Plex wont transcode wmv3 for android 9

Plex Players Mobile Devices
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1

Server Version#: 1.18.7.2457 running on FreeNAS-11.2-U6
Player Version#: 7.28.0.15501 running on Android 9 (4.9.112)

A note: all my files (including those I have issues with on android) play without issue on desktop using the web player in chrome.

I have a few wmv files, one of them plays fine without issue. The other (one of many, in a separate folder) does not play.

Android 9 doesn’t support wmv, so here from the logs, the app is working fine telling the transcoder to start.

02-28 23:03:50.162  i: [MediaDecisionEngine] Analyzing media: 720x404 3174kbps (Container: asf, Video: wmv3, Audio: wmav2)
02-28 23:03:50.162  i: [EngineEventManager] onBufferingStarted (isSeeking: false)
02-28 23:03:50.162  i: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] loading [0.06, 0.00, window=0, true]
02-28 23:03:50.163  i: [MediaDecisionEngine] Unable to direct play; Unable to Direct Play as WMV3 is not supported on this device.

However it fails later on here:

02-28 23:03:53.877  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] Demuxer closing.
02-28 23:03:53.877  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] Adding option: live_start_index 0
02-28 23:03:53.878  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Close requested, terminating.
02-28 23:03:53.878  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Cache has been closed, interrupting AVIO ...
02-28 23:03:53.904  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Close requested, terminating.
02-28 23:03:53.905  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] Allocating format context.
02-28 23:03:53.905  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] Opening input from https://192-168-1-21.ee47c2df65384de59382f783141e535b.plex.direct:32400/video/:/transcode/universal/start.m3u8[..............]
rsion=7.28.0.15501.
02-28 23:03:53.905  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Close requested, terminating.
02-28 23:03:53.905  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Opening source from https://192-168-1-21.ee47c2df65384de59382f783141e535b.plex.direct:32400/video/:/transcode/universal/start.m3u8[..............]
rsion=7.28.0.15501.
02-28 23:03:54.081  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [Cache] Cache is not enabled, connecting source context instead.
02-28 23:03:54.082  i: [FFmpeg] [INFO] [hls @ 0x6f86ffe400] Opening 'https://192-168-1-21.ee47c2df65384de59382f783141e535b.plex.direct:32400/video/:/transcode/universal/session/f995f1a6d6dfae7d-com-plexapp-android/base/index.m3u8' for reading

**02-28 23:03:54.128  i: [FFmpeg] [ERROR] [tcp @ 0x6f9c07c2c0] Failed to resolve hostname 192-168-1-21.ee47c2df65384de59382f783141e535b.plex.direct: No address associated with hostname**

02-28 23:03:54.129  e: [FF] Demuxer failed to open input from `https://192-168-1-21.ee47c2df65384de59382f783141e535b.plex.direct:32400/video/:/transcode/universal/start.m3u8
[..................]
rsion=7.28.0.15501`.
02-28 23:03:54.134  e: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] playerFailed [4.03, 0.00, window=0]
02-28 23:03:54.134  e: An exception occurred: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.
02-28 23:03:54.134  i: [FF][MediaPeriod] Releasing.
02-28 23:03:54.135  e: Stacktrace: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.
	at com.google.android.exoplayer2.o.handleMessage(SourceFile:386)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
	at android.os.HandlerThread.run(HandlerThread.java:65)
Caused by: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.
	at com.plexapp.plex.ff.FFDemuxer.open(SourceFile:158)
	at com.plexapp.plex.ff.source.FFLoadable.load(SourceFile:70)
	at com.google.android.exoplayer2.g.al.run(SourceFile:381)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1167)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:641)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:764)

02-28 23:03:54.135  i: [FF] Loading canceled (released: true)
02-28 23:03:54.147  e: [Player][ExoPlayer] Playback error detected
**02-28 23:03:54.147  e: An exception occurred: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.**
02-28 23:03:54.148  e: Stacktrace: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.
	at com.google.android.exoplayer2.o.handleMessage(SourceFile:386)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
	at android.os.HandlerThread.run(HandlerThread.java:65)
Caused by: [Open]com.plexapp.plex.ff.data.FFException: Demuxer failed to open input.
	at com.plexapp.plex.ff.FFDemuxer.open(SourceFile:158)
	at com.plexapp.plex.ff.source.FFLoadable.load(SourceFile:70)
	at com.google.android.exoplayer2.g.al.run(SourceFile:381)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1167)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:641)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:764)

02-28 23:03:54.148  i: [Player][Timeline] Handling player error
02-28 23:03:54.148  i: [Player][Timeline] Playback stopped (error: true)
02-28 23:03:54.149  i: [Player][Timeline] Unable to report progress to server as duration is unavailable.
02-28 23:03:54.149  i: [Player][Timeline] Player error not known by server, reporting original player error (or a playback interrupted one)
02-28 23:03:54.149  i: [Player] Error reported: UnknownError (null)
02-28 23:03:54.149  i: [Player][Timeline] Playback stopped (error: false)
02-28 23:03:54.150  i: [Player][Timeline] Unable to report progress to server as duration is unavailable.
02-28 23:03:54.152  i: [FF] Releasing demuxer.
02-28 23:03:54.162  i: [TranscodeSession] Stopping...
02-28 23:03:54.162  i: [TranscodeSession] Session already stopped.
02-28 23:03:54.162  i: [Player][Error] Displaying player error...
02-28 23:03:54.163  i: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] loading [4.06, 0.00, window=0, false]
02-28 23:03:54.163  i: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] state [4.06, 0.00, window=0, true, IDLE]
02-28 23:03:55.030  i: [EngineEventManager] onPlaybackStopped: Closed
02-28 23:03:55.031  i: [Player][Timeline] Playback stopped (error: false)
02-28 23:03:55.031  i: [Player][Timeline] Unable to report progress to server as duration is unavailable.
02-28 23:03:55.031  i: [TranscodeSession] Stopping...
02-28 23:03:55.031  i: [TranscodeSession] Session already stopped.

Note the bolded line, I’m not sure if there’s something I need to do there. nslookup doesn’t resolve for plex, but I can connect directly to the ip (192.168.1.21:32400). It does make sense to me that it could be causing the issue since ffmpeg can’t do it’s job if the stream wont resolve. However I don’t get how all other videos can play without problems, and I can change the quality in each with little trouble so the transcoder is working , but that doesn’t explain why it’s not working here.

The stats for the working wmv file:
File: working.wmv
Size: 186.0 MB - 3.1 Mbps - ASF
Video: 1280x720 - 29.970 fps - 2.9 Mbps - WMV1
Audio1: WMAV2 - 128kbps - 44100 kHz

Stats for the not working wmv file:
File: not-working.wmv
Size: 12.2 MB - 3.5 Mbps - ASF
Video: 640x480 - 29.970 fps - 3.4 Mbps - WMV3 Main
Audio1: WMAV2 - 64kbps - 48000 kHz

I’m not sure what the issue is here, or if it’s just a bug. I can provide more logs if needed. I hadn’t checked the logs for the working file, but I could.

Some guidance would be appreciated.

2

Please recreate and provide the entire log file from your device. Also provide your PMS logs for the same time period.

3

I couldn’t clear the logs, but I was able to cut it down right before my test, the file has been renamed “not-working” in the collection “test”

my test was performed at around 03:54:40 ish. I had an issue with closing plex on android, and my home screen loading forever, so I started the log once I got it back. server log starts at around the same time the android log does.

androidlog.txt (61.9 KB) serverlog.txt (33.4 KB)

4

I’m seeing an error that I’ve seen pop up recently. We are investigating so I’ll provide an update when I know something.

5

Cool, thanks. Do know I’ve been having this issue for a few months so it wasnt something added in a new update.

6

@anon18523487 any update on this? This is still happening and the newest update for Android seems to have “Player: the new player is now our default player.” I hope that doesn’t mean we can’t disable now, cause with this issue, that was the only resolution.

7

The change that I think will fix this issue will be included in the 7.31 update, which should be coming out soon since we are already on 7.30 publicly.

8

@anon18523487, thanks for the quick update! Mind if i ask what the problem was? Is this also the fix for " An error occurred while trying to play this video. please try restarting both the plex media server and this app" on android devices (firetv, android tv, Shield, etc) when new player is enabled?

Thanks in advance.

9

@anon18523487, so i tried the beta version ( 7.30.0.16311-beta), and i’m still getting the “An error occurred while trying to play this video. please try restarting both the plex media server and this app”. I noticed in the player logs, every time i try to play, i see a lot of:

03-30 20:54:36.070 i: [FFmpeg] [ERROR] [tls @ 0x83a1ad00] The certificate’s owner does not match hostname plex1.MYDOMAIN.com
03-30 20:54:36.091 i: [FFmpeg] [ERROR] [DemuxerPipeline] Failed to open cache.
03-30 20:54:36.092 e: [FF] Demuxer failed to open input from `https://plex1.MYDOMAIN.com:8443/video/:/transcode/universal/start.m3u8?

I am using docker, behind nginx reverse proxy, letsencrypt, and have the custom URL set in Plex with port number. Everything works as it should, as it has been for the past year or so, except the new player on Android. If i happen to go to “https://plex1.MYDOMAIN.com:8443/video” i get a cert error that it is trying to use the plex.direct cert and it doesn’t match my plex1.MYDOMAIN.com cert.

Any ideas would be amazing as i feel soon you will be removing the option to turn off the new player, and all of us having this issue will be doomed.

Thanks again in advance.

10

Oh, that’s different. Hadn’t noticed that before. I’m not familiar with that setup so I don’t know if the fix I’m thinking of will help. Let’s wait and see after that comes out.

11

7.31 beta has just been released. If you still have this issue, please provide new logs.

12

Unfortunately still getting the error:

03-31 13:58:05.496 i: [FFmpeg] [ERROR] [tls @ 0x82abd060] The certificate’s owner does not match hostname plex1.MYDOMAIN.com

03-31 13:58:05.521 i: [FFmpeg] [ERROR] [DemuxerPipeline] Failed to open cache.
03-31 13:58:05.521 e: [FF] Demuxer failed to open input from `https://plex1.MYDOMAIN.com:8443/video/:/transcode/universal/start.m3u8?

I believe the issue here is that tls_verify is enabled on the new player, where it was not on the old player. But i could be wrong. PMing you full logs.

13

Is your issue only with WMV files? These errors should prevent anything from playing.

14

@anon18523487 the two i’ve been testing (to stay consistent) are MKV files.

And did you mean “should not”?

15

No. That SSL error should apply to every playback attempt, so nothing will work.

I’m chatting with a dev and they are telling me that you may have your custom cert setup incorrectly for your PMS. Are you able to playback these same files using another client?

Edit - Try Plex Web remotely, not from your local network.

16

@anon18523487, everything works fine, not using a custom cert in Plex, using a custom URL though in settings which is setup correctly. I am able to play these files on any and all devices except using the new player in Android, the old player works just fine.

My server is always remote as it sits in a data center, and yes, i can play those on plex web with no issues as well.

Let me know if you need anything else, as I am work from home right now, so i have time to test, just want to get this working for everyone.

Thanks in advance.

17

Do you have any Apple devices? Apple TV and iOS should also produce the same SSL error.

18

Can you also try playing something else with the new Android player? Like I said, everything should fail so just want to make sure this SSL issue is the cause.

19

@anon18523487, Unfortunately i personally do not have an apple device in my possession. I do have a couple users I share to that are using apple and they have no issues at all.

Attempted to play a couple shows/movies with the same error, so you are correct, nothing will play right now on the new player on Android. PMing new set of logs from the point you asked me to try other things.

20

@anon18523487 and everyone! Got it working on this thread! An error occurred while attempting to play this video. Please try restarting both the Plex Media Server and this app

Worked like a charm!