I’m having the issue on all 3 of my streaming stick+. For me it’s HE-AAC Stereo audio cuts out every 10 seconds. I have lots of 4k content, so disabling direct play is not an option. Very frustrating
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If you install the Plex Preview Channel, the guys at Plex were kind enough to release a version with a workaround to cover Roku’s mistakes and eliminate the problem on the HE-AAC dropouts. I installed it and my problems are gone while keeping direct play at auto for my 4k files. I’d suggest doing this until Roku ever fixes their problem which will likely be awhile!
The Plex Preview Channel fixes this issue for me.
For those that don’t know, you have to add unlisted channels on Roku’s site. Here’s the link for Plex Preview.
Plex Preview App for Roku is simply a ‘Private Channel’. Like any other private channel, it won’t appear in the Roku Guide, but doesn’t have to undergo the Roku Approval Sequence - that could take ‘an eternity’ when you’re waiting for a fix.
If you click the link in every one of these posts, you’ll be whisked away to your Roku Page (after you sign in, of course) and it’ll be right there to add to your device:
Once you have it aboard, it’ll update itself with the up-to-the-minute last version - that can be published in moments, not (what seems like) months.
Track that thread I linked above and when you see a new one, update your Roku and it’ll be there or when your Roku updates daily, you’ll get it.
I don’t even use the Official Channel. I uninstalled it. It’s in the guide if I need it for something. You can however, run both of them side-by-side if you like. They are separate Apps and run independently.
Audio issues are still present on Roku Streaming Stick+ with Plex Preview.
Dude: I’m so glad I found this because I just ran into this issue. My library hasn’t changed for a while and I don’t have any new stuff. I noticed on my Roku Ultra that shows that played flawlessly last time I played them suddenly were having random audio dropouts. I dunno, like every 5 to 15 seconds (give or take) I was trying to figure it out because some were AC3, some AAC, some AC3 series played fine, and some AAC played fine, while other AAC/AC3 didn’t. I was so confused. I took one series and re-encoded the audio and that fixed it. I’m thinking, why would converted AAC 2.0 to AAC 2.0 (fix it) but then I started checking around my library and noticed a crap load of issues. No way in hell am I going to re-encode audio on all of these, so I disabled direct play, allowed direct stream and they play fine now…which leads to my question, is direct stream easy on the server? I haven’t looked into what direct stream vs direct play is.
Direct Stream remuxes the original streams into a new container - HLS is popular on Roku, not sure exactly what it is, but that’s the ‘Work-Around’ deployed on the Preview App - until Roku INC does something on their end:
The Preview App is a Private Channel - not in the guide, but also not subject to Roku’s Approval Sequence… so you get it and all it’s updates in moments, not (what seems like) months.
Installation Details (it’s pretty easy):
The Preview App and The Official run independently. You can have them both installed. I’ve been using the Preview App exclusively for a couple of years. I uninstalled the Official App some time ago. It seemed redundant to have both.
I just started a 1080p tv show on my Roku, then I went to my server just to see if the CPU was being used (both were direct STREAM) and the CPU said 1%…I don’t think it was using ANY CPU at all or if it was, I couldn’t see it. I’m leaving it on direct stream…and I’ll just disable it in a few months to see if it’s fixed.
I had this issue and the preview channel is working well for me. Thanks!
Yea, there’s no reason not to run the Preview App.
It’s the latest and greatest at any given time and the one that has that fix you’re waiting for Roku to Approve for the Official App.
Track this thread:
When it updates - update your system (or it’ll get it in that day’s check).
Job Done.
I recently watched @ljunkie diagnose and repair - then update The Preview Channel - for this issue I think - in under an hour (and that’s a reason to own a Roku).
… or you can wait…
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