PMS on QNAP TVS951x - Buffering. all the time

[memanole]

Hi guys,

Please find attached some new logs. It should show the issues i had last evening while watching a movie without any subtitle.

Plex Media Server Logs_2019-10-12_13-31-54.zip (1.6 MB)

And thank you very much for helping out. [feels really strange for me offload all this but honestly I have no idea where to start from or how to tshoot it at this point]

Thanks
MM

[nibbles]

Thanks for the new logs and for using the same s01e04 of The Crown for testing.
You provided the XML info for that earlier. I am seeing the same issue as before.
ChuckPA diagnosed it in post #16, where he explained the decision to burn subtitles was bogging down your CPU.

Check your Plex Web App dashboard while playing that episode.
I’m guessing you see 100% cpu.

I’ll hedge that ChuckPA is correct, and so he asked you

@ChuckPa

Now, to find out where they are coming from is pretty easy:

1. Check the Player’s settings
2. See if they are set to “Always burn” - If so, set to Automatic.

If they are set to automatic, as a test, set to “Only Image Formats” . SRT subtitles are text.

Unless the subtitles are tagged as Forced in the video file, you should not have any stuttering. You won’t have any subtitles but it should not stutter either.

to which you replied

@memanole

Hi mate,

Re subtitle settings > it was set to Automatic so I changed it to ‘Only Image formats’
I restarted again the service & then run video for a few minutes and downloaded the attached logs. Hope this time will help.

Plex Media Server Logs_2019-10-11_15-42-33.zip (830.4 KB)

side note: I had this stuttering even though no subtitles were selected/played

So where I think where we are at is:

• first post said “the continous buffering I am getting, regardless of the movie quality/format or client device I am using,” which you later refined to start/stops.
• you are getting burned subtitles in the example episode of The Crown,
• you are getting burned subtitles in the example film The Secret Life of Pets 2
• even though they are not forced,
• and are SRT,
• and you have asked for “Only Image Formats”

So why does this happen on every device you use?
Maybe screenshot your Settings - Account - Audio & Subtitle Settings - Edit for us please so we can see the whole series of choices.

[memanole]

Hi Nibbles,

The CPU never reaches 100%, but just jumps to about 60-70%.
I attached requested screenshot

Thank you
MM

[nibbles]

Let’s try turning off “Automatically select audio and subtitle tracks” all together, then Save Changes.
Maybe you’ll just have to ask it for the tracks you want.

[memanole]

Hi Nibbles,

I did as you mentioned and it seemed like an improvement: it did not stutter that much or that often, but still happen. Also at some point, while playing, it stopped and timed out entirely.

Shall i upgrade the version? or keep it as it is for tshooting?

Thanks for your help
MM

[nibbles]

Oh that’s some good news. Here’s more. Two things have fixed buffering recently for people, the QTS 4.4.1 patch and using the latest PMS beta. Could you give me your current exact versions of those while I look also? Thanks

[memanole]

Hi nibbles,

QTS ver:4.3.6.1070
PMS ver: 1.17.0.1841

I will update QTS asap. As for the PMS I will wait for your feedback first re which version I should use.

Thank you
Mihai M

[nibbles]

Don’t update QTS, you are on the last stable there is.
They just removed all the 4.4.1’s heh.

I would try out the latest stable PMS 1.18.0.1944, from October 11, 2019.
Before you do that, do you have a lot of music files in Plex? The new 1.18 has a new music agent that causes a lot of CPU usage until it’s analyzed every music track and downloaded a lot of new stuff from the internet. Just a warning

---

EDIT: I just looked at the QNAP download page for your model NAS, the TVS-951x, and I was wrong. They do have a 4.4.1 stable out for you. Sorry! I was looking at the downloads for my 451+.

I always use extreme caution upgrading firmware. Be prepared for the worst. Read about the issues people are having. Search for your model on the QNAP forums. Back up your important data. It might take a day all that hassle, but it’s worth it. If just the PMS update fixes your problem, stop there. You could always change your firmware after the holidays. It’s such an important device.

[memanole]

A very good morning guys,

Apologies for such a delayed response from my side.

I just want to say a BIG Thank YOU to you you both for helping out.
So, the solution that made it work:

I upgraded to latest QNAP OS [4.4.1]
upgraded to latest version of PMS [1.18.]
changed Player setting for subtitles to ‘Only Image formats’ || when I will have time I will change it back to Automatic and do some tests & revert if issues

I should have contacted you 8 months ago, but I always thought was a problem with the tv

Thank you very much again!
MM

[TheeGooch]

That’s awesome. I tried some of your ideas on my Plex (Synology DS918+) . They didn’t help but I appreciate your sharing them.