Server Version#:1.25.2.5319
Player Version#:6.9.12.7411
Server hardware info:
Windows 10
Intel i5-10400
PMS version: Version 1.25.2.5319
Client devices Roku and Shiled TV
MKV files attempted : “Batman” & “Back to the Future”
HW transcoding failes, SW transcoding works.
PMS log shows:
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Batman (1989): Direct Play is disabled
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Batman (1989): media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Batman (1989): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/vc1
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Batman (1989): no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/vc1/truehd
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Batman (1989): no remuxable profile found, so video stream will be transcoded
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Cannot direct stream video stream due to profile or setting limitations
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: testing vc1 (decoder) with hwdevice nvdec
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: testing API nvdec
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] ERROR - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Cannot load nvcuda.dll
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] ERROR - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Could not dynamically load CUDA
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: opening hw device failed - probably not supported by this system, error: Unknown error occurred
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Could not create hardware context for vc1
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: testing vc1 (decoder) with hwdevice dxva2
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.911 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: testing API dxva2
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.927 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] Codecs: Testing with profile ‘Advanced’
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.927 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Header: C2C00570
Dec 13, 2021 21:24:53.927 [13924] DEBUG - [Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Advanced Profile level 0: VC1 issue PMS logs.zip (756.4 KB)
Posted this in another thread. I thought it was my old cpu but I’m now seeing others with much newer Intel cpu’s complaining of the same thing. I think iGPU hw transcoding is broken again under Windows unfortunately Seems to be looking for nvcuda.dll and ignoring Intel iGPU…
@BigWheel can someone acknowledge this issue. Pretty bad to have VC1 transcoding broken for close to a month now with no end in sight nor note to let folks know they are working on it. I saw you suggest pings like this in another thread someone opened about similar slow/no response to bug reports. Appreciate your help!
The answer: Linux. I was lucky to have a friend that was gracious enough to help me get Linux working on my NUC9 with an i9 processor. The installation is the easy part. Partitioning the SSD’s, setting them up in RAID0, mounting the appropriate folders on my NAS’s for the NUC to access the media and setting permissions was where the talent was needed. Now it plays VC1 files great. It can transcode 4K with the correct tone mapping (although I keep 1080p versions of all my 4K movies)–all without breaking a sweat.
Pretty sure @ChuckPa will shrug his shoulders at the Windows problem. I get the impression he’s a Linux guy.
Nothing could get Windows to make it work. My understanding is it has to do with the fact that PMS for windows is still a 32bit program. If it were 64 bit windows would be able to handle it. Rumor is Plex is getting close to publishing a 64 bit version of the Windows PMS but they’re still having problems with it’s installer or something. Hopefully it’ll be available soon.
I however am done with Windows running my PMS. Mine would lock up when doing scans, crash unexpectedly, restart for no reason… the list of quircks is endless. This has inspired me to learn Linux commands just to maintain my media server.
Congrats to you. I hope you find Linux to your liking. There is quite a learning curve. Even with all the GUI improvements of the last few years, some things are still better and more easily done at the command line.
Did you watch the installation? Did you see how easily RAID is setup on Linux even though it is done at the command line?
I did. I watched it all. This wasn’t the first time this guy helped me and every time I learn more and more. But there were still moments my head spun… That said the commands are making more and more sense now. Now for me it’s a matter of learning, practicing and remembering it all. I’m thinking of getting a cheap Raspberry Pi or something to be able to screw things up on. My media server means too much to me to practice on it!
The 64 bit thing was a rumor… can’t remember where I heard it. I was hopeful but since I’ve got Linux going those cares are gone…
@RTMcG@ChuckPa I went ahead an rebuild my server on Linux. Loaded the intel iGPU drivers, and now VC-1 is transcoding, however I noticed that on some scenes it is very blocky. this is most noticeable on very dark scenes, or fades in/out.
Is this a known issue with Ubuntu and intel iGPU? When I disable HW acceleration, everything is perfect. If this is not a known issue, I’ll open a new thread on it so this one isn’t too messy.
Edit: Looks like this only happens in plex transcoded files. Playing the file in VLC on my ubuntu desktop, it runs as expected.
:~$ vainfo
libva info: VA-API version 1.13.0
libva info: Trying to open /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/dri/iHD_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_13
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA-API version: 1.13 (libva 2.13.0)
vainfo: Driver version: Intel iHD driver for Intel(R) Gen Graphics - 21.4.1 (be92568)
I must also add, I don’t transcode it. My VC1 is from 4K BluRay disc rips which I’ve done myself. I am “retentive” about media curation so I don’t have any playback problems. (spend the time upfront so there are no headaches later)
Are you using Ubuntu 21 or 20?
Ubuntu 21 has been Nothing but trouble for people (common with ALL the odd-numbered years) where 20.04.3 LTS (which will be upgradable to 22.04 LTS) remains solid.
My VC-1 files are mkv straight from the bluray. I have several roku client devices, which dont direct play VC-1 in MKV, so the server must transcode them.
If the server SW transcodes, looks great.
If the server HW transcodes, you get the blocking I mentioned.
A great test movie is 310 to yuma. The studio intros before the movie starts demonstrate the blocking bigtime.
I contacted a friend of mine and borrowed his discs.
He had the HEVC full BluRay which didn’t help.
I then “found” a VC-1 which had been previously chopped down by someone.
That ‘chopped down’ version exhibited a lot of blocking in the credits.
@DRied Set PMS to use VaapiDriver=“i965” instead of the default which is iHD.
This variable can be added/modifed using nano or vi at /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/Preferences.xml
The macroblocking is an Intel QSV VC-1 regression with the iHD drivers. This variable will not work with 10th Gen CPUs and newer as they are not supported by the i965 driver.
However I think it should work though as it has the Intel UHD Graphics 630 as the iGPU. This is the same iGPU in the NUC9i9QNX that @RTMcG has. I have a NUC9VXQNX which also has the Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU and is supported by the i965 driver.
@Achilles@RTMcG Thanks for your help. I tried to add that VaapiDriver line at the end of the preferences, and my PMS wouldnt start. I’m a linux novice, so not sure I added it correctly.
Jan 19 17:08:05 dan-Vostro-3681 systemd[1]: Started Plex Media Server.
Jan 19 17:08:05 dan-Vostro-3681 Plex Media Server[995]: Failed to load preferences at /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml
Jan 19 17:08:07 dan-Vostro-3681 Plex Media Server[995]: Failed to load preferences at /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Preferences.xml
Ideas?
Also, is this a stopgap, to be fixed in later PMS versions? Or will I need to go back and change this at a later time?
I wish I could be more help to you @DRied. I’m a Linux novice myself. That’s why I needed a friend to help me out. I’m just learning the basic commands at this point.
But as an aside, my PMS on Linux since I made the switch has been bulletproof. It’s inspired me to learn more about Linux.
Think I got it to work in preferences file, need a space between the paste and the “/” at the end of the line. Was mentioned here:
Did a restart of the plex service, starts jsut fine now… However… now when I play the file it doesn’t hw transcode at all, vor VC-1 and HEVC… So looks like this approach is a bust on the i5-10400
Seems to be looking for nvcuda.dll and ignoring Intel iGPU…
