Plex HTPC for Windows should add "comfort sound" to prevent sound delay on pause

Feature Suggestions
1

I have an issue on Plex HTPC under Windows 11 as a Plex Pass subscriber playing back multi channel pass through audio (EAC3 etc.) where if the video is paused and then stared, audio will start playing back delayed after the video resumes.

You can read other users reporting the identical issue here: Reddit - Dive into anything

It appears the resolution for this problem might be to add an option for “Comfort Sound” on Plex HTPC for Windows where if enabled it will continue to send an audio signal out that matches the format type of the video that has been paused.

2

Wrong topic.

3

This was considered but when audio passthrough is used, it would require constructing audio packets which match the exact audio type.

There is a setting to rewind a certain number of seconds on resume which should satisfy this need as well as others.

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4

Thank you for that information! I will look into that setting (Rewind on Resume @ https://support.plex.tv/articles/htpc-settings/)

Would perhaps a workaround implementation to constructing audio packets which match the exact audio type programmatically be to instead just loop the first or last 1 second of the current file at zero volume?

5

Not when passthrough is used. There is a lot of complexity necessary.

6

The rewind on resume feature does help with pause audio delay;

However it seems that the issue also pops up when seeking (fast forwarding or rewinding) and in these instances it does not help and ESC sometimes needs to be pressed to exit playback and then resume from there in order to get audio back.

7

This delay issue is also present when using the Plex Pass “skip intro” feature and this is not helped with the rewind function.

8

I can’t confirm it’s the exact same function, but the FOSS software Kodi on Windows looks like it might have this feature: https://kodi.wiki/view/Settings/System/Audio#Keep_audio_device_alive

Not sure if their source code for implementation might be useful; GitHub - xbmc/xbmc: Kodi is an award-winning free and open source home theater/media center software and entertainment hub for digital media. With its beautiful interface and powerful skinning engine, it's available for Android, BSD, Linux, macOS, iOS, tvOS and Windows.

9

It appears the setting / kodi code that is relevant is actually “Send low volume noise”

Well ‘Keep audio device alive’ does ensure the audio device (HDMI/SPDIF) is always ready to send audio so there’s no possibility of delay or missed audio caused by the device on which Kodi is installed.

Then ‘Send low volume noise’ does the same for the far end audio device (HDMI/SPDIF) so it’s always ready to receive audio so there’s no possibility of delay or missed audio caused by the TV/AVR/whatever.

https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=311370&pid=2563342#pid2563342

10

Just came across this: GitHub - vrubleg/soundkeeper: Prevents SPDIF/HDMI digital audio playback devices from sleeping.

Have not had time to try it yet but will report and sharing in case it is helpful to any users

11

mpv does have an option for this => mpv.io

I have not tested this however and have no idea if it works with passthrough audio.

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