# What is being transcoded in my Video? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750 "2019-04-04T17:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mkitchinpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@mkitchinpl](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mkitchinpl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/1 "2019-04-04T17:15:42Z")
I’m sure there is a logical answer, but I need some help. See pic. It shows Video being transcoded from 1080p (H.264) to 1080P (H264). ![Transcode%20Question](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/8/d/8df17c31505555a7bb226ac30b4be640bb0071c6.png) ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/2 "2019-04-04T17:19:08Z")
Reasons for transcoding are manyfold. You can only tell for sure by inspecting log files. 1. [activate debug](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201643703 "activate debug") logging ( **not** ‘verbose’!) 2. quit Plex Server 3. wait 1 minute 4. start Plex Server 5. wait 2 minutes 6. play this movie on your tv for about 1 minute 7. wait 3 minutes 8. [fetch log files](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200250417 "fetch log files") and [attach them here](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/202756326-How-do-I-attach-files-in-the-forums- "attach them here") Or inspect the `Plex Media Server.log` yourself. Seek for lines starting with `MDE:` ---
**Author:** ![mkitchinpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@mkitchinpl](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mkitchinpl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/3 "2019-04-04T17:21:04Z")
Next time I see it happening, I will. I’m just confused about why it appears to say it is transcoding but not changing the video type at all. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/4 "2019-04-04T17:28:24Z")
The type of video codec is just one of several technical parameters which may need to be adapted, when playing a video file on a particular device. It could be a bandwidth constraint hat needs to be observed, or the color in the video is in 10 bit resolution while the tv can only play 8 bit. or or or … ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/5 "2019-04-04T17:51:12Z")
FYI, enabling subtitles can also result in transcoding. The Plex LG client does not support direct playing of PGS or VOBSUB subtitles. Enabling either will force a video transcode to burn in the subtitles. The Plex LG client will direct play SRT subtitles. However, if the audio is transcoded and subtitles are enabled, then the video will also transcode. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/what-is-being-transcoded-in-my-video/395750/6 "2019-07-03T17:51:20Z")
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