Hello,
I have noticed for a while now that Plex do some random transcode without any reason. It happens on my computer and Android TV (maybe even other devices too). I have set up at all devices that they should play media only with direct play without transcode but still sometimes Plex do transcode.
For example I start some movie/series and Plex do transcode so I have to turn Plex player down and open it again. Sometimes I have to do that multiple time. Sometimes I just play movie/series without problem but sometimes this transcode thing happens. It happens randomly sometimes it happens after few days again sometimes I have to turn off and on Plex app multiple times sometimes just turn off and on playback only.
I cant disable transcode entirely because some media on some devices dont play even if transcode doesnt apply. I want transcode ONLY if its absolutely nessesarly and there is no other chance that device cant play that media by its own!
While it is playing look at the playback info and it should the general reason why it is transcoding. The Android logs and server logs will also give a clue why
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.293 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode/Req#71e0a] We're going to try to auto-select an audio stream for account 1.
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.293 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode/Req#71e0a] Selecting best audio stream for part ID 3224 (language: cs)
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.293 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode/Req#71e0a] We're going to try to auto-select a subtitle.
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.293 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode/Req#71e0a] Audio Stream: 8611, Subtitle Stream: -1
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.302 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: Selected protocol http; container: mkv
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: analyzing media item 3224
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: E1 - Obamascare: Direct Play is disabled
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: E1 - Obamascare: no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: E1 - Obamascare: no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: E1 - Obamascare: no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/hevc/ac3
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] MDE: Brickleberry - S3 E1 - Obamascare: selected media 0 / 3224
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Calculated bandwidth of 4007kbps exceeds bandwidth limit. Changing decision parameters provided by client to fit bandwidth limit of 2000kbps
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.303 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] Streaming Resource: Determining preferred transcode encoders through transcode only decision.
Apr 06, 2023 20:51:12.305 [19004] DEBUG - [Req#71e07/Transcode] Codecs: testing hevc (decoder) with hwdevice nvdec
So transcoding is due to some unknown bandwidth limmit? I am confused because it is local playback and I didnt set any limmits.
Why do you have to force that transcode thing at all cost even if there is no reason? I know it is your coding and part of Plex but just why? It should be opposite and transcoding should be used ONLY if it is absolutely nessesarly.
Also if I disable transcode then Plex player say that there is not enough CPU performance to play video… now I am confused even more. What is this all about?
2000kbps is the default limit for relay so for some reason the server may think the client is remote. If thta is cause then it would be in Now Playing section of Dashboard an say “Indirect”
I would look at what ip the request is coming in on in the logs.
Everything is set without limmit.
I test this limmit very long time ago but I noticed that Plex dont recognize video/audio bitrate accurate and transcode very often even if the movie have low bitrate.
For example sometimes Plex think that video has 40Mbps bitrate even if it has 6Mbps. Maybe some wrong metadata reading or something.
I also noticed that this happens often after waking up PC from sleep while Plex player is still opened. This errorm message will show when I have disabled transcode:
That error indicates the video needed a transcode but since you turned it off, it errored. That is expected. Turning off transcode does not force files to direct play.
For example sometimes Plex think that video has 40Mbps bitrate even if it has 6Mbps.
The 6Mbps reported for the file is the average. There may be peaks in the file. Your server analysis the file and determines what bandwidth is needed to account for these peaks. The value shown in the dashboard is this bandwidth PMS has determined. It is not the actual bitrate of the file.
Everything is set without limmit.
Still not sure what’s going on, but there is a 2 Mbps limit being applied because of something. Still investigating.
