Videos with 7.1 DTS-HD-MA do not start or get transcoded (despite hardware support)

[TobyX]

Current PMS version: 1.18.2.2058
Client version (Android on Nvidia Shield TV 19): 7.25.0.14014
TV: Panasonic GZ2000 + sound system that supports DTS-HD-MA
New Exoplayer is enabled
Shield is connected via Ethernet (Lan)
Using HDMI 2.1 cable

The following described issue likely arose during the last updates of the beta as it worked fine for a long time

description:
I recently described an unsolved problem with DD+/EAC3 Audio here: Video stuttering when using DD+/EAC3 Audio on Shield TV Pro (2019) - #56 by TobyX
As a workaround I switched to DTS-HD-MA audio tracks to get rid of it in the meantime. THAT WORKED PERFECT. No stuttering etc.
However, now the same videos with DTS-HD-MA either do not start (after a while of buffering the app just restarts and a small window pops up asking me whether I want to send a crash report)… OR the video starts, but gets transcoded. In the following two samples.
Example 1 is a 4k HDR video with DTS-HD-MA the second is a 1080p video + DTS-HD-MA.
In my case Example 1 starts, but gets transcoded. The second never starts and crashes the player.

Does anyone of you guys (especially @dan-the-man @KCX or @Achilles) could replicate this problem and report it the devs?

Please note that this issue arose durinig the last versions of the beta. I do not know when it arose, but… is there a possibility for me to downgrade to an earlier version (manually)? because neither the DD+ nor the current problem seems to be solved.. that makes it not easy for me to play videos in an acceptable manner.

Sample 1 (4k HDR with 7.1 DTS-HD-MA):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rExrB5y4KjipTqtLS-BE1V4xDUzBU2uL/view?usp=sharing

Sample 2 (1080p with 7.1 DTS-HD-MA):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jGZ6KDOh7YxZhAzi4AWVPQnLgbs61t3O/view?usp=sharing

Thanks

[TobyX]

Additional information:
I just downgraded to 7.24.0.13532 and it works again… this is certainly not a final solution

[dan-the-man]

those 2 samples direct play with passthrough fine for me on 2017 SHIELD, did you test the samples have the same problem as the original?

[TobyX]

Honestly, I didn’t test it. Do you have a DTS compatible TV/system? Maybe I configured something wrong…
However, I also can’t play the original videos on my mobile and why do they play perfect on an older beta?
Would the logs be a help for you?
I’ll test the samples tomorrow morning

[dan-the-man]

yep i have a sound system that can (direct/passthough) all audio formats

should always test the samples you make to make sure they have the exact same issue as your original files or your potentially wasting everyones time.

the samples played fine on my mobile as well which transcoded that audio

posting logs is always the smart thing to do if you want help.

[TobyX]

Okay. I looked through the logs and would like to ask what part you want to see… there are some private infos which I do not want to share (e.g. IP addresses of my PMS).

I also tested the samples. Same issue… I further tested it on my non-DTS system. Same issue!
Either the video PLUS audio get transcoded or the video does not start.
Why is the video transcoded even if the hardware supports it? I would understand when only audio is transcoded.
Please let me know what details of the log can be removed

[TobyX]

@dan-the-man
Before I post my logs there are some additional information about some very odd things..

I just deactivated the subtitles and the movie starts but only for a second or two… without transcoding
Than the client tells me that the playback was stopped because the connection to the pms was closed and I should check the connectivity blabla.
So… I already heard about deactivating subs can help to prevent video transcoding even if the setup supports it. I don’t know why… but… okay… not everything must be logical..

However, this player has stopped thing is very strange because if I do not click on “cancel” or “retry” the movie resumes in the background with no problems
I can not imagine that this is not a bug…

Here are the logs of the first sample. Video gets transcoded - subs are activated

logs_toby.txt (120.9 KB)

Here is a screenshot of the window what tells me about the player stopped etc + Video playing in the background correctly

[KCX]

The examples have the same bug as all other DTS HD videos with me. The receiver has random dropouts. No matter which DTS HD material. DTS HD High Resolution or Master. No matter if 5.1 or 7.1. The problem is with me since the beta 7.24.

Plex Android is currently unusable for me because I have a lot of DTS HD material.

With Kodi (Plex Addon), VLC, Emby the videos all work without any problem and without dropouts.

I have already reported this and criticized:

Android Beta 7.24 - bugs list

1080p MKV File withs DTS High Res Sound laggs via Passthrough. With 7.23 no issues Audio #1 ID : 2 Format : DTS XBR Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems Format_Commercial_IfAny : DTS-HD High Resolution Audio Codec-ID : A_DTS Dauer : 1 h 45 min Bitraten-Modus : konstant Bitrate …

Dolby Vision not working on 7.24 with single layer mp4 files

My test with DV MP4 and DTS-HD Master 5.1 is successful. Everything is recognized correctly. Also with SRT subtitles (MP4 SL DV + EAC3 + DTS HD Master / Subs external (SRT)) BUT since the beta 7.24 I have problems with DTS-HD. Also with this MP4 DV File. I have already reported this here: I have also switched between the new and old player but it makes no difference. With the current public 7.23 version, there are no problems with the passthrough dts-…

Latest Hotfix Shield 2019 Pro, latest Beta Client and Server

The Plex Dev have more to do. Currently I am not satisfied with Plex. DD+ 7.1 does not work and ALL DTS HD videos have dropouts on the passthrough.

[TobyX]

@KCX
THANK YOU!!!
I thought I would be crazy but it seems that I am not alone! So… you have the same problem?

Here is an qick and dirty workaround suggestion: downgrade to beta 7.24.0.13532
For me it fixes the DTS-HD-MA problem… of corse not the still unsolved DD+ issue.

In fact, now two very important audio formats do not work in an appropiate way… I hate to switch to third party tools or even another software (emby), but at the current stage, I am VERY disappointed by the Plex Devs and I will have to switch.

Any other thoughts on that issue? @dan-the-man just tell me if you need some further details or logs/samples or whatever. I will provide you with whatever you need to get this issue solved

[dan-the-man]

what version of the plex app did you take the log from?

[TobyX]

7.25.0.14108 beta (should be the latest version at the moment). I also tested 7.25.0.13933 for example, but I have the same problem.
Currently, only 7.24.0.13532 works for me. :-/

[dan-the-man]

if you keep the latest 7.25 version, but turn off the new player inside the app settings, does it play or not play normally?

i assume you named the sample the lion king in that log

[dan-the-man]

the logs show various errors, Stacktrace is not good, i will try and ping the devs for you on it when they return to work

11-24 09:59:53.569  e: Error parsing XML from http://127.0.0.1:32500/services/codecs/decoder/dca?includeTypeFirst=1&X-Plex-Token=...vE8r: Unexpected end of document
11-24 09:59:53.570  e: [CodecManager] Unknown return code (0)
11-24 09:59:56.781  e: [ExoPlayer][EventLogger] playerFailed [3.14, 0.00, window=0]
11-24 09:59:56.781  e: An exception occurred: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'com.plexapp.plex.ff.io.NativeDecoderOutputBuffer com.plexapp.plex.ff.decoder.NativeDecoder.dequeueOutputBuffer()' on a null object reference
11-24 09:59:56.823  e: Stacktrace: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'com.plexapp.plex.ff.io.NativeDecoderOutputBuffer com.plexapp.plex.ff.decoder.NativeDecoder.dequeueOutputBuffer()' on a null object reference
11-24 09:59:56.824  e: [Player][ExoPlayer] Playback error detected
11-24 09:59:56.824  e: An exception occurred: com.google.android.exoplayer2.i: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'com.plexapp.plex.ff.io.NativeDecoderOutputBuffer com.plexapp.plex.ff.decoder.NativeDecoder.dequeueOutputBuffer()' on a null object reference

[KCX]

Here is a short video of my problem. DTS-HD has a dropout every few seconds.

Dropout @ 11 Second

Dropout @ 17 Second

I do not have this problem with Kodi (Plex Addon).

[TobyX]

Thank you. What exactly is a stacktrace error?

Thank you for your efforts

@dan-the-man

if you keep the latest 7.25 version, but turn off the new player inside the app settings, does it play or not play normally?

i assume you named the sample the lion king in that log

I’ll test that.
Yep… lion king is the sample.

[dan-the-man]

@KCX
this is not the same problem/issue OP is having in this thread, suggest you dont hijack it and start your own thread

[KCX]

@dan-the-man
Ok, I will do it. But it is also a DTS HD problem. I will do more tests and also connect the 2017 Shield back to the receiver to compare whether it may be synonymous.

I will also open another thread on another topic. I just noticed that an AC3 5.1 is incorrectly decoded by the receiver as DD+. Again, Kodi helps. I’ll upload an example.

Plex Andoid TV App but definitely has problems with the HDMI passthrough with me.

[TobyX]

@dan-the-man

if you keep the latest 7.25 version, but turn off the new player inside the app settings, does it play or not play normally?

Ok I tested it and the video starts but Video PLUS audio is transcoded.
Could you please provide me with some further explanation of my log? You mentioned various errors… I have no clue what kind of errors are in the logs. Never seen such errors
Thank you for your help

[dan-the-man]

im not a programmer - you can easily google some of those terms - either way it shows that
something has gone wrong

this is why you add logs when you have a issue those error messages in the log point where/why the issue is occuring

[TobyX]

Ok. Thank you. Last question for today. Do you have anything what is needed to provide the devs with the issue?