Hello,
So I have a question. When I optimize videos in plex, example .mkv to .mp4 because I want to direct play. Once that is done and I have the new file, why is it that I can’t delete the.mkv file without losing the new .mp4 file in a separate folder?
Any help would be great, because running hand break on my computer idk killing me.
Plex on a Qnap Nas capable of doing this.
– Thanks,
Chris
More information!
What software are you using to remux ( you do know you don’t have to recode - unless u r changing codecs, bitrates and audio etc. )
Handbrake or Optimize - same thing. You’ll have more control if you Handbrake because you’ll be taking any dumb decisions Plex is making for you right out of the equation… and your material will look a whole lot better too.
Bulletproof Handbrake Guide in my signature - if it’s Handbrake that’s getting you down. The thing is easier to work with if you know how to work it.
If all you need is an MP4 container, you don’t need Handbrake or Plex Optimizer - all you need is Xmedia Recode:
http://www.xmedia-recode.de/en/download.html
Format: MP4
Video: Copy
Audio: Copy
Add To Queue
Encode
a few moments later - done.
If you need to change an audio stream format - Xmedia Recode:
Video: Copy
Audio: Convert
Add To Queue
Encode
a few minutes later - done.
If you’re fiddling with a Video Stream - yea, I recommend Handbrake.
Never used Plex’s Optimizer 'cause I see the disasters Plex’s Transcoder whips up - and want no parts of any of that nonsense.
(that’s kinda why I wrote the Handbrake Guide - to be honest)
About 3AM I put a dozen or so jobs in the Handbrake Queue. About 30 minutes ago I ran them all through Xmedia Recode to copy video and convert audio (to bring the levels up to 89db - I enjoy voices I can hear and explosions that don’t blast me through the picture window - I’m funny that way.
Right about now Plex has almost finished creating those video preview thumbnails - and that’s about all I’m willing to let Plex handle in the video department. I’m funny that way too. But Plex’s transcoder does it’s nastiest work there as well 'cause it misses 1 in 40 or so Preview Thumbs, but to date I’ve not tackled creating those myself - may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Hanbrake just takes forever!!! I have 3 things in the line up and it will take all day, I’m running and intel core i7 but it is still taking forever. Just trying to figure out how to speed things up and or take the hurt off of my computer.
Also I have to recode when I watch it on my firetv because I can’t direct play.
I am guessing you are reencoding to a big high level.
What is the original and what are you wanting (converting to) as the end result
Some will disagree but I convert all mine to 2-3gb mp4 and see no difference ( on a 65" TV )
@hikerboy1990 said:
Hanbrake just takes forever!!! I have 3 things in the line up and it will take all day, I’m running and intel core i7 but it is still taking forever. Just trying to figure out how to speed things up and or take the hurt off of my computer.Also I have to recode when I watch it on my firetv because I can’t direct play.
I’ll bet you can Direct Play.
Enable ‘Information Overlay’:
play something (anything), hit OK, arrow right to the ‘gear’, arrow down and enable Information Overlay. Now Play something and hit OK. You’ll see some onscreen info about the video in progress: Resolution, Direct Play or Transcode and if Transcoding the reason for the Transcode.
Run an unaltered file through and report what Information Overlay is telling you about it.
I’ll bet you’re transcoding because your material is Level 4.1 (like all of my material and most of the material on Planet Earth) and AFTV (V1) (or Stick) has a default Level of 4.0. Go into the Plex App settings and raise that Max h264 level to 4.1. Fixed. It takes a pretty screwed up video stream not to Direct Play on an AFTV, but that 4.0 limitation will ensure transcoding almost everything. Also make sure the app quality is ‘Original’ for local and if working remotely do try to exceed the resolution and bit rate in the remote quality setting. Plex will, once again, bring it’s dumbest transcoder to the big game when it wants to transcode a 1080p 3.8Mbps file to 720p because a user selected 720p, 4Mbps. In that case do set the remote quality to 1080p, 8Mbps - and be sure to encode a suitable bit rate that doesn’t exceed 7Mbps in total. That’ll keep local and remote in Direct Play (we hope).
Handbrake Takes all Day:
It is a CPU intensive process, but if you check out my guide you’ll see that you don’t need 2 pass encoding and you may even find out if you use a sane amount of reference frames and the default settings for just about everything in the Advanced Video Section you may notice a marked increase in the time it takes to prosecute a Handbrake Job.
Fewer reference frames = faster encode. I NEVER use more than 4. You can use 1 if you want to. The few Kb it’ll save in storage space ain’t even worth the 40 minutes per frame you’re spending. Trust me. If you want to lower the file size a bit, pull back the Bit Rate a bit. Easy. Do make some preview tests. Make sure it all looks like you want it and adjust for the eyeballs in your head. Mine won’t work for you.
The original question though is why when he uses the feature in Plex when he deletes the original the optimized copy goes as well even though it is in a different folder.
I am wondering a couple things…
One: Is it linked in Plex DB in such a way the server knows to delete the optimized copy of something you chose to delete.
Two: If you are manually deleting the original in a file manager lets say and then you lose the listing in Plex the optimized version is probably in it’s folder, you just need to add said folder to your list of folders watched by that section and update the library.
I would run a test…
Copy the optimized copy somewhere safe leaving the original right where it has always been right (so you should have the original where it has always been and the optimized version in the place Plex put it and now a 2nd copy of the optimized version somewhere else entirely so Plex does not even know about it (any folder not watched by or a sub folder of a folder watched by the Plex scanner should do even on the same drive)). OF COURSE IF YOU REALLY LIKE THE MOVIE I WOULD ALSO MAKE A 2nd COPY OF THE ORIGINAL AND PLACE IT SOMEWHERE SO IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE OPTIMIZED FILE AFTER CHECKING IT YOU COULD PLACE THE ORIGINAL BACK AND RUN ANOTHER OPTIMIZATION WITH DIFFERENT SETTINGS (or use handbrake as mentioned multiple times. I actually like to use dmMediaConverter) … cause it has a nice easy 16x9 DAR dropdown in bulk mode, and it supports HEVC [h or x265] I LOVE HEVC the same quality as say a 1080p file at oh 1/3 or 1/2 the size! 
Most devices support it (being Android and I think even my PS4, but it is worth the space savings) Always check online for your devices specifications of what it supports if you are unsure.
Then go to Plex via browser, make sure if the optimized copies folder is not listed in the list of folders watched by the section you add it by clicking the 3 dot icon to the right of the section name when you hover over the section name. You should get a dropdown menu with edit in it if you click the 3 dot icon) next to the given section.
Now let it finish the update scan.
Finally go to the listing for the original unoptimized file and click get info and delete.
Now, if you lose the listing you may need to run a scan yourself after you deleted the file.
Using a file manager go see if the optimized file is in the optimized files folder.
I hope that all makes sense, and if you would update me on your findings and I will do my best to help you nail this down.
Interesting, I did that on my fire and it said the the video was fine but the Audio DTS was transcoding.
What would you have to do on a xbox one when it transcodes?
Right, now you are talking about transcoding. Plex is intelligent to check things on the file and it knows what your device likes. It can transcode just the audio or just the video and direct stream the other. It all depends on what your client device supports (and if you enabled it in both the device and plex settings like AC3 5.1 you need to have it enabled via the device settings, and then there is usually a checkbox to enable or disable Plex’s direct play of it).
Also depends on drivers. For instance my Android phone with OEM ROM supports hardware decoding AC3 and E-AC3, and Plex would auto enable that in the Plex settings upon install. If I use a custom ROM that does not have the driver to allow hardware decoding of AC3 it is disabled in Plex (if not I would get no audio on AC3 files and would know to go and uncheck the direct play AC3 setting). So it can also depend on the device drivers of a given device, but thats more Desktop, laptop, mobile phone, etc. Smart TVs and Game Consoles usually don’t have this concern soo much (though I know both Playstation and XBox have an extended codecs download that usually happens or is offered the first time you play media that needs the extra codec support)
Yea, DTS - I hate that stuff.
I change DTS to AC3 5.1. Xmedia Recode - a couple of minutes. Problem Solved.
Disclaimer: My very old hearing hasn’t yet evolved to the level of The Greater Wax Moth so I can detect no difference in DTS and AC3 5.1. YMMV.
For what it’s worth - so long as you have:
Direct Play Auto
Direct Stream Enabled
in the AFTV Plex app settings, if necessary (DTS I guess) Plex will pass a video stream and transcode an audio stream. That’s not the worst thing that can happen. It’s easily done by just about any server as well. In a pinch you can just let Plex transcode an audio stream if you want to without worrying too much about it.
I doubt if Xbox’s Plex app has an ‘Information Overlay’. You can, however open Plexweb/Status/Roll Mouse Over Now Playing Window, while playing something that’s misbehaving on Xbox and get some limited information about the stream. That may tell you want you need to concentrate on to achieve Direct Play.
Also knowing what the Xbox wants as far as compatible material will probably be handy right about now. I have no idea what that might be.
