Plex Transcodes HEVC videos

Plex Players Mobile Devices
1

Hi,

When I play an HEVC video, plex starts transcoding, which is annoying… The same video plays directly with emby for example. I’m using a galaxy tab A7 SM-T505N

Server Version#: 1.25.3.5409
Player Version#:8.28.0.30077

2

Check the player settings in the app.

If the limits are too low, it will transcode.

3

Thanks for the reply

Limits are set to max in local network
I think plex thinks my device doesn’t support hevc

4

which device(s) are involved here?

I’ve seen where a HEVC HDR capable TV won’t play HDR because of incorrect HDMI cabling – but that’s not this problem.

It would also help to see the DEBUG logs which capture the start of the playback.

Sometimes the transcoder is invoked to remux the file. It lists as transcoding when it’s not really a ‘proper transcode’

5

My server is a pi 3b+ running plex in a docker container and the client is a samsung galaxy tab A7 (SM-T505N)

I don’t think it’s just a remux because i cannot play the video without interruption every 5 secondes

I have no problems playing the same video on the same device with emby or vlc (as an external player in plex)

i have no problems playing the same video on my phone with plex

you can find logs here (i played the video around 20h37)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UsxD8unCSxdiTlp7wNId7NPEATBzh5Nh?usp=sharing

tell me if you need more informations

thank you

6

it’s forcing a transcode because the audio boost = 700% (7X)

Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.392 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Found session GUID of sqdhmpqtxva0vz2wdziyri81 in session start.
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.408 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] TranscodeUniversalRequest: using augmented profile Generic
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.411 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Downloading document http://127.0.0.1:32400/library/metadata/949?includeBandwidths=1&offset=-1&X-Plex-Incomplete-Segments=1&X-Plex-Session-Identifier=e154p0hy42r8j6zog6yimmlo
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.431 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] It took 10.000000 ms to retrieve 107 items.
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.454 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] It took 10.000000 ms to retrieve 107 items.
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.458 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] We're going to try to auto-select an audio stream for account 1.
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.458 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Selecting best audio stream for part ID 2191 (autoselect: 0 language: fr)
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.459 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] We're going to try to auto-select a subtitle.
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.459 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Subtitles: Found a candidate subtitle language [fr] for a foreign film
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.459 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Audio Stream: 4866, Subtitle Stream: 4869
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.473 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol http; container: srt
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.473 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 2191
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/h264
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/h264/eac3
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): transcoding selected subtitle stream
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/h264/dca
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): transcoding selected subtitle stream
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.479 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Les Schtroumpfs et le Village perdu (2017): selected media 0 / 2191
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.480 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Added session 0x713355c0:e154p0hy42r8j6zog6yimmlo
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.481 [0x6e782d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=949 codes=(MDE=1000,Direct play OK.) media=(id=2191 part=(id=2191 decision=direct play protocol=hls streams=(Video=(id=4865 decision= width=1280 height=688) Audio=(id=4866 decision= channels=0 rate=0) Subtitle=(id=4869 decision=copy languageCode=fra location=sidecar))))
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.486 [0x71b03d48] DEBUG - Completed: [192.168.1.109:55332] 200 GET /video/:/transcode/universal/decision?directPlay=1&directStream=1&directStreamAudio=1&protocol=hls&fastSeek=1&path=%2Flibrary%2Fmetadata%2F949&session=sqdhmpqtxva0vz2wdziyri81&mediaIndex=0&partIndex=0&mediaBufferSize=50000&hasMDE=1&subtitleSize=100&videoQuality=100&videoResolution=3840x2160&audioBoost=700&subtitles=sidecar&location=lan (8 live) GZIP 94ms 4389 bytes (pipelined: 5)
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.636 [0x6e64ed48] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.109:55332 (Subnet)] GET /subtitles/:/transcode/universal/start?Accept=application%2Fjson&Accept-Language=fr&directPlay=1&directStream=1&directStreamAudio=1&protocol=http&fastSeek=1&path=%2Flibrary%2Fmetadata%2F949&session=sqdhmpqtxva0vz2wdziyri81&mediaIndex=0&partIndex=0&mediaBufferSize=50000&hasMDE=1&subtitleSize=100&videoQuality=100&videoResolution=3840x2160&audioBoost=700&subtitles=sidecar&location=lan&copyts=1 (8 live) GZIP Signed-in Token (anas.rih@gmail.com)
Jan 23, 2022 08:48:40.636 [0x6e64ed48] DEBUG - [Tr

audioBoost=700

You might want to turn that down and use the TV volume?

7

Hi

I don’t have a problem playing hevc videos on my tv. The problem occurs when using my tablet. I made a try on jan 24th 20:37 (you’ll find it at the end of the file).

Thank you

8

up :pray:t3:
no one with the same issue?

9

Jan 24, 2022 20:37:15.265 [0x6d8d9d48] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: E3 - La chasse: selected subtitle cannot be converted to a compatible format, burning into video stream

Plex could not direct play/stream the subtitles and had to burn them into the video stream, which requires transcoding the video.

I did not see any information in the log file about the subtitle type, but apparently it cannot direct play or direct stream on your tablet.

If the subtitles are .ass, note that the Plex Android clients have minimal support for such subtitles. Enabling them will result in a video transcode. In the Plex app, you can change Burn Subtitles from Automatic to Image Formats Only. Plex will then treat them as text subtitles. They will display, but positioning, color, etc information will be ignored.

10

Hi

Thank you for your reply

Subtitles are in an external srt file. I tried playing the video without subtitles and plex still transcodes from hevc to h264

11

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