Convert only Video, bypass audio

[Normanos 8]

Tried to search, maybe somewhere duplicating.

Is it possible to add function to copy audio when converting videos?

 

For example, I wish to modify only video quality, but wish to keep audio tracks untouched, like Dolby Atmos, DTS X ... . 

Edit: Added image to clarify needs.

 Thanks.

Edited August 30, 2024 by Normanos

[visproduction 275]

Norm,

I believe that transcoding depends upon the user's software playback either in a TV directly or on mobile, tablet, notebook or workstation.  If the playback supports the audio, then transcoding could skip making any change to the audio.  I think the issue here is probably, Dolby, Atmos, DTS are all non-supported playback, either in the end player or some step inbetween.  Often converter type connections, graphics cards, or some browser or TV App playback doesn't support these high end audio.  One weak link in the chain results in no audio support and the audio gets transcoded.  You have to have every link in the connection work for a video or audio codec. Otherwise, it fails the support test and is auto transcoded.

Supporting audio is just not available for many of these higher end audio tracks for every link from Emby through to the end player.  Can they be supported?  Maybe.  Did you know that the higher end audio usually requires licensing and a payment, per user, as well as an very long process of authorization and hardware / software certification.  I believe we are in the area of maybe over $100,000 to get each audio to work plus several thousand dollars monthly for licensing.  OK, this is a guess, but I think I am correct.  If your Apple or other TV works with this audio, they probably paid this type of price already.  This is one of those requests that much easier said than done.

Let's see if anyone who actually knows the code has a different answer.  I am happy to be wrong, if there is some easier way to do it.  I think for these audios you are out of luck.

[Normanos 8]

@visproduction I'm not talking about transcoding but converting... . 

They are two different things in Emby.... . 

There is no problems playing videos even when transcoding. 

Edited August 30, 2024 by Normanos

[visproduction 275]

Norm,

Ah, I am not familar with a converting option for media.  I assumed it was transcoded from the original media for playback when a user requests the media.  This is from a TV or other incoming media stream or something like that to save the media in the library?  If that is true, then I don't know anything about that.  Sorry.

I think for playback, my answer is valid for these high end audio formats.  Can you successfully direct playback these audio on your setup through Emby?  That would be nice.  I did not think that was possible.

[Normanos 8]

@visproduction  yes, playing them I have no problems. I using Shields around home. 

 

Sometimes I have Tv shows or movies to convert, but wish to keep original audio. In ffmpeg it's  "...-c:a copy..."

Here is more add option for copy audio instead of converting to aac or mp3... . 

[visproduction 275]

Norm,

Good to know.  I did run into something sort of related that surprised me.  With a blu-ray Panasonic player, you can playback single .mkv files with higher end surround and the player will keep the surround sound correct and play that back through the home theatre setup.  In my case I used the old style RCA 6 plugs 5.1 (or 7.1) outputs instead of HDMI.  Some blu-ray players have that option.  For some reason, I just assumed that surround playback would not work. 

This has nothing to do with Emby, but interesting that the higher end surround sound support from the blu-ray player works for such a file.  Hopefully, that surround should also work using HDMI connectors to a home theater with Emby.  Is that correct, with your system?   I never had a setup able to test this.

[rbjtech 4990]

The target for this conversion functionality is tablets and phones etc - it's not really designed for higher end conversions.      The issue is, if you start adding too many options, you'll end up with handbrake etc   this is just supposed to be a simple, couple of quick options type utility.

If you know how to use ffmpeg or handbrake etc - then you'll probably get much better results using a custom conversion anyway - and you can do a native audio copy / passthrough as part of that.

[ebr 15650]

Different request but same desire:

 

[Normanos 8]

21 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

The target for this conversion functionality is tablets and phones etc - it's not really designed for higher end conversions.      The issue is, if you start adding too many options, you'll end up with handbrake etc   this is just supposed to be a simple, couple of quick options type utility.

If you know how to use ffmpeg or handbrake etc - then you'll probably get much better results using a custom conversion anyway - and you can do a native audio copy / passthrough as part of that.

For movies I using Handbrake, but Handbrake in Linux use only CPU.  And I don't have any Windows in my farm. 

Convert Tv Shows in Handbrake will take ages where Emby can convert with HW fast. Just had one show (Holby City) with ~ 1100 episodes ... .  

 

Simply, trying to optimise resources...   Is it really so difficult to add option passthrough audio tracks?

[rbjtech 4990]

36 minutes ago, Normanos said:

Simply, trying to optimise resources...   Is it really so difficult to add option passthrough audio tracks?

No - as it's just passing it to ffmpeg - just by having a 'passthrough' option and it uses the -c:a copy as you say - but it's a priority call and it's probably pretty low on the list .. 

What you could do is just do one episode - grab the ffmpeg syntax from the log (that uses HW Accel) and then simply script it yourself ..

[Happy2Play 9425]

4 hours ago, Normanos said:

Convert Tv Shows in Handbrake will take ages where Emby can convert with HW fast

Little confused here as any program should be able to use HW if Emby can use HW on the same machine.

[Luke 40000]

On 8/30/2024 at 9:14 AM, Normanos said:

Tried to search, maybe somewhere duplicating.

Is it possible to add function to copy audio when converting videos?

 

For example, I wish to modify only video quality, but wish to keep audio tracks untouched, like Dolby Atmos, DTS X ... . 

Edit: Added image to clarify needs.

 Thanks.

HI, yes we can expand on these options. Thanks.

[Q-Droid 878]

22 hours ago, rbjtech said:

The target for this conversion functionality is tablets and phones etc - it's not really designed for higher end conversions.      The issue is, if you start adding too many options, you'll end up with handbrake etc   this is just supposed to be a simple, couple of quick options type utility.

I can see how that could happen. Allowing every option can get out of hand quickly. But I wonder if a simple passthrough (copy) checkbox or list item could be offered for the video and audio options to round out this feature.

[Q-Droid 878]

18 hours ago, Happy2Play said:

Little confused here as any program should be able to use HW if Emby can use HW on the same machine.

Yes and no. If Emby can use the HW then you know that at least it's available. But not all platforms make it as easy as Windows does. Other OS's take more effort and some might not get to work at all while Emby can. On the other hand there are some that can use HW even when Emby can't. Stuff is funny that way...

[Normanos 8]

22 hours ago, rbjtech said:

No - as it's just passing it to ffmpeg - just by having a 'passthrough' option and it uses the -c:a copy as you say - but it's a priority call and it's probably pretty low on the list .. 

What you could do is just do one episode - grab the ffmpeg syntax from the log (that uses HW Accel) and then simply script it yourself ..

Thanks!

 Created workaround for now. But we all getting more and more lazy 

Created small manual for Nvidia cards: https://wiki.freefm.uk/doku.php?id=embyserver#linux_shell_convert_videos_with_emby_nvidia_hw_transcoding

Edited August 31, 2024 by Normanos