I’ve been having an issue I can’t seem to figure out for the life of me for the past couple of days. I’m trying to stream some videos that play perfectly fine on VLC on the server itself, but get “loading” with the spinning circle on all of the platforms listed below. Tried streaming locally within my LAN and remotely but same issues. You can see the screenshots here that show what Plex Web, Plex Status, and PlexPy status shows when I start a video: https://imgur.com/a/ZN6V3
I’ve tried going through the Plex Logs to figure out the issue but can’t seem to decipher much. The last video I experienced this issue with was “The Good Doctor S01E10”. In contrast, the last video I successfully watched was “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee S03E01”. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Plex Server: Linux v1.10.0.4523 (Dual Xeon E5-2665)
Attempted Clients: AppleTV, Plex Web (Chrome on Mac), Plex Media Player (Mac). iPhone X
Your logs are showing good transcoder operation.
The client asks for data and it sends it.
The transcoder buffers ahead, as it should, and sleeps.
When the client (player) asks for more, it is sent.
Given this is prevalent on multiple wireless devices, I would first suspect Wifi. Congestion and/or throughput.
FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388-2948ff28-d680-4c56-a8dd-4ad69d1f11f6/media-00485.ts
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.654 [0x7fafd77f5700] DEBUG - Throttling 485.ts for 6.000000 seconds
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.654 [0x7fafd9ffa700] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Estimated bandwidth for 0170BC76-7866-414F-A8AB-28BB315C1434 to be 4441kbps over 6.41s
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.654 [0x7fafd77f5700] DEBUG - Content-Length of /config/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode/Sessions/plex-transcode-FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388-2948ff28-d680-4c56-a8dd-4ad69d1f11f6/media-00485.ts is 3138472.
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.990 [0x7faffd7ff700] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:56220 (Loopback)] PUT /video/:/transcode/session/FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388/2948ff28-d680-4c56-a8dd-4ad69d1f11f6/progress?progress=91.8&size=-22&remaining=768&vdec_packets=1804&vdec_sw_ok=1788&vdec_hw_status=0 (15 live) Signed-in Token (tejasgadhia)
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.990 [0x7faffd7ff700] DEBUG - Session FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388 (3) is unthrottling
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.990 [0x7fb033fff700] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:56220] 206 PUT /video/:/transcode/session/FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388/2948ff28-d680-4c56-a8dd-4ad69d1f11f6/progress?progress=91.8&size=-22&remaining=768&vdec_packets=1804&vdec_sw_ok=1788&vdec_hw_status=0 (15 live) 0ms 326 bytes
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:15.991 [0x7fb02f7fe700] DEBUG - [Transcoder] Throttle - Getting back to work.
Dec 05, 2017 10:24:16.418 [0x7fb034fff700] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:56224 (Loopback)] PUT /video/:/transcode/session/FBD6928F-CD5F-4688-B6FA-164A2911D388/2948ff28-d680-4c56-a8dd-4ad69d1f11f6/progress?progress=91.9&size=-22&remaining=236&vdec_packets=1849&vdec_sw_ok=1833&speed=3.2&vdec_hw_status=0 (16 live) Signed-in Token (tejasgadhia)
Thanks for the super quick response!
@ChuckPA said:
Given this is prevalent on multiple wireless devices, I would first suspect Wifi. Congestion and/or throughput.
That is what confuses me so much because I don’t believe that to be the issue. The AppleTV is connected via ethernet, not wireless. Even trying to play the file on the server itself via Plex doesn’t work. My internet is a 1000/1000 connection and the issue is happening with only certain files, and not with others.
Would you happen to have any other suggestions for things I can troubleshoot?
If the issue is happening only with certain files, this is highly indicative of a problem with those files.
As a test.
- Make a copy of the file for safekeeping
- Run the file through HandBrake or other encoder to have it verify all the timestamps are correct.
- Substitute the test file for the original
- Highlight the item in PMS and click ‘Analyze’ to update what PMS knows of the file
- Test playback.
If the file plays flawlessly, you have your answer: Damaged source file. You can now go back to the original and take your time to make the best re-encode you can (minimize resolution loss)
If not, I’ll need a sample of the file and the XML.
All this having been said, when only a select group of files are a problem, 99/100 times it is the file itself.
@ChuckPA said:
If not, I’ll need a sample of the file and the XML.
Here are 3 different files I tried that process with, but all 3 still dont play. Below is the XML for all 3:
<Video ratingKey="53257" key="/library/metadata/53257" parentRatingKey="37118" grandparentRatingKey="22856" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://76203/9/10?lang=en" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" type="episode" title="Fatwa!" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/22856" parentKey="/library/metadata/37118" grandparentTitle="Curb Your Enthusiasm" parentTitle="Season 9" contentRating="TV-MA" summary="In the Season 9 finale, Larry has a scheduling conflict; takes issue with work associates; and hosts a pair of ungrateful houseguests.
" index="10" parentIndex="9" year="2017" thumb="/library/metadata/53257/thumb/1512405204" art="/library/metadata/22856/art/1512405205" parentThumb="/library/metadata/37118/thumb/1512405204" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/22856/thumb/1512405205" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/22856/art/1512405205" grandparentTheme="/library/metadata/22856/theme/1512405205" duration="2923379" originallyAvailableAt="2017-12-03" addedAt="1512405021" updatedAt="1512405204">
<Media videoResolution="1080" id="84789" duration="2923379" bitrate="13826" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="eac3" videoCodec="h264" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" videoProfile="high">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="116345" key="/library/parts/116345/1512384878/file.mkv" duration="2923379" file="/data/Television/Curb Your Enthusiasm/Season 09/Curb Your Enthusiasm - S09E10 - Fatwa! (WEBDL-1080p).mkv" size="5052476404" container="mkv" videoProfile="high">
<Stream id="300235" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="13186" bitDepth="8" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" frameRate="23.976" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="1080" level="40" profile="high" refFrames="4" scanType="progressive" width="1920"/>
<Stream id="300236" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="eac3" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="640" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" samplingRate="48000"/>
<Stream id="300237" streamType="3" codec="srt" index="2" bitrate="0" language="English" languageCode="eng" title="English [CC]"/>
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0"></Extras>
</Video>
</MediaContainer>```
```<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="3dac70ea-4b78-4445-b0e7-4b6cc620d38f" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1511820568">
<Video ratingKey="53199" key="/library/metadata/53199" parentRatingKey="19883" grandparentRatingKey="7669" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://153021/8/7?lang=en" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" type="episode" title="Time for After" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/7669" parentKey="/library/metadata/19883" grandparentTitle="The Walking Dead" parentTitle="Season 8" contentRating="TV-MA" summary="Negan has to enlist the help of his lieutenants in solving a huge issue facing the Sanctuary; Rick and the group continue to enact the plan." index="7" parentIndex="8" rating="10.0" year="2017" thumb="/library/metadata/53199/thumb/1512405162" art="/library/metadata/7669/art/1512376153" parentThumb="/library/metadata/19883/thumb/1512376148" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/7669/thumb/1512376153" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/7669/art/1512376153" grandparentTheme="/library/metadata/7669/theme/1512376153" duration="2639804" originallyAvailableAt="2017-12-03" addedAt="1512375438" updatedAt="1512405162">
<Media videoResolution="1080" id="84785" duration="2639804" bitrate="14943" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="eac3" videoCodec="h264" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" videoProfile="high">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="116341" key="/library/parts/116341/1512396617/file.mkv" duration="2639804" file="/data/Television/The Walking Dead/Season 08/The Walking Dead - S08E07 - Time for After (WEBDL-1080p).mkv" size="4930800200" container="mkv" videoProfile="high">
<Stream id="300226" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="14303" language="English" languageCode="eng" bitDepth="8" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" frameRate="23.976" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="1080" level="40" profile="high" refFrames="4" scanType="progressive" width="1920"/>
<Stream id="300227" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="eac3" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="640" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" samplingRate="48000"/>
<Stream id="300228" streamType="3" codec="srt" index="2" bitrate="0" language="English" languageCode="eng"/>
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0"></Extras>
</Video>
</MediaContainer>```
```<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="3dac70ea-4b78-4445-b0e7-4b6cc620d38f" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1511820568">
<Video ratingKey="53254" key="/library/metadata/53254" parentRatingKey="19820" grandparentRatingKey="5612" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://161511/8/5?lang=en" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" type="episode" title="The (Mis)Education of Liam Fergus Beircheart Gallagher" titleSort="(Mis)Education of Liam Fergus Beircheart Gallagher" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/5612" parentKey="/library/metadata/19820" grandparentTitle="Shameless (US)" parentTitle="Season 8" contentRating="TV-MA" summary="As Fiona tries to raise the profile of the neighborhood, Ian helps Trevor to raise money for a new youth shelter. Meanwhile, Carl loses his scholarship and gets creative with securing the tuition, Lip stands up to a friend and gets hurt and Frank teaches the parents at Liam's school all about the working class." index="5" parentIndex="8" year="2017" thumb="/library/metadata/53254/thumb/1512405212" art="/library/metadata/5612/art/1512405212" parentThumb="/library/metadata/19820/thumb/1512405212" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/5612/thumb/1512405212" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/5612/art/1512405212" grandparentTheme="/library/metadata/5612/theme/1512405212" duration="3498328" originallyAvailableAt="2017-12-03" addedAt="1512404971" updatedAt="1512405212">
<Media videoResolution="1080" id="84783" duration="3498328" bitrate="9036" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="eac3" videoCodec="h264" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" videoProfile="high">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="116339" key="/library/parts/116339/1512352965/file.mkv" duration="3498328" file="/data/Television/Shameless (US)/Season 08/Shameless (US) - S08E05 - The (Mis)Education of Liam Fergus Beircheart Gallagher (WEBDL-1080p).mkv" size="3951410403" container="mkv" videoProfile="high">
<Stream id="300220" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="8396" bitDepth="8" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" frameRate="23.976" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="1080" level="40" profile="high" refFrames="4" scanType="progressive" width="1920"/>
<Stream id="300221" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="eac3" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="640" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" samplingRate="48000"/>
<Stream id="300222" streamType="3" codec="srt" index="2" bitrate="0" language="English" languageCode="eng" title="English [CC]"/>
</Part>
</Media>
<Extras size="0"></Extras>
</Video>
</MediaContainer>```
Update: I was able to get the issue resolved thanks to @JonnyWong16 !
It was pointed out that all 3 files have the same EAC3 codec, and I should delete the Codec folder in my PMS Config and restart the PMS, which got the files playing perfectly.
Originally, the Codec folder had two subfolders: b077134-1269-linux-ubuntu-x86_64 and EasyAudioEncoder-141-linux-ubuntu-x86_64. Upon deleting the Codec folder and restarting only b077134-1269-linux-ubuntu-x86_64 was re-created. So must have been an issue with that EasyAudioEncoder there.
Thanks again for taking the time to help @ChuckPA
1 Like
So I was having the same issue on when I was trying to play a tv show where it would just constantly load and never play. What I did was went into my devices and removed the device from the list. Now keep in mind that I just revamped my environment and setup a brand new server where I had this device listed multiple times. Once I removed it from my devices it now loads the file with no problems. I hope this helps
