Hi guys, plex web seems to be playing up.
It seems to be able handle the majority of my shows but on others it will show the first frame and just have the loading circle spinning.
The same videos work ok in the web app. Sometimes I watch videos on my work computer so would ideally want it working in chrome / web player.
I have attached my logs below. Thanks for the helpPlex Media Server Logs_2021-03-11_16-58-23.zip (1.9 MB)
I have attached a second log of the second video which does work. Plex Media Server Logs_2021-03-11_17-02-16.zip (1.9 MB)
The first log is AAC audio, this is AC3. Weirdly the videos sometimes play but if you skip ahead it will stop playing.
The device is a RPI 3. Video transcoding is turned off.
The odd thing is these videos worked a week ago. The RPI can transcode the audio if needed but the video is basic mkv h264 and it shows the first frame
On the dashboard it says “buffering”
Some of your files might be damaged or incorrectly encoded. This could affect PMS’ ability to stream the files, especially on a system with a low power CPU.
When you are playing Unforgiven, Season 4, Episode 1 (H.264/AAC/MKV):
Plex is direct streaming (remuxing) the media into a MP4 container before streaming. The log entry shows Plex is transcoding the container to mp4 then copying both the video and audio streams into the new container.
Mar 11, 2021 16:52:18.686 [0x59bf4430] DEBUG - [Transcode] Streaming Resource: Reached Decision id=89 codes=(General=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK. Direct Play=3000,App cannot direct play this item. Direct play is disabled. Transcode=1001,Direct play not available; Conversion OK.) media=(id=70 part=(id=70 decision=transcode container=mp4 protocol=dash streams=(Video=(id=191 decision=copy width=1920 height=1080) Audio=(id=192 decision=copy channels=2 rate=48000))))
The problem is the 40+ transcoder error messages in Plex Media Server.log when streaming this file:
Mar 11, 2021 16:52:24.751 [0x591ff430] ERROR - [Transcoder] [mp4 @ 0x19fb3e0] Application provided duration: -32 / timestamp: 3844072 is out of range for mov/mp4 format
Mar 11, 2021 17:01:03.232 [0x5d1fb430] ERROR - [Transcoder] [mp4 @ 0x1f093e0] Application provided duration: -32 / timestamp: 48968680 is out of range for mov/mp4 format
You might try remuxing the file. That can sometimes clear up problems.
If that does not work, then re-encode the file using Handbrake, XMedia Recode, FFMPEG, or similar tools.
There might be an issue with Bloodlands S1E3 as well. This message kicked out twice during playback:
Mar 11, 2021 17:01:48.562 [0x569ff430] ERROR - [Transcoder] [h264 @ 0x1e3c50] number of reference frames (0+5) exceeds max (4; probably corrupt input), discarding one
There is an option to disable video transcoding
The checkbox in Settings → Transcoder disables video transcoding. Plex will still direct stream and transcode audio.
I’ll take your word for it.
So I tried episode 2 and 3. Episode 2 didnt start. Episode 3 played but when i try to skip to later in the episode it stalls again.
The same message types are in the Plex Media Server.log files (rolls over to .1, .2… .5).
Mar 11, 2021 17:59:20.848 [0x57ffe430] ERROR - [Transcoder] [mp4 @ 0x130d790] Application provided duration: -32 / timestamp: 40527976 is out of range for mov/mp4 format
Edit: Try transcoding one or two of the files and see if it helps.
If you’ve never transcoded videos, give Handbrake a try. Use the Super HQ 1080p30 Surround preset. On the Summary tab, choose the MP4 container and make sure Web Optimized is selected. On the Audio tab you can choose AAC as the format if desired, so the Pi won’t have to transcode the audio.
Rpi 3 is a great client for plex, not server.
Get a cheap intel nuc that has an intel cpu with quick sync.
I on Amazon for 150 a couple nuc’s with an Intel Celeron J3455 that has quick sync and can do 2-3 1080p transcodes. Just a suggestion.
I dont usually transcode tbh so I like the power efficiency of the rpi over an x86 processor. I have heard the rpi 4 can do one 1080p stream at a time but even then I dont think it would be worth the upgrade as I would rarely use it.
Unfortunatly my RPI wont be able to convert these files.
Of note the files are “HDTV” as opposed to the usual WebDL so I agree it must be the way the files were encoded.
I also tried it on my laptop and had the same errors so its not RPI related. Thanks for all the help!
Send me one of your videos that doesn’t play. I’ll try it on my server if ya want. If it works, we nailed that it’s a weak processor? Just trying ideas.
Its the same thing on my I7 laptop so its deffo the videos. I tried a third show that had “HDTV” rips and the same appears to be happening.
Im not sure if its relevant but they are all UK shows. Maybe the framerate etc isnt normal and its causing the error.
These all work on Windows. Some on Mac & Linux.
MKVToolNix - multiplex, edit headers, edit chapters. MP4 or MKV as input. MKV as output.
Handbrake - transcode video / audio. MP4 or MKV output.
XMedia Recode - remux or transcode. Has option to copy/passthrough video stream. Handbrake does not.
Media Info - provides detailed info on video, audio, etc tracks.
Mac only:
Subler - Remux, add/modify metadata. MP4 output. Can use MKV as input.
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