# Why plex transcoder process when nothing to transcode? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [June 27, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163 "2021-06-27T21:50:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/1 "2021-06-27T21:50:50Z")
Hello, Just wanted to know why do I have a transcode process ongoing, when there is actually no one transcoding: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/e/5/e5ee0017c9a5d8b932ee318923aa6e237352022c.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/2/22ba268bc24e9d78c732ae64152bac4949aab4aa.jpeg) Kind regards ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/2 "2021-06-27T22:34:02Z")
Insufficient information to diagnose… “Top” + one screenshot is not enough. By all indication, at face value, you have someone playing from your server. Go look at the dashboard for this server. What does it show? Please attach the DEBUG logs ZIP file ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/3 "2021-06-27T23:54:12Z")
Hello, The issue was happening around 23:27 Are these logs enough? ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/4 "2021-06-28T01:35:22Z")
Do these usernames mean much ? ```auto Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.680 [0x7f7124ae5b38] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:35292] 206 PUT /video/:/transcode/session/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342/2d74192c-b76c-4b11-92d9-98239488c798/progress?progress=30.3&size=-22&remaining=-1 (9 live) 0ms 371 bytes (pipelined: 663) (range: bytes=0-) Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.853 [0x7f7124ac2b38] DEBUG - Auth: authenticated user 83295281 as gilginkute@gmail.com Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.853 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - Request: [XXXXXXXXX1:56863 (WAN)] GET /:/timeline?bufferedTime=151&col=0&context=home%3Ahub.continueWatching&duration=7861440&key=%2Flibrary%2Fmetadata%2F2633&location=wan&playQueueItemID=716&playbackTime=1488&ratingKey=2633&row=0&state=paused&time=2080161 (9 live) TLS GZIP Signed-in Token (gilginkute@gmail.com) Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.854 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - Client [67D68097-F75A-4370-9481-FB0645BE6A7D] reporting timeline state paused, progress of 2080161/7861440ms for guid=, playbackTime=1488ms ratingKey=2633 url=, key=/library/metadata/2633, containerKey=, metadataId=2633, source= Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - Play progress on 2633 'La ladrona de libros' - got played 2080161 ms by account 83295281! Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - [Now] User is gilginkute@gmail.com (ID: 83295281) Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - [Now] Device is iOS (iPad de Rolanda). Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - [Now] Profile is iOS Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - [Now] Updated play state for /library/metadata/2633. Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.865 [0x7f7124825b38] DEBUG - Statistics: (67D68097-F75A-4370-9481-FB0645BE6A7D) Reporting active playback in state 1 of type 1 (scrobble: 0) for account 83295281 Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.869 [0x7f7124ac2b38] DEBUG - Completed: [85.136.228.251:56863] 200 GET /:/timeline?bufferedTime=151&col=0&context=home%3Ahub.continueWatching&duration=7861440&key=%2Flibrary%2Fmetadata%2F2633&location=wan&playQueueItemID=716&playbackTime=1488&ratingKey=2633&row=0&state=paused&time=2080161 (9 live) TLS GZIP 15ms 772 bytes (pipelined: 30) Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.873 [0x7f7124ae5b38] DEBUG - Auth: authenticated user 1 as el_pedriyo Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.873 [0x7f7123f65b38] DEBUG - Request: [192.168.1.207:51164 (Subnet)] GET /status/sessions (10 live) GZIP Signed-in Token (el_pedriyo) Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.873 [0x7f7123f65b38] DEBUG - [Now] Adding 1 sessions. Jun 27, 2021 22:53:19.874 [0x7f7124ac2b38] DEBUG - Completed: [192.168.1.207:51164] 200 GET /status/sessions (10 live) G ``` ```auto Jun 27, 2021 22:53:54.543 [0x7f7124ac2b38] DEBUG - Auth: authenticated user 83295281 as gilginkute@XXXXXXXXX Jun 27, 2021 22:53:54.543 [0x7f7123f65b38] DEBUG - Request: [85.136.228.251:56863 (WAN)] GET /video/:/transcode/universal/ping ``` 40 minutes of playback. ```auto Jun 27, 2021 22:54:47.199 [0x7f7124767b38] DEBUG - Play progress on 2633 'La ladrona de libros' - got played 2111276 ms by account 83295281! ``` ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/5 "2021-06-28T08:03:17Z")
Hello, Yes, that user is the first streaming of the image I sent before. But Plex is just saying reporting it as direct streaming 😕 ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/6 "2021-06-28T08:04:46Z")
The transcoder is also used to change the “container” of the video, depending on the client type. So even if both video and audio stream are compatible with the client device, Plex will sometimes need to change the container (e.g. from MKV to TS or mp4) to make them compatible with the used transport protocol. Also if your source file has several audio and subtitle streams, these may get left out and only the selected streams are being “remuxed” by the transcoder. TL;DR the transcoder is being used in a lot of cases, even if there is nothing to “transcode”. ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:06am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/7 "2021-06-28T08:06:18Z")
Hello, But even if thats the case, normally Plex reports it on the control panel. This time what I saw, was plex saying everything was under direct stream ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/8 "2021-06-28T08:08:58Z")
> [@el\_pedriyo](#): > > direct stream You must differentiate between Direct Stream and Direct Play. Direct Stream is what I described above: the container is changed and the file is also chopped into chunks which are transferred to the client bit by bit. Direct Play is taking the file as it is, and forwarding it to the client totally unchanged. So: Direct Stream: transcoder is involved Direct Play: transcoder is not needed ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:12am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/9 "2021-06-28T08:12:57Z")
Sorry, I did not translate the word correctly. Seeing the original image again, it seems to be direct play the 3 of them ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/10 "2021-06-28T08:17:56Z")
If you inspect the command line in full, it mentions something about “analyzeduration”. I think it hints at the use of the transcoder as a _media info_ tool. The Plex transcoder is basically a modified `ffmpeg`. Apart from transcoding, it can also be used to query technical information about the makeup of a media file. Plex is also utilizing this aspect of ffmpeg. It will often be used at the start of playback, when refreshing or updating a library, or when entering the preplay page of a library item. Even when you’re simply browsing the library, ffmpeg is used to resize the larger poster pictures down to smaller sizes which fit into the currently used client user interface. ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/11 "2021-06-28T08:20:42Z")
Well, one thing I noticed, was that it was all time active during the play of the first stream of the image, so it seems it is somehow related with that playback. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/12 "2021-06-28T08:22:42Z")
Enable debug logging in Plex server, then start playback and fetch the logs after a few minutes. The calls to the transcoder are included in the logs, completely with parameters. So you should be able to discern what it is doing. (If you take a look at the lines beginning with `MDE:` you should even be able to tell _why_.) ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:23am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/13 "2021-06-28T08:23:52Z")
I think I have those. What is the name of the file, I need to look at? I have a look of them. This afternoon I will check it 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/14 "2021-06-28T08:24:31Z")
The relevant lines are in the main log, named `Plex Media Server.log`. ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/15 "2021-06-28T08:27:20Z")
hmmm, so they should have been in the same file I uploaded, right? That means then, that the debug logging was not active 😅 ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/16 "2021-06-28T08:27:49Z")
I will try to reproduce the same issue with the device that was watching the movie, and will enable it to trace whats going on ---
**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:** [June 28, 2021, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/17 "2021-06-28T08:30:19Z")
The file you uploaded was named `Plex Media Server.2.log` which means it covers an earlier time span. And unfortunately it didn’t cover the _start of playback_ of that file, which is when the most informative messages appear in the logs. ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/18 "2021-06-28T08:31:40Z")
Ah! oki, so I need to go to the first part of the log, where the movie started being played, good to know. Will check this afternoon and will let you know, whats in there hopefully. Well thinking it better let me a couple of min and will check it now 😛 ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/19 "2021-06-28T09:00:47Z")
Hello, Here the other back log [Plex Media Server.3.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/r4lWUf07QnaPAm2hZux707CHDI7.log) (10.0 MB) ---
**Author:** ![el\_pedriyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@el\_pedriyo](https://forums.plex.tv/u/el_pedriyo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163/21 "2021-06-28T09:02:13Z")
Has it something to do with: ```auto Jun 27, 2021 22:47:56.085 [0x7f71258f2b38] DEBUG - [Transcode/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342] [Universal] Using local file path instead of URL: /mnt/media/Peliculas/La ladrona de libros (2013)/La ladrona de libros (2013).mkv Jun 27, 2021 22:47:56.085 [0x7f71258f2b38] DEBUG - [Transcode/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342/JobRunner] Job running: FFMPEG_EXTERNAL_LIBS='/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/Codecs/fa235d6-3858-linux-x86_64/' X_PLEX_TOKEN='xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Transcoder' '-codec:0' 'h264' '-ss' '2070' '-noaccurate_seek' '-analyzeduration' '20000000' '-probesize' '20000000' '-i' '/mnt/media/Peliculas/La ladrona de libros (2013)/La ladrona de libros (2013).mkv' '-map' '0:0' '-metadata:s:0' 'language=eng' '-codec:0' 'copy' '-map' '0:1' '-metadata:s:1' 'language=spa' '-codec:1' 'copy' '-map' '0:3' '-metadata:s:2' 'language=spa' '-codec:2' 'copy' '-map' '0:t?' '-codec:t' 'copy' '-segment_format' 'matroska' '-f' 'ssegment' '-individual_header_trailer' '0' '-flags' '+global_header' '-segment_format_options' 'output_ts_offset=10' '-segment_header_filename' 'header' '-segment_time' '10' '-segment_start_number' '207' '-segment_copyts' '1' '-segment_time_delta' '0.0625' '-segment_list' 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/video/:/transcode/session/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342/2d74192c-b76c-4b11-92d9-98239488c798/manifest?X-Plex-Http-Pipeline=infinite' '-segment_list_type' 'csv' '-segment_list_size' '5' '-segment_list_separate_stream_times' '1' '-segment_list_unfinished' '1' '-max_delay' '5000000' '-avoid_negative_ts' 'disabled' '-map_metadata:g' '-1' '-map_metadata:c' '-1' '-map_chapters' '-1' 'media-%05d.ts' '-start_at_zero' '-copyts' '-y' '-nostats' '-loglevel' 'quiet' '-loglevel_plex' 'error' '-progressurl' 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/video/:/transcode/session/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342/2d74192c-b76c-4b11-92d9-98239488c798/progress' Jun 27, 2021 22:47:56.085 [0x7f71258f2b38] DEBUG - [Transcode/F7B1CB9F-49D5-4852-8830-F3E546931342/JobRunner] Jobs: Starting child process with pid 1611 ``` ??? [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/why-plex-transcoder-process-when-nothing-to-transcode/725163.md?page=2)