I’m trying to use a PMS on my windows 10 desktop to host 4K HDR movies that I will watch using my https://www.optomaeurope.com/product-details/uhd42 4K HDR projector and the PLEX app on the Chromecast 2020 (which can do 4K HDR). But despite that my movies (testing with a couple of different ones), my chromecast, the PMS (to my understanding) and my projector are all 4K HDR compatible, the PMS still wants to transcode, which my computer is too weak to do in real-time, causing the video to pause for buffering constantly. But it shouldn’t have to transcode - it should just direct play / direct stream, right?
I did double check that they connect straight via the local network, not the web.
It seems PMS thinks my projector can’t do HDR, because when I go to the dashboard it says it needs to convert to SDR but that will cause distortion unless I pay for Plex Pass to get Tone Mapping, but… again, it shouldn’t need to convert to SDR since my projector is fine with HDR.
I double checked that the projector is set to “HDR: Auto” (the other option is Off). The Chromecast 2020 is also set to 4K resolution. And the Plex app, when playing the movie, displays the icons for 4K HDR.
Thanks for the quick response! Of course, I’ll fetch whatever logs and test whatever you tell me to
I thought I’d add, on the server side, when I look at the “Now Playing” in the dashboard, I sometimes (but not every test run) get the popup “This video needs to be converted for playback and contains High Dynamic Range (HDR) content. Colors will appear distorted on this device.
With a Plex Pass, you can preview the new “HDR tone mapping” feature to correct colors during conversion!” That was why I thought it was connected to PLEX thinking my projector couldn’t handle HDR. But yes, if CCwATV is not compable with the sound, that could be it. I thought “Dolby Atmos” and “Atmos TrueHD 7.1” were the same thing but apparently not. And virtually all movies I find online with 4K HDR also use TrueHD 7.1. Is there a way to play those without transcoding? Or will I have to … I’m such a noob, I don’t even know the word for it Do Stuff to the file myself in a video editing software to change the sound before my movie nights?
The CCwATV (Chromecast 2020, the one with a remote) has a tiny built-in HDMI, about two inches long, so that is how it is connected. That goes straight into the projector’s HDMI 2.0 HDCP2.2 port with the tags HDR and 4K 60Hz next to it.
Other streaming providers do show the HDR logo when playing, yes.
Including the log from trying to play Avengers Endgame 2160p UHD Blu-ray REMUX HEVC HDR TrueHD Atmos 7.1 as well as pictures of the dashboard and other how it looks while playing.
Well, as already mentioned, normally, if you simply switch to the AC3 (or maybe dts) audio stream, then many 4k devices/tvs will play properly.
however in your case, there does appear to be some kind of issue between either the ccwatv or your projector, that cannot play hdr.
see these lines with MDE:
video limitation
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.443 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol hls; container: mkv
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 30
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): Direct Play is disabled
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/truehd
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] Avengers Endgame - video.colorTrc limitation applies: smpte2084 != bt709|bt470m|smpte240m|smpte170m|bt470bg|bt2020-10 [list]
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Avengers Endgame (2019): no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] Scaled up video bitrate to 183942Kbps based on 4.500000x fudge factor.
and then audio limitation
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: testing aac_mf (encoder)
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.444 [19084] INFO - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - MFT name: 'Microsoft AAC Audio Encoder MFT'
Jan 17, 2021 14:26:54.446 [19084] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream audio stream due to codec truehd when profile only allows aac
You may want to see if the projector allows some kind of hdmi setting, sometimes the automatic mode doesn’t work and may need to manually set hdmi 2 mode.
But otherwise, I personally don’t know what is going on there with not detecting the hdr capability.
edit: the projector doesn’t seem to be totally compatible? >> smpte 2084
If you read the 4k FAQ I linked above, then you would know the answer is, shield is the only mainstream device to support truehd/atmos.
Do Stuff to the file myself in a video editing software to change the sound before my movie nights?