Server Version#: 1.16.5.1554
Player: Nvidia Shield TV
Hi everybody,
I am a trusted Plex user. I use PMS on a DS918+ NAS.
For the first time, I now encounter the problem that all my VC-1 encoded movies stutter after a couple of seconds. I play the movies in direct stream mode, so no converting, with subtitles activated.
Then the pop-up comes that my server’s CPU cannot playback the movie, I have to transcode it. Strange since I never had this before. Could this be due to a new PMS version?
I tried then to play the VC-1 movie without subtitles, but here too the video stutters.
I encounter the problem when I play on my ShieldTV, but also on my Mac (in PMS mode or player mode).
Any ideas what causes this?? Problems happened since a week or so, but could be a lot longer, since all my recently watched movies are H.264.
Have you upgraded to the latest Shield OS release, Shield Experience 8.0?
It has a problem with VC1 video. There is a hotfix available that resolves the problem. However, as it is beta s/w, best to read the Shield forum threads before requesting it.
Indeed I am using Shield version 8.0. I requested the Hotfix, but I have to wait another 48h.
Strange though that I have the same stutter on my Mac, which has nothing to do with the Shield.
Sometimes I get error 3015 in PMS, again only with VC-1 encoded movies.
VC-1 is one of those wonderful video formats that use only a single thread (core) of your processor. Unsure what happens if you throw VC-1 at hardware. At best if VC-1 acts weird - I wouldn’t be surprised.
There are probably many ‘work-arounds’ for VC-1 use, my favorite is encoding it to AVC before putting in a library (not without a fair amount of pain and suffering, you know, that whole single thread thing, but better to suffer once, than many).
Will the ‘Optimizer’ do anything good to it (albeit, slowly)?
I stated to become nervous as well, all my VC-1 medias were shuttering as well, I’m “glad” it is a known issue. I’m a bit concerned to go with the Hotfix, I’m confident that an official fix will be released soon (or am I too optimistic?).
The hotfix is an official patch. Its called a hotfix because they are patching hot issues that are showstoppers. If you sign up for the hotfix, your Shield will be prompted to download it within 48 hours. The issue was that SE 8.0 was not advertising the HW VC-1 decoder in the API framework for applications to leverage. The hotfix solves that by simply advertising VC-1 as a codec supported by the HW decoder.
In general Shield Experience 8.0 has been a cluster fu…! I am constantly experiencing listed known issues with modeset changes and HD audio passthrough dropouts—irregardless of the application used.
Thanks Achilles, but I still have the issue with Plex when I play a VC-1 movie on my mobile device or Chromecast. Movie will stutter after a few seconds. So the Hotfix for the ShieldTV may work (have to install it yet), but what about other devices?
So, if I understand you correctly, when in my case my Synology NAS is the server, I need another fix since the Hotfix is only for the Shield.
Then of course, the million dollar question: which fix is there in order for the Synology NAS to play VC-1 movies? Any suggestions?
The issue is not with the server, but with the client’s ability to direct play VC1 video.
The Plex client on the Shield can normally direct play VC1 video. Shield Experience 8.0 broke that ability. As a result, playing VC1 video on the Shield would result in Plex Media Server transcoding the video. The Hotfix for the Shield restores its capability to direct play VC1 video.
As for your other clients (Mac, etc), if they cannot direct play VC1 video, then PMS will transcode it.
What does the Dashboard (Plex Web -> Activity -> Dashboard) show when playing a VC1 video on the Mac or other clients? Is the video direct playing / transcoding / etc?
You may have to click the gold rectangle thing on the right to expand and show details.
Example playing a VC1 movie on my Android phone. Plex on my phone does not support direct playing VC1 video, so PMS must transcode the video to H.264.
If you want VC-1 codec to be HW transcoded by the Synology DS-918+, you will need to install the alpha development PMS with the new transcoder. @ChuckPa@chrisallen might be able to give you thoughts on this.
I am busy now to recode my VC-1 mkv movies into AVC codec using MKV tools. I do experience that not all movies are recoded. Some aren’t completly recoded and I get stuck with a movie of around 10min. Do you have the same experience? What program do you use (for Mac)?
I checked when playing a VC-1 movie on Plex. It shows that it is converting the movie (i.e. transcoding). Only when I downgrade the quality to 240p, the stutter stops, but then the quality is terrible!
I don’t have a MAC, but I do know you can use what I use:
considering the MAC OS download is the first one on the page.
You’re probably going to be confronted with a whole bunch of useless ‘Profiles’ - you can delete. There’s a standard ‘High’ profile that will encode with 4 reference frames, ‘High’ format, Level 4.1 that should make solid encodes.
Try it and ask if you need help.
Note: I highly recommend you first use MakeMKV:
to get the raw files off disc (if applicable). The Handbrake job goes somewhat easier working from a file as opposed to a disc.
Did you not update your Shield to Hotfix Point Release Image 2? Additionally the CPU in that NAS is an Apollo Lake with 5th Gen QSV. The new transcoder build preview supports VC-1 in hardware. @Tommmy if you aren’t willing to update either and have the patience to wait it out, both will be resolved with public updates in due time.
to expand and show details.
