Playback was not possible with FLAC files in Android app

General Discussions
1

Hi,

I’ve just started using Plex on a mediaserver. Playing video works fine, but I’m having trouble playing my FLAC files over 4G on my Android device.
I get an error “Playback was not possible: Direct play not available; Conversion OK”. It doesn’t matter what I set the Internet streaming quality for audio to. However, I do not get this error when I’m on my home WiFi connection. With MP3 I do not get this error at all.

Anyone any clue how I can fix this?

Server version: 1.10.1.4602 (running on Debian Stretch)
App version: 6.11.3.3147 (Android on OnePlus 3)

2

FWIW, FLAC direct plays for me. Files are 16 bit / 44.1 kHz CD rips.

Plex app 6.12.0.3136 on Nexus 5X / Android 8.0.0 w/ Dec 2017 security patches. LTE on Google Fi network (T-Mobile).
Plex app Settings -> Quality -> Music Quality / Internet Streaming = Original.

PMS 1.11.0.4666 on NVIDIA Shield TV Pro and Windows 10 Pro.

3

@FordGuy61 said:
FWIW, FLAC direct plays for me. Files are 16 bit / 44.1 kHz CD rips.

Plex app 6.12.0.3136 on Nexus 5X / Android 8.0.0 w/ Dec 2017 security patches. LTE on Google Fi network (T-Mobile).
Plex app Settings → Quality → Music Quality / Internet Streaming = Original.

PMS 1.11.0.4666 on NVIDIA Shield TV Pro and Windows 10 Pro.

I’ve figured it out, I had set the upload speed in my server settings to 2 Mbps, if I set it higher, it works. It seems like it just doesn’t want to play if the upload speed is below what it thinks it needs for FLAC play. However, even if I select 320kbps or lower quality, it still doesn’t work (and when I set the upload speed higher, it still says ‘Direct Play’ in ‘Now Playing’ and it takes about the same time to load up). I saw some threads about the conversion of FLAC files actually not doing anything, is that still the case?

4

Hi i have actually exactly the same issue but my upload speed is set to 3mps (720p) and i actually do not want to increase it further. should the plex server nut just transcode it to a lower quality to be in the max range of 3mbps?

5

I ran some tests. Here’s what appears to be happening:

  1. Direct Play Capable = yes; Bandwidth = sufficient; Result = :slight_smile:

If the client has the capability to direct play the audio file, and “Limit remote steam bitrate” (LRSB) is at a high enough setting, the client will direct play the audio.

  1. Direct Play Capable = yes; Bandwidth = insufficient; Result = :’(

If the client has the capability to direct play the audio file, and the LRSB setting is below the bandwidth of the audio file, PMS will not play the file (no transcode to lower rate, no transcode to alternate codec, just refuse to play the file).

  1. Direct Play Capable = no; Result = :slight_smile: (transcoded tunes > no tunes)

If the client does not have the capability to direct play the audio file (i.e no codec support, so must transcode), the PMS will transcode the audio and fit it within the LRSB setting.

I did not try varying the Internet Upload Speed setting. I left it at 10 Mbps, the speed of my connection.
I did not try multiple concurrent streams. Just one stream at a time.

Here’s the tests I performed:

Setup
PMS = 1.11.0.4666 on Win10 Pro. Internet upload speed = 10Mbps, LRSB = varies by test.
Plex app 6.12.0.3136 on Nexus 5X
Nexus 5X can direct play FLAC & MP3. It has no ALAC support, so ALAC is always transcoded.
T-Mobile LTE network (disabled WiFi on phone to force LTE connection)

EDIT: Plex client Music Quality → Internet Streaming originally set to “Original.” I re-ran tests with setting at 96 kbps. It made no difference.

Test 1: FLAC Audio, 1412 kbps (16/44.1 CD rip)
LRSB = 3 Mbps or higher, attempt to play FLAC audio file. Result = direct play.
LRSB = 2 Mbps, attempt to play FLAC audio file. Result = Song does not play. Log file contains “Bandwidth exceeded: 2832 kbps > 2000 kbps.”

Test 2: MP3 Audio, 320 kbps
LRSB = 720kbps or higher, attempt to play MP3 audio file. Result = direct play.
LRSB = 320kbps, attempt to play MP3 audio file. Result = Song does not play. Log file contains “Required bandwidth is 650kbps and only 320kbps is available.”

Test 3: Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio, ~900 kbps (varies per song)
LRSB = 320kbps to unlimited, attempt to play ALAC audio file. Result = successful transcode to MP3.

6

Hi, I got the same problem with 4G: Playback was not possible: Direct play not available; Conversion OK. I tried using the Chrome on the phone and interestingly I get the following error: Playback Error: Not enough bandwidth for direct play of this item. Required bandwidth is 1850kps and only 1600kps is available. Interestingly when using my computer where I am now that works flawlessly… is the maximum for 4G 1600kps?

7

Ok, I’ve changed now the Internet Upload Speed in the “Remote Access” Settings from 2Mbps to 4Mbps and it works now… strange…

8

The Android app does not trigger a transcode for music files according to your max remote bitrate settings. @“MovieFan.Plex” confirmed they’re working on a fix.

9

Thanks @KarlDag. Good to know.

10

Here’s the thread for those interested http://forums.plex.tv/discussion/224260/feature-request-transcoding-music-library-via-android-clients#latest