if you enable MPEG2 option. We’ll file and investigate, but if I recall correctly seeking didn’t work 100% when direct played.

2 Likes
9

I’m just happy that MPEG2 direct-streams, so I’m ok if direct-play is not feasible!

1 Like
10

I’ll have to look. Auto quality for sure isn’t enabled.

11

@ljunkie it’s running latest beta.

I did analyze everything. No love.

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This may be a different scenario then. Could you enable remote logging and report back. I’ll include the steps below.

  • Start the Plex channel on the Roku
  • Enabled remote logging
  • Attempt to play a video that exhibits the issue
  • Stop playback after it starts
  • Disable remote logging
  • Report back with time/timezone and username when the test was completed
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@ljunkie Ok will do. Will probably be tomorrow as I have a very late maintenance window tonight at work.

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@ljunkie

1.15.3.876 seems to have fixed this? No announcement or changelog posted for the version… but whatever?

:slight_smile:

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