Transcoding

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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1

Please help me understand transcoding.

First what is transcoding for?

I have a Plex app loaded on an Apple TV gen4. The Plex media server is a Drobo 5n2 NAS with the movies (m4v and MP4) are loaded on that NAS.

Is the transcoding happening of the movie happening on the Apple TV device using native drivers, the PLEX software in the Plex app loaded on the Apple TV, the NAS or the TV?

2

Transcoding serves 3 purposes:

  • make the media format compatible with the playback device (each playback device has its own limitations which media formats it can or cannot play)
  • reduce the bandwidth (the volume of data) of the video to adapt to slower network connections or limitations of the playback device
  • “burn in” subtitles into the video picture, if the playback device cannot show subtitles on its own (e.g. because they are in an incompatible format)

Transcoding always happens on the server.

3

thanks Otto,
So is the playback device the Apple TV hardware or the NAS?

I have no subtitles.
Thanks

4

I just realized that you said at the end that the transcoding happens on the NAS server that is not attached in any way to a computer. Is that correct?

5

Transcoding is performed by the Plex Media Server application on the system where it is running.

If PMS is running on the NAS, then transcoding will be performed on the NAS.

If PMS is running on a PC/Mac/etc which is using the NAS as a fileserver, then transcoding will be performed on the PC/Mac/etc.

6

The playback device is the ATV in your case.

7

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