Optimized version for DIRECT play in ANY plex app..?

General Discussions
1

Hi
I have Plex server running on a synology ds716+ NAS. I have friends playing my shared libraries over the internet, from plex app on windows pc and plex app on PS4. I have 20mbit upload and it doesnt seem to be using a lot of the bandwidth.
I have a hard time understanding WHY i almost never see it(the server) playing DIRECT stream(without transcoding on the fly).
If I do optimize(lets say “optimized for TV”) some of the movies, will it 100% be DIRECT PLAYable for the client plex app? If not, why not?
I know my NAS can transcode on the fly, but I often see 40% usage jumping up to 95% usage when the plex server is transcoding, which is a lot more cpu usage than I would have expected.
What “Streaming Quality” should I advice the client plex app to use? Fx. “Remote” 8Mbps 1080p quality? Most of my movies are in 1080 resolution.

Any advice or help is appreciated. Thank you :slight_smile:

2

A book could be written on transcoding !!

A couple of things that also effect whether the server transcodes.
Subtiltes and the d/l speed of your remote users.

Do some tests and find who transcode and who doesn’t .
Then put everything in a spreadsheet and see what is the common denominator.!

Plexpy is great for getting most of that info!!

3

If the bit rate of the file your guests are trying to play won’t:

  1. fit into the available upload pipe (yours) - your guests are lowering the quality to prevent buffering and… instant transcode.
  2. your guests have 720p/4Mbps selected as the Remote Quality (the Plex Default) and a 1080p file is being sent… instant transcode.

Plex stupidly transcodes via resolution and not bit rate.

Have your guests set their remote quality at 1080p/8Mbps - then optimize a version that will fit into that constraint. Note: Plex’s transcoder/optimizer is very stupid. If you want to create a decent, lower bit rate version do it with Handbrake and there’s a bulletproof Handbrake Guide in my signature.

Transcoding typically acts exactly the way you see it. Slams your inadequate CPU up against the wall filling a remote buffer, then relaxes for a bit, then slams it again. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. You’re right in thinking you need to create a lower bit rate version. The way you achieve that goal depends on Plex destroying it in an optimize session, or you creating a decent version by some other means.

Netflix and Amazon delivers what most people consider suitable quality and those bit rates are 3.5 - 4.5Mbps. Create a 1080p version with those bit rates and you’ll be golden.

Finally, make sure your guests have:
Direct Play - Auto
Direct Stream - Enabled
If you give them a version with a video stream that can Direct Play, the worst that can happen is an audio transcode (Direct Stream) and that’s easily done by just about anything you use as a server.

4

Thanks to Spikemixture and JuiceWSA!

I see that the Handbrake is a great advanced tool. Tried with a bluray movie, followed your guide. I dont have the Advanced TAB in the old 0.10.5.0. Is it OK to use newest version?

New created Handbrake version details:
Mp4, Web optimized, 1280x536(keep aspect ratio ON), Filters OFF, H.264, FPS same as source (variable), avg bitrate 3200, Audio: aac, bitrate 128, Dolby Pro Logic II, DRC 1.8. Subtitles SRT imported(did not show in the preview sample).
Nothing else changed from defaults.
It looks great, subtitles are working, audio/video in sync.!
Source BluRay version information:

Final Handbrake version information:

JuiceWSA, in your HandBrake guide, I read something about getting rid of the black bars on top/bottom, by changing something. That I didnt get excactly. Could you clarify? :smile:

Ofcourse, I need to test it with Plex remote, to see if transcoding or not. Given that the user download line is sufficient. Will get back on this!

5

You turn on the ‘advanced tab’ in the Handbrake Options/General - the very last checkbox at the bottom.

The black bars are removed via ‘Cropping’:
Load Source Vid, Picture tab, Cropping, Custom. (Automatic can be good, but ‘sometimes’ Handbrake gets overzealous, or not zealous enough - always check it’s work)
View a Static Preview (Handbrake Options, Advanced, Alpha Features, Enable Static Preview. It’s button is on the Picture Tab)(may have to downsize the window a bit so you can see it all) adjust cropping to just take out the black bars top, bottom, left and right, then bump the base rez back up to it’s 1920x1080, or 1920xwhatever resolution if it’s letterboxed.

3200 may be a little low. Try 3750-4250 for that extra bit of Ummmph. You can Direct Play two of those things and still not be over 9Mbps. Not too shabby. Your server will probably deliver as many Direct Play streams as you have upload pipe for - the magic of Direct Play.

A running Preview is always handy to check subs, audio, and video. A nice 120-240 second ‘Preview’ (upper right) gives you time enough to check all it’s bits before the final lift-off.

AAC 2.0 (stereo) is more likely to Direct Play on everything, than anything else, but Dolby Pro Logic isn’t an awful way to go.
DRC only works if the source track is AC3 (I think) and may only work if something is present in the stream (don’t have a clue what). I always leave it on, because sometimes it does work and anytime you can bring the effects down and the voices up it’s a good thing.

DTS is a magnum PITA. I always run those through MKVToolNix for a quick remux/audio fiddle and reduce them to their lossy core, then Handbrake with AC3 Stereo with at least 256k bit rate (48k sample - always), then shoot the final (after Handbrake) through Xmedia Recode (always) (copy video, convert audio) and normalize the audio track to 89db with a bit rate of at least 192k using Fraunhofer FDK AAC LOW COMPLEXITY (this is EXTREMELY important - EXTREMELY!). 128 is fine and will save a little more space, but 192 is just a little better for not much more size. Audio fiddle the least times as possible, of course. A few hundred of those and you’ll be an old hand - and 10 times better than Plex’s stupid transcoder.

https://mkvtoolnix.download/
http://www.xmedia-recode.de/en/download.html

PS: You do NOT want to use the latest Windows version of Handbrake until they fix the custom anamorphic setting routine for DVDs. If you ever want to encode a DVD (and you will at some point) you’ll want to go back to the Guide and learn that section by heart. It’s complicated. So complicated that Plex’s transcoder is absolutely clueless in that regard. If you can create a proper DVD rip you’ll be way ahead of the game because Plex’s transcoder absolutely can not. It will take a perfect 720x480 (or 576 if you’re in PAL lands), stomp on it, vomit on it, pee on it and send it out at 720x404 annihilating it’s 480p (or 576p) base resolution - and when you’re working with SD content you need all those Ps you can get.

In the advanced tab - reference frames are the single most effective time saver, or time killer. The default of 3 is fast enough, but do NOT use more than 5. I never use more than 4. The defaults are fine all the way around and the advanced tab is where you can create material that won’t play on anything, so… the Guide is your friend.

6

Again, JuiceWSA, thanks for clarifying so much :slight_smile:
For the sound, I was first thinking I wanted to leave it at source (most often 5.1 dts) to keep the surround option. But I guess that my remote clients, using PS4 and plex on pc with hdmi to TV, doesnt support real surround anyway, am I right? Whatever I choose, it wont make a big difference, as the server fairly easy can transcode the sound on the fly, right?
For the bitrate I will try the 4250 and check results later.
I found the advanced option, and also sticked with the old HB version your suggesting in the guide.

7

For remote use the audio that will most likely Direct Play is probably the best option - unless your guests threaten to come over and TP your house. lol (chances are they’ll never know the difference)

True, an audio transcode isn’t the worst that can happen, but remember - we’re dealing with Plex. DTS is a PITA. Sometimes Plex has to transcode the whole thing when it can’t transcode just the audio and you’re using subs too so that just compounds the issue. Best to concentrate on Direct Play all around and mitigate potential trouble spots.

It may be a good idea to ‘burn’ any embedded sub tracks or files with Handbrake and remove the sub equation all together - if your guests will likely use them anyway. If Handbrake burns them in - Direct Play is no problem as there is no sub track or file to fiddle with and potentially freak out Plex or one or more of your remote clients.

8

Hi guys.
EDIT: I FOUND THE SOLUTION!!! A SETTING IN PLEX THAT PRIORITIZED LOCAL MEDIA INFO BEFORE AGENTS LIKE IMDB AND MOVIE DATABASE.

When I have changed the movie with handbrake, Plex often gives the movie an odd title. Fx. the title of the filename itself. The picture and correct movie is okay, but I cant seem to make Plex just show the movie title, and nothing more. I do keep the SFV file that I often have with the movie, but I delete the original movie file and the subtitles files that I no longer need. I tried remove Match / Fix Match several times without luck.
What is wrong? And can it be fixed?
Thanks for helping :slight_smile:

9

Hi @JuiceWSA! Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I am trying to find a one-cmd-to-rule-them-all handbreak transcoding to use. Would you be able to help me? I usually download 720P sources (but sometimes 1080P), and I wanted to create a default conversion to run after my downloads are finished. I’m looking for a way to have a constant 720P output, web optimized, transform audio tracks to AAC (transform all tracks if multiple present). Is there an easy way to do so? My goal is to have lightweight files to be viewed locally or remotely with least amount of transcoding needed for remote viewers. Audio and video quality are not issues (but we do not need to go 3GPP-low :smile:

I looked at your DVD guide on your signature, pretty solid, just wanted to check if I can really use one command to whatever I throw at it and have consistent results. Tks!

10

I use Handbrake, when necessary, to fix Wombat Encodes and Xmedia Recode for Remuxing/Audio Fiddles (and Level Normalization)/Sub Conversions (when I’m not burning them in with Handbrake).

Between those two things - you can probably device a workable plan and stick to it.