Server Version#: 1.13.9.5456
Player Version#: Many
Wanted to give my experience of what I tried to avoid remote transcoding. All media from movies and shows have been pre transcoded with Wondershare media converter mp4, aac,h264 (just like handbrake).
First my server setup:
Cpu: I7 6950x (10 cores, 20 threads)
mem: 32 gbs (16gb memory set on ramdisk for Transcoder temporary directory)
gpu: evga gtx 1080ti
os: windows 10 pro
main storage: 1tb samsung 850 pro
media storage: 3 x 4tb of 5400rpm HDD
INTERNET SPEED: 1000 down and 1000 up AT&T Fiber
So my remote clients go by all kinds of devices from nvidia shield, rokus, ios, android, cromecast, smart tvs, Xbox 1, Playstion 4. By default Plex setup is set to 720p for remote play. I changed those settings to original or maximum. As for their internet speed the slowest remote streamer is 100mbps down from Spetrum. So at once I had as many people play a 1080p movie from 2017 to 2018 like Avengers infinity wars to Ant Man 2 and so on. They all Direct Played (13) devices at once. And this was around 11 am on the weekdays. At around 4pm I was only able to Direct Play (3) devices. So it seems traffick of all kinds affected the ISP. On the weekend same thing only able to Direct Play (4) devices. So if people are concern about what they need to avoid remote transcoding, Don’t. be happy as long as your remote client can do their best.
But to your first question is you don’t destroy the guy with the worse client and make it better. His client is fine. His problem might be his internet is to slow and shared with other people in his area and wifi will kill his bandwidth.
Second question is already answered in my first paragraph. Plex optimize, handbrake and the program I used do the same thing. They convert the media so it can be compatible with as many clients as possible.
The big factors I see here is if you cheap out on 100mbs or lower, and you know you will be sharing with other people on plex, you will get transcoded.
Maybe another issue is Plex Server itself. I see the ladder goes from Home Owner plex server --> Plex Server Online --> Client devices. So if Plex server faults in any way then we can’t go from Home Owner Plex Server --> Client devices.
Nope.
It is a direct connection between your server and the client (unless it is a relayed connection)
plex.tv only acts as a wayfinder for clients to your server.
Plex Optimize lives alongside existing so people that can manage get good quality while those that can’t get potato quality. Mass conversion using 3rd party makes me assume you’re deleting source afterwards and sticking to the lowest common denominator file… or do you keep both?
The 3rd party conversion pretty much does what Plex Optimize does. It makes my media to be 1080p MP4, AAC, and H264. Also shrinks the file size from lets say 24 gigs to like 12 gigs. And the bitrate is on good quality about 10000 kbps. Again everyone on mobile to consoles and set top boxes can direct play on early hours, it’s only on busy hours when everyone in the neighborhood are home from work and school and so on that traffic hurts those with the weakest internet download speed.
True, only thing I don’t like about the plex optimizer is since it makes copies it will eat up more storage, especially those like me with over thousands of media. I’m almost full with my 15tb of storage. Now imagine if i make copies.
