The nVIDIA Shield TV (2017) is my favorite server because it’s so fast, but it still won’t play movie extras. Instead, I have been using an Apple TV 4K. However, when I tried to watch Jaws (4K/DTS stereo) earlier today, Plex had to transcode the video and audio files. In fact, Plex had to transcode the video and audio files of all the 4K movies I tested. For fun, I connected the Amazon Fire Stick 4K, which played the movie and the movie extras. However, I had to increase the volume setting much higher than normal to hear the sound track. Actually, the sound track for the movie and some of the movie extras required different volume levels to be audible.
Do I have to purchase a Roku device to have a consistently good experience with Plex? I really hope things can get back to normal soon. Thank you.
Please accept my apology. I meant to write that the nVIDIA Shield TV is my favorite “streamer.” The PMS is located on a NAS.
The other issue I described in the original post reminds me of my initial experience with Plex. Apple TV 4K was my first streamer. It worked fine when I streamed files from ripped DVDs. However, once I ripped my blu-rays, the Apple TV sputtered because the HD files had to be transcoded. Now, the Apple TV works fine with HD files but sputters when trying to play 4K files because they have to be transcoded. Does this mean that the Plex app on the Apple TV 4K needs to be updated? Thanks.
After playing a couple of 4K videos, I went through every folder under “Settings” twice, but could not find anything resembling “Enable Log Downloads.” The link you sent for obtaining logs from an Apple TV streamer seems to apply to older Apple TV streamers because the Apple TV 4K streamer does not have a USB-C port. See, e.g., the discussion regarding Apple TV Console Logs. I downloaded iOS Console app, but that, too, requires a USB-C port. Is there any other way for me to obtain the logs you need? Thanks.
While waiting for further guidance about getting those Apple TV 4K logs, I decided to try to find the logs for the nVIDIA Shield TV. I enabled Network Logging in the Plex app and then clicked on “Jaws” in 4K. It still plays fine. When I clicked on one of the “Jaws” movie extras, it played, too. The other movie extras also played. I am happy that my favorite streamer is working again. The only weird thing is that I still have to leave the movie and then click on the movie again before I can even see those movie extras on the screen. To the best of my memory, that wasn’t true before the roll out of the new video player, but this is a minor inconvenience. Thanks.
I’m confused. I thought the issue was playing the extras. I see in your log where you are playing Jaws, but I don’t see where you tried to play the extra.
Two or three times during the past few months, I posted about being unable to play movie extras with the nVIDIA Shield TV. Another user thought the cause was a dispute between Plex and nVIDIA, but I thought the cause might relate to all Android devices because none of mine would play movie extras. On the other hand, the Apple TV 4K didn’t have a problem playing movie extras, which suggested, to me at least, that my files are organized properly.
When I started this latest post, my Sony TV would play movie extras, but the nVIDIA shield still would not play them. In the course of trying to provide Plex with as much data as possible, I used the Apple TV 4K to again establish that my files are formatted properly. I happened to click on a new 4K movie and noticed that it had to be transcoded. Then, I tried a couple of other 4K videos and got the same result.
As mentioned on June 14, I discovered that the nVIDIA Shield TV is playing movie extras again, which is great. However, the Apple TV 4K is still transcoding my 4K video files. So the only remaining issue is why the Apple TV 4K has to transcode 4K files that the nVIDIA can direct play.
Oh sorry. I didn’t catch this from your earlier comments. Next time it’s best to start a new thread if there is a different issue.
From your log it shows you have the feature for “automatic bitrate reduction” enabled. The new video player on the Apple TV does not support this feature yet, so it switched back to the old player. The old player doesn’t support direct play of mkv files, so it has to remux the file. When using the automatic bitrate reduction feature, the file has to be transcoded.
Turn off the ABR feature so it sticks to using the new player and will then direct play.
I couldn’t find the “automatic bitrate reduction” feature in either the Plex app or Apple TV 4K settings. I found a “match frame rate” feature, but assume that’s not what you meant. Apple’s new Apple TV+ app makes searching for the information about the streamer’s bit rates somewhat difficult. In any event, I’ll be happy as long as the nVIDIA Shield TV keeps working. Thanks for your help.
I remember seeing that screen. I think it automatically changes HDR to SDR. In any event, I will switch it off. Thanks again, especially for your patience.
My memory was wrong about that particular setting having to do with changing HDR to SDR, but changing that setting to OFF didn’t cause the 4K files to direct play. See screen shot.
Regardless, I’m happy that the nVIDIA Shield TV is playing all my movies and TV shows properly, so I can wait for a Plex update that fixes the problem with the Apple TV 4K. Thanks.
