I have been experimenting with the Optimize function on PMS (running on Windows 10) so that videos play on the PS4 without need to transcode on the fly. However, I have tried optimizations such as “Optimized for Mobile (720p/4Mbps)” and “Optimized for TV (1080p/8Mbps)”, without either of them working - regardless of which video version I choose from the PS4, I can see the process PlexNewTranscoder.exe starting in the task manager.
TLDR - What are the settings for the Optimize so that it plays on the PS4 without transcoding on the fly?
I don’t think you can change the optimize settings. I’m not sure what codecs the PS4 supports natively, but you’ll probably have to use handbrake to make the files so that no transcoding is required on the PS4.
I don’t know either, but to help for now, you can change the max h264 level in the PS4 app from 4.0 to 4.1. It is not recommended, but I haven’t had issues with it yet, and it makes a much larger portion of my library direct playable/streamable.
Correct, the optimize settings currently aren’t editable. Although the Optimized for TV setting works great for enabling direct play on the PS4. No need for Handbrake. If anyone would like to test with Handbrake the PlayStation support media information is available here.
@Dibermann the Optimized for TV setting works great for avoiding transcoding on the PS4. After the transcoding job is done you can choose the version here:
Selecting that will show you a modal with available versions, select the optimized one:
The playback approach can be seen in the Now Playing section of the Plex Web app when clicking on the i on the poster.
If it’s still not playing make sure your settings (especially Allow Direct Play and Local Quality) are correct. Mine look like:
@deactivated said:
Correct, the optimize settings currently aren’t editable. Although the Optimized for TV setting works great for enabling direct play on the PS4. No need for Handbrake. If anyone would like to test with Handbrake the PlayStation support media information is available here.
@Dibermann the Optimized for TV setting works great for avoiding transcoding on the PS4. After the transcoding job is done you can choose the version here:
Selecting that will show you a modal with available versions, select the optimized one:
The playback approach can be seen in the Now Playing section of the Plex Web app when clicking on the i on the poster.
If it’s still not playing make sure your settings (especially Allow Direct Play and Local Quality) are correct. Mine look like:
How’s that work for you?
Interesting. So you HAVE to choose the optimized version, the app won’t select the most appropriate one automatically?
That doesn’t help the WAF, if there is an optimized version it should be used automatically, instead of transcoding a 4k file and encountering buffering… Any chance this behavior might be improved? Or any reason why you chose this behavior perhaps?
@KarlDag said:
I don’t know either, but to help for now, you can change the max h264 level in the PS4 app from 4.0 to 4.1. It is not recommended, but I haven’t had issues with it yet, and it makes a much larger portion of my library direct playable/streamable.
Anyone who is having issues on the PS4 with it playing a movie or tv show and then buffering. Switch to these settings right now! Ever sice the PS$ Plex app cam out, I’v had issues with playback and it playing and then buffering. I just changed to 4.1 rather than 4.0 and everything is perfect! No buffering, no lag! Wish I knew of this sooner!
Thanks so much @KarlDag for the tip, this is perfect! I was just thinking that the Plex PS4 app couldn’t handle the content that I have but I was totally wrong.
i just use handbrKe to convert my videos ahead of time and they play flawlessly on direct play go to this post to get a preset file for ps4 handbrake https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/208789/playstation-handbrake-settings#latest its in the rar i posted but change settings to what i said after you use handbrake to convert your videos and they will work wonders
Hi, I found this thread when troubleshooting my PS4 Plex streaming. After running optimize for TV and choosing the right file for play on the PS4 the video stream is ok, but I still get transcoding on the audio stream, why is that? Attaching a screenshot of the info.
Seems i needed the option ‘Dolby Digital (AC3)’ active in Plex for PS4’s settings->audio. I don´t know why that was unchecked, but now I do get direct play - yeay!
