Video resolution calculation

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: 1.24.0.4930
Player Version#:Which player? Web: 1.24.0.4930

Hi yall,
I am curios how the PMS calculates the “Video Resolution”. I have a file that is 1440x802 which is categorized as “720p”. The source is a Blu-Ray disc. I have used Handbrake to get it down in size.

I once got it explained that it picks resolution based on “Basically, which box does it fit in before going over.” where box is a resolution. See Video resolution? - Plex Media Server / Desktops & Laptops - Plex Forum.

But using that logic, wouldn’t my 1440x802 be 1080p, since it is “going over” 1280x720?

Please help, thank you.

//Carl

2

It’s not doing that, because many users objected to it.
(Although it’d be technically correct, of course.)

But objectively, the quality of a file with 1440x802 pixels is indeed closer to 720p than 1080p. So the classification is not wrong entirely.

Keep in mind that this is purely for user information.
Transcoding decisions are made independently of that, and are based on the true pixel numbers.

1 Like
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Thanks man. I understand that the Video Resolution maybe is not entirely technically “correct” but it would be nice to have a better logic used. I am using it to keep track of my collection and the video res to check if a for instance 720p title needs to be replaced by a bd (1080p). So I was a bit surprised to see Plex categorizing my bd as 720p.

Do you know how to request this as a feature, or is it no use since it will most likely not be changed?

Thanks!

4

If you want the technically correct resolution (and a host of other probably interesting data), I recommend you to use the Export module of Home · WebTools-NG/WebTools-NG Wiki · GitHub instead.

1 Like
5

Awesome, will give that a try!

Thanks a bunch!

//Carl

6

Hm, looked through the NG/WebTools and not sure it will solve my issue.

Anyone else who can add to this are welcome.

If not I will post a change suggestion to the Plex team.

7

Have you used it to export e.g. your Movie library with a high detail level to either .csv or .xls?
If you open such an exported file in a spreadsheet app, it will look like this

grafik
grafik1571×842 79.6 KB

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No I didn’t try the tool, but looking at the data you show it looks similar to what I can access by looking in the db file, except the “translation” Plex produce when using width and height, the “Video Resolution”.

What I am looking for is how the translation works, how it gets from width & height to video resolution, since I don’t understand the logic.

Db file extract:

Capture
Capture1718×340 36.3 KB

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Sorry, I can’t help you with that. I only know that WebTools is asking the server per its API and it gets all this data as you see in my screenshot.

I also don’t understand the question about the resolution. You have the pixel dimensions of the video stream. This is the resolution.

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Yes I know that’s the res but just as I use Plex to display the correct Poster I would like the Video Resolution to be displayed the proper way. So to do that I would like to understand how and why Plex determines one res as “720p” etc.

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That’s hard coded somewhere and cannot be changed, I’m afraid.

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Ok got it.

Do you know if it is possible to know the logic, I mean “WxH = 720p”?

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Interesting, I made some tests and this is what I found:

Original file:
1920x1080
Plex: 1080p

1500x812
Plex: 720p

1700x812
Plex: 720p

1800x812
Plex: 720p

1900x812
Plex: 720p

1902x812
Plex: 720p

1904x812
Plex: 1080p

1916x812
Plex: 1080p

1918x812
Plex: 1080p

1904x800
Plex: 1080p

So;
1902x812 and lower it becomes 720p.
1904x800 and higher it becomes 1080p.

Anyone knows the thinking behind this?

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