Chromecast Not Direct Playing

[ryrush22 2]

My issue is related to playing to a chromecast and the server transcoding an HD mkv file instead of direct playing a folder-synced chromecast-quality version.  Below is my setup:

 

Emby Server 3.1.2.0

Folder Sync Plugin, version 3.0.6149.23393

 

Folder Sync Job HD TV Shows synced to external drive

 

Sync job setup to convert new episodes ripped to mkv at 1080p resolution to the HD TV Shows sync folder using the General profile (which mentions compatability with chromecast) and High quality:

 

 

For purposes of the log files attached, I attempted to play the s02e04 - Chuck Versus the Cougars - Chuck episode.

 

My expectations is that when I cast one of my synced episodes to my Chromecast device, that the server would see the episode has a synced version that is compatible with the Chromecast device and direct play that version.  This is how I interpret the Folder Sync help page's explanation of how it should work as well.  However, the server is choosing the transcode the original mkv on the fly.

 

I'm sure that I just don't have something setup correctly, or have missed an option somewhere but I can't seem to track it down on my own.  Thanks to anyone and everyone who can help point me in the right direction.

server-63619862400.txt

ffmpeg-transcode-99604d7b-e27c-4328-8dbb-67c917a948d8.txt

[Luke 37050]

Hi, the bitrate is too high for chromecast. Chromecast can only handle about 10-11mbps tops, and this file is over 17. That's why it's transcoding. I will adjust the folder sync profile to keep it under this amount. Thanks for reporting the issue.

[ryrush22 2]

Great!  Thanks, Luke.

[Luke 37050]

What I might actually do is just make a chromecast profile, because others might complain if i reduce the bitrate for all devices just to accommodate chroemcast.

[ryrush22 2]

Yeah, that makes sense. I was wondering if in the meantime while that fix rolls through the update chain, is there a setting I can use that will work with Chromecast? If I keep the profile as General but lower the quality will that work? Or use the baseline profile?

[Luke 37050]

Yes you could keep the general profile but lower to medium or low quality, or use custom at 10mbps. It's a little tricky because making a separate Chromecast profile will lead some users to believe that they need to encode separately for Chromecast, but we probably don't have much choice.

[david.torcivia 2]

What about support for higher bitrates with the Chromecast Ultra? I've seen people play 50+mbps 4K hevc at 24 frames without stutter.

 

I ask because I'm trying to cast a few main 10 HEVC 35000kbps to 20000kps files and emby is forcing a transcode on my chromecast ultra. The same occurs when casting on my NVIDIA Shield TV (though the android app direct plays without issue, just trying this as a test with beefier hardware).

 

Am I doing something wrong with this and it should be direct playing or is this an emby config thing?

 

(Streaming off a linux server locally on the same network if that makes a difference).

 

Log text:

{"Protocol":"File","Id":"cddd723198b7b56b310b7729278d06de","Path":"/media/movies/Lucy (2014)/Lucy (2014).mkv","Type":"Default","Container":"mkv","Name":"4K/HEVC/DTS","IsRemote":false,"ETag":"5d66b735388bfe0ce9b9b5e17c1e2dd4","RunTimeTicks":53604048896,"ReadAtNativeFramerate":false,"SupportsTranscoding":true,"SupportsDirectStream":true,"SupportsDirectPlay":true,"IsInfiniteStream":false,"RequiresOpening":false,"RequiresClosing":false,"SupportsProbing":true,"VideoType":"VideoFile","MediaStreams":[{"Codec":"hevc","Language":"eng","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"125/2997","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"BitRate":35129775,"RefFrames":1,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"Height":1600,"Width":3840,"AverageFrameRate":23.97602,"RealFrameRate":23.97602,"Profile":"Main 10","Type":"Video","AspectRatio":"2.40:1","Index":0,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"PixelFormat":"yuv420p10le","Level":150,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"dts","Language":"eng","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"1/48000","DisplayTitle":"Eng DTS 5.1","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"ChannelLayout":"5.1","BitDepth":24,"Channels":6,"SampleRate":48000,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"Profile":"DTS-HD MA","Type":"Audio","Index":1,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"DVDSUB","Language":"eng","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"0/1","DisplayTitle":"Eng","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"Type":"Subtitle","Index":2,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"DVDSUB","Language":"eng","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"0/1","Title":"forced","DisplayTitle":"Eng forced","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"Type":"Subtitle","Index":3,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"subrip","Language":"fre","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"0/1","Title":"forced","DisplayTitle":"Fre forced","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"Type":"Subtitle","Index":4,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":true,"SupportsExternalStream":true,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"subrip","Language":"fre","TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":"0/1","DisplayTitle":"Fre","IsInterlaced":false,"AllowStreamCopy":true,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"Type":"Subtitle","Index":5,"IsExternal":false,"IsTextSubtitleStream":true,"SupportsExternalStream":true,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":false}],"PlayableStreamFileNames":[],"Formats":[],"Bitrate":35129775,"RequiredHttpHeaders":{}}

/bin/ffmpeg -ss 00:05:19.944 -f matroska -codec:0 hevc -codec:1 dts -i file:"/media/movies/Lucy (2014)/Lucy (2014).mkv" -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -force_key_frames "expr:gte(t,n_forced*5)" -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -start_at_zero -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset superfast -crf 23 -maxrate 10616000 -bufsize 21232000 -vsync -1 -profile:v high -level 4.1 -level 41 -x264opts:0 subme=0:rc_lookahead=10:me_range=4:me=dia:no_chroma_me:8x8dct=0:partitions=none -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -codec:a:0 ac3 -ac 6 -ab 384000 -af "aresample=async=1" -y "/config/transcoding-temp/84fb7f995182dd9c5b19e3955291fe07.mkv"


ffmpeg version 3.2.4-static http://johnvansickle.com/ffmpeg/ Copyright (c) 2000-2017 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 5.4.1 (Debian 5.4.1-5) 20170205
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-static --disable-debug --disable-ffplay --disable-indev=sndio --disable-outdev=sndio --cc=gcc-5 --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-gray --enable-libass --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg
libavutil 55. 34.101 / 55. 34.101
libavcodec 57. 64.101 / 57. 64.101
libavformat 57. 56.101 / 57. 56.101
libavdevice 57. 1.100 / 57. 1.100
libavfilter 6. 65.100 / 6. 65.100
libswscale 4. 2.100 / 4. 2.100
libswresample 2. 3.100 / 2. 3.100
libpostproc 54. 1.100 / 54. 1.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'file:/media/movies/Lucy (2014)/Lucy (2014).mkv':
Metadata:
encoder : libebml v1.3.4 + libmatroska v1.4.5
creation_time : 2017-02-09T21:31:19.000000Z
Duration: 01:29:20.41, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 35129 kb/s
Chapter #0:0: start 0.000000, end 326.368000
Metadata:
title : 00:00:00.000
Chapter #0:1: start 326.368000, end 518.268000
Metadata:
title : 00:05:26.368
Chapter #0:2: start 518.268000, end 945.903000
Metadata:
title : 00:08:38.268
Chapter #0:3: start 945.903000, end 1296.295000
Metadata:
title : 00:15:45.903
Chapter #0:4: start 1296.295000, end 1565.397000
Metadata:
title : 00:21:36.295
Chapter #0:5: start 1565.397000, end 1827.534000
Metadata:
title : 00:26:05.397
Chapter #0:6: start 1827.534000, end 2256.254000
Metadata:
title : 00:30:27.534
Chapter #0:7: start 2256.254000, end 2503.459000
Metadata:
title : 00:37:36.254
Chapter #0:8: start 2503.459000, end 2852.558000
Metadata:
title : 00:41:43.459
Chapter #0:9: start 2852.558000, end 3010.716000
Metadata:
title : 00:47:32.558
Chapter #0:10: start 3010.716000, end 3332.496000
Metadata:
title : 00:50:10.716
Chapter #0:11: start 3332.496000, end 3576.072000
Metadata:
title : 00:55:32.496
Chapter #0:12: start 3576.072000, end 3728.099000
Metadata:
title : 00:59:36.072
Chapter #0:13: start 3728.099000, end 3891.346000
Metadata:
title : 01:02:08.099
Chapter #0:14: start 3891.346000, end 4034.030000
Metadata:
title : 01:04:51.346
Chapter #0:15: start 4034.030000, end 4195.817000
Metadata:
title : 01:07:14.030
Chapter #0:16: start 4195.817000, end 4346.133000
Metadata:
title : 01:09:55.817
Chapter #0:17: start 4346.133000, end 4730.601000
Metadata:
title : 01:12:26.133
Chapter #0:18: start 4730.601000, end 4951.572000
Metadata:
title : 01:18:50.601
Chapter #0:19: start 4951.572000, end 5360.405000
Metadata:
title : 01:22:31.572
Stream #0:0(eng): Video: hevc (Main 10), yuv420p10le(tv, bt2020nc/bt2020/smpte2084), 3840x1600, SAR 1:1 DAR 12:5, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 23.98 tbc (default)
Metadata:
BPS : 30837566
BPS-eng : 30837566
DURATION : 01:29:20.402000000
DURATION-eng : 01:29:20.402000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 128521
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 128521
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 20662719073
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 20662719073
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: dts (DTS-HD MA), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s32p (24 bit)
Metadata:
BPS : 4283825
BPS-eng : 4283825
DURATION : 01:29:20.405000000
DURATION-eng : 01:29:20.405000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 502538
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 502538
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 2870380048
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 2870380048
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:2(eng): Subtitle: dvd_subtitle, 1920x1080
Metadata:
BPS : 5005
BPS-eng : 5005
DURATION : 01:20:39.950000000
DURATION-eng : 01:20:39.950000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 1013
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 1013
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 3028461
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 3028461
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:3(eng): Subtitle: dvd_subtitle, 1920x1080
Metadata:
title : forced
BPS : 318
BPS-eng : 318
DURATION : 00:50:06.554000000
DURATION-eng : 00:50:06.554000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 59
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 59
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 119867
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 119867
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:4(fre): Subtitle: subrip (default)
Metadata:
title : forced
BPS : 1
BPS-eng : 1
DURATION : 01:11:53.022000000
DURATION-eng : 01:11:53.022000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 31
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 31
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 802
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 802
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:5(fre): Subtitle: subrip
Metadata:
BPS : 37
BPS-eng : 37
DURATION : 01:21:42.987000000
DURATION-eng : 01:21:42.987000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 599
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 599
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 22999
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 22999
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.7.1 ('Pandemonium') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2017-02-09 21:31:19
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] using SAR=1/1
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] frame MB size (240x100) > level limit (8192)
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] DPB size (4 frames, 96000 mbs) > level limit (1 frames, 32768 mbs)
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] MB rate (575424) > level limit (245760)
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] profile Main, level 4.1
[libx264 @ 0x547cf80] 264 - core 148 r333 90a61ec - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2017 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=1 ref=1 deblock=1:0:0 analyse=0x1:0 me=dia subme=0 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=0 me_range=4 chroma_me=0 trellis=0 8x8dct=0 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=0 threads=9 lookahead_threads=1 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=0 bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=1 b_bias=0 direct=1 weightb=1 open_gop=0 weightp=1 keyint=250 keyint_min=23 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=10 rc=crf mbtree=0 crf=23.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 vbv_maxrate=10616 vbv_bufsize=21232 crf_max=0.0 nal_hrd=none filler=0 ip_ratio=1.40 pb_ratio=1.30 aq=1:1.00
Output #0, matroska, to '/config/transcoding-temp/84fb7f995182dd9c5b19e3955291fe07.mkv':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf57.56.101
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (libx264) (H264 / 0x34363248), yuv420p, 3840x1600 [SAR 1:1 DAR 12:5], q=-1--1, 23.98 fps, 1k tbn, 23.98 tbc (default)
Metadata:
encoder : Lavc57.64.101 libx264
Side data:
cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 10616000/0/0 buffer size: 21232000 vbv_delay: -1
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3 ([0] [0][0] / 0x2000), 48000 Hz, 5.1, fltp (24 bit), 384 kb/s
Metadata:
encoder : Lavc57.64.101 ac3
Stream mapping:
Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (hevc (native) -> h264 (libx264))
Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dts (dca) -> ac3 (native))
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame= 0 fps=0.0 q=0.0 size= 0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed= 0x
frame= 0 fps=0.0 q=0.0 size= 0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed= 0x
frame= 0 fps=0.0 q=0.0 size= 0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed= 0x
frame= 2 fps=0.9 q=0.0 size= 0kB time=00:05:20.32 bitrate= 0.0kbits/s speed= 144x
frame= 13 fps=4.7 q=0.0 size= 0kB time=00:05:20.80 bitrate= 0.0kbits/s speed= 115x
frame= 25 fps=7.5 q=29.0 size= 87kB time=00:05:21.31 bitrate= 2.2kbits/s speed=96.9x
frame= 36 fps=9.2 q=30.0 size= 933kB time=00:05:21.79 bitrate= 23.7kbits/s speed=82.5x
frame= 50 fps= 11 q=33.0 size= 2300kB time=00:05:22.30 bitrate= 58.4kbits/s speed=72.5x
frame= 62 fps= 12 q=33.0 size= 3096kB time=00:05:22.81 bitrate= 78.6kbits/s speed= 65x
frame= 72 fps= 13 q=34.0 size= 3685kB time=00:05:23.23 bitrate= 93.4kbits/s speed=57.9x
frame= 83 fps= 14 q=34.0 size= 4314kB time=00:05:23.74 bitrate= 109.2kbits/s speed=53.2x
frame= 94 fps= 14 q=28.0 size= 4762kB time=00:05:24.19 bitrate= 120.3kbits/s speed=48.5x
frame= 103 fps= 14 q=26.0 size= 4762kB time=00:05:24.54 bitrate= 120.2kbits/s speed=44.3x 

Edited April 18, 2017 by david.torcivia

[Luke 37050]

Hi @@david.torcivia

 

That file is not going to direct play due to the DTS audio which Chromecast does not support. That being said, we should be able to improve it so that the original video is preserved. I have pushed some changes to our Chromecast receiver. Can you please try to play this file again? If the device is still connected to Chromecast then you'll need to reboot your Chromecast receiver. Thanks !

[david.torcivia 2]

Yup! That fixed the direct play for the film and it works great. However it still transcodes when subtitles are enabled, but I'm not sure if that is expected behavior or not.

Edited April 20, 2017 by david.torcivia

[Luke 37050]

Yes that's expected because chromecast does not support dvdsub format subtitles. i would suggest obtaining text subtitles such as .srt, because we can display those without having to transcode the video.

[david.torcivia 2]

Figured it was something like that. Thanks so much!