Maybe it´s a stupid question, but i don´t have any more ideas now.
Following situation: Plex Server 1.4.1.3362, running on a unRaid Server 6.3.1 as Docker (i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz, 16GB RAM).
As Clients I have three Raspberry Pi2 with Rasplex 1.7.1. One is connected local, two are connected via Internet. The local one is working fine, no problems with Direct Play / Direct Stream.
The two connected via the Internet working also fine, all videos will be transcoded because of limited remote stream bitrate of 12Mbps at the server side.
But when I want to seek for example 5 minutes forward, the video stops and I can see that the CPU of the server is going to 100%, transcoding is going on but nothing happens till the 5 minutes are over. Then the video will play from the new position. The same happens when I seek 20 minutes – I have to wait 20 minutes, to watch the video from the new position.
What else does not work is to resume a video when transcoding. For example I watch the video 15 minutes, stop the video and click resume I have to wait 15 minutes till the video starts at 00:15.
I set on my local Raspberry a bandwidth limit too, so that the video had to be transcoded. Then I had the same problem with seeking on the local network.
When I watch the same video with an iPad, Apple TV4 or via browser (Firefox or Chrome) everything works fine. I can seek during transcoding. No difference between local playbacks or via internet.
I already tested other combinations – Plex server as Plugin on unRaid, Plex server on Synology, every time the same result. No matter which video file I am watching.
So from my point of view the problem must be the combination Raspberry / Rasplex.
Maybe I overlook something, any incorrect settings or something else – I don’t know….
Do somebody have an idea or hint for me to solve “my” problem?
Thank you very much in advance.
No. Plex is starting transcoding, but the video playback didn´t start.
It is only possible to start from beginning.
Later in the evening I will make a test with Plex Server v.1.3.0.3059.
I read in another post that they have similar problems with OpenPHT after v.1.3.0.3059.
Well it sounds as its transcoding to some format that doesn’t support to resume on some point or to skip parts. I have a similar situation but with Plex and a TV that could only access it over DLNA. The only thing that I could do its to create a custom profile for the TV so it only transcoded to those formats.
Some container formats Plex likes to transcode to like MPEGTS (TS for transport stream) doesnt carry any information of time as are intended for live television, so skipping parts its impossible in those formats.
So the way as I see it, you have to possible solutions. Or you create a custom profile for rasplex devices or you create an optimized version of those videos on your server
Several problems with some new PMS versions (definitely all after 1.3.2) are due to Plex Inc having changed the stream format so as to exclude some parameters that were previously embedded in each video stream (concerning media duration etc), which PHT, RasPlex, OpenPHT and other Plex clients have been dependent on.
The same parameters can be accessed in other ways, as is already done by newer official Plex clients, and such a method will also be included in the next release of OpenPHT and RasPlex, which is currently being worked on.
Until that new release I’d advise those still using older PMS versions than 1.3.3 to avoid upgrading it, and those using newer PMS versions might even want to consider downgrading. I am myself using PMS 1.3.2 without significant issues.
Thank you for your answers.
A view minutes ago I finished my test with the following result:
The only version of PMS which works correctly for me is 1.3.0.3059. With all other versions after this one I have the problem with seeking during transcoding.
For now I will stay on 1.3.0.3059 and wait for the next releases. I hope in the next release this issue will be solved.
