App Name: Plex for LG
Client Version: 5.51.2
Platform Version: 6.3.2
Plex Server on Synology DMS7
TV Model: LG 55UP7560AUD
Burn Subtitles: Automatic
Issue: When selecting to use PGS subtitles from an mkv file, Plex thinks it’s playing them, but they don’t appear. (SRT subs play fine.)
I’ve seen in the lg-webos release notes that PGS subtitles are supported for LG-UHD devices, which mine is. Thus, since I have the Burn Subtitles setting on “Automatic”, I would expect Plex to render the PGS subs. And indeed, Plex goes merrily along incorrectly thinking it’s showing the subtitles (Dashboard shows no transcoding), but for most files, they never show up.
I do, however, have at least one file where PGS subs are rendered without transcoding. I’ve looked hard to try to find what makes that file different, but no luck.
I’m sure this is just part of the general struggles with subtitles.
I have this same problem. LG 55UJ6200 and selecting PGS causes the movie to show direct play for both video and audio, and shows PGS subtitles as being there in the dashboard, but nothing displays.
It also completely freezes up so the only thing I can do with the remote is really adjust the volume, exit the app, or turn off the TV. Can’t control anything else like pausing, seeking, or even just clicking Back to exit out of the movie/episode.
However, the console within Plex tells a different story. It is definitely constantly transcoding until it kills the job because it thinks it’s been idle for 180 seconds.
I’ve seen similar messaging looking at the console myself. But I’m certainly no expert in understanding what is actually happening. I haven’t experienced the job getting killed, the subs just never get rendered. I can switch to srt and they appear - switch back to PGS, no subs.
And, curiously, I have found one mkv where the PGS subs are rendered - but I don’t see any difference between that video’s encoding and other videos that don’t work. All the videos I’ve looked at are encoded with the same settings in Handbrake. I had posted some information about that file, but never got any traction, so I thought it might have been confusing and I deleted that comment.
Of course, switching to “burn always” switches the dashboard to show transcoding, and the subs are rendered.
Anyway, at the very least the implementation of PGS support on LG UHD devices is not universal and there’s a quirk in the Plex LG app that makes it think PGS is being rendered when it’s not. Maybe there’s a specific processor, memory, etc. that’s needed for it to work, which would mean app is not able to correctly detect the LG’s capabilities.
My point here is that the next time the Plex team is working on the LG app they could take a look for bugs in the PGS rendering.
I commented on your initial post to hopefully get traction from the Plex employees to fix this obvious bug. Hopefully overall the entire system, but at least the LG webOS systems.
Changed the Burn Subtitles from Automatic to Only Image Formats and then to Always. No change. No subtitles show on the TV, the TV operations mainly freeze when playing the video and audio (still both showing direct play), and the operation times out after awhile.
To the developers, ultimately PGS support is desired since that allows the greatest customization and perfect utilization. Either show the transcoding and issues or pass the PGS subtitles along with relevant info to decode on the servers end if it’s more capable than the client device.
