# Transcoder Upgrade Forum Preview

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-upgrade-forum-preview/924241>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Created:** [June 27, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-upgrade-forum-preview/924241 "2025-06-27T16:07:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chris\_decker08](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chris_decker08/32/316799_2.png) [@chris\_decker08](https://forums.plex.tv/u/chris_decker08)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-upgrade-forum-preview/924241/1 "2025-06-27T16:07:34Z")

</div>

# Announcing the Transcoder Upgrade forum preview!

Plex’s transcoder is a highly customized version of FFMPEG which has been accumulating bugfixes and features since it was forked back in 2012. With such a large number of differences, upgrading from the upstream repository became increasingly more difficult and took up more and more time. We decided it was time to clear out the bloat and start over, creating a brand new fork from ffmpeg 6.1 and only bringing over features necessary for the function of Plex Media Server. Additional work was done to make upgrading a much smoother process in the future.

While we are confident most bugs were fixed upstream, it’s possible some slipped through the cracks. That’s where you guys come in!

## Known Issues:

- ~~On screen duration is updated during playback of certain files (PM-3653)~~
- ~~Live tv fails to transcode when transcoding to hevc (PM-3757)~~
- Live tv fails to transcode when the stream incluses ASTC A53 CC subtitles (PM-3775)
- ~~framedrop bitstream filter not found (PM-3777)~~
- ~~DOVI profile 8 Tone mapping produces flashes of color on MACOS (PM-3816)~~
- ~~Transcoding using an intel gpu on windows can result in unexpected behavior (server crash, sw decoing, ect)~~
- ~~Some live tv video streams were generating errors~~

## How it Works:

While this build does not have any new features, we have noticed performance boosts in certain scenarios as well as the previously mentioned bug fixes. The best way to help us test this upgrade is to install this forum preview build and then use plex as you normally would. While any issues you encounter are of interest we are primarily interested in achieving parity with the current version of the transcoder. Whenever possible please validate that any issue you encounter is not also an issue in the public or beta versions of PMS.

## Before you proceed:

The server builds listed below are pre-alpha releases and have not been fully tested so we always advise caution. Make sure you have recent database backups and preferably run these builds independently from your main media server if possible and create new libraries to test pre-release software.  
With that out the way…

## Downloads (Updated 2025/08/13)

### Docker

- For instructions on how to install preview builds in our docker container please see [HERE](https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-run-a-custom-build-of-pms-in-docker/918517)

### Desktop Platforms

- Windows

- Ubuntu/Debian

- RedHat/Fedora/CentOS

- FreeBSD

- macOS

### NAS Devices

- Asustor

- Seagate

- Synology (DSM 6)

- Synology (DSM 7)

- Synology (DSM 7.2)

- QNAP

- Unraid

- Netgear

- Western Digital (OS 3)

- Western Digital (OS 5)

- Nvidia Shield

---

_[View the full topic](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-upgrade-forum-preview/924241)._