Server Version#: 1.21.0.3616
Player Version#: 5.5.1 / platform 2.4
TV: Samsung UE55KU6079 (DE '17)
I subscribe to an online PVR system in Germany: youtv.de. My recorded shows can be downloaded in various qualities from an RSS feed for my account. Because it is a PVR service the videos also include commercials and a few minutes of extra recording on either side of the show.
I have started to add these shows to my PLEX server. Before doing so, I edit them by cutting out commercials, etc… with Avidemux ver 2.7.6.
Both the original files and their edited versions play correctly in PLEX web, VLC, etc… Their aspect ratios are correct.
The problem is this: When I import the Avidemux edited files into PLEX, the server (I assume) is writing their aspect ratios as 1.33 and squishing the video. The original, unedited files have the correct aspect ratio, 1.78 and anamorphic=true in their file info. (none of this seems to affect PLEX Web, only the Samsung app)
Looking at the original files and the edited ones in Mediainfo shows that the edited files have some meta-data changes, but nothing regarding a change to aspect ratio or resolution (I just use basic default editing). the resolution remains the same. So I guess that the way plex is reading the edited file’s data makes it config the videos for 1.33.
Here are the xml files pre and post edit from Mediainfo and PLEX:
I’m curious, do you see the same behavior if you output to an MP4 container instead of MKV? I ask because Plex reads different information from MKV vs. MP4 files. I wonder if this might affect the PixelAspectRatio tag (present in both your MP4 and MKV files). The pixel aspect ratio is present in your original file’s Plex XML data, but not the test.
Also, it doesn’t appear as though deep analysis as been performed on either of the files in Plex. Though, I’m not sure if this is something deep analysis would correct. Deep analysis generally occurs during the server’s scheduled tasks overnight, if you have that enabled: Settings -> Schedule Tasks -> Perform extensive media analysis during maintenance
Deep analysis can also be performed by manually invoking Plex Media Scanner, utilizing the --analyze-deeply argument (among others).
The nightly analyze scan did not help. I have also saved the edited file in an MP4 container, this also did not help.
In regards to the anamorphic flag, that is something that is something that Plex is added to the XML when importing the original file. It is not in the metadata from the file(s) itself.
So here is a sequence of events:
original MP4 container file imported into plex
original file has attr: Width:720, Height: 576, Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Plex plays this file correctly and sets the (new) attr: Anamorphic=true, Aspect Ratio=1.78
edited MKV or MP4 container file imported into Plex
edited file has attr: Width:720, Height: 576, Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (same as original)
Plex does not add the Anamorphic=true flag
Plex also sets the Aspect Ratio=1.33
So, there is something about how the server is importing the edited files. Either something in missing that it needs for setting the Aspect Ratio correctly (Looking at files I can’t see what that would be) or the algorithm it uses to set Anamorphic=true is wonky in this particular case.
FWIW, this server is the latest version on Ubuntu.
Oh, and to re-iterate for clarity… The edited files work find with the web client. No problem at all with aspect ratio. It’s the Samsung Plex app that freaks out.
