Video stuttering

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

Hi,

When I try to play a particular series thought Plex, when I select “play original” the video stutters like crazy (like watching a stop motion video), audio is fine.
When I select “convert automatically” it’s better but the video needs to buffer a lot, and often the video pauzes for a few minutes to buffer every now and then. Or the video just freezes and the audio just keeps going.
I only have this issue when playing this series, and the files have a rather low bitrate so I can’t imagine my PMS can’t handle it.

Can someone tell me what could be wrong?
I’ve pasted the Media Info for one of the episodes down here… don’t know if it’s any help.

Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4
File size                                : 777 MiB
Duration                                 : 38 min 22 s
Overall bit rate                         : 2 830 kb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2021-03-06 20:59:06
Writing application                      : mkv2rls h264-tv
Writing library                          : mkv2rls h264-tv

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                                 : 38 min 22 s
Bit rate                                 : 2 582 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Standard                                 : Component
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : MBAFF
Scan type, store method                  : Interleaved fields
Scan order                               : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.050
Stream size                              : 709 MiB (91%)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 38 min 22 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 303 ms
Stream size                              : 52.7 MiB (7%)
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Server Version#: 1.21.1.3876
Player Version#: 4.52.2

2

Is the video transcoding? What is displayed in Plex Dashboard → Now Playing during playback?

Plex Web may not like MBAFF encoding and transcode the video, which may lead to buffering if your Plex server cannot transcode the video in real time.

If playing on a PC or Mac, try Plex for Win/Mac instead. It is a much better client than Plex Web.

You can also run the video through Handbrake, to convert the video to progressive scan.

If you do use Handbrake, choose H.264/AVC video, not HEVC. Except for Safari, web browsers do not support HEVC video, so playback via Plex Web will force a video transcode.

You may also wish to convert the audio to AAC to avoid audio transcoding. When using Plex Web on Chrome/Windows, AC3 audio transcodes and AAC audio direct plays.

3

I think interlaced video is the main issue here.

Scan type                                : MBAFF
Scan type, store method                  : Interleaved fields
Scan order                               : Top Field First
4

Thanks, it’s helps me.

5

When I select “play original” it says (but doesn’t play at all now)
Video: 1080i (H.264)
Audio: English (AC3 Stereo)

When I select “convert automatically” it says
Plex Web — Chrome
Playing—0:24 / 38:03
Local ({ip-removed})—5 Mbps
Video: 1080i (H.264) (hw)
1080P (H264)—Transcode (hw)
Audio: English (AC3 Stereo)
AAC—Transcode

Maybe I should try Plex for Windows

6

I thought it might, I’ll give Plex for Windows a try

7

Thanks for the info. Plex Web definitely does not like that video for some reason.

Try Plex for Windows.

You can also run the video through Handbrake. It should then direct play in Plex Web.

8

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