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roku subtitles.


joelouisb
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joelouisb

Hey, I just set up my Emby server and I'm having issues playing subtitles on my Roku. If I select the subtitles before playing the episode, they wont play at all. I have to select them while playing the episode and it always seems to be the second/third option that works (even if only one/two subtitles were available previously). When they work they are distracting because they are highlighted in black.

i have tried ASS subtitles (embedded i think) as well as SRT subtitles in the same folder as the media. Both kinds work if they are played from my computer (Emby, Plex, Vlc) and look regular (they aren't highlighted In the black)

Does anyone have the same issue or a potential fix?

thanks in advance

-joey

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What is the extension of the file? MKV works correctly for on-the-fly (using * button while playing video) subtitle/caption and audio track switching. It is when using MP4 that you may have issues. The roku3 is using the BCM11130 chipset which gives MKV the advantage for these things. The roku4 and the 2016 roku streaming stick might work better with MP4 in their firmware versions, they have newer broadcom (BCM) hardware  they are running on.

 

You can change the colors of the subtitles in the roku general settings, not in the emby app settings. Emby does not make its own subtitles/captions in the roku app when playing directly. It is the roku firmware creating them. This is so you can have uniform subtitle look across all roku apps that make use of the standard roku firmware subtitler. Youtube, netflix, and a few others have their own subtitler so does not carry across applications.

 

If you choose anything before playing from the audio & subtitles menu this will incur transcoding most of the time. You can tell when you press OK on your remote when the video is playing. Does it say "Direct play" or "Transcode" ? It is always better when it says "Direct Play" to use the * button and choose your subtitle/caption and audio track from the menu that pops up.

 

the tl-dr version: Dont use MP4 containers, use MKV containers

 

It may not make a difference, but have you tried the blue neon app?

Edited by speechles
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footose

I have the opposite problem I think.

 

I have a Roku 3 - it seems to recently be stuck in "Always" playing the subtitles, with no options to turn them off. 

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Turn them off in the roku settings, not the emby settings. People mistakenly think having them off here means they are always off. Quite the contrary, even though they are off this only affects app restarts. While apps are running the app will remember when you change this with the * button to captions on. This is partially rokus fault for not explaining that option in their settings clearly enough.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

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footose

They don't seem to show up in the Roku settings though. Is there another place in Roku I need to go?

 

And they aren't embedded in the actual encode (might be in the MKV file). I can toggle them on / off if I use the web client or android or iPad clients.

 

Pic:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rejxma24zc33pvl/IMG_20160517_230719.jpg?dl=0

Edited by footose
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In the emby server for your user there is another setting. Does this happen with every emby app they start out on or just the roku app?

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

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footose

The other server setting I have set to 'Just Forced'. I've turned them off there as well and it doesn't seem to have an effect.

 

Just the Roku App - Doesn't happen on the Web, iPad or Android apps - I can toggle them all, without issue.

 

Only happens on a few movies, this one I'm watching right now is an MKV - Bluray 720p AC3 x264

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There was an issue with forcing subtitles on roku to avoid a firmware glitch.

 

@@Luke Did you remove this in regards to roku subtitle forcing transcoding in presence of embedded subtitles? Can we please get this restriction removed from the server? Pretty please? Roku fixed their firmware.

 

In the meantime, you can use the blue neon app and enable the "force directstream" option from the "more..." button on an items detail screen. If this works it isnt your fault, luke needs to update the server.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Edited by speechles
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joelouisb

Hey, thanks for all of the help. You were right about it being the roku, i just had to play around with the settings a bit to fix it. 

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This has been answered? I'm still having the issue.

 

Hi, in post #3, you said you had the opposite problem. It's very important to see how to report a problem, specifically making sure to limit each thread to 1 issue. Most of us are coming in here and quickly scanning the title and first post to get an idea of what's going on. If you report an unrelated or opposite issue somewhere in the middle of the discussion, it's very easy for it to get lost in the shuffle.

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