Issues with Direct Play

[Darkel_91 1]

For some reason, some of my files won't launch with direct streaming on LG TV, they can only play when I manually change quality to lower than original. Screen is just black, no audio, the playback bar shows no sign of life. No errors, just a black screen as if it's loading, but it takes forever.

But the same files work flawlessly with Android app on my mobile phone or with Jellyfin on the same LG TV.

Edited May 23 by Darkel_91

[Luke 40018]

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[Darkel_91 1]

Here you go.

I guess what you're looking for is at 2025-05-25 02:35:30.199 and 2025-05-25 02:36:22.053.

I also made the one at 2025-05-25 02:38:28.841for comparison. There I started playback at Direct but then switched to 720p transcoding and it played normally.

I also attached video for you to see what I see when trying to play

 

Thanks!

embyserver.txt

[Happy2Play 9435]

Look like the client is set to 4Mbps or set to Auto and falling back to hard coded values. 

2025-05-25 02:38:38.188 Info App: User policy for Valentyn. EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
2025-05-25 02:38:38.188 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectPlay limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000
2025-05-25 02:38:38.188 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000
2025-05-25 02:38:38.271 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectPlay limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000
2025-05-25 02:38:38.271 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000
2025-05-25 02:38:38.283 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectPlay limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000
2025-05-25 02:38:38.283 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 7520275, max bitrate: 4000000

&TranscodeReasons=ContainerBitrateExceedsLimit

Is this a Remote connections?

[Darkel_91 1]

For the one at 02:38:38.188 - I started it at Auto, but switched to 720p 4mbps, after which it played OK. You can see me doing it on video. And bitrate limits only show on this one.

For the ones at 02:35:30.199 and 02:36:22.053 - quality was set to Auto - Direct. And that's where it would not play the video.

 

The connection is local, both the server and the TV are on the same network.

[Luke 40018]

Have you configured any emby server network settings? It's possible the server thinks it is a remote connection.

[Darkel_91 1]

Here are my Network settings. I don't believe I changed anything in there.

The server IS connected to the Internet and accessible via remote proxy, but not via Emby server settings. And I'm using local IP for the TV, so it shouldn't affect the playback

[Luke 40018]

Do you know for sure that the TV is connecting via the LAN address?

[Darkel_91 1]

Yes, no incoming or outcoming internet traffic going through my router when using Emby.

Just tried to switch off the remote connections in the server settings - it works better now with larger bitrate transcoding, but still no luck with direct play on the same file.

[SamES 1003]

WiFi or wired connection?

[Darkel_91 1]

  Wired. On Wi-Fi with android device everything works flawlessy 

[SamES 1003]

2 hours ago, Darkel_91 said:

  Wired. On Wi-Fi with android device everything works flawlessy 

It will sound silly, but you could try uninstalling the app (don't just remove it from the home screen), unplug the TV from the power for a few minutes, then reinstall and try again.

This has been known to fix 'strange' issues in the past

[Darkel_91 1]

1 hour ago, SamES said:

It will sound silly, but you could try uninstalling the app (don't just remove it from the home screen), unplug the TV from the power for a few minutes, then reinstall and try again.

This has been known to fix 'strange' issues in the past

Did that already. No luck

[Luke 40018]

4 hours ago, Darkel_91 said:

Did that already. No luck

What exactly did you do? What exactly happened?

[Darkel_91 1]

On 5/27/2025 at 11:06 PM, Luke said:

What exactly did you do? What exactly happened?

Uninstalled and installed Emby client again. It works just the same with the same issue

[Luke 40018]

13 hours ago, Darkel_91 said:

Uninstalled and installed Emby client again. It works just the same with the same issue

OK can you please try all of this:

Quote

 

It will sound silly, but you could try uninstalling the app (don't just remove it from the home screen), unplug the TV from the power for a few minutes, then reinstall and try again.

 

Thanks !

[Darkel_91 1]

Same. Still refuses to play wothout transcoding 

[SamES 1003]

Can you please attach some recent ffmpeg logs from the server for these cases?

[Darkel_91 1]

embyserver.txtffmpeg-transcode-7882f85a-2d1f-45a7-a14b-65f2a4603802_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-f4a8c5d7-e860-410e-ba3e-8a5ecffd7a75_1.txt

It looks like ffmpeg logs are only generated when I use transcoding. But my issue is not with the transcoding but with direct playback, and it is not on the ffmpeg logs.

Here are both ffmpeg and server logs.

2025-05-29 22:45:44.542 - launching File 1 WITHOUT transcoding. No playback. Not on the ffmpeg logs

2025-05-29 22:47:13.269 - launching File 1 WITHOUT transcoding. No playback. Not on the ffmpeg logs

2025-05-29 22:49:20.822 - launching File 2 WITHOUT transcoding. This one plays fine. Not on the ffmpeg logs

2025-05-29 22:51:30.711 - launching File 1 WITH transcoding. Plays fine. This one is on ...3802_1 log.

2025-05-29 22:53:29.617 - launching File 1 WITH transcoding. Plays fine. This one is on ...7a75_1 log.

 

 

 

 

[SamES 1003]

I suspect some of these files are probably just badly encoded.  TV's appear to have more issues with badly encoded files.

Can you send a me a PM with a link to download and test file 1 and 2 from you test above? Thanks

 

[Darkel_91 1]

Yes, bad encoding could be the issue. But since Jellyfin can play same problem files without transcoding on the same TV - I figured it should be fixable.

Check your PM

 

[SamES 1003]

Thanks, got them.  File 1 Direct Plays fine on my 2017 Samsung TV, I will get out my old LG TV tomorrow and try it on that.

 

[SamES 1003]

On 30/05/2025 at 21:52, SamES said:

Thanks, got them.  File 1 Direct Plays fine on my 2017 Samsung TV, I will get out my old LG TV tomorrow and try it on that.

 

No issues with DirectPlay on my 2017 LG TV. 

Using a wired network it should be fine. All i can suggest is try rebooting all your network routers/switches and try again.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the file.

[Darkel_91 1]

 Did that a thousand times. Still not working for me, Wi-Fi, wired no matter. 

[Luke 40018]

On 6/4/2025 at 8:21 AM, Darkel_91 said:

 Did that a thousand times. Still not working for me, Wi-Fi, wired no matter. 

@Darkel_91can you give it another try?