Plex transcode subtitle problems

Plex Media Server
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1

Hello guys,

I’m new using Plex, i really like it!

I’m using a raspberry pi 4 4GB ram with PMS on it.
My movie library is on my synology Ds209+ NAS.
Client is LG webOS Plex app., i have Xiaomi mi box(android tv) too. Better use this?

It works well, but sometimes a bit of buffering, 1/2 times a movie.
But especially 4k movies with subtitles are not working. Without subtitles enabled , the movie starts in 5 secs. With subtitles it doesn’t even start.
And of course i don’t need transcode. I only want direct streams.
How to check if its transcoding? or disable it?

What is the best thing to do? Use PGS subtitles or SRT? Does anyone have some tips for the best experience?

Thank you!

2

PGS, VOBSUB, and DVDRIP are all image based and the source of the problem.

Very few TV’s can handle overlaying video image subtitles themselves.
That task usually handled by dedicated hardware in the BluRay player.

What they can handle are SRT subs (the most common), and SSA or ASS (less common). These 3 types are text based and very easy for the TVs to process (just like closed captioning lines of text.

3

Thanks Chuckpa for your fast and very clear response.
So in my case: Use SRT always! They’re most of the time available for all movies so shouldn’t be any problem.

By the way, what do you recommend to use, my LG web os Plex app or android tv Plex app?

4

For the Plex app on LG TVs:

  • Enabling any image based subtitle forces a video transcode.
  • SRT subtitles direct play. However, if the audio is transcoding, enabling SRT subtitles forces a video transcode.

TrueHD audio transcodes on all LG TVs.
LG recently removed dts support from their TVs, so dts audio will transcode on 2020 LG TVs (not sure about 2019 models).

So, if you want to use subtitles with the Plex LG app:

  • Select an audio format that direct plays
  • Use SRT subtitles, not image based subtitles
5

Thanks for your reply. I’ll be using direct streams and only SRT subtitles from now on! Thanks.

Where did you find this information by the way?

6

Experience (I have a B7 OLED), various threads, and the LG website.

I do not know that it is formally documented anywhere.

The LG web page for each model lists supported audio/video codecs (ex: 55B7OLED).

Comments by Plex employees, team members, etc in various threads verified what happens with subtitles.

Also group experience among LG owners. Somebody opens a thread with a comment or question, and other LG owners see if they can reproduce, verify, etc.

7

As an LG user B6 OLED and many friends with LG tv’s with plex.
I always recommend the XPlay app on LG over the official plex one, it direct plays everything pretty much.
Yes it’s not free, but a one time small fee is little to pay for having direct play on the TV.

The main issue I find with official plex apps is subtitles(even on shield tv, i use plex for kodi over the official app)
The moment you choose to watch something with subtitles most chance it will force your server to transcode, and not direct play or even stream, no matter the format of the subtitles.

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The Plex for Android & Android TV apps direct play PGS, VOBSUB, & SRT subtitles, even if the audio is transcoding. This was implemented with the 8.0.0 release in April.

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Thank you very much, i’m going to try the android app!! :slight_smile:

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Thanks! I’m going to try this too! Can i find xplay in the lg content store?

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The goal is full direct play no matter what you play.

XPlay is available on LG content and it’s fully free for like 5 days so you can try it before buying.

For android(shield tv) I use Kodi with the Plex for Kodi addon(set to original quality), it also direct plays everything.

The official android TV app is a bit better now I admit, but I find their sub positioning annoying :wink:

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