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Live TV Random Stutter


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Lyfesaver
Posted

Emby Ver: 4.9.0.31 (but has always done this for years)
Tuners: HDHomeRun 4K Flex & HDHomeRun Flex DUO
Network: Local or remote in Emby but not ever in the HDHomeRun app

Issue: Live TV stutters about 2 or 3 seconds after launching (this I understand is normal, and am okay with it) then plays fine for 2-3 mins (maybe more sometimes, always random) and it stutters. Then it happens again randomly every 30-90 seconds for the rest of the playback

 

Thanks for reading

Posted

Hi,

When these channels are being played back on Emby Clients, are they being transcoded?

It sounds like they are being transcoded and perhaps your server is borderline on speed transcoding.  It's almost fast enough, but not quite so every so often the player runs out of packets just briefly and you get that stutter.

Play a channel for a few minutes and make sure it does this stutter.
Quick playback, go to server dashboard, Click on Logs menu.  You will see the most recent logs at the top.  Download any file at the top of the list with a time stamp equal or after the start of your test playback. You will have the server log and possibly a couple of files that start with ffmpeg.

Upload the files here and we can take a look at them for you.

Carlo

  • Thanks 1
Lyfesaver
Posted

Thanks for the reply, @Carlo

Server hardware: Intel 12900K - z790 - 32GB DDR5 - Intel A380
Network: Local - 5 Gig / Remote - 2 Gig Sync
Clients: FireTV Cube (2nd and 3rd gen) Samsung SmartTV (2022), PC Web (Chrome/Firefox), TCL Roku TV (2020)

Emby server does have hardware transcoding enabled

image.png.df53b0dab3c33b9be035e01bf399d100.pngimage.png.d7a476a8a6b9e1ca2ef781e6e265f0b6.png
Local - 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube ATSC 3.0 & Local - 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube ATSC 1.0

image.png.d8d1423d8365d90c434e3575decfa816.pngimage.png.7d88a88ad3b4e285ce40d8bf8abfa04f.png
Local - PC Web ATSC 3.0 (Firefox) & Local - PC Web ATSC 1.0 (Firefox)

image.png.3bbc2113486107bbbf928844811731db.png
Remote - Emby for Android ATSC 3.0 (Samsung Flex 5)

 

 

logs.zip

Lyfesaver
Posted (edited)

Don't get me wrong, I can plainly see the audio is forcing the transcode but I have the power to handle it so it is not a bottle neck issue but what is more worrying is that the client devices can handle the audio codecs natively so why force the transcode? The 3rd gen Cube even supports the AC4 codec.

image.png.f422e22ba12ec9d0a0fafb313eaac3a0.png

Edited by Lyfesaver
Posted

The QuickSync MPEG2 decoder is known to have issues and should generally be avoided.
Windows: The DXVA2 or D3D11VA MPEG2 decoders should be used instead (and are also preferred with the default settings)
Linux: The VAAPI MPEG2 decoder should be used instead (and is also preferred with the default settings)

The FireTV Cube 3rd gen can play AC4 but not the 2nd gen.

You're using both Emby and Emby for Android.
There's no point trying to use a browser, especially Firefox to play ATSC3.0 video.

Check to make sure you have the latest drivers for the ARC 380.

try transcoding live tv using CPU for mpeg decoding and see if that plays. Then try encoding using CPU but decoding in HW.

  • Thanks 1
Lyfesaver
Posted (edited)
38 minutes ago, Carlo said:

The QuickSync MPEG2 decoder is known to have issues and should generally be avoided.
Windows: The DXVA2 or D3D11VA MPEG2 decoders should be used instead (and are also preferred with the default settings)
Linux: The VAAPI MPEG2 decoder should be used instead (and is also preferred with the default settings)

The FireTV Cube 3rd gen can play AC4 but not the 2nd gen.

You're using both Emby and Emby for Android.
There's no point trying to use a browser, especially Firefox to play ATSC3.0 video.

Check to make sure you have the latest drivers for the ARC 380.

try transcoding live tv using CPU for mpeg decoding and see if that plays. Then try encoding using CPU but decoding in HW.

Thanks again Carlo. I do appreciate all the help. I have not changed any of the default settings, so:
1. "The QuickSync MPEG2 decoder is known to have issues and should generally be avoided." How do I avoid it?
2. "The DXVA2 or D3D11VA MPEG2 decoders should be used instead (and are also preferred with the default settings)" Where do I tell it what to use?
3. "The FireTV Cube 3rd gen can play AC4 but not the 2nd gen." I know, thats why I mentioned only 3rd Gen but as you can see both AC4 and AC3 are being transcoded no matter the gen
4. "You're using both Emby and Emby for Android." I am not using "both" as you can see by the text under each image they are all on different devices. Emby for Android is only used for my Android phone. My Fire TV Cube is using Emby for Fire TV and my PC is using Emby via a web browser.
5. "There's no point trying to use a browser, especially Firefox to play ATSC3.0 video." What else would I use to play Emby while on my PC? (Please don't say Emby Theater)
6. "Check to make sure you have the latest drivers for the ARC 380." They are
7. "try transcoding live tv using CPU for mpeg decoding and see if that plays. Then try encoding using CPU but decoding in HW." How?

Edited by Lyfesaver
Lyfesaver
Posted

BTW, sorry... I should have pointed out that the reason I dont know how to avoid the QuickSync MPEG2 decoder is because it is not listed under advanced:
image.png.f998e52108a6186c40cdebd38fdac3e4.png

They all say Arc A380, none of them are QuickSync

Lyfesaver
Posted

I FOUND THE CULPRIT!

But don't know how to overcome it.

When I am not RDP'd into my server, everything is fine but as soon as I RDP.. boom goes the audio codec.

I have tried having RDP up with audio disabled but that did not help.

Any insight on how to overcome this would be greatly appreciated and thank you so much for helping so far.

Lyfesaver
Posted

No, I take that back. Still messing up

Lyfesaver
Posted

emby-logs.zip

Here are my most recent logs. I have verified that my onboard GPU (the QuickSync) was disabled in my BIOS and not listed in my Windows device manager.

I am really confused what to try next.

Posted

I didn't need you to do that. "QuickSync" might have been the wrong thing to say.  I wanted you to run two tests for me.  One is using the iGPU to decode only and the other test to encode only. I wanted to see if it was related to one but not the other. The ARC cards and drivers have some known issues that Intel has been addressing. 

These logs are invalid as the hardware  encoding/decoder is turned off.
Turn the ARC card back on in your bios.
Remove the current drivers installed.
 Install the new drivers from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/227959/intel-arc-a380-graphics/downloads.html

 

Go back in Emby Transcode menu looking at advanced settings. Make sure you have both hardware encoders and decoders showing up.

Run one test only to view a live TV channel.  Don't run it twice or quit viewing for 2 minutes. If it stops that's fine.  I just want to make sure any Quits aren't done by you.

Upload the logs.

Carlo

 

  • Thanks 1
Lyfesaver
Posted

Okay, I dont really understand (but I am sure I can figure it out) how to decode only with the iGPU and then encode only with it. I will look into that. I am worried about how you see that hardware encoding is turned off when Emby says I have it on, but I will look into that as well.

That being said, I need to tell you that:
I actually did update the Arc drivers this morning (between log uploads). It was my chipset drivers that were up to date and not the Arc drivers, but as I mentioned it is now as of this morning.
I also want to point out that using Emby for Android on my Galaxy Z Fold 5 (I said Flex 5 under that image from the other post because i have a Flex 5 too so I just typo'd), Emby Theater, LG TV app (but ATSC 1.0 only) and Apple TV 4K that nothing gets transcoded. All were direct play. It seems my 2 Fire Cubes (both 3rd and 2nd), my 4 Fire Sticks and any browser on any PC (even the one running Theater) all transcode audio for ATSC 1.0 or 3.0.

For now, I am going to investigate your tests as you requested, and again.. ty so very much for helping me @Carlo

Posted

If you look in the ffmpeg file you will see:

>>>>>>  Processing Plan
        Name                                        CanDoInHW  WillDoInHW  Reason                                                 
        QuickSync Intel Arc A380 Graphics - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec                                          
        VideoInput                               >> True       True        Same adapter Id (0), same hardware context (D3D11)      
        ColorConversion                          >> True       True                                                                
        VideoOutput                              >> True       True        Hardware encoder                                        
        QuickSync Intel Arc A380 Graphics - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec                                          

or

>>>>>>  Processing Plan
        Name                                        CanDoInHW  WillDoInHW  Reason                                                 
        Copy video stream                        >> False      False       Software Codec                                          
        VideoInput                               >> False      False       Not a hardware decoder                                  
        VideoOutput                              >> False      False       Not a hardware encoder                                  
        Copy video stream                        >> False      False       Software Codec                                          

That's the execution plan. Can it Do in Hardware,, Will Do In Hardware are the two middle columns.

  • Thanks 1
Lyfesaver
Posted
3 hours ago, Carlo said:

If you look in the ffmpeg file you will see:

>>>>>>  Processing Plan
        Name                                        CanDoInHW  WillDoInHW  Reason                                                 
        QuickSync Intel Arc A380 Graphics - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec                                          
        VideoInput                               >> True       True        Same adapter Id (0), same hardware context (D3D11)      
        ColorConversion                          >> True       True                                                                
        VideoOutput                              >> True       True        Hardware encoder                                        
        QuickSync Intel Arc A380 Graphics - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec                                          

or

>>>>>>  Processing Plan
        Name                                        CanDoInHW  WillDoInHW  Reason                                                 
        Copy video stream                        >> False      False       Software Codec                                          
        VideoInput                               >> False      False       Not a hardware decoder                                  
        VideoOutput                              >> False      False       Not a hardware encoder                                  
        Copy video stream                        >> False      False       Software Codec                                          

That's the execution plan. Can it Do in Hardware,, Will Do In Hardware are the two middle columns.

Thats some good info but not sure what it is telling of. From my limited understanding you are saying that I cannot do software decoding at all?

I am still trying to figure out how to do your tests and at the same time try and look up all I can for Fire TV stuff cuz 90% of the TVs my family and I use are Fire TV stuff and right now none of them can even direct play AC3 even tho they are all 2022 or newer devices. We know the server is working or it would not work for Emby Theater and Emby for Android. I am pulling my hair out here, lol.

 

As for the tests you requested my first step has been to try and get the iGPU codecs even listed but all I can get are the Arc ones.

Lyfesaver
Posted

bangs head on desk

I spent a lot of time yesterday with support for Fire TV. I pointed out to them that AC3 works for other clients like my phone but not their devices and they pointed out that AC3 is fine with other media being served to it from Emby (movies and shows) so it must be the HDHomerun not Emby or Fire TV. Next step is to reach out the Silcondust today.

I know you want those tests done but I have spent hours trying to figure out what you are asking and have gotten no where.

I am at my wits end with this. I am so very very very very frustrated.

Lyfesaver
Posted

I am guessing the issue has to lie with HDHomerun because this is what we know:

  • Fire TV clients handle AC3 just fine with saved media, but AC3 via Live TV gets transcoded
  • My LG TV (OLED48C2PUA) will transcode the AC3 being sent from the HDHomerun but not the AC4 even tho it has the support to do so
  • Emby Theater and Emby for Android both can direct play from the HDHomerun

Nothing is making any sense and this kind of hair pulling is exactly why I have avoided trying to sort it out for years. My aggravation is escalating with every passing hour spent on debugging this.

Lyfesaver
Posted

No, it has to be the Emby client or server that is the issue as HDHR app does not transcode and neither does that "other" media server (see image below)

image.png.2a171d866fb5fc5fd8f335e69cfe8150.png
That is my FireTV Cube from an ATSC 1.0 tuner

  • Solution
Lyfesaver
Posted

FFS!!!! All this time spent because Emby for Fire TV has a setting that no other client has

"Allow Direct Play for Live TV"

One obscure option only available in one of the clients is what caused all this.

Posted

Not sure I follow you on this.  Yes, there is the setting you can enable to change the way live streams are handled on Android TV platforms, and we would have got to that, but you showed issues with the Android (non TV), web player as well as two generations of Cube TV which have different support for AC4 audio.

Was the stuttering issue only an issue on the Android TV/Fire TV platforms?

If you go back into the Transcode Menu using the advanced setting, do you see entries for both hardware decoders and hardware encoders?

Lyfesaver
Posted
2 minutes ago, Carlo said:

Not sure I follow you on this.  Yes, there is the setting you can enable to change the way live streams are handled on Android TV platforms, and we would have got to that, but you showed issues with the Android (non TV), web player as well as two generations of Cube TV which have different support for AC4 audio.

Was the stuttering issue only an issue on the Android TV/Fire TV platforms?

If you go back into the Transcode Menu using the advanced setting, do you see entries for both hardware decoders and hardware encoders?

The post with all the images show that the Android (non-TV on my Fold 5) direct plays but i never use my phone for Emby and when the rare times I do its not for Live TV

Over the years I only tried Live TV on my Fire devices or Web (browser) and they always stuttered. This option is not in any other client, Android or otherwise, it is only found on the Emby for Fire TV (not the Emby for Android) app. (Fire devices have two Emby options - See below)

image.thumb.jpeg.492f0520367f679586247a20f761a6a5.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.fe0016413d1d9e96e73a35ef85e4d421.jpeg

Now, ASTC 1.0 AC3 will direct play but ASTC 3.0 AC4 (on my 3rd gen and on my Emby for LG TV app) transcodes to AC3 after "recovering from a playback" issue.

 

No, my advanced still only lists the Arc:

image.png.7a169f03b5e914fb51866f4012a3c288.png

Lyfesaver
Posted (edited)

Emby for Web, Emby Theater, Emby for Android, Emby for iOS, Emby for LG TV and others do not have this option:

ONLY Emby for Fire TV has this:

image.png.4f062f2dd0e10e58fe690fd4ff287fe7.png

image.png.fbf0e2db47b628757060e9a7d52c3703.png

image.png.64497caa7e22f9c72fe1612a0a2b2167.png

So now, everything (except for AC4) works on my Fire TV devices but both AC3 and AC4 are still transcoded via the Web

Edited by Lyfesaver
Posted
5 hours ago, Lyfesaver said:

 

image.png.7a169f03b5e914fb51866f4012a3c288.png

You still have an issue looking at the above.  You DO have Arc A380 decoders but have no Hardware ENCODERS listed.  So any transcoding is going to use HW to decode then all filters and encoding are taking place in software.  Decoding is generally easy, but the filters and encoding are the time-consuming part and you really want this taking place in HW.

Have you removed the Arc380 drivers, rebooted and then re-installed the newest version yet?

Lyfesaver
Posted
1 hour ago, Carlo said:

You still have an issue looking at the above.  You DO have Arc A380 decoders but have no Hardware ENCODERS listed.  So any transcoding is going to use HW to decode then all filters and encoding are taking place in software.  Decoding is generally easy, but the filters and encoding are the time-consuming part and you really want this taking place in HW.

Have you removed the Arc380 drivers, rebooted and then re-installed the newest version yet?

Yes. I did that on Tue morning. I don't mind doing it again tho. Can you show me a snip of what it is supposed to look like?

Posted

image.png

See the section for the Preferred Hardware Encoder.

Lyfesaver
Posted

Same result:

image.png.77ccb98f6f36971d8fcc23bdd08e492b.png

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