I am trying to keep everything mp4 and keep DTS
I download/covert movies to MKV and was wondering if I use "MP4Tools" can I keep DTS in my mp4 container? I was reading online that mp4 doesn't contain DTS
I tried to use ffmpeg to convert an MKV (Straight DVD rip) with DTS to an mp4.
When I told it to copy the DTS stream the audio was automatically stripped out during the creation of the mp4.
So while it isn't a definitive test, I would say it's probably not practical. And since Plex is based on ffmpeg I don't know if it will even read a DTS track from mp4 (If you can find a way to get it in the file)
So best way is AAC 5.1
Personally, I leave mine in MKV/H264/(DTS or AC3)
That way the server just takes care of everything (Most will be remuxed on the fly/audio transcoded). But it's a personal choice. And depends a lot on what other clients you're using/server power.
my main system is the xbox one! The problem is I wan't my sound to play direct. (Direct Play) but if i change (with MP4Tools) from MKV to mp4 I feel as if I am loosing audio quality what do you think?
AC3 should direct play to the Xbox One, DTS will need to be transcoded currently (Until Microsoft adds passthrough/decoder and makes it available to the App Developers)
I don't notice a difference between AC3/DTS/AAC 5.1. Out of those 3 options I leave whatever the highest quality track is in the file (Normally the first of these: TrueHD/DTS-MA, DTS, DD5.1, DD Stereo). An audio transcode shouldn't be resulting in noticeable loss.
The way I see it is this: If you have the CPU power it doesn't matter if you transcode it ahead of time or Plex transcode it on the fly, Audio wise you're getting the same. The difference is that if a new decoder is added the only way to get back that original track is to rerip the DVD/Bluray (Unless you add more than 1 track).
true! I will just leave it the way it is and hope Plex and Microsoft work something out!
I am currently reripping my entire DVD collection from when I converted things to a FireTV direct play format. And From how long it is taking I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon.
AC3 should direct play to the Xbox One, DTS will need to be transcoded currently (Until Microsoft adds passthrough/decoder and makes it available to the App Developers)
I don't notice a difference between AC3/DTS/AAC 5.1. Out of those 3 options I leave whatever the highest quality track is in the file (Normally the first of these: TrueHD/DTS-MA, DTS, DD5.1, DD Stereo). An audio transcode shouldn't be resulting in noticeable loss.
The way I see it is this: If you have the CPU power it doesn't matter if you transcode it ahead of time or Plex transcode it on the fly, Audio wise you're getting the same. The difference is that if a new decoder is added the only way to get back that original track is to rerip the DVD/Bluray (Unless you add more than 1 track).
I can't get Direct Play with an 5.1 AC3 track, only stereo, is there something I'm doing wrong? I can switch to the AC3 track but then it transcodes my movie.
I get direct play all day with AC3 5.1 make sure your video bitrate is not higher then 24
I can't get Direct Play with an 5.1 AC3 track, only stereo, is there something I'm doing wrong? I can switch to the AC3 track but then it transcodes my movie.
Switching tracks shouldn't be transcoding unless there is something in your video file that is causing a transcode. The reason is that when you switch tracks the file must then be 'Direct Streamed' (Basically the server only sends the video track and your selected audio track). The biggest culprit I have seen seems to be Anamorphic content which has/had trouble going through the transcoder.
But if you're able to switch to a 5.1 track you might have more than one track in the file and just have the multichannel track second. If when you switched tracks and still didn't get 5.1 I would be looking at your Xbox One Audio settings.
I get direct play all day with AC3 5.1 make sure your video bitrate is not higher then 24
How can i check my bit rate? I use Handbrake with a CQ of 20 for blu-ray and dvd.
Switching tracks shouldn't be transcoding unless there is something in your video file that is causing a transcode. The reason is that when you switch tracks the file must then be 'Direct Streamed' (Basically the server only sends the video track and your selected audio track). The biggest culprit I have seen seems to be Anamorphic content which has/had trouble going through the transcoder.
But if you're able to switch to a 5.1 track you might have more than one track in the file and just have the multichannel track second. If when you switched tracks and still didn't get 5.1 I would be looking at your Xbox One Audio settings.
When i start my movie with a default track of stereo, it says direct play. When i switch to the 5.1 track it says transcoding / throttle / video / direct stream / audio / direct stream, is this the same thing?
How can i check my bit rate? I use Handbrake with a CQ of 20 for blu-ray and dvd.
You'll need to either look at the info for the file (From the movie pre-play screen in the web manager hit the i button on your keyboard).
But I use CQ20 for my blurays and they come out to roughly 10-12Mbps average. You'll have spikes above that but spikes arn't detected only the average bit rate.
When i start my movie with a default track of stereo, it says direct play. When i switch to the 5.1 track it says transcoding / throttle / video / direct stream / audio / direct stream, is this the same thing?
That means something in the video side of things is forcing the transcode when you switch tracks. If you look in your Plex Media Server.log before where the transcoder is called you should see some lines with MDE in the front. These will tell you if/what a limit is causing the transcode.
Maybe something with Handbrake, cause I noticed when playing some DVD MP4 backups I get transcode video but direct play with ac3 pass through, but I’ll check my logs.
This what i pulled up with MDE, i believe its the right one, on this file i get direct stream audio / transcode video.
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: analyzing video part 33835: mp4/h264/ac3/
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: selected video transcode profile: hls - mpegts/h264/ac3/
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - Horrible Bosses 2 - video.anamorphic limitation applies: 1 == 1
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: remuxing ac3 audio stream
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: remuxing subtitle stream
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: selected media 0
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - [Universal] Using local file path instead of URL: /Users/Family/Desktop/untitled folder 3/Horrible Bosses 2.m4v
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - [Universal] Remuxing to hls/mpegts/h264/ac3
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - HLS: Building an M3U8 for 1716 total seconds with 8 seconds/segment, target duration of 8.
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - Horrible Bosses 2 - video.anamorphic limitation applies: 1 == 1
Anamorphic video will direct play, but has trouble when it goes through the transcoder so it has to be transcoded once the file is direct streamed for the audio track change.
Someone else might know how, but I don't know of an easy way to convert from an anamorphic video to a non-anamorphic video stream.
In Handbrake and I’m using pass through for my DD 5.1, could that be why? Should I be converting the track to 5.1 channels?
In Handbrake and I'm using pass through for my DD 5.1, could that be why? Should I be converting the track to 5.1 channels?
Your audio isn't the issue, it is the video.
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - Horrible Bosses 2 - video.anamorphic limitation applies: 1 == 1
*Video has to be transcoder
Apr 08, 2015 22:00:00 [0x10c189000] DEBUG - MDE: remuxing ac3 audio stream
*Audio is copied
So i did multiple files of the same movie turning off/strict/and loose anamorphic and each file is different when playing. With none i get direct stream with both audio and video, with loose i get transcode video, direct stream audio, and strict i get transcode with both audio and video, this after i pause the movie and select the 5.1 track. Not sure what more settings i can change to get this working right, what program do u use and what setting would work best? Maybe a lower profile? Thanks.
I use ffmpeg to batch encode my rips, but I do not strip out any of the encoding. I let my server transcode/remux on the fly as needed. I am not sure of an easy way to re-encode a file to remove the anamorphic encoding.
The closest thing I could think of would be to look at the transcoder line from the logs when your file is being transcoded. This will give you the commands that Plex is running through the transcoder which should help you get an idea of what commands you would need if you want to directly encode the file.
