I currently have a Synology NAS with Plex setup on the NAS. However, the NAS does not transcode. I have signed up for Plex Pass and intend on downloading the Plex App for Xbox One once I receive it. My only question is will the Xbox One transcode my local content on the fly or will it require my NAS with Transcoding Capabilities to do it? I see forums and answers pertaining to Xbox One being able to play MKV and Plex Pass being able to play MKV but nothing on weather or not the Xbox One will transcode a file without having my Plex Server on my NAS to do the transcoding. If you have direct knowledge, please respond with your feedback. Thanks.
Will Xbox One Transcode on the fly with the Plex App for Xbox One without help from the Plex Server?
If the file is not playable on Xbox One your server (= your NAS) has to transcode it.
I don´t really understand what you mean by your NAS “does not transcode”. Probably you mean it is not powerful enough for a proper transcode.
Xbox One now plays most MKV directly as long as they only have AC3 audio (so most TV shows). For instance movies with DTS audio would still have to be transcoded by your server.
Mike4001,
My NAS, which is a lower end Synology does not support on the fly transcoding like the Sinology DS214Play. So you are correct that my NAS is not powerful enough for some of my local content. I just got my Xbox One and downloaded Plex, logged into my Plex Pass Account, entered my PIN for Plex Pass, and the Xbox found and populated all of my content based on what is on my Synology NAS. However, I tried to play some of my content and I get “This server is not powerful enough to convert video” . But this plex link “https://blog.plex.tv/2015/07/07/oh-yeah-a-great-update-for-the-xbox-one-app/comment-page-5/” specifically states “Direct Play for MKV: Most MKV video files no longer need to be converted for playback. Wowsers! Give your server a break, and enjoy super fast seeks using the Xbox video player’s native MKV support.” So I have MKV content but the Xbox is not taking on the load through Plex, my NAS Server is. This should not be the case based on this link. Am I doing something wrong? Yet, the Xbox Media Player App will play the same content that the Plex App for Xbox One cannot. I would use the Xbox One Media Player but it does not give you the nice layout, metadata, organized covers, etc. All I am trying to do is have the Xbox One take on the load of playing my content through the Plex App for Xbox One instead of it relying on my NAS to take on the load of playing it. The NAS should say “Here Xbox. This is the file requested. You play it and do whatever is necessary to transcode if needed.” Not the other way around. Thanks. I hope this helps.
I have a Drobo5N as my PMS. With the latest Xbox 1 update. I get the same message “This server is not powerful enough to convert video” when playing .mkv files. I know it is not powerful enough, but strange that the xbox 1 can’t seem to play ANY of mkv files after the update.
Fortunately I have a Samsung TV that runs plex, and plays them all fine.
Are you trying to play TV shows or movies ?
Most TV shows should work while most movies (mostly due to DTS audio) won´t.
Maybe you can provide server logs and a staff member can look into this.
the key to that notice about mkv is the word “most”
“Direct Play for MKV: Most MKV video files no longer need to be converted for playback. Wowsers! Give your server a break, and enjoy super fast seeks using the Xbox video player’s native MKV support.”
even if it is an mkv the streams ( video/audio/subtitles ) in that mkv still need to be compatible with the player also.
Also to be clear the player apps do not transcode anything. only the server does if it can.
