Auto Select Best Quality Version?

[nuentes 37]

I have a lot of my media in both 1080p and 4K. The majority of my devices can stream 4K, but I have the 1080p versions to avoid needing to transcode those in a few unique situations.

I've noticed that EmbyCon asks me to select a version for these files. This is usually fine it I'm just playing one video, but sometimes we want to re-watch an entire season of a show, and so we get prompted after every episode. Would it be possible for EmbyCon to have a setting for "When multiple versions: auto-select best quality"? Or is this already possible, and I'm just missing something?

full disclosure, I posted this in the General Kodi forum, and only heard back from the Next Gen dev.

[TeamB 2392]

i don't come to the forums that often and only monitor this sub forum so i sometimes miss post unless its in this sub forum or i am tagged in a post.

When i last looked at this there were two hurdles

 - the logic to select the "best" version for the current client
 - when to auto select that version

i could not find a good easy to understand (from a user point of view) way of doing either of these so i gave up.

 

 

[nuentes 37]

No worries about not catching the other post. I didn't mean to anything by it. I was just trying to be transparent.

I have all of them with a version of "1080p" or "4K". I suspect most people would be similar. So maybe you could just provide an option to automatically select versions with "x" in the version name. With "x" being a variable that I could set with a text input. In this instance, my preference would be "4K".

And if there are multiple versions but none match the variable, embycon would not pre-select.

[TeamB 2392]

23 hours ago, nuentes said:

No worries about not catching the other post. I didn't mean to anything by it. I was just trying to be transparent.

I have all of them with a version of "1080p" or "4K". I suspect most people would be similar. So maybe you could just provide an option to automatically select versions with "x" in the version name. With "x" being a variable that I could set with a text input. In this instance, my preference would be "4K".

And if there are multiple versions but none match the variable, embycon would not pre-select.

how do some of the other Emby clients do it?

[nuentes 37]

I have no idea how Emby server chooses the default version. I think it's just the first one that was scanned in. Emby For Kodi Next Gen hasn't implemented this yet. They provide a popup like Embycon does. I don't really use any other clients. Opportunity to be a trailblazer...?

[GrimReaper 3792]

1 hour ago, nuentes said:

I think it's just the first one that was scanned in

Nope. 

On 1/17/2018 at 2:34 PM, ebr said:

The default is always chosen based on the capabilities of the app/device playing it at the time (generally to avoid transcoding when possible).

 

On 2/10/2018 at 2:55 AM, Luke said:

The default will vary per app and depends on which is determined to be the most efficient at the time.

You can lend your support here:

 

[speechles 1976]

On 9/22/2024 at 10:25 PM, TeamB said:

how do some of the other Emby clients do it?

Inside the item object ( item.StreamInfo.MediaSource.Id ). This is what the ID is of the mediastream that should be defaulted.

Then you iterate the mediasources looking for that ID. Then mark the index you found it at. With that information you can get the exact mediastream to default to.

item.MediaSources[index].defaultAudioStreamIndex
item.MediaSources[index].defaultSubtitleStreamIndex

This will get you the correct audio and subtitle stream to use.

 

The server will rememeber the version the user previously played as default. But if they haven't previously played a version the ID will default to the best available mediastream for the capabilities profile you provided. Same goes for audio/subtitles, they will follow default flags at first, but if the user changes them prior to playback those settings for audio/subtitle are remembered for the next playback.

 

Edited September 24, 2024 by speechles

[TeamB 2392]

On 9/24/2024 at 10:19 AM, speechles said:

item.StreamInfo.MediaSource.Id

I am not seeing this in the PlaybackInfo data

@Luke should that be in the returned data from the

{server}/emby/Items/%s/PlaybackInfo

How do you correctly identify the best selected MediaSource from the PlaybackInfo?

[Luke 38824]

14 hours ago, TeamB said:

I am not seeing this in the PlaybackInfo data

@Luke should that be in the returned data from the

{server}/emby/Items/%s/PlaybackInfo

How do you correctly identify the best selected MediaSource from the PlaybackInfo?

Just using the order of the list. 

[TeamB 2392]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

Just using the order of the list. 

Ok cool, that is what I thought, but needed confirmation.

@nuentes
So that means that the server preference for the Kodi EmbyCon client is already being taken into account, the order the multiple version appear in the selection box is the order the server is returning them in, so the top one is the preferred server "pick" for your client based on the clients capabilities that were sent to the server.

Is that what you are seeing in your multi version selection box on Kodi? The first top entry should be the best pick.

[nuentes 37]

Yes. That's what I'm seeing. I don't want to have to select. So I can finish episode 2, and episode 3 begins automatically.

Even if it could just remember my selection after I pay the first episode, that would be great.

[TeamB 2392]

6 minutes ago, nuentes said:

Yes. That's what I'm seeing. I don't want to have to select. So I can finish episode 2, and episode 3 begins automatically.

Even if it could just remember my selection after I pay the first episode, that would be great.

Ok so if the server chosen preferred order is correct then an autoplay action can be created, it would just play the "FIRST" one in the list returned by the severe automatically.
I can add an option for this in the settings.

[nuentes 37]

This sounds awesome. Thank you!!

[nuentes 37]

Oh, also, I've noticed something weird with embycon. It relates directly to this.

I have Emby for Kodi Next Gen installed and logged in with with my account. Embycon is logged in with my wife's account. So when we play something from embycon, it plays from my wife's account. I can confirm this from the server.

EXCEPT

When my wife plays a video from embycon that has multiple versions. There are two issues here

1) she will receive two prompts asking which version to pay. The two prompt windows look similar, but are not the same.

2) When I check Emby server, it will say the same video is playing on both my account and her account. So Embycon is playing the video, but somehow so is Emby Next Gen.

I have a feeling both of these are because I have direct playback enabled for Next Gen.

It's just a bit annoying that sometimes she resets the resume point of a video in my account when she watches certain things. Anything that can be done about this?

[TeamB 2392]

3 hours ago, nuentes said:

Oh, also, I've noticed something weird with embycon. It relates directly to this.

I have Emby for Kodi Next Gen installed and logged in with with my account. Embycon is logged in with my wife's account. So when we play something from embycon, it plays from my wife's account. I can confirm this from the server.

EXCEPT

When my wife plays a video from embycon that has multiple versions. There are two issues here

1) she will receive two prompts asking which version to pay. The two prompt windows look similar, but are not the same.

2) When I check Emby server, it will say the same video is playing on both my account and her account. So Embycon is playing the video, but somehow so is Emby Next Gen.

I have a feeling both of these are because I have direct playback enabled for Next Gen.

It's just a bit annoying that sometimes she resets the resume point of a video in my account when she watches certain things. Anything that can be done about this?

So this only happens when you play a file with EmbyCon?

> I have a feeling both of these are because I have direct playback enabled for Next Gen.
yeah it could be that, EmbyGextGen might be seeing the play activity from EmbyCon and reporting it back to the server (as you) which means both are reporting back to the server. Not sure why EmbyGextGen would do this, but that might be what is happening, not sure, sorry.

Why do you have both installed?
If you want fast user switching EmbyCon can do that for you. We have 4 people in our house and switching between users only takes a few seconds.

Edited October 7, 2024 by TeamB

[TeamB 2392]

I have added an option under the EmbyCon addon settings playback settings to auto select the first version in a multi version item.

This is available from the new repository.

https://faush01.github.io/embycon_kodi_repo/

you will need to install the new version from the new repository.

[nuentes 37]

14 hours ago, TeamB said:

So this only happens when you play a file with EmbyCon?

Why do you have both installed?
If you want fast user switching EmbyCon can do that for you. We have 4 people in our house and switching between users only takes a few seconds.

Yes, this only happens when playing a file with Embycon. And actually my wife is currently watching something with only 1 single version, and I'm seeing the issue right now. Here is a screenshot:

I have both installed specifically so we don't have to switch users. But going beyond that, I'll list some reasons why our TV primarily uses Emby For Kodi Next Gen:

1. There are weird issues with my preferred skin and Embycon. It doesn't seem to save the layout preference. So when I select a series, sometimes it will switch to a different layout and/or sorting method. So sometimes episodes will be sorted alphabetically for no good reason, or the layout will switch entirely to a much harder to navigate layout. My wife doesn't care, but it annoys me to no end.
2. I honestly like having the traditional Kodi configuration with media nodes and cached images. It allows for much faster paging and image loading.
3. I like to utilize Kodi for some Smart Playlists. While I also use the Emby Spart Playlists plugin, I like to do some things locally. Using the local Smart Playlists feature allows me to have playlists that load very quickly.
4. I utilize a LOT of homescreen widgets. These would be harder to pull off with Embycon when considering user switching. Unless we wanted to utilize Kodi profiles, which I tested years ago, and honestly was not a fan.

All of this is because I'm picky about how my TV is configured. And maybe even a bit stuck in my ways? I use embycon exclusively on my work desktop, since I'm a lot less picky there. However, I came up with using Embycon and Emby For Kodi Next Gen on our TV as a good workaround for allowing my wife quick access to her own favorite media. Essentially, I love Embycon in some situations, but on the TV, we're an Emby For Kodi family. Hope this makes sense.

[TeamB 2392]

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

I have both installed specifically so we don't have to switch users

like I said, fast user switching in EmbyCon only takes a few seconds, becuase it does not sync ANY data to Kodi switching users is just a matter of telling the plugin to use a different user for the calls and refreshing the Kodi interface. You can trigger fast user switching in the addon actions area, make switch user to an action available on the home screen (skin will need to support customisation) and then just select it when you want to switch user.

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

There are weird issues with my preferred skin and Embycon. It doesn't seem to save the layout preference. So when I select a series, sometimes it will switch to a different layout and/or sorting method. So sometimes episodes will be sorted alphabetically for no good reason, or the layout will switch entirely to a much harder to navigate layout. My wife doesn't care, but it annoys me to no end.

Check the EmbyCon settings, on the left at the bottom are two sections, one for default layout and one for default sorting. If there is anything set in there, then that is going to override the kodi remembered ones. The way you set the default view is using the context menu when you are on that type view, ie. in movies list open the context menu and select use as default view.

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

I honestly like having the traditional Kodi configuration with media nodes and cached images. It allows for much faster paging and image loading.

Images are always cached in Kodi after the first access, theis is just a Kodi thing, if you want to pre cache the images in Kodi for the EmbyCon/Emby images you can do this under the addon actions.

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

I like to utilize Kodi for some Smart Playlists. While I also use the Emby Spart Playlists plugin, I like to do some things locally. Using the local Smart Playlists feature allows me to have playlists that load very quickly.

yeah if this is a showstopper I understand as there is no way EmbyCon can do this since NO data is synced to Kodi at all with EmbyCon its local nodes and playlists are not possible.

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

I utilize a LOT of homescreen widgets. These would be harder to pull off with Embycon when considering user switching. Unless we wanted to utilize Kodi profiles, which I tested years ago, and honestly was not a fan.

As I said, when you fast user switch using EmbyCon the home screen and in fact whole skin is reloaded witch should only take a few seconds, all the home screen widgets and any calls to populate them should use the new user. This is simple to test, just select change user from the addon actions area. switch between the two users and see what happens.

5 hours ago, nuentes said:

All of this is because I'm picky about how my TV is configured. And maybe even a bit stuck in my ways? I use embycon exclusively on my work desktop, since I'm a lot less picky there. However, I came up with using Embycon and Emby For Kodi Next Gen on our TV as a good workaround for allowing my wife quick access to her own favorite media. Essentially, I love Embycon in some situations, but on the TV, we're an Emby For Kodi family. Hope this makes sense.

yes it makes perfect sense, most people that use and stick with kodi and very particular about how they want their systems to work and witch so many options and variations of skins and addons no two peoples setups are identicall

I once said many years ago when I first started to using Kodi (I switched from Meedio just after the yahoo bayout - Meedio - OMG that was 2006)
"The best thing about Kodi is all the options you have in skins and addons...and the worst thing about kodi is all the options you have in skins and addons"
and it is still true today.

I am not sure why EmbyForKodi Next Gen is also reporting playback, @quickmicany ideas.

Edited October 7, 2024 by TeamB

[nuentes 37]

Ok, I've upgraded and made some settings tweaks and this is certainly going better. I've enabled autoplay of first version, and that works like a champ.

I disabled "Allow direct file playback". This appears to have resolved the duplicate playback issue. It also resolved the duplicates of the version window.

I'm having one issue, where a lot of the episodes i try to play (from the beginning of the episode), embycon loads the episode along with the Play Next overlay. And it seems that I have to select the Play Next option when this happens. Otherwise, this is working great for my needs.

I can't seem to find the settings you are talking about for layout and sorting.

[TeamB 2392]

1 hour ago, nuentes said:

I disabled "Allow direct file playback". This appears to have resolved the duplicate playback issue. It also resolved the duplicates of the version window.

where did you disable this? in which addon?

1 hour ago, nuentes said:

I'm having one issue, where a lot of the episodes i try to play (from the beginning of the episode), embycon loads the episode along with the Play Next overlay. And it seems that I have to select the Play Next option when this happens. Otherwise, this is working great for my needs.

I am not sure about this one, what overlay? can you get a screenshot?

1 hour ago, nuentes said:

I can't seem to find the settings you are talking about for layout and sorting.

You set the default view for the content type by using the contect menu when viewing items

and you can view what the current view defaults are in the EmbyCon settings, also the sort per item type is also in the settings.

The way you sue the default views is:

 - Go to a list of something, say movies
 - Set your desired view layout
 - On one of the items bring up the contect menu
 - Select "Set as default view"
From now on when you go to a view a list of that type of items in this case movies EmbyCon will force the layout you set.
This allows you to set this once and have a consistent layout for all areas instead of having to change this for every area you visit and have Kodi remember it for that exact path. i.e the Kodi way is stored per location so you would have to set this for every season of all TV Shows instead of just having a default layout.

The default sorting is a little easier, just go to the EmbyCon settings and set your preferred sorting for each content type.

 

 

Edited October 8, 2024 by TeamB

[quickmic 1552]

4 hours ago, TeamB said:

I am not sure why EmbyForKodi Next Gen is also reporting playback, @quickmicany ideas.

Most likely, cause you use native mode. Next-gen (for synced content) has only a Kodi ID and a filename available for identification and tries to map Emby Ids by them. As the plugin has only knowledge of one user, it thinks you are playing this file.

In addon mode, it would know it's not next-gen's content you played. Same if you use different Kodi profiles. Also using dynamic nodes in next-gen would work, but this breaks your workflow.

@TeamBDo you use custom Listitem properties I could use as an filter? I assume yes, hoping we don't user the same ones. If so, dynamic content played via next-gen could mislead embycon too.

Properties = {'embyserverid': str(ServerId), 'embyid': str(item.get('Id', ""))}

and:

    if 'MediaSources' in item:
        common.set_streams(item)
        common.set_chapters(item, ServerId)
        Properties['mediasourcescount'] = len(item['MediaSources'])

        for Index, MediaSource in enumerate(item['MediaSources']):
            Properties.update({f"embyintrostartposticks{Index}": MediaSource['IntroStartPositionTicks'], f"embyintroendpositionticks{Index}": MediaSource['IntroEndPositionTicks'], f"embycreditspositionticks{Index}": MediaSource['CreditsPositionTicks'], f"embymediacourcename{Index}": MediaSource['Name'], f"embymediacourcesize{Index}": MediaSource['Size'], f"embymediacourcepath{Index}": MediaSource['Path'], f"embymediacourceid{Index}": MediaSource['Id']})

 

Edited October 8, 2024 by quickmic

[TeamB 2392]

43 minutes ago, quickmic said:

Next-gen (for synced content) has only a Kodi ID and a filename available for identification and tries to map Emby Ids by them

This is what I thought might be happening, if NextGen is using the PATH to match to Emby content and when it sees a RAW direct path being played it starts reporting to the server that that item is being played.

46 minutes ago, quickmic said:

Do you use custom Listitem properties I could use as an filter? I assume yes, hoping we don't user the same ones. If so, dynamic content played via next-gen could mislead embycon too.

I assume you are referring to the current playing item ListItem here?

I set the ID and item type

item_properties["id"] = item_details.id
item_properties["ItemType"] = item_details.item_type

and apart from that, all the other properties are just the standard default properties need for display.

55 minutes ago, quickmic said:

If so, dynamic content played via next-gen could mislead embycon too.

EmbyCon uses an internal data structure to monitor what it started playing and only updates playing items it knows it created, so should not be a problem.

[nuentes 37]

14 hours ago, TeamB said:

where did you disable this? in which addon?

I am not sure about this one, what overlay? can you get a screenshot?

From the Embycon settings (see it highlighted):

Interestingly, the files are still playing with Direct Play. No idea why this was causing me issues.

14 hours ago, TeamB said:

You set the default view for the content type by using the contect menu when viewing items

Oh. Right. Yeah, so I've done that at least 100 times. It keeps resetting. I have no idea why. It simply won't stick. I've even manually edited the ViewModes db file, and still no luck. The skin just hates Embycon.

14 hours ago, TeamB said:

 you can view what the current view defaults are in the EmbyCon settings, also the sort per item type is also in the settings.

What the heck is this screen and how do I get to it? Why does your settings look completely different from mine? Is it because you are using Embuary or something?

[nuentes 37]

13 hours ago, quickmic said:

Most likely, cause you use native mode. Next-gen (for synced content) has only a Kodi ID and a filename available for identification and tries to map Emby Ids by them. As the plugin has only knowledge of one user, it thinks you are playing this file.

Yup. Correct. I use Native Mode for Next Gen.

[TeamB 2392]

4 hours ago, nuentes said:

Interestingly, the files are still playing with Direct Play. No idea why this was causing me issues.

they are probably using direct streaming now, still a direct passthrough but using http instead of smb

4 hours ago, nuentes said:

Right. Yeah, so I've done that at least 100 times. It keeps resetting. I have no idea why. It simply won't stick. I've even manually edited the ViewModes db file, and still no luck. The skin just hates Embycon

resetting? this is an EmbyCon setting, so the EmbyCon setting is not saving correctly? If you set it here then the view id should show up in the EmbyCon setting, the skin being used should not be able to interfere with this at all.

4 hours ago, nuentes said:

What the heck is this screen and how do I get to it? Why does your settings look completely different from mine? Is it because you are using Embuary or something?

its the EmbyCon settings screen, you have to scroll down to see them.

what skin are you using?