Nvidia Shield - Constant audio desync, video stutters/pixelation/tone mapping issues

[savantali]

For Behavior 1 and 2
Originally Server Version#: Version 1.40.2.8395
Originally Player Version#: 10.15.0.623 (When checking Authorized Devices page)

For Behavior 3
Server Version 1.40.3.8530
Player Version 10.17.0.805 (When checking Authorized Devices page)

Setup:
Nvidia Shield Player > HDMI 1 > Sony A95K > HDMI 3 > Sonos Arc

Configuration on Nvidia Shield Player:
Passthrough: HDMI
Refresh Rate Switching: On
Resolution Switching: Off
Auto Play Countdown: 5 Seconds

Behavior that I am seeing

There are two different situations here, though, I don’t think they are related but are both enough of an annoyance, that has made me create this.

Behavior 1 - Audio and Video are out of sync at beginning of playback

This seems to happen more frequently, on recently added content (generally what I watch) or if a video is played subsequently right after another video has been played.

This seems to be a reoccurring thing - but, no rhyme or reason I can find.

I have not seen this issue occur in the past week or two, but it was a constant problem in early May.

Behavior 2 - Video stutters or drops frames, and audio continues on

I originally drafted this up a few weeks ago but this seems to be fixed now or I have not encountered it recently at least

Behavior 3 - Pixelation/Tone Mapping Issues on Video Playback

An example of this while playing “The NeverEnding Story”

Then a few seconds later but within the same scene:

Plex Media Server Logs_2024-06-07_18-22-34.zip (3.8 MB)
nvidia-shield-logging-glitching-video-streams.txt (4.6 MB)

Video: 4K HDR10 (HEVC Main 10)
Audio: English (DTS-HD HRA 5.1)

This does not seem to occur on a macOS Plex Web Player, when playing back the same file and same timestamps.

[City-Cobra]

Maybe its the new Player from v9.29+

Recent update causes stutters and audio sync issues

I’m having EXACT the same issue on an Nvidia Shield player. Issue is talked about here : https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/1636mdz/plex_929x_introduced_intermittent_stuttering_and/ Also the solution there provided worked for me too. So uninstall whole client, and then reinstall it via sideloading procedure with downloaded apk v9.28.0.3162 and everything works smooth again without any change on serverside (windowsserver latest version on NUC i5 but that’s beside the point) PS : then don’…

So please try Version: 9.28.0.3162 from Apkmirror.

com.plexapp.android_9.28.0.3162-868271524_minAPI21(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a,x86,x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk

How your Sonos Arc play DTS-HD?

HRA only works with Shield Update v9.0+

DTS-HD HRA 7.1 Audio Not Working

Checking in to let you all know the fix for this has deployed today with the SHIELD Expereicne updgrade 9.0: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/481350/shield-experience-upgrade-90-released-11222/ Adds support for DTS-HD HRA audio streams

[ChuckPa]

I have no pixelation on Shield Pro 2019 at 90 Mbps DirectPlay

PMS 1.40.2
Player 10.17.0

Q: Are you adding media while attempting to play?

[City-Cobra]

@ChuckPa
Try a (not HFR) 4K Remux with TrueHD Atmos and PGS Subs in Directplay.
And do not use forward, backward or pause Key. Start Playing and press nothing.
Do not use eARC, use Shield > AVR > TV.

[savantali]

@ChuckPa

Q: Are you adding media while attempting to play?

An XML of the file
76465.txt (46.1 KB)

As far as I am aware, no. Can’t tell now based on that time frame, but, replaying the file, it occurs again on the nVidia Sheild Pro 2019. Something did happen, and the network throughput peaked at 700 MB - which seems unlikely given that I don’t have 10GB LAN Connections. I also can’t get the Display Video Overlay info to show when playing the video like you have on your screen for what it is worth - even when the setting is “On”.

@City-Cobra

How your Sonos Arc play DTS-HD?

No idea, I have not done anything special with my setup:

Also, I found out that I do have debug logs for Behavior 1 and 2, but just not where I expected to find them, from May 19th:
nvidia_shield_video_stuttering_audiodesync_issues.txt (4.4 MB)
nvidia_shield_avatar_video_decync_and_stutter_logging.txt (4.9 MB)

@City-Cobra

So please try Version: 9.28.0.3162 from Apkmirror.

com.plexapp.android_9.28.0.3162-868271524_minAPI21(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a,x86,x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk

I would rather not sideload files from APKMirror, if Plex has one officially they can find - happy to use that, but, not going to use it randomly. I also don’t mind wiping my entire nVidia Shield to get that version. I am on the beta version of Plex for the Shield Anyways.

@City-Cobra

HRA only works with Shield Update v9.0+

I am on Update 9.0+

@City-Cobra

Try a (not HFR) 4K Remux with TrueHD Atmos and PGS Subs in Directplay.
And do not use forward, backward or pause Key. Start Playing and press nothing.
Do not use eARC, use Shield > AVR > TV.

I can’t take my TV and Soundbar apart as it is mounted to the wall in a way that is not enjoyable to disassemble by a single person, and if I try and manually switch the speakers from eARC to TV Speakers they switch back. I don’t have an Audio Video Receiver - as outlined in my first post on the connection setup.

[savantali]

@City-Cobra

So please try Version: 9.28.0.3162 from Apkmirror.

com.plexapp.android_9.28.0.3162-868271524_minAPI21(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a,x86,x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk

Also I hope you realize, that that version is over a year old:

Plex for Android

Plex for Android 9.28.0 Available on Google Play and the Amazon App Store. NOTE: We are performing a staged rollout, which means the update may take a day or two before it becomes available. FIXES: App could crash displaying the activity feed. Player: strip out HDR10+ when playing DoVi P8.1 & HDR10+ stream on a DoVi display. Player: postplay would sometimes be missing the play icon. The list of muted and blocked accounts could be cut off. Player: ensure TrueHD is transcoded on FireTV 4K Max…

Where as 10.X is relased this year. I can try to go back to 10.16, but 10.17 is the beta version of Plex.

Plex for Android

Plex for Android 10.16.0 Available on Google Play and the Amazon App Store. NOTE: We are performing a staged rollout, which means the update may take a day or two before it becomes available. WHATS NEW: Updated watched badge icon to better support different themes. [Mobile] Downloads: delete downloads when user is signed out. [TV] Discover Together: improved the navigation around user activities. FIXES: Pressing the back button would not close context menus. Search: display air date for …

[ChuckPa]

Sorry for the delay..

1. My rip didn’t have the German subs in it
2. I went to my friend’s house and borrowed his again. Now I have PGS subs.
3. Playing with subs enabled, (Shield Pro 2019 → Onkyo TX-RZ → LG TV C1)
4. No issues whatsoever.

I can probably have family send me a Germany-exclusive version if I need to but don’t know if my burner will read it (Never tried non-US media)

Are there any other titles where this is reproducible ?

[City-Cobra]

@savantali
What Plex Version you have?
Did you have the SHIELD Experience Upgrade 9.1.1+ HotFix Image? Called 9.2.0
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/522242/shield-experience-upgrade-911-hotfix-image/

Also try in Shield Audio Settings, Dolby processing off + formats on automatically.

[Ghostm]

I am having sudden pixelation I never had before after my plex player beta on the shield just updated.

Something is very broken. DIrect play 4k remux mkv over hardwired ethernet.

[Ghostm]

Went back to the non beta plex player and everythings fine again.

For the love of god please dont just push this into the main branch like you did last year or two years ago however long ago it was when you broke truehd direct play and then just pushed it into the main branch any way.

[ChuckPa]

@Ghostm

Which Shield please?

Need more info please “it’s broken” doesn’t help figure it out … sorry.

I can play Gemini Man with subs , dolby, the works, perfectly at 59.94 FPS too.

Might you have shield player logs which capture any of it failing?

[perjans89]

I am having the same problem aswell all of a sudden last night, thought it were an issue on the plex server, did alot of troubleshooting just to realize that the problem is only on the Nvidia Shield on the latest Beta version.

Seems to be an issue with playback of all 4k DV/HDR10+ material, no change when trying to playback without subs or with a “lower” audiotrack instead of TrueHD/Atmos, eg. DD-ex5.1

I run an Nvidia Shield Pro (2019) with HDR Off, utilize HDR>SDR tonemapping instead as my projector doesnt so HDR all that well.
Latest Beta release of plex client 10.17.0.805 (2b228560) , Onkyo TX-RZ820, Optoma UHD Projector.

I get the same errors on Android Phone (Samsung S23Ultra) same plex version.

Ive tried leaving the beta channel and reinstalled the plex client again but it seems to be pulling the same release of plex anyway.

@ChuckPa
Dont really know how to export logs, if anyone can point me in the right direction i could export the logs and upload them here for review?

[savantali]

@City-Cobra

What Plex Version you have?

I have version 9.1.1 (33.2.0.157)

@ChuckPa

Sorry for the delay…

No worries.

@ChuckPa

Are there any other titles where this is reproducible ?

This is occurring for all files that are 4K HDR.

I can try and provide samples to you if you need to.

Have attached two more XML files:
4530.txt (93.7 KB)
76308.txt (51.7 KB)
migration-movie-playback-pixelation-issues.txt (5.0 MB)

Most recent log output in the above should be the Migration movie, and prior to that the Naked Gun Movie.

I have intel quicksync setup, I run Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as a base OS, plexmediaserver in a docker container. But like I mentioned, this does not show up on macOS in Chrome Browser.

It also occurs with Bullet Train:
6875.txt (97.8 KB)

For what it is worth, this has not happen on TV Series with 4K and EAC5.1 or TrueHD Atmos 7.1 (For example Game of Thrones Season 8) for me yet.

[ChuckPa]

I would like samples if possible & convenient.

To get the shield’s logs.

1. Enable Network logging in the Plex app
   – it will show you the URL to use

2. Open the web browser to http://ip.addr.of.shield:32500/logging
   – this is where mine are at. yours might be different

3. You’ll get the logs (text) in the browser page
   (It will likely be a long file)

4. save the text to a file

5. Attach that file here.

Scroll down to Nvidia Shield (Gaming Consoles)
https://support.plex.tv/articles/201573117-android-android-tv-fire-tv-logs/

[savantali]

Nvidia shield logs have been provided previously - as the longer named .txt files, but do have a recommendation or preferred way to give you a sample file?

[savantali]

Nevermind, seems like Plex’s forum auto links if you use sample file

[ChuckPa]

best way for a sample file is a link to where it can be downloaded
(Forum won’t hold that much per post)

Arrangements can be made as needed

[perjans89]

How do you export those logs, are there specific steps to do?
eg. activate debug logging and so on?

Edit: Saw previous post, will look into the logs.

I seem to have status errors for the dashboard “now playing status” as well, or a huge delay.
Somehow it doesnt show all media i try to playback even though i have media running for my local devices.

@ChuckPa
Playback of the same material is working as intended on Plex for Window (1.90.1.118-a4bc1429) so seems only to be an error on Android for me.
But same issue there i start a playback but Plex Server does not show the playback info for my session.

Plex Server is running on UnRaid in a Docker.
Plex Web Version: 4.131.1
Docker Version: linuxserver/plex:latest (1.40.2.8395)

[ChuckPa]

Please forgive me as it’s 03:30 here. I really need to sleep (which is overrated haha)

I have alerted the android team so if/when anyone looks in , they’ll be directed here.

I will check back in soon as I can in the morning.

I am running 10.17 here (which you don’t have).
I also just did a factory reset of the shield (i broke adb access)

Not sure if those are related or not but definitely need to check.

[savantali]

I’ll provide 5 samples,

Migration
Naked Gun
The NeverEnding Story
Bullet Train
Game Of Thrones (seems to be working from a few seconds worth of playthrough)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/148p6sgU2Oaat_o51j72Zj_2YvouePeJy?usp=sharing

For reference I have increased the count from 50 to 300, to try and capture a bit more detail in the sample file. If that was unnecessary, sorry for the increased download size.

Enjoy some sleep Going to go for a run, it’s 9:30 here.