FIXED ! Web Player 3.27.1 (included in Media Server 1.9.6.4429) fixes the problem for the Web Player in Chrome. Thanks @Devs !
Little issue: with 1.9.6.4429, I always have transcode x264 (hw to hw) instead of Direct Streaming for the videos (same videos, same condition were Direct Streamed in 1.8.4)…
… and then again some streams play Direct as before. Go figure… (P.S.: auto quality disabled)
Unfortunately I had to downgrade back to PMS 1.8.4. Indeed most MKVs (usually x.264 / AVC High@4.1 video, 1920x1080, with E-AC3 or AC3 audio, total bitrates tested between 5 and 17 mpbs) needed to be converted using the newest beta. On my 2nd Plex server (laptop) it was decoding x264 (software) to x264 (hw) which means near 100% CPU usage :-(.
Using PMS 1.8.4, the same shows will play DirectStream for the video, and only need to convert the audio into AAC.
I’ve done tests with many different files and the conclusion is that 1.9.6.4429 re-encodes almost all videos, even with all auto quality settings off, forcing to play at original resolution (the videos I tested are stored locally to avoid network issues, the client is the server). The re-encoding happens even with SRTs turned off, so it’s not just a workaround for SRT display (e.g. burning in instead of playing them as sidecar files).
I’ll just wait for a release that plays all AVC (x.264) files through DirectStream again…
Quality Plex work right there
Got a word from devs that the final subs fix is in QA. Cross your fingers.
Every release introduces different problems… Newest 1.9.7.4441:
- subtitles always stop after 30 minutes now
- going forward / backward does NOT temporarily fix it anymore
- sometimes, turning them OFF (in the Web player) turns them ON instead and vice-versa
- the same videos play DirectStream on my local laptop (server & client), but are transcoded when served from remote PC (all auto-quality off, all settings maximum, playing Original quality, upload connection 45 mbps, download 90 mbps) for no good reason at all (using 1.8.4, it Direct Streams in both cases)…
… and back to 1.8.4 again…
Latest release did not fix it for me. Still gone after pausing…
Still have the issue… I’ve also noticed in last couple of weeks that quite often server just stops playback, some 5-10 minutes untill the end of the video, if it’s a tv show, it just cuts it and skips to the next episode. Via web and android.
@Zillion_ said:
Every release introduces different problems… Newest 1.9.7.4441:
- subtitles always stop after 30 minutes now
- going forward / backward does NOT temporarily fix it anymore
- sometimes, turning them OFF (in the Web player) turns them ON instead and vice-versa
- the same videos play DirectStream on my local laptop (server & client), but are transcoded when served from remote PC (all auto-quality off, all settings maximum, playing Original quality, upload connection 45 mbps, download 90 mbps) for no good reason at all (using 1.8.4, it Direct Streams in both cases)…
… and back to 1.8.4 again…
This…
1.9.7.4460: movies don’t get cut after 30 minutes anymore, but now subtitles stop working again after 30 minutes. Repeatedly. Every few minutes.
Come on guys… about time to fix this. Back to 1.9.6 for me…
So from the last few posts, I’m taking it that the latest plex media server update is bad, and hasn’t solved the subtitle issue + added new issues?
I’m specifically referring to this version, which should be the latest:
“1.9.7.4460-a39b25852
November 14, 2017”
Hasn’t resolved the subtitle issue (I can confirm that), but I’m not sure about the issue with video stopping some few minutes before the end (I think that it’s still ongoing issue, but I can confirm it 100%, it happen to me only once since the update).
Ver. 1.9.7.4460-a39b25852
New behavior - if I turn subs off, they’re still showing!
I also have problem with 1.9.7.4460 that subtitles disapear randomly
@tevey said:
I also have problem with 1.9.7.4460 that subtitles disapear randomly
I have the same issue. Both with integrated subs and external (.srt) subs.
That’s good, they can’t fix it or roll it back since Sept 24(ish) aka version (1.9.1.4272). (Shame! Shame! Shame!)
Even if they would be able to fix it, it takes weeks to reach their non-Pass users and Pass users with default settings.
Now I know why “:D” autocompletes to disappointed on this forum.
After using this new version for a week (1.9.7.4460) here are my results.
When I watch video without subtitles, everything works fine.
When I watch it with subtitles there are two ways it can go.
- Subtitles disappear after 2-18 minutes into the video.
- Playback freezes until I change/remove subtitles (after that playback resumes).
Also, if the player is not set to force the subs with the video, manual selection prior the start of the payback doesn’t work. It ignores it and starts without subs.
This was tested via Chromecast (+ Android) and via PC (Web browser). Type of the subtitles wasn’t a factor here, it was the same with any type. Changing the subs from one to another just prolongs the issue, until the next freeze or drop.
Please fix this permanently, one of the reasons I pay monthly subscription for (what is to me) a media server is that I don’t have to browse the net for a stable version with the least amount of issues and go through logs playing detective.
An update: The main fix for soft subs disappearing after X minutes is still in the release pipeline (currently QA). I’m hesitant to provide a build number or exact ETA as they both change as the release moves through QA, but it is really close.
Hopefully it will be in the next Plex Media Server release
Sorry, I should have been more specific here. I meant to indicate that it missed the release that was at the time being prepared (1.9.7).
Ok, thanks for the update 
