Server Version#: Version 4.22.3
Player Version#: Unknown
Hi All,
I am just starting to look at a problem a remote family member is having and am hoping someone can tell me where to start looking…
I have a number of box sets hosted as MKV files on my Plex server. They seem to play fine for me (also remote from my server), but another family member has found that some sets play and some don’t. I can’t immediately see any difference between files which work and files which don’t.
I can see that they are playing on a Samsung UE40D5500 TV in case that helps… they are not very technical, but I have advised them to look for a “Check For Updates” option on their TV in case it needs newer codecs?
Sorry the available information is limited and any pointers on where to start looking into this would be really appreciated.
MKV is just a container. What’s more important is, what is inside that container.
And MKV is pretty flexible in that regard.
So use preferably Plex’s own Plex XML info
(pay attention during installation, it comes with a ‘piggybacked’ installer which asks to install additional crapware. Make sure to set/clear the right checkboxes!)
Once it is installed, analyse the file, then go to:
File - Export - Text (Advanced mode)
My issue sounds similar as Slimat’s in this post. On my Samsung TV the video container formats are showing as .mpg in the Plex Media Server interface whereas the actual video’s are in a .mkv container (H264 codec). This applies to all of my videos. Samsung TV however is incorrectly displaying them as .mpg and this refuses to play them. No one has replied yet to my ask for help. Again could be identical as the issue in this thread.
OK, I have exported the info using mediainfo tool… and this is what I got… I can see some differences, but they all seem slightly different - is anyone able to spot a particular format which I should avoid in future?
Incidentally their TV and my TV are both Samsung and I dont have any problems (yet), so I am hoping that there may be a firmware update for their TV which will fix this… but anyway here are some of the results called “Not Work” or “Will Work” accordingly.
i.e. all the non-playing files require transcoding to work.
If I remember correctly, you have to invoke playback differently on the old Orca Samsung app, if you want the server to transcode.
And the server has actually be able to do the transcoding fast enough.
Ah - many thanks for deciphering and spotting the commonalities…
I am sure that the server is capable as its 32 x vCPUs and 128Gb RAM in a datacentre… Also the fact that it works OK on my 1yr old Samsung would indicate that everything is working as it should - I suspect that its the age of their TV that is the limiting factor, although I might look at the subtitles on some other working media to see if that could be the issue.
Thanks again and if I get a resolution I will post back to help anyone else who stumbles on this.
Keep in mind that the client app on those old Samsung sets hasn’t seen an update in many years.
It might just be time to gift your parents an nVidia Shield…
Haha you might be right - that said, I use Roku sticks at home… so I might have one of those lying about as that would cure the issue - I completely forgot about that
No stick is gonna play HEVC (pretty sure - unless it’s brand new) and no Roku is gonna deal with EAC3. I just aimed a friend at an Ultra on Amazon for $88 - up recently from $67 - and if you keep watching it might go back down soon.
Shopping at Amazon is like playing the stock market - buy low - don’t buy high…lol
Hate to argue @JuiceWSA , but I have 4 of the Roku Streaming Stick + and they definitely play all the files listed above from my Plex Server. I bought them in December 2019, so they are only about 6 months old!
Well, your server is certainly fast enough to perform that audio transcoding, to make it suitable for the Roku.
My assumption is the age of the plex app on that Samsung.
Whereas the Plex Roku app is still under active deleopment.
If it works for you with that stick, it should work as well for your parents. If you want to be extra sure, take the stick outside of your home network and try to use it remotely yourself, before giving it to your parents.
I have a Roku 3 and a Roku Ultra - the 3 will NOT play HEVC, the Ultra will. If the sticks you have have 3 guts they won’t - if they have Ultra guts they will.
No Roku on Planet Earth is gonna handle EAC3:
An audio transcode (Direct Stream) isn’t the worst thing that can happen, but just know it’s gonna happen - 'cause it is.
Don’t put your parents on something requiring WiFi. <—unless they live downstairs <—or you do.
Can I jump in too? I have 3 Android devices on WiFi local and remote they just will not play full stop, but on 4G everything works… This issue I also found with AC3 etc etc etc… Samsung TV’s Remote and Roku’s on Remote and Local all work great, just Android!!
