Some files videos play audio for a few seconds and then cut off & chirp , same files work in VLC

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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1

Some files videos play audio for a few seconds and then cut off & chirp but the same files work in VLC. The video continues to play with no stuttering or buffering issues.
I can provide the file as well if required.

Server Version#: Version 1.13.8.5395
Player Version#: Web player Version 3.69.1, Desktop Version 3.69.0

XML file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="4" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="b22d97b7-ec29-4f2c-af2a-961f703c4a87" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1537530240">
<Media videoResolution="480" id="23956" duration="3335321" bitrate="580" width="640" height="480" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="mp3" videoCodec="h264" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="NTSC" videoProfile="high">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="38587" key="/library/parts/38587/1538012943/file.mkv" duration="3335321" file="480p.x264.mkv" size="241828902" container="mkv" deepAnalysisVersion="2" indexes="sd" requiredBandwidths="750,695,695,695,695,695,695,695" videoProfile="high">
<Stream id="65957" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="452" anamorphic="1" bitDepth="8" chromaLocation="left" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" frameRate="29.970" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="480" level="30" pixelAspectRatio="4:3" profile="high" refFrames="4" requiredBandwidths="749,694,694,694,694,694,694,694" scanType="progressive" width="640" displayTitle="480p (H.264)" />
<Stream id="65958" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="mp3" index="1" channels="2" bitrate="128" audioChannelLayout="stereo" requiredBandwidths="72,72,72,72,72,72,72,72" samplingRate="48000" displayTitle="Unknown (MP3 Stereo)" />
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0">
</Extras>
</Video>
</MediaContainer>

Plex Transcoder Statistics.log

<SessionReport version="2" startTime="0" startTimestamp="Sep 27, 2018 02:25:24.822" key="/library/metadata/6199" session="" transcode="zda8i050jl5jmkoqd9lvmthc">
<Variants>
<Variant id="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" targetBitrate="998" context="streaming" sourceVideoCodec="h264" sourceAudioCodec="mp3" videoDecision="copy" audioDecision="transcode" protocol="dash" container="mp4" videoCodec="h264" audioCodec="aac" audioChannels="2" transcodeHwRequested="0" transcodeHwFullPipeline="1">
<Media id="23956" videoProfile="high" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="aac" bitrate="708" container="mp4" duration="3335321" height="480" optimizedForStreaming="1" protocol="dash" videoCodec="h264" videoFrameRate="NTSC" videoResolution="480p" width="640" selected="1">
<Part deepAnalysisVersion="2" id="38587" indexes="sd" requiredBandwidths="750,695,695,695,695,695,695,695" videoProfile="high" bitrate="708" container="mp4" duration="3335321" height="480" optimizedForStreaming="1" protocol="dash" width="640" decision="transcode" selected="1">
<Stream bitrate="452" chromaLocation="left" codec="h264" default="1" displayTitle="480p (H.264)" frameRate="29.969999999999999" height="480" id="65957" requiredBandwidths="749,694,694,694,694,694,694,694" streamType="1" width="640" decision="copy" location="segments-video" />
<Stream bitrate="256" bitrateMode="cbr" channels="2" codec="aac" default="1" displayTitle="Unknown (MP3 Stereo)" id="65958" requiredBandwidths="72,72,72,72,72,72,72,72" selected="1" streamType="2" decision="transcode" location="segments-audio" />
</Part>
</Media>
</Variant>
<Variant id="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" targetBitrate="998" context="streaming" sourceVideoCodec="h264" sourceAudioCodec="mp3" videoDecision="copy" audioDecision="transcode" protocol="dash" container="mp4" videoCodec="h264" audioCodec="aac" audioChannels="2" transcodeHwRequested="0" transcodeHwFullPipeline="1">
<Media id="23956" videoProfile="high" audioChannels="2" audioCodec="aac" bitrate="708" container="mp4" duration="3335321" height="480" optimizedForStreaming="1" protocol="dash" videoCodec="h264" videoFrameRate="NTSC" videoResolution="480p" width="640" selected="1">
<Part deepAnalysisVersion="2" id="38587" indexes="sd" requiredBandwidths="750,695,695,695,695,695,695,695" videoProfile="high" bitrate="708" container="mp4" duration="3335321" height="480" optimizedForStreaming="1" protocol="dash" width="640" decision="transcode" selected="1">
<Stream bitrate="452" chromaLocation="left" codec="h264" default="1" displayTitle="480p (H.264)" frameRate="29.969999999999999" height="480" id="65957" requiredBandwidths="749,694,694,694,694,694,694,694" streamType="1" width="640" decision="copy" location="segments-video" />
<Stream bitrate="256" bitrateMode="cbr" channels="2" codec="aac" default="1" displayTitle="Unknown (MP3 Stereo)" id="65958" requiredBandwidths="72,72,72,72,72,72,72,72" selected="1" streamType="2" decision="transcode" location="segments-audio" />
</Part>
</Media>
</Variant>
</Variants>
<SegmentList>
<Segment duration="6362" startOffset="0" endOffset="6362">
<File name="chunk-stream0-00001.m4s" type="video">
<FileVariant size="0" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</File>
<File name="chunk-stream1-00001.m4s" type="audio">
<FileVariant size="0" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</File>
<Timelines>
<Download startTime="273" fileType="audio" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74">
<Pause type="segmentWait" startTime="273" endTime="574" />
</Download>
<Download startTime="391" fileType="video" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74">
<Pause type="segmentWait" startTime="391" endTime="604" />
</Download>
<Transcode startTime="504" endTime="504" complete="1" fileType="video" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
<Transcode startTime="504" endTime="504" complete="1" fileType="audio" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</Timelines>
</Segment>
<Segment duration="6362" startOffset="0" endOffset="6362">
<File name="chunk-stream0-00001.m4s" type="video">
<FileVariant size="48183" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</File>
<File name="chunk-stream1-00001.m4s" type="audio">
<FileVariant size="195116" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</File>
<Timelines>
<Transcode startTime="63" endTime="468" complete="1" fileType="video" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
<Transcode startTime="468" endTime="468" complete="1" fileType="audio" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</Timelines>
</Segment>
<Segment duration="5606" startOffset="6362" endOffset="11968">
<File name="chunk-stream0-00001.m4s" type="video">
<FileVariant size="48183" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</File>
<File name="chunk-stream1-00001.m4s" type="audio">
<FileVariant size="195116" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</File>
<Timelines>
<Transcode startTime="468" endTime="487" complete="1" fileType="video" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
<Transcode startTime="487" endTime="487" complete="1" fileType="audio" variant="11cf2ead-343f-4d07-91b4-3a468dc67e74" />
</Timelines>
</Segment>
<Segment duration="5606" startOffset="6362" endOffset="11968">
<File name="chunk-stream0-00001.m4s" type="video">
<FileVariant size="0" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</File>
<File name="chunk-stream1-00001.m4s" type="audio">
<FileVariant size="0" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</File>
<Timelines>
<Transcode startTime="504" endTime="504" complete="1" fileType="video" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
<Transcode startTime="504" endTime="504" complete="1" fileType="audio" variant="82a8264b-9ea2-4a0b-8ad8-09019830cc06" />
</Timelines>
</Segment>
</SegmentList>
<PlaybackReports>
<Playback startTime="1042" endTime="1043" state="stopped" progress="37000" />
</PlaybackReports>
<StateReports />
<StateReports />
</SessionReport>
2

Thanks, but only the XML is helpful.

Please make certain DEBUG logging is enabled only.
Start Playback,
wait until failure,
Stop Playback.
wait 30 seconds
Capture logs - Settings - Server - Help - Download Logs

Attach the ZIP file it presents.

3

Thanks @ChuckPa. See attached.
I went to Settings -> Manage -> Troubleshooting -> Download Logs.

Plex Media Server Logs_2018-09-28_01-14-26.zip (2.7 MB)

I’ve noticed the files sometimes do not work on MPC or MPC-BE either.

4

I do not think MPC is supported for transcoding (not used it and not on my list as supported) but if the player reports it can play it, it will stream.

Your logs are largely error / anomaly free. The only exception being one interruption to Plex.tv which is of no concern.

I would like to ask you to confine this to a single audio file and see if I may have a copy of it for analysis.

5

As requested @ChuckPa Here’s the link for the audio as mka (42mb): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kqLcqoa1pxyS8exZG8-Cf75DSMlZZIbf/view?usp=sharing

In VLC it plays for the first 5 seconds of audio, makes a noise and is silent until the 12 second mark where the audio continues. In Plex, the first 5 seconds of audio play, but after the noise there is no more audio. In MPC it plays the first 5 seconds of audio and makes weird noises after that throughout the entire duration.

The entire 600 mb file is here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pa-vKRkcAAmwNus9dcm0pWYqPkFp7CLh/view?usp=sharing

Coincidentally, another file with the same issue that I tried to extract the audio ended up with 500kb mka or mp3 files.

6

Just got it. Taking a look now.

7

I have played all throughout the file. The file you have provided has no noises or other abnormality in VLC or in Audacity.

8

The file doesn’t work on Plex so there might be something else that’s wrong with it. I was wondering if it could be the header or container but it’s odd it would play 5 seconds of audio on Plex and no longer play the audio but the video would continue.

I got the following error by playing the mka on Plex (web browser) after it got past the 5 second mark

image

9

That it could be.

It’s my weekend now so if you’re ok with it, I’ll look further when back in the office?

10

No problem. I can share my library with you on the server if it helps.
Thanks for your help thus far. Have a good weekend.

11

I won’t need, nor do I request, server access. (such things are private).

12

Hello @ChuckPa, do you have time to look into this again? Plex Web Version is now 3.73.1

I may record what happens with playback on my phone so you can further understand what I mean, or if you can, get the entire problematic 600mb file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pa-vKRkcAAmwNus9dcm0pWYqPkFp7CLh/view?usp=sharing

13

Using 1.13.9, The audio won’t play.
For what it’s worth, it won’t play in VLC fo me either…

Is it this one file or are ALL your files this way?

If it’s just one, I would look at all those from EZTV and try a different encoder.
The encoding settings from mediainfo are overdone. Profile 4.2 is not needed. 4.0 is good for 20 Mbps and this isn’t anywhere close.

14

@ChuckPa I’m assuming you had the same issue where the first 5 seconds would have audio and the rest of the file wouldn’t have audio?
All the problem files seem to be webrips from VH1’s site, and the result is generally the same from various groups in x264, x265, AVI (unless different groups are sharing the same source).

The following file (another VH1 webrip), will play the first 5 seconds in VLC 3.0.4, then there is no audio until the 49 second mark where the audio becomes fine, I can even seek back to before the 49 second mark once the audio kicks in.
In Plex & MPC/MPC-BE, I only get the first 5 seconds of audio (the opening VH1 logo), then nothing but chirps or silence.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bJxHzLtUcmSRKsWtiohii3hDzGlRrYZZ/view?usp=sharing

Is it possible I can fix this myself?

15

Given I can’t play the file with plex or vlc, that points me to the file itself. VLC is a completely different decoding and playback engine. If it has as much difficulty as Plex, there’s nothing anyone can do.

The best hope you have is trying HandBrake. It might be able to convert it better. It has yet another set of codecs at its disposal. Be careful with HandBrake, it loves to reduce the bitrates. Take manual control and set them where needed.

16

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