Let me start off by saying when I started using Plex in 2014 it was amazing it played anything I threw at it flawless!
in the last two years Plex has become more of a pain than an enjoyment. Everything I play on my firestick stutters and jerks. Nothing about my setup has changed. My problems started with the New UI design. That’s when the jerking/stuttering started.
since then, it has gotten a little better with updates. this is; until Crackle free movies and Tv were added now we are right back where we started!
I love the ability to be able to play videos I have straight to my streaming device. That’s what Plex is famous for and what drew me to it. I have noticed a boatload off issues posted on these forums that seem to never be addressed much less fixed! My question to the Plex team is have you forgotten that each Plex Pass represents someone who thought your product deserved their money and support?
I realize that staying valuable these days in the streaming market is not easy. And you need to be constantly improving to stay ahead. but PLEASE don’t forget us who thought enough to invest in Plex Pass.
Fix what breaks and then if you want to strike deals with other content providers do it. But make sure what worked before still works now.
if Plex is just going to become another Crackle then I’ll just go download crackle. I hope you stay/ become again the Plex I once loved!
Well, at least that part is back.
The other parts are mostly OK, and if not, are at least tolerable.
FireTV and Plex is a disappointment. Nothing about that has changed since day one. If you want a decent Plex Experience at this moment - get a Roku Ultra. You’ll be a lot happier and I see one (100s) every day on Amazon for $60 to $80 refurbs - I have two, bought 5 and had them delivered where they needed to go, and now don’t need any more.
I cannot say for sure but I suspect you will get no response from anyone at Plex. Plex is to customer service what Trump is to compassion.
It is just possible that if a few other regular posters post and say the same kind of thing that someone at Plex will respond in some way but I doubt it will happen. Plex hides their plans and feelings and development paths better than a cat hides a mouse it just killed. And they mark it in the same way, by pissing on it.
Plex seems to only care about what makes them money up front and playing local media no longer generates enough revenue to place it on Plex’s todo list at any kind of priority.
I feel the same about how Plex handles it support these days. I posted so I could get how I felt down. I feel like my lifetime pass may be a waste now. But if anyone here has any suggestions to help I’ll gladly take them!
Let’s curb it down to normal.
You don’t have to like how Plex treat some things and you’re perfectly allowed to express this in the forum (as you keep doing). That doesn’t mean it’s ok to go verbally overboard.
has anyone else ever noticed that under transcoder in the settings there’s an option to disable video transcoding. Or I guess that’s what it’s for. I turned it on and so far so good
The FireTVs are sadly known to be a pain.
With what particular model / version of FireTV do you experience this at the moment?
Personally I’m currently mostly streaming with my Apple TV 4K and couldn’t be happier (well… there’s always room for improvements… just saying I’m happy with the playback options and streaming quality there)
Many people have - especially the extremely vocal crowd that lobbied for, and got a ‘Feature’ - they didn’t really understand.
All they wanted was to Force Direct Play.
Disabling the transcoder isn’t the way you get that.
Disabling the transcoder does disable:
VPT Generation
Chapter Thumb Generation
Skip Into Generation
Sync
Download
Direct Stream
and probably a lot more.
In short - don’t disable the transcoder if you want, or need Direct Play.
Find out what’s causing the transcode. Do something about that instead.
I think your problem is being caused by the new audio and video formats that Plex Server hasn’t got mature enough yet, demanding us to have powerful hardware, which a regular user doesn’t have. If you read their release notes for the last 20 versions they are focused on DVR, which is fine.
But when they keep hoping around features without stabilize the one before, they look like those giant companies where Product team fights with Engineers and customers are the only one who lose. Jack of all trades, master of none.
I wouldn’t agree on the shield, I have the Tube version and I have a lot of crashing, I’m very disappointed that Plex cannot even work flawlessly on a such powerful streaming device…
Thanks for the info. I can’t afford the higher priced streaming devices. And I’m very happy with the firestick for now other than plex. I was extremely happy with plex a few years ago. In fact, I had been using an older version of the plex app which seemed to eliminate the problems after a roll back. But a few updates ago stopped that from working. But it is nice to know that a higher price doesn’t always mean without problems
That was my whole point for posting originally. I personally think it would be nice if instead of adding more and more content plex would focus on making their apps the best they can be on each device they choose to support
I use Shields exclusively for my streaming and anyone that I share access with uses a shield as well. Sister thought she would use a firestick in her bedroom, and then started complaining about issues without telling me she was using a firestick. After I looked at the devices connecting to the server, and realized she was using the firestick her issues went away after switching to the new Shield Mini or whatever the lower end one is called. I have tried Rokus in the past, with the 4K Ultra and it wouldn’t pass Atmos, along with a few other issues - ever since going to the shield, the only issues I have is when there is a server or app update that breaks things. WELL worth a little extra money up front for the lower end shield.
Agreed - I have a ShieldPro and enabling the new player results in stuttering and jerky playback - tested last night on latest (that installs on the pro) and it’s still there.
What I don’t get is why their fiddling about with new features (watch together etc) when there are basics that don’t work - I would have thought fixing playback should be number one priority, then move onto the bells and whistles…
It’s quite simple to demonstrate - enable new player from Plex settings (and yes - know the new player is beta, but every update to Plex turns it back on, grrr) and stuttering occurs - turn it off (i.e. use the original player) and it’s picture perfect.
There is no WiFi here either - wired directly on GBit ether, both Pro and Plex server on same hub. I know when Plex has been updated on the pro when the stuttering comes back
Yes, I certainly can, I’ll do that later today and send you as much info as I can gather about the setup - I have to say though - it’s any file I play, 1080, 720, mkv/mp4/etc. What I see is roughly every 3 seconds the picture momentarily freezes the you see a jump as the player catches up with stream (if that makes sense), revert back to the original player and it’s fine, switch back and the stutter is there - issue is easy to reproduce.
Running nearly the latest server (1.19.2.2737) on FreeNAS 11.3, 32 Gb mem, etc etc and it’s always direct stream.
