# Nvidia Shield 4k audio transcode AC3 issue **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301 "2020-01-08T08:50:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BillyTheKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BillyTheKid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BillyTheKid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/1 "2020-01-08T08:50:08Z")
Hi, I am currently running PMS on an Nvidia shield (version 1.18.3.2156), connected via HDMI to a Samsung UE43NU7400. 4K content is served from a My Cloud NAS via gigabit Ethernet. The video is able to direct play however any audio stream I use is always being transcoded to AAC. I expect this with TrueHD 7.1 but is this also expected with formats such AC3? The rips I use have ~5 audio streams from 7.1 down to ac3. Is there any setting in Plex or directly on the shield which will allow me to direct play both video and audio? An AVR is not an option right now unfortunately. An xml file for one of my rips is attached for reference. Thanks, P [3693.txt](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/1qbvoQdaPmYlbGOKWLiZXnRa5Aj.txt) (45.3 KB) ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Day](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/raymond_day/32/98422_2.png) [@Raymond\_Day](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Raymond_Day)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 11:29am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/2 "2020-01-08T11:29:12Z")
On mine I found out have to to go to settings and pick audio 5.1 if it’s 7.1 the video don’t play. You have to stop the video and then do the settings it will not work if the video is still playing as you set this. I just have stereo too. The video looked bad no video just blocks of colors if playing a 7.1 audio. -Raymond Day ---
**Author:** ![BillyTheKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BillyTheKid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BillyTheKid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/3 "2020-01-08T11:31:48Z")
Thanks for your reply. Do you mean in the Plex client? I have chosen AC3 as the audio stream. My issue is that the Plex server is transcoding AC3 down to AAC. The audio transcode is what I am trying to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/4 "2020-01-08T19:22:52Z")
Did you enable pass-through in t he app and in your Shield audio settings? ---
**Author:** ![BillyTheKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BillyTheKid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BillyTheKid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/5 "2020-01-08T23:34:17Z")
I double checked these settings. Pass through set to HMDI in the Plex app on the Shield. Pass through set to Auto in the Shield settings. Weirdly when i play back my test film, the Plex dashboard is not telling whether the video or audio is being transcoded or not. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/5/a/5ad9cd1bc13441f4403685177b9ad05fcd01349d.jpeg) Do you know why this is? Thanks, P ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/6 "2020-01-08T23:38:56Z")
I looked up your TV. I can’t find anything saying it supports DTS or TrueHD. I see it supports AC3 so getting 5.1 AC3 is the correct result. ---
**Author:** ![BillyTheKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BillyTheKid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BillyTheKid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/7 "2020-01-09T06:27:52Z")
Do you know why the Plex dashboard is not show whether the video or audio is being transcoded? ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/8 "2020-01-09T19:07:22Z")
Are you running the latest version of the app on the Shield. ---
**Author:** ![BillyTheKid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BillyTheKid](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BillyTheKid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/9 "2020-01-10T13:07:35Z")
I am running on this version, 7.26.0.14578. It was updated last month I believe. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/nvidia-shield-4k-audio-transcode-ac3-issue/523301/10 "2020-04-09T13:07:45Z")
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