This occurs with most 4k movies using Direct Play, but here’s an example video:
Bitrate: 41059 kbps
Width: 3840
Height: 2160
Plex Media Server 1.19.1.2630 - Mac Mini 2018
Plex for Mac Version 1.6.5.1097-3bb9dc68 - Macbook Pro 16" (2019)
Connected by Cat6e cables and a gigabit router (Apple Time Capsule)
Home Streaming - Use Recommended Settings.
Problem: Video stutters badly and de-syncs from audio.
What plays fine:
Plex Media Player (Downloaded v2.54) Displays Version 4.29.2
VLC over SMB.
Plex for iOS (transcoded. Transcoding for Plex for Mac also plays ok)
Questions:
Why does PMP play better than Plex for Mac?
Why does downloading PMP “v2.54” show “Version 4.29.2” when installed?
Why are there two Plex desktop apps for Mac being developed in parallel?
If the future is to deprecate PMP, this should be addressed.
I’m happy that PMP still exists and solves my problem, but it seems weird that PMP still exists.
Plex for Windows and Plex for Mac are meant to be desktop apps; Plex Media Player is meant for an HTPC environment (the desktop mode in PMP will be going away).
Plex for Mac still has a long way to go before it can match the usability of PMP in desktop mode. Between the 4K video playback issues of Plex for Mac and its inability to remember its window size between launches, it’s still a non-starter for me.
What version of the desktop app do you have installed? Local or remote playback?
Plex Media Player (Mac) v4.29.2, Plex for Mac v1.8.0.1159-67c4a549. Local playback, though the PMS is also remotely accessed via the tvOS and iOS apps; no problems with those.
What are the video/audio specs of the file? Are you using subtitles?
56.7Mbps, 2160p 4K, HEVC 10 bit main 10 video, TRUEHD 7.1 audio, direct play. Video is dark, frame rate approximately half what it should be and stutters, and has trouble synchronizing to audio. Subtitles don’t appear to affect this, on or off. PMP (Mac) has no trouble playing this or similar files.
What version of macOS? What version of PMS installed and on what OS?
macOS 10.15.3 (10.15.4 upgrade kept causing the system to hang at boot, so I reverted to 10.15.3. Not a fun week). PMS v1.19.1.2645 running on the same machine as the player.
What Mac hardware do you have?
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), 4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM (to be expanded, someday, when money isn’t so tight), AMD Radeon R9 M395X 4 GB graphics, 1 TB internal SSD. Media library resides on a Drobo 5Dt connected via Thunderbolt 2.
The Plex for Mac version (which is not the same Plex Media Player, confusing, I know!) should start with 1. something.
Sounds like you have a very similar set to mine. Can you provide a sample of the media file causing you problems and either link to it here or post when you have it ready.
