Need clarification which PMP's support MPEG2 natively?

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

Hi,

I am slightly confused about the various versions of PMP and their support for MPEG2 native content?

Specifically, it would appear that PMP for Windows “can natively decode” MPEG2 content. From my test of a build of PMP for Windows 10 obtained from the Windows Store this version “Does Not” support native MPEG2? I do not understand the difference?

MPEG2 is important to me because all my cable recordings (HDHomeRun and Fios) and archived DVDs (mkv) are MPEG2.

Thank you.

-CB

2

The player available in the Windows App Store is not PMP.

If you load the real PMP onto your Windows box, it supports the MPEG2 video codec right out of the box.

The only exception is the ‘embedded’ version of PMP, when you run it on a Raspberry Pi 2/3.

3

Here is how to download the real PMP:

  • make sure you are signed in on plex.tv
  • go to Downloads
  • click on "Get an App
  • switch “Plex Pass Downloads” on, if it is off
  • pick Plex Media Player from the download drop-down selector (it is right at the top)
4

I noticed a difference between OpenELEC based PMP vs LibreELEC based PMP in regards to MPEG2 based content. With 1.1.1 and earlier, the debug info overlay would show Hardware: yes (vaapi-copy). With 1.1.2 and later the debug info overlay would show Hardware: no (vaapi-egl). Not sure if MPEG2 is actually getting HW acceleration with the newest Embedded builds.

Update: This was observed with Intel NUC5i7RYH.

5

With 1.1.1 and earlier, the debug info overlay would show Hardware: yes (vaapi-copy). With 1.1.2 and later the debug info overlay would show Hardware: no (vaapi-egl). Not sure if MPEG2 is actually getting HW acceleration with the newest Embedded builds.

Might depend on the drivers.

6

@OttoKerner said:
The player available in the Windows App Store is not PMP.

If you load the real PMP onto your Windows box, it supports the MPEG2 video codec right out of the box.

The only exception is the ‘embedded’ version of PMP, when you run it on a Raspberry Pi 2/3.

Do we know if MPEG-2 is supported if you’ve purchases the licences for it from the Pi website?

7

@danjames92 said:

@OttoKerner said:
Do we know if MPEG-2 is supported if you’ve purchases the licences for it from the Pi website?

Yes, I have purchased an MPEG2 license and edited the files on the RPi PMP which enables the MPEG2 hardware decoding. I have requested that the PMP developers offer a GUI interface to enter your MPEG2 code but they so far seem uninterested in providing this feature?

8

I am well aware of all the versions of PMP. I thought with the update to the Windows Store version it was being brought closer to the PMP code base and thus include MPEG2 support by default? I would be interested to know if it is planned or if there is a barrier because of the restrictions of the Windows Store type apps?

9

@ctbarker32 said:
I am well aware of all the versions of PMP. I thought with the update to the Windows Store version it was being brought closer to the PMP code base and thus include MPEG2 support by default? I would be interested to know if it is planned or if there is a barrier because of the restrictions of the Windows Store type apps?

The Windows Store app has a completely different technical foundation. It is an UWP app. As such it can only use what Microsoft makes available to 3rd party UWP apps. MPEG2 codec support is currently not among the things 3rd party app can use.
If there ever will be support for it and when is completely up to Microsoft to decide.

10

Well there is a free Microsoft provided MPEG2 app in the windows store. HDHomeRun’s app from the store can use this MPEG2 addon. Why can’t the Plex Windows Store app use the MPEG2 app as well?