Auto Quality - Your Express Elevator Straight to… A Transcode:
Limitations of Auto Quality
Plex Cloud does not support auto quality at this time.
Music does not use auto quality. Only video playback supports auto quality at this time.
Auto quality only works with Plex Media Server v1.8.1 or later. Older versions will use manual quality only.
Auto quality requires a Plex Media Server that is capable of converting (transcoding). Servers that can’t transcode, such as some NAS Devices and Limitations, cannot support auto quality.
Auto quality is only used when the video is being converted (transcoded). If a video starts with Play Original Quality, also known as Direct Play or Direct Stream, it will not automatically change quality based on connection speed. Similarly, if a video starts with Convert Automatically, it will not automatically change to Play Original Quality.
Looks like it’s off, unless I lose my mind and turn it on, and if it stays that way - I’m good.
If something is already directly playing then auto does nothing.
If something is already transcoding then auto only lets that transcode adjusts up/down as needed to meet the client or server bandwidth congestion/limit on a dynamic basis, like mobile or otherwise crappy connectivity.
Excuse my ignorance. With everything that’s been said I still fail to see the disadvantage here.
With the current default, the server is transcoding all the time unless your videos are of lower quality than 720p 2Mbps. As TeknoJunky already mentioned, if something is already direct playing or direct streaming, auto quality will not switch to transcoding. If you care about that setting and do not like auto quality for whatever reason, you can easily turn it off, but “casual” users do not have to be bothered with changing the settings and still get the best quality their infrastructure can handle. If the server does not support auto quality, it will obviously not be used.
I create ALL my material so it will Direct Play.
If Plex is transcoding - something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.
I don’t need to turn on a ‘Feature’ that will absolutely, positively transcode material.
You are most welcome - and I do recommend making sure that Plex transcodes everything it provides for you.
Ok, so I take that as you don’t care if it the default as long as you can turn it off?
As an aside, since you seem to be so anti auto, I double dog dare you to try auto as an experiment on a device of your choosing for a week, then report back if/how it negatively affected you.
I do care if it’s ON by default. From what I read that won’t change.
The problem with your little ‘challenge’ is Aunt Gladys (103) is most likely the #1 potential victim - and we’re not doing that over the holidays… I may test later on a victim with a bit more - ability to absorb punishment…lol
Not as easy as you might think.
My phone sees an intermittent 1X while most everyone else in the World sees 4G. The closest 4G from here is 34 miles. I’m playing a game today. There will be no self mutilation via 1X.
I believe it should be ON by default, at least on mobile devices.
I also believe that the default quality should be higher, like at least a 720/1080 5 to 8 mbs.
a higher default remote quality will let MORE things DIRECT PLAY instead of transcoding.
the only thing that auto does, is let the server LOWER the transcoding (ONLY IF IT IS ALREADY TRANSCODING) to meet either the available client bandwidth, or the server bandwidth (ie if more users are streaming).
auto will not INCREASE transcoding.
auto (alone) will not increase bandwidth usage (albeit if the default remote quality limit was increased, this would increase bandwidth, but that is unrelated to auto).
auto will do NOTHING if something is already DIRECT PLAYING.
for example, if a client is set for remote quality 8mbs+auto
if it starts out transcoding at 8mbs it will remain there unless there is some kind of bandwidth disturbance detected, then plex will downshift the transcode quality to a lower level dynamically, to avoid buffering.
if something starts out direct playing (at any quality), it will remain direct playing even if auto is on. This means if the bandwidth is inconsistent or insufficient, then you will get buffering (with or without auto).
finally, please understand there are TWO different limits that plex enforces;
the CLIENT remote quality (the client user puts a max cap on the usable bandwidth, plex server cannot exceed this for THIS client, and if content does then the server must transcode down to the client limit)
the SERVER upload limit (the client cannot force the server to send a higher quality than is set for the server upload (total), or if set the server remote client (each individual) bw limit).
Something has to be the default. The old way was a fixed rate, they added variable. The question now is which option makes sense to be the default. I believe is should be variable (auto), as it leads to a better quality user experience, and less CPU load on my server, at the likely cost of increased upload.
That will never happen. Something functional has to be the default, it’s either a fixed value like we have now (720p 4mbs) or auto. No manufacturer will set the default to a non-functional “off”
The ‘Manufacturer’ doesn’t set a feature in The Plex App - Plex Does.
Features that can cause the transcoder to run - need to be OFF.
The Plex User can then turn it on if their transcoder doesn’t have the CPU blowers spun up.
That’s the way it is now - I see no reason to change it.
“Hey Plex, I turned on Auto Quality and set the curtains on fire! wtf?!”
I think it has been established well enough that the auto feature cannot introduce additional transcoding. Your very own quote, which you also highlighted in bold:
Auto quality is only used when the video is being converted (transcoded). If a video starts with Play Original Quality, also known as Direct Play or Direct Stream, it will not automatically change quality based on connection speed. Similarly, if a video starts with Convert Automatically, it will not automatically change to Play Original Quality .
Apart from that, the current default only works for your very specific library without transcoding. You spent a lot of time and CPU ressources to convert all your files into that specific format, so you are in fact transcoding everything you add to your library. I dare to assume that this very specific use case covers less than 1% of Plex administrators.
Alright thank you. I respect your opinion but do not share it. From my experience it is the wiser choice to put my trust in well tested software than in people.
As it seems to be a rather controverse subject, I would also be happy with an option to set a server wide default quality. I know for a fact that all my users can handle at least 40 Mbit/s. That would spare my server a lot of transcodes without having to compromise quality or storage space. I am very unhappy with the current default (especially as it seems to be reset from time to time) and a lot of people seem to feel the same way.
