I try to play a movie with subtitles (.srt), unsupported audio (TrueHD) and supported video (H265) by my TV (LG 50UK6470 UHD). When I play the movie, if I don’t enable subtitles, unsupported audio (TrueHD) transcodes to supported audio (AAC) as normal and supported video (H265) plays natively with direct play/stream with no transcode, everything is fine at this point. But, when I enable subtitles, unsupported audio (TrueHD) transcodes to supported audio (AAC) as normal, but also supported video (H265) transcodes to H264. This doesn’t happen, if I enable subtitles with supported audio (AC3 or AAC), so supported audio and video play normal with direct play/stream, no transcode. Everything becomes weird when I enable subtitles with unsupported audio, it also transcode supported video. I want plex to run subtitles, transcode unsupported audio but not transcode supported video, because not necessary and takes too much cpu power. Why it happens? Is there any way to avoid it?
This has been known for a long time. It is a limitation of the Plex SmartTV app.
Enabling image based subtitles, PGS or VOBSUB, forces a video transcode.
If audio is transcoding, enabling SRT subtitles forces a video transcode.
If audio direct plays, enabling SRT subtitles does not force a video transcode.
Your options are:
a) Never use image based subtitles.
b) Only play supported audio formats (For LG: AAC/AC3/EAC3/dts) and only use SRT subtitles.
c) If supported audio format not available, use tools such as XMediaRecode, Handbrake, etc to convert audio to a supported format.
d) Use an external box/stick/etc that supports direct playing desired video/audio/subtitle formats. May also require a receiver/soundbar/etc that supports desired audio formats.
Is it just me or isn’t this a huge drawback since hdr is lost in transcode and 4k transcode is a real heavy lifting.
Is it possible to fix this in future updates or what is it that makes it impossible to have subtitles with converted audio and copied video (no transcode of video)?
(I understand that right now it is to prevent sync problem with subtitle/audio that force transcode)
Edited due to possibly a bit too offensive language
It is 2020 and we are still waiting for an update to remove this transcode sync limitation by PLEX asap!. Many movies are 4K HDR now and when enable srt. subtitles and unsupported audio by TV or Sound System, triggers transcoding video too as you know. 4K HDR video transcoding is heavy job for network and cpu, so TV view pauses and waites frequently even we have very poweful system which is very annoying. Please work on this trouble and find a solution soon for your beloved customers. Thanks in advance…
