Server Version#: 1.22.1.4228-724c56e62
Player Version#: 1.30.1.2115-81e1fc3f
Hi,
I have one user I share my server with remotely (port forwarded correctly and works fine). While 90% of the time, everything I can see they play is ‘direct play’ ocassionally a transcode to SD, for them, will take place - which obviously eats up my CPU.
What triggers this transcoding down to SD from 1080p, on videos which I know have streamed with direct play for them before? Is it a resource issue on their end? I know their computer isn’t the greatest, in terms of CPU, so would it transcode to SD if they haven’t got enough CPU to play in HD? (we both use the PLEX for windows client.)
As mentioned, it’s hit and miss - most of the time they’re able to direct play with no issues at all. Example: my user is repeat watching something right now, that they’ve watched before in direct play and it’s transcoded to SD this time. (no settings have been changed on either end - we are both set up to ensure direct play works).
Could be them using different clients or changing the video quality settings for remote streaming in their client (original quality vs. some lower quality… e.g. SD).
Could be something about the bandwidth (your upload bandwidth, some transfer restrictions, their download bandwidth)… if the client is configured to automatically adjust the video quality, this can result in a different playback situation.
If they’re playing different videos, the client’s capabilities could well play a role… if the client e.g. cannot direct-play some component of one video, it’ll ask the server to transcode it. If the server isn’t powerful enough to transcode the video to the same resolution, it’ll go for a lower quality.
I can confirm no video quality settings have been changed on either side and we both use the Plex for windows app only. I also have 1Gb upload so plenty of bandwith and they also have high speed internet. I can also confirm that the video which I saw transcodeding to SD earlier has played direct for them before (in the test run we did during set up). To solve this issue earlier, I asked them to close and reopen Plex - just like that it was back to running at ‘direct play’ again.
Seems this could just be a bug/glitch with no real reasoning or explanation!?
