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How do you determine if transcoding is taking place while streaming?


cburbs

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Ok so I am trying to figure out what files of mine are being transcoded and which ones are not -

 

Whole network is hardwired.

While playing some files my PC running media server will be 90% cpu usage(can assume transcode is happening) and other files 30% usage. The ones 90% will kick out and say loading for either a second or longer and than play again. Though sometimes it will be like every minute.

 

I came across this post which has helped me a little -

http://mediabrowser.tv/community/index.php?/topic/6442-encoding-settings-for-direct-play/

 

Though I don't seem to have this option mentioned in the above post -  If it is still transcoding when you just click play, can we get the media info from the item. Goto the admin area of the web client. From there select the "Advanced" tab and make sure enable debug logging is checked. If it isn't, check it and save. Not sure if it requires a reset of the server, but it might. Then in the system tray on your server's computer, there is the Media Browser icon running. Right click it and select "Open Library Viewer". Then find that item and copy the Media Streams array.

 

I don't see Open library viewer after turning on debug logging.

 

The only thing I see is a transcode file in c:\users\username\appdata\roaming\mediabrowser-server\logs.

 

Any help would be great.

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Happy2Play

I don't see Open library viewer after turning on debug logging.

This was removes awhile ago.

 

 

Click "OK" or "possibly down arrow depending on your firmware" on remote while something is playing or look in the Dashboard while something is playing.  They will both show you how the media is being presented.

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flcruising

I can see transcode info on my Roku sticks by pressing * (asterisk) while a video is playing...I think. I know that works with Netflix, can't remember MB.

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Ok so one of the TV shows has the following info after I push OK on the Roku Remote

TVshow

When I press OK on remote - Video: libx264  Audio:libx264

In log file - is it transcoding due to this.

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (mpeg2video (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (ac3 (native) -> aac (native))

 

 

A movie

When I press OK on remote - VIdeo: h264 Audio: h264

 

In log file - is it transcoding due to this.

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dts (dca) -> aac (native))

 

Another Movie:

When I press OK on remote - Video: libx264  Audio:libx264

 

In log file - is it transcoding due to this.

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (ac3 (native) -> aac (native))
 

Most Movies I just rip with Makemkv with say dts-hd & DTS sound, and subtitles. Is it transcoding due to the sound?

 

TV Shows I had been using an MKV selection from MCE Buddy.

 

So is transcoding only happening if you see ffmpeg.exe running on the server?

 

Would like to fine tune as much as possible as I am typing this one of the kids shows keeps saying loading, play, loading, play and I don't want that.

Edited by cburbs
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ginjaninja

Ffmpeg = transcoding yes

Ac3/dts in audio stream will cause transcoding to a roku/tv supporting aac/mp3 (configured for stereo).

Edited by ginjaninja
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So I am trying to figure out why this first movie is transcoding the video part but the 2nd one is OK-

 

Movie 1(ffmpeg.exe  97% usage)

OK Remote: Video: libx264,  Audio:libx264

Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x1072 [sAR 134:135 DAR 16:9], SAR 127:128 DAR 1905:1072, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 1k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)

    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 640 kb/s (default)

Metadata:

      encoder         : Lavc56.20.100 libx264

    Stream #0:1: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)

    Metadata:

      encoder         : Lavc56.20.100 aac

Stream mapping:

  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))

  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (ac3 (native) -> aac (native))

 

Movie 2 (ffmpeg.exe 25% usage)

OK Remote: Video: h264, Audio: h264

 

Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x800 [sAR 959:960 DAR 959:400], SAR 1:1 DAR 12:5, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 180k tbc (default)

    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: dts (DTS-HD MA), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s (default)

    Stream #0:2(eng): Audio: dts (DTS), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s

 

Stream #0:0: Video: h264, yuv420p, 1920x800 [sAR 1:1 DAR 12:5], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 1k tbc (default)

    Stream #0:1: Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)

 

Stream mapping:

  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)

  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dts (dca) -> aac (native))

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cburbs

Anyone have an answer to the Movie 1 from above>

 

So did some testing for my TV Show conversions I store on my server using MCE Buddy. Looks like for better results I need to use MP4 HQ from the list and no transcoding necessary on the Roku/MB Server.

 

Have to do some more digging in regards to some of my movies.

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dansblackcat

I have a similar issue I think.  All of my movies are AC3 yet only about 1 in 100 play in 5.1, the rest get transcoded for some reason.

I'm not too keen on having to convert 1300+ movies to make them compatible.  Plex plays 100% of them in 5.1 so I'm sure MB can do it too.

 

I hope you find an answer as I think it's going to help me too.

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Happy2Play

I have a similar issue I think.  All of my movies are AC3 yet only about 1 in 100 play in 5.1, the rest get transcoded for some reason.

I'm not too keen on having to convert 1300+ movies to make them compatible.  Plex plays 100% of them in 5.1 so I'm sure MB can do it too.

 

I hope you find an answer as I think it's going to help me too.

What is the bitrate of the media and what is the Roku biterate set to?

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dansblackcat

What is the bitrate of the media and what is the Roku biterate set to?

I have mu Roku and MB app set to the highest level.  Bitrate of the media isn't even close to that, plus it doesn't seem to matter if I'm playing a 10gb 1080p movie or a 2gb 720p some play 5.1 but the vast majority don't.

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cburbs

I have a similar issue I think.  All of my movies are AC3 yet only about 1 in 100 play in 5.1, the rest get transcoded for some reason.

I'm not too keen on having to convert 1300+ movies to make them compatible.  Plex plays 100% of them in 5.1 so I'm sure MB can do it too.

 

I hope you find an answer as I think it's going to help me too.

What do you use to rip them?

Also do you use handbrake on them?

 

Did you install mediainfo to see which each one displays.

 

I know my transcode audio as I use this only for 2.0 setup so that part is fine but I am trying to find out why it is doing the video on some....like the one I listed above.

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