Movie direct playing through default player (DLNA) but transcoding on Plex

[dulemis]

Hi,

I have a Samsung 2020 TV and have read about the Samsung/Plex app limitations.
However I have just made an observation, how come a specifik 4K HDR MKV file direct plays through the default builtin player but same file is transcode dby Plex? The reason Plex states it must transcode. ecause of more then 30 tracks, but the default player plays without issues and also shows the subtitles.

[Alucard1]

Edit the MKV container and remove the extra subtitle tracks that you don’t need. You can not have more than 30 items in a MKV container.

[dulemis]

I think you misunderstood me. According to Plex the 30 tracks limitation is imposed by Samsung, but that’s not true because my file with 35 tracks streams without problems on the builtin player. On the other hand, on Plex it results in a complete transcode. So why does the plex client do this, when in fact the tv natively has no issues with this file?

[FordGuy61]

If you want the movie to direct play in the Plex app you must reduce the number of tracks. Use MKVToolNix or similar tools and remove any unnecessary audio and subtitle tracks.

You can debate the root cause all you want, but in the end, you’ll still have to reduce the number of tracks.

Also, no image based subtitles such as PGS and VOBSUB. Enabling those forces a video transcode. SSA/ASS subtitles may result in video transcoding as well. If so, set Burn Subtitles = Image Formats Only in the Plex Samsung app. You’ll lose positioning, color, etc, but they should then play w/o causing a video transcode.

Depending on the version of Tizen, transcoded audio + any subtitle format results in a video transcode (5.0 or 5.5 - I don’t have a reference handy). This is due to a Tizen bug. If/when Samsung fixes the problem then Plex can update the app so this doesn’t happen.

[dulemis]

I know all of this

The question was why does pkex says its a Samsung limitation, when clearly it’s not? They should be able to fix it then…

Regaring to sound and subtitles, it seems it doesn’t happen always.

[FordGuy61]

@dulemis

why does pkex says its a Samsung limitation

Issue with direct play / direct stream if "stream count exceeds 30 streams" always transcodes

Tizen 5.5 devices have some bad player issues. Specifically, files with more than 30 streams fail to direct play and must be direct streamed, and DASH playback stutters like crazy and must be played over HLS. However, if a video is direct streaming over HLS, direct playing subtitles causes issues with drift, so the subs need to be transcoded. Congratulations, you’ve hit the bug jackpot! Your best bet, is to drop some streams so there’s less than 30 in your file, and that should allow you to dir…

[dulemis]

Very strange! I haven’t noticed any stuttering or suvtitles issue when streaming this file with 35 tracks in the builtin player. Just plex that forces a transcode.

Nonetheless, thank you for nfo.