Plex for Kodi (Add-on) v0.1.8 Vs Plex Android 8.0.1.17410 Playback Player

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Server Version#: Version 1.19.3.2764
Player Version#:
Plex for Kodi (Add-on) v0.1.8
Plex Android 8.0.1.17410

Hello Everyone,

My ISP is 400mbps UL/DL. The issue is that the SAME file I play with Plex for Kodi is direct play whereas Plex android app transcode the audio.

I wanted to bring up a topic that I have searched and read for several years and the resources who work/own Plex do not provide a answer.

I am playing my media locally from a TX5pro device (android) box on 2 plex playback software’s.

Plex for Kodi (Add-on) v0.1.8
Plays all media direct play ‘video and audio’. Lacks the UI which I would like it to be like the Plex android app because I want the tabs like Web Shows, News, Plex Movie & TV Shows.

Sample screenshot of the UI from Plex for Kodi Add-on:

873×573 63.4 KB

However, it plays everything direct play because the playback player is Kodi Please remember this as it will be essential going forward.

Plex Android 8.0.1.17410
The UI i really do like however everything setting I try it either’s plays the media direct stream or transcode. How can it be transcoding when I know Plex for Kodi Add-on direct plays everything and I have seen on the Plex server ‘dashboard’ of this.

Plex android app UI screenshot took from online:

943×530 59.6 KB

Also Plex for android app uses this Exo Player where the Plex for Kodi Add-on uses Kodi player and we all know if only the Plex Team moved a better player for the media playback maybe users I like myself can move to it.

What is a more of a insult is that this topic seems to be discussed 2+years ago and where @elan CTO and Co-Founder for thePlex company was tagged. I mean please Plex can’t you guys make a better player for the android app for playback?

Original thread discussing the Plex player issue:
https://forums.plex.tv/t/decoding-ability-on-shield-native-plex-vs-plex-via-kodi/287377

If the same media file is plays ‘direct play’ via the Plex or Kodi Add-on whereas ‘transcoding’ on the official Plex android app that doesn’t mean its my server for devices..

It has to do with the back-end player the official Plex android app uses which from what I have seen is ‘Exo Player’?

@elan you created a beautiful product however I feel its not living up to what consumers are accustomed to. What good is a UI without its bells and whistles..

I hope it doesn’t take another 2 years for Plex to realized the playback player needs to be like the Kodi playback player from the Plex for Kodi Add-on.

Thank you,

MS

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This has been answered numerous times. Whether or not a file can be direct played depends on the codecs involved and the device. The Plex for Android app relies heavily on the devices hardware and what codecs are reported as being supported. The Kodi player replies solely on software decoding of everything so it doesn’t matter what hardware is used, but performance will vary depending on the CPU in that device.

The Plex for Android app will software decode some codecs too but there are some limitations. If you provide the logs from the app after playing back something that transcodes we can tell you exactly why it’s doing it.

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Thanks for the response. To confirm I should first play something on the device I want to post the logs? Then download the Plex logs by the following,

  1. Go to Settings > Manage > Troubleshooting in Plex Web App
  2. Click the Download Logs button

I see 150+ logs in the zip file, can you please share what name of the logs I will be posting?

Thanks

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I believe you can share the entire zip file of Server Logs.

Here is the instructions on how to get logs for android tv devices (note the difference from android mobile).

I’m unfamiliar with Plex for Kodi so I can’t help there.

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Not those logs. That’s from PMS. I need the log from the Plex for Android app. https://support.plex.tv/articles/201573117-android-android-tv-fire-tv-logs/

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Okay. Well hopefully its the same method as receiving from the smartphone “android app”. Because the android app is installed on a TX5Pro playback device ‘android box’. I’ll post once I replicate the issue.

Thanks for the help guys.

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@anon18523487 Sent the log via DM.

Thanks

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Was that the entire log you sent me? I don’t see the start of the playback where the decision is made. I also need the start of the app to see what codecs the device supports. Please restart the app and playback that file again.

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