Server Version#: Version 1.18.6.2368 (linuxserver docker)
Player Version#: 2.50.0
In the release notes for 2.50.0 it states:
“Avoid transcoding of 4K video when another version is playable”
I’ve just tried playing some files where there’s a 1080p version as well on my PC connected to a 1080p monitor and it’s still selecting the 4K version.
My files are in the same Plex library, so I have the little ‘2’ at the top of the poster e.g.
/movies/Shazam (2019)
/movies_4k/Shazam (2019)
Under what circumstances is it supposed to play the 4K version? When there’s not enough bandwidth? Based on the capabilities of the client, even if not connected to 4k display?
Thanks @FordGuy61 that makes sense, if all it is trying to do is avoid transcoding if a client can’t direct play, rather than not using potentially precious bandwidth (e.g. limited upload or poor home network WiFi) to stream 4k when the client doesn’t have a 4K screen.
I was hoping for something that aligns more with the help pages:
Multiple Versions of the Same Movie
You can gather multiple versions of the same movie together (that have different resolutions or encoding formats) and collapse them to a single item. For example, you can have 3 versions: ones suitable for a mobile phone, a tablet, and a 1080p TV. The multiple versions will be collapsed to a single item in the library. When a Plex app goes to play the collapsed item, it will automatically request and play the most suitable item by default. Many apps will also allow you to select a Play Version action, where you can choose which version to play.
Where my interpretation of the most suitable item, is to not play 4k if you’re not on a 4k screen e.g. my phone supports 4k, but why would I want to play the 4k version on my phone? The help page seems to agree with this, by encouraging optimised versions.
The help site needs updating if this is the way it will be implemented, and users like me will probably be forced like many others to put 4k in a separate library even though I’ve resisted this as it’s not optimal - the advice above is!
I agree the selection criteria needs to be better documented.
It seems to be, starting with the highest resolution version: Can I direct play the video? If so, choose it. If not, proceed to next highest resolution and re-test.
However, subtitles are not taken into account (which can force a video transcode). Also, not sure what happens with remote clients, where bandwidth limits may be present.
It’d be good to get an update from @Plex on this - now that they are building in 4K logic into the clients/server, it’d be nice to know where they are heading.
One work around for remote streaming is to set the Limit Remote Stream Bitrate under the server settings. You can set it high enough for your 1080p content, but low enough it would force 4K content to transcode. This will help force fallback to the lower resolution file when streaming remotely.
