Poptartica 12 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Hey everyone. Recently I'd been re-encoding my library in hopes that it would be direct streamable for my users who are watching on the web client, usually using Chrome. They are not on the same network (so, not utilizing DLNA). I've re-encoded to the following settings.. h264 High@4.1 2-channel AAC audio (passthrough enabled) .mp4 format (though if I could get MKVs to work that would be amazing..) Are there any other settings I should be enforcing during the re-encode to make sure it's compatible? Is there a maximum bitrate that is allowed? Most of my videos are direct streaming like expected. Sometimes though, direct stream will *not* be the default selected setting even though it is available from the menu in the top right. Even stranger, sometimes I will have two users playing the same video where one will have it defaulted to direct stream and the other instance will start transcoding, even though they are both viewing from the same browser, in some cases even the same build number. I do not have a maximum set under "Remote client bitrate limit (Mbps)". Is there any way I can force direct stream to be the default option if it is enabled for that video? I'm mainly wanting to make sure my users are direct streaming every possible chance and only transcoding if direct stream is not available for that video. Edited April 28, 2015 by Poptartica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 37064 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 it sounds like you are doing the right thing and sometimes the video bitrate is higher than what your users have configured as their maximum supported rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poptartica 12 Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 it sounds like you are doing the right thing and sometimes the video bitrate is higher than what your users have configured as their maximum supported rate. Thanks for confirming those settings, Luke! I actually wondered that myself and checked those users' settings, and they are all set well above the bitrate of any video files I own, so I'm sort of stumped concerning this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 37064 Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 we'd have to look at specific examples then, starting with the media info from the web client, and what browser they're using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poptartica 12 Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) I appreciate you looking into this. Here's an example of a file which won't display the direct stream option at all (user has max bitrate setting of 30 Mbps and is on Chrome 26.0.1410.40):This file's Emby mediainfo is in EmbyMediaInfo1.jpg. Format : MPEG-4 Format profile : Base Media Codec ID : isom File size : 754 MiB Duration : 44mn 13s Overall bit rate mode : Variable Overall bit rate : 2 384 Kbps Video ID : 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : High@L4.1 Format settings, CABAC : Yes Format settings, ReFrames : 9 frames Codec ID : avc1 Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding Duration : 44mn 13s Bit rate : 1 710 Kbps Maximum bit rate : 7 848 Kbps Width : 1 280 pixels Height : 720 pixels Display aspect ratio : 16:9 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 23.976 fps Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.077 Stream size : 541 MiB (72%) Writing library : x264 core 146 r2538 121396c Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=9 / deblock=1:-2:-2 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=32 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=20 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=18.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00 Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:39 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 Matrix coefficients : BT.709 Audio #1 ID : 2 Format : AAC Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Format profile : LC Codec ID : 40 Duration : 44mn 12s Bit rate mode : Variable Bit rate : 218 Kbps Maximum bit rate : 328 Kbps Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 68.9 MiB (9%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:38:53 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 Audio #2 ID : 3 Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : ac-3 Duration : 44mn 12s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 448 Kbps Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 142 MiB (19%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:41 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 When I view the above file myself, however, I do get the direct stream option. I have not set up network paths yet, but visiting Emby from a 192.***.***.*** IP allows me to see the direct option, but when viewing from a public IP I cannot see the direct option. Here is an example of a file which does have direct stream listed as an option for them, but their web client does not select that option by default. This user's max bitrate setting for their web client is 30 Mbps, using the same Chrome build as before (Chrome 26.0.1410.40).This file's Emby mediainfo is in EmbyMediaInfo2.jpg. Format : MPEG-4 Format profile : Sony PSP Codec ID : MSNV File size : 234 MiB Duration : 24mn 0s Overall bit rate mode : Constant Overall bit rate : 1 361 Kbps Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Video ID : 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : Baseline@L3.0 Format settings, CABAC : No Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame Codec ID : avc1 Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding Duration : 24mn 0s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 1 200 Kbps Width : 640 pixels Height : 360 pixels Display aspect ratio : 16:9 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 25.000 fps Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.208 Stream size : 206 MiB (88%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Audio ID : 2 Format : AAC Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Format profile : LC Codec ID : 40 Duration : 23mn 59s Source duration : 23mn 59s Source_Duration_FirstFrame : -22ms Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 160 Kbps Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 27.5 MiB (12%) Source stream size : 27.5 MiB (12%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 mdhd_Duration : 1439983 As you can see there are a few differences between the files, but I'm honestly not sure which one of them is causing Emby to rule out the first file for direct stream (and even stranger, why does it allow me do to so with the same file?). Could it be the AC3 passthrough on the second audio stream, the h264 profile, or perhaps the presence of CABAC? Aside from that, I'm hoping there is some way to set this user (and others) to use the Direct option by default when available. Thanks again Edited April 28, 2015 by Poptartica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AM S1 1 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 I appreciate you looking into this. Here's an example of a file which won't display the direct stream option at all (user has max bitrate setting of 30 Mbps and is on Chrome 26.0.1410.40): This file's Emby mediainfo is in EmbyMediaInfo1.jpg. Format : MPEG-4 Format profile : Base Media Codec ID : isom File size : 754 MiB Duration : 44mn 13s Overall bit rate mode : Variable Overall bit rate : 2 384 Kbps Video ID : 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : High@L4.1 Format settings, CABAC : Yes Format settings, ReFrames : 9 frames Codec ID : avc1 Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding Duration : 44mn 13s Bit rate : 1 710 Kbps Maximum bit rate : 7 848 Kbps Width : 1 280 pixels Height : 720 pixels Display aspect ratio : 16:9 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 23.976 fps Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.077 Stream size : 541 MiB (72%) Writing library : x264 core 146 r2538 121396c Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=9 / deblock=1:-2:-2 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=32 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=20 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=18.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00 Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:39 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 Matrix coefficients : BT.709 Audio #1 ID : 2 Format : AAC Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Format profile : LC Codec ID : 40 Duration : 44mn 12s Bit rate mode : Variable Bit rate : 218 Kbps Maximum bit rate : 328 Kbps Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 68.9 MiB (9%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:38:53 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 Audio #2 ID : 3 Format : AC-3 Format/Info : Audio Coding 3 Mode extension : CM (complete main) Format settings, Endianness : Big Codec ID : ac-3 Duration : 44mn 12s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 448 Kbps Channel(s) : 6 channels Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz Bit depth : 16 bits Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 142 MiB (19%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:41 Tagged date : UTC 2015-04-28 03:39:42 When I view the above file myself, however, I do get the direct stream option. I have not set up network paths yet, but visiting Emby from a 192.***.***.*** IP allows me to see the direct option, but when viewing from a public IP I cannot see the direct option. Here is an example of a file which does have direct stream listed as an option for them, but their web client does not select that option by default. This user's max bitrate setting for their web client is 30 Mbps, using the same Chrome build as before (Chrome 26.0.1410.40). This file's Emby mediainfo is in EmbyMediaInfo2.jpg. Format : MPEG-4 Format profile : Sony PSP Codec ID : MSNV File size : 234 MiB Duration : 24mn 0s Overall bit rate mode : Constant Overall bit rate : 1 361 Kbps Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Video ID : 1 Format : AVC Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec Format profile : Baseline@L3.0 Format settings, CABAC : No Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame Codec ID : avc1 Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding Duration : 24mn 0s Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 1 200 Kbps Width : 640 pixels Height : 360 pixels Display aspect ratio : 16:9 Frame rate mode : Constant Frame rate : 25.000 fps Color space : YUV Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0 Bit depth : 8 bits Scan type : Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.208 Stream size : 206 MiB (88%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Audio ID : 2 Format : AAC Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Format profile : LC Codec ID : 40 Duration : 23mn 59s Source duration : 23mn 59s Source_Duration_FirstFrame : -22ms Bit rate mode : Constant Bit rate : 160 Kbps Channel(s) : 2 channels Channel positions : Front: L R Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz Compression mode : Lossy Stream size : 27.5 MiB (12%) Source stream size : 27.5 MiB (12%) Language : English Encoded date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 Tagged date : UTC 2014-07-16 11:09:48 mdhd_Duration : 1439983 As you can see there are a few differences between the files, but I'm honestly not sure which one of them is causing Emby to rule out the first file for direct stream (and even stranger, why does it allow me do to so with the same file?). Could it be the AC3 passthrough on the second audio stream, the h264 profile, or perhaps the presence of CABAC? Aside from that, I'm hoping there is some way to set this user (and others) to use the Direct option by default when available. Thanks again HI, Did you find the reason for your transcodes?? I have a similar problem but with an android phone and neither of my movies with level profile 41 works regrads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke 37064 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 The web client excludes the the LC profile of AAC audio from direct stream. Another user produced a sample video that was used to determine that during the last release cycle. For the other user - this has nothing to do with android. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poptartica 12 Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) Actually, AM S1, when I posted that I was on server version 3.0.5587*, and I never figured out why some things couldn't direct stream. It wasn't too problematic though, since I'd say 80%+ of the files I encoded with those settings would have direct stream available (still wouldn't always set it to default though). Now, I've upgraded to 3.0.5597.1 and even files that would direct stream before won't do so now. Which is to say, I can't get a single one of the files I tested* to direct stream anymore (*I can only assume it's not all of them since I had some which were experiencing different behavior before to begin with) So I can't help you there, as far as an answer goes. But if you have the same version you're not alone in that! edit: Oh, I see Luke replied while I was posting. If the web client now ignores LC profiles, that's going to be a lot of users' files which can't play (and probably almost all of mine after I just reencoded them.. d'oh!..), since I know there's some devices which won't play anything but that - many places suggest you encode to exactly that to improve compatibility. Do you happen to know the exact requirement for audio codec/settings to get them to direct stream now? I've tried files that contain both AAC-LC and AC3 audio and they aren't able to direct stream. Edited May 5, 2015 by Poptartica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poptartica 12 Posted May 9, 2015 Author Share Posted May 9, 2015 Do you happen to know the exact requirement for audio codec/settings to get them to direct stream now? I've tried files that contain both AAC-LC and AC3 audio and they aren't able to direct stream. Actually, in addition to my last question, I wanted to add this: Is the exclusion of LC AAC profiles from direct stream on the web client a bug right now? If so, is there any ETA (next build, still working on a solution, etc.) when this will be fixed? If it's not being counted as a bug I'm fairly certain Emby is experiencing some level of error/issue with direct stream. The reason I say that is because there are multiple different files that I can play directly inside chrome with no issues right now that will not direct stream in the same browser on Emby. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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