PLEX transcoding video

[axt]

Hi all,

I hope someone can explain the following to me: Why PLEX transcodes a video using the Plex client (app) on an LG WebOS smart TV, if it doesn’t need any transcoding while watching the same video using the LG native DLNA player? The video in question is a 4K x265 10bits one, and it plays very smoothly using the native DLNA player. But when I use the PLEX client (app), the playback stops in every few minutes to do some buffering, then resumes. I looked up the Resource Monitor on my PC, and found that PlexTranscoder is eating up around 10% (ten) of my CPU, but only when I play the video through the PLEX client. Using the native DLNA player makes the PlexTranscoder go away.

I also realized that it happens only if I use subtitles. But I still don’t get it: why can the native DLNA player burn the subtitles in on-the-fly, while the Plex client can’t?

Thank you in advance!

PS: Plex server is the latest one, Plex client is the latest one available to my TV (v2.1.3).

[Traccker]

Same here, plex is transcoding only in one LG tv with webos and same version 2.1.3, settings are so that it should play in original quality, but it doesn’t and the tv is connected with cable so it shouldn’t have internet issues or not enough bandwidth.
When i dont use subtitles it direct plays without any problem, once I put the subtitles it starts to transcode the video. I had a client who reported to me the same thing so a changed some things so the quality of my transcoding would be good, but it hit my cpu too hard, so I went back, and told every one to always select original quality or direct stream but it still happens

Player address=“201.215.206.233” device=“” machineIdentifier=“23ypcn7mzvkjpcuzujrmrfj6” model=“60LB6500-SF” platform=“webOS” platformVersion=“1.4.0” product=“Plex for LG” remotePublicAddress=“201.215.206.233” state=“” title=“” vendor=“” version=“3.13.28” local=“0” relayed=“0” secure=“0” userID=“22224126”
Variant id=“89e59aaa-51a8-406c-a145-cab12e81e964” targetBitrate=“1527” context=“streaming” sourceVideoCodec=“h264” sourceAudioCodec=“aac” videoDecision=“transcode” audioDecision=“copy” subtitleDecision=“burn” protocol=“hls” container=“mpegts” videoCodec=“h264” audioCodec=“aac” audioChannels=“2” transcodeHwRequested=“1” transcodeHwDecoding=“vaapi”** transcodeHwDecodingTitle=“Intel (VA API)” transcodeHwFullPipeline=“0”>
<Media audioProfile=“lc” id=“2163” videoProfile=“high” audioChannels=“2” audioCodec=“aac” bitrate=“1453” container=“mpegts” duration=“6809535” height=“536” protocol=“hls” videoCodec=“h264” videoFrameRate=“24p” videoResolution=“720p” width=“1280” selected=“1”
Stream burn=“1” displayTitle=“Español (SRT External)” file=“/home/media/Plex/Media/Peliculas/Edge of Tomorrow (2014)/Edge of Tomorrow.spa.srt” id=“5855” key=“/library/streams/5855” language=“Español” languageCode=“spa” selected=“1” streamType=“3” decision=“burn” location=“segments-av”

so its burning the subtitles thats why is transcoding, dont know why do, i read in another post that they are having similar problems in webos 2 and 3

Plex App LG WebOS keeps buffering every second after fast-forward and resume

You can track the release notes Plex for webOS (2+ UHD Televisions) or just follow here. I’ll update when I have more news.

they talk a little abou it here,

Plex App LG WebOS keeps buffering every second after fast-forward and resume

The issue occurs when I play at original quality and transcode due to subtitles as well as when I have no subs selected but am playing at a reduced quality. It happens consistently enough across numerous different file types that the issue seems to be occurring whenever transcoding happens. I did create an issue in the PMS section, but it got no replies.

[anon18523487]

@axt

But I still don’t get it: why can the native DLNA player burn the subtitles in on-the-fly, while the Plex client can’t?

The native DLNA player does everything in software. Plex uses your TV hardware, which in theory should provide better performance, but has limited codec support.

@axt

Plex client is the latest one available to my TV (v2.1.3)

That’s not an appropriate version number for that app. Depending on your TV, it should be either 3.x or 4.x, not 2.

[Traccker]

My TV also says 2.1.3 but when I go to settings> Authorized Devices it says 3.13.28, same as in the logs, I suppose that is the right one? Is there any fix to this?

[anon18523487]

@Traccker

Is there any fix to this?

Unfortunately no. That version of the Plex app cannot direct play subtitles.

[Traccker]

I see, too bad. I bought a chromecast so no problem now

[rdesmet]

Exact same problem here - super smooth 4K playback through DLNA but transcoding/stuttering through plex. Would love to see an option to force direct play (and drop subtitles if is necessary - or better yet a fix or explanation for that)

[wdawn]

Even disabling the subtitles doesnt help. it wil always transcode. I dont think LG uses ‘software’ decoding, the soc is not fast enough for that.
It must use its GPU, or it would not be able to play 4k HD10 / dolbyvision movies with no sweat.