Inconclusive behavior with multiple audio streams available on media file

[sscheib 11]

Hello community,

 

I've come across an issue when it comes to the behavior of Emby regarding playback if the media file has two or more audio streams available, which is somewhat inconclusive to me.

I have the following media file available (important pieces are bold):

mkvinfo /tmp/file.mkv

+ EBML head

|+ EBML version: 1

|+ EBML read version: 1

|+ EBML maximum ID length: 4

|+ EBML maximum size length: 8

|+ Doc type: matroska

|+ Doc type version: 4

|+ Doc type read version: 2

+ Segment, size 212413374

|+ Seek head (subentries will be skipped)

|+ Segment tracks

| + A track

|  + Track number: 1 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 0)

|  + Track UID: 6148214342066985382

|  + Track type: video

|  + Lacing flag: 0

|  + MinCache: 1

|  + Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 46 (h.264 profile: High @L3.1)

|  + Default duration: 40.000ms (25.000 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Language: und

|  + Video track

|   + Pixel width: 720

|   + Pixel height: 404

|   + Display width: 720

|   + Display height: 404

|   + Interlaced: 0

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Default flag: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

| + A track

|  + Track number: 2 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 1)

|  + Track UID: 17930075770217746850

|  + Track type: audio

|  + Codec ID: A_AAC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 5

|  + Default duration: 21.333ms (46.875 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Language: ger

|  + Audio track

|   + Sampling frequency: 48000

|   + Channels: 2

|  + Default flag: 0

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Lacing flag: 1

|  + MinCache: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

| + A track

|  + Track number: 3 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 2)

|  + Track UID: 16171183869121823910

|  + Track type: audio

|  + Default flag: 1

|  + Codec ID: A_AAC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 5

|  + Default duration: 21.333ms (46.875 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Audio track

|   + Sampling frequency: 48000

|   + Channels: 2

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Lacing flag: 1

|  + MinCache: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

|  + Language: eng

|+ EbmlVoid (size: 3699)

|+ Segment information

| + Timecode scale: 1000000

| + Multiplexing application: libebml v1.3.3 + libmatroska v1.4.4

| + Writing application: mkvmerge v9.1.0 ('Little Earthquakes') 64bit

| + Duration: 1309.321s (00:21:49.321)

| + Date: Fri Dec 23 16:02:19 2016 UTC

| + Segment UID: 0xab 0x33 0xbe 0xbf 0x0f 0x1b 0x71 0xee 0x9f 0x92 0xbb 0x31 0x65 0x84 0xf2 0xde

|+ EbmlVoid (size: 1380)

|+ Cluster

 

Theoretically the second audio track is set as default (which is english) and therefore should be played by default. I figured out, that Emby has a preference on a per user basis (unfortunately not per library), which let's one choose the default audio track. For testing purposes I changed mine from German to English.

For the given media file.mkv it works properly.

 

Now the (at least for me) inconslusive behavior kicks in.

I have another file with identical media information (regarding audio tracks):

mkvinfo file2.mkv

+ EBML head

|+ EBML version: 1

|+ EBML read version: 1

|+ EBML maximum ID length: 4

|+ EBML maximum size length: 8

|+ Doc type: matroska

|+ Doc type version: 4

|+ Doc type read version: 2

+ Segment, size 209526148

|+ Seek head (subentries will be skipped)

|+ Segment tracks

| + A track

|  + Track number: 1 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 0)

|  + Track UID: 11755285622855209099

|  + Track type: video

|  + Lacing flag: 0

|  + MinCache: 1

|  + Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 46 (h.264 profile: High @L3.1)

|  + Default duration: 40.000ms (25.000 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Language: und

|  + Video track

|   + Pixel width: 720

|   + Pixel height: 404

|   + Display width: 720

|   + Display height: 404

|   + Interlaced: 0

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Default flag: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

| + A track

|  + Track number: 2 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 1)

|  + Track UID: 10429458972191728286

|  + Track type: audio

|  + Codec ID: A_AAC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 5

|  + Default duration: 21.333ms (46.875 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Language: ger

|  + Audio track

|   + Sampling frequency: 48000

|   + Channels: 2

|  + Default flag: 0

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Lacing flag: 1

|  + MinCache: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

| + A track

|  + Track number: 3 (track ID for mkvmerge & mkvextract: 2)

|  + Track UID: 1972805216923842212

|  + Track type: audio

|  + Default flag: 1

|  + Codec ID: A_AAC

|  + CodecPrivate, length 5

|  + Default duration: 21.333ms (46.875 frames/fields per second for a video track)

|  + Audio track

|   + Sampling frequency: 48000

|   + Channels: 2

|  + Enabled: 1

|  + Forced flag: 0

|  + Lacing flag: 1

|  + MinCache: 0

|  + Max BlockAddition ID: 0

|  + Codec decode all: 1

|  + Language: eng

|+ EbmlVoid (size: 3699)

|+ Segment information

| + Timecode scale: 1000000

| + Multiplexing application: libebml v1.3.3 + libmatroska v1.4.4

| + Writing application: mkvmerge v9.1.0 ('Little Earthquakes') 64bit

| + Duration: 1245.240s (00:20:45.240)

| + Date: Fri Dec 23 09:17:47 2016 UTC

| + Segment UID: 0x8d 0x20 0x71 0x8a 0x53 0x0c 0x5e 0x72 0xb3 0xc5 0x03 0x0e 0xe2 0x98 0x31 0x9f

|+ EbmlVoid (size: 1380)

|+ Cluster

 

For some reason this file plays the German audio track right away, although English is selected. When changing the audio track to German for that episode, the English audio track plays.

I don't get it - this is the same metadata as with the working file and should work as intended.

 

What's wrong here?

 

Thanks.

 

[Luke 37360]

Hi, what app are you playing from?

[sscheib 11]

Hi,

sorry for the late response.

I worked around the issue by having separate sections for english and german and only having one audio track per sections.

Thanks.

[Luke 37360]

We should look at a playback example. Thanks.

[Titanarchon 2]

I just bought Emby Premium and im having this exact issue. What can i do to help with the troubleshooting? I am attaching the .nfo in hopes that helps. I have the library set to everything English (United States) but it still labels French as default.

 

Here is the .nfo:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>

<movie>

  <plot>He's a low level criminal with no future and just out of prison. She's a low level lawyer never noticed by others, a lost soul without a life. Their anger and hostility makes them serious criminals. Love happens in the strangest of places.</plot>

  <outline>Mullets. Bullets. And one gem of a heist</outline>

  <lockdata>false</lockdata>

  <dateadded>2019-07-31 16:59:18</dateadded>

  <title>Blue Iguana</title>

  <originaltitle>Blue Iguana</originaltitle>

  <director>Hadi Hajaig</director>

  <trailer>plugin://plugin.video.youtube/?action=play_video&videoid=1ZIcL95jWSA</trailer>

  <rating>5.5</rating>

  <year>2018</year>

  <imdbid>tt2316479</imdbid>

  <tmdbid>471429</tmdbid>

  <premiered>2018-08-23</premiered>

  <releasedate>2018-08-23</releasedate>

  <criticrating>37</criticrating>

  <runtime>101</runtime>

  <tagline>Mullets. Bullets. And one gem of a heist</tagline>

  <country>United Kingdom</country>

  <genre>Thriller</genre>

  <genre>Romance</genre>

  <genre>Comedy</genre>

  <genre>Action</genre>

  <studio>UK Film & TV Production Company</studio>

  <art>

    <poster>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\90\90c67a8e548b9d0ded0631edebe05f0f\poster.jpg</poster>

    <fanart>https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/hBqWNktABjVAUVEceg5pbusnD6z.jpg</fanart>

    <fanart>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\90\90c67a8e548b9d0ded0631edebe05f0f\backdrop.jpg</fanart>

  </art>

  <actor>

    <name>Sam Rockwell</name>

    <role>Eddie</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\e5\e569042c08ed49e5b568495201236664\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Ben Schwartz</name>

    <role>Paul Driggs</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\45\45ceff3d4ad2460d9d856c091f4f6cf8\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Al Weaver</name>

    <role>Tommy Tresham</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\ad\ad9a5cfd6fbe4371994f150b230a8864\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Amanda Donohoe</name>

    <role>Dawn Bradshaw</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\16\163744110c614f68ad03960ae40851d5\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Phoebe Fox</name>

    <role>Katherine Rookwood</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\6b\6b40b215e13d47a19d656ec3890268d5\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Simon Callow</name>

    <role>Uncle Martin</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\5d\5d2a715509244251a40d71362767e423\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Peter Ferdinando</name>

    <role>Deacon Bradshaw</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\dc\dc69aaf322ca460c84e48d93fae2d8de\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Frances Barber</name>

    <role>Princess</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\06\064d609a1b5b4806bc994ebdc27d229d\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Daniel Eghan</name>

    <role>Cafe Diner</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\2b\2b1ba126083249bd9f71c2335a3445ab\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Jenny Bede</name>

    <role>Waitress</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Lee Nicholas Harris</name>

    <role>Security Guard</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\a3\a3adf84d666b4eb48db0d103be360914\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Andre Flynn</name>

    <role>Silas</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Peter Polycarpou</name>

    <role>Arkady</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\60\6094708c34da4c5ab8e95648d8c8fb92\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Vic Waghorn</name>

    <role>Mickey Oyl</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\2c\2c8e760effa64aaa9471c9d4914dc0dd\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <actor>

    <name>Glenn Wrage</name>

    <role>Louie</role>

    <type>Actor</type>

    <thumb>C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\6d\6d93b83a07fd4a6db1bb527374f97567\folder.jpg</thumb>

  </actor>

  <id>tt2316479</id>

  <fileinfo>

    <streamdetails>

      <video>

        <codec>h264</codec>

        <micodec>h264</micodec>

        <bitrate>10824813</bitrate>

        <width>1920</width>

        <height>808</height>

        <aspect>2.40:1</aspect>

        <aspectratio>2.40:1</aspectratio>

        <framerate>23.97602</framerate>

        <language>eng</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <default>True</default>

        <forced>False</forced>

        <duration>101</duration>

        <durationinseconds>6069</durationinseconds>

      </video>

      <audio>

        <codec>ac3</codec>

        <micodec>ac3</micodec>

        <bitrate>640000</bitrate>

        <language>fre</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <channels>6</channels>

        <samplingrate>48000</samplingrate>

        <default>True</default>

        <forced>False</forced>

      </audio>

      <audio>

        <codec>ac3</codec>

        <micodec>ac3</micodec>

        <bitrate>640000</bitrate>

        <language>eng</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <channels>6</channels>

        <samplingrate>48000</samplingrate>

        <default>True</default>

        <forced>False</forced>

      </audio>

      <subtitle>

        <codec>subrip</codec>

        <micodec>subrip</micodec>

        <language>fre</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <default>True</default>

        <forced>True</forced>

      </subtitle>

      <subtitle>

        <codec>subrip</codec>

        <micodec>subrip</micodec>

        <language>fre</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <default>False</default>

        <forced>False</forced>

      </subtitle>

      <subtitle>

        <codec>subrip</codec>

        <micodec>subrip</micodec>

        <language>fre</language>

        <scantype>progressive</scantype>

        <default>False</default>

        <forced>False</forced>

      </subtitle>

    </streamdetails>

  </fileinfo>

</movie>

[Luke 37360]

 

I just bought Emby Premium and im having this exact issue. What can i do to help with the troubleshooting? I am attaching the .nfo in hopes that helps. I have the library set to everything English (United States) but it still labels French as default.

 

Here is the .nfo:

 

  He's a low level criminal with no future and just out of prison. She's a low level lawyer never noticed by others, a lost soul without a life. Their anger and hostility makes them serious criminals. Love happens in the strangest of places.

  Mullets. Bullets. And one gem of a heist

  false

  2019-07-31 16:59:18

 

  Blue Iguana

  Hadi Hajaig

  plugin://plugin.video.youtube/?action=play_video&videoid=1ZIcL95jWSA

  5.5

  2018

  tt2316479

  471429

  2018-08-23

  2018-08-23

  37

  101

  Mullets. Bullets. And one gem of a heist

  United Kingdom

  Thriller

  Romance

  Comedy

  Action

  UK Film & TV Production Company

 

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\90\90c67a8e548b9d0ded0631edebe05f0f\poster.jpg

    https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/hBqWNktABjVAUVEceg5pbusnD6z.jpg

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\90\90c67a8e548b9d0ded0631edebe05f0f\backdrop.jpg

 

 

    Sam Rockwell

    Eddie

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\e5\e569042c08ed49e5b568495201236664\folder.jpg

 

 

    Ben Schwartz

    Paul Driggs

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\45\45ceff3d4ad2460d9d856c091f4f6cf8\folder.jpg

 

 

    Al Weaver

    Tommy Tresham

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\ad\ad9a5cfd6fbe4371994f150b230a8864\folder.jpg

 

 

    Amanda Donohoe

    Dawn Bradshaw

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\16\163744110c614f68ad03960ae40851d5\folder.jpg

 

 

    Phoebe Fox

    Katherine Rookwood

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\6b\6b40b215e13d47a19d656ec3890268d5\folder.jpg

 

 

    Simon Callow

    Uncle Martin

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\5d\5d2a715509244251a40d71362767e423\folder.jpg

 

 

    Peter Ferdinando

    Deacon Bradshaw

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\dc\dc69aaf322ca460c84e48d93fae2d8de\folder.jpg

 

 

    Frances Barber

    Princess

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\06\064d609a1b5b4806bc994ebdc27d229d\folder.jpg

 

 

    Daniel Eghan

    Cafe Diner

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\2b\2b1ba126083249bd9f71c2335a3445ab\folder.jpg

 

 

    Jenny Bede

    Waitress

    Actor

 

 

    Lee Nicholas Harris

    Security Guard

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\a3\a3adf84d666b4eb48db0d103be360914\folder.jpg

 

 

    Andre Flynn

    Silas

    Actor

 

 

    Peter Polycarpou

    Arkady

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\60\6094708c34da4c5ab8e95648d8c8fb92\folder.jpg

 

 

    Vic Waghorn

    Mickey Oyl

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\2c\2c8e760effa64aaa9471c9d4914dc0dd\folder.jpg

 

 

    Glenn Wrage

    Louie

    Actor

    C:\Users\plex\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\metadata\library\6d\6d93b83a07fd4a6db1bb527374f97567\folder.jpg

 

  tt2316479

 

   

     

        h264

        h264

        10824813

        1920

        808

        2.40:1

        2.40:1

        23.97602

        eng

        progressive

        True

        False

        101

        6069

     

     

        ac3

        ac3

        640000

        fre

        progressive

        6

        48000

        True

        False

     

     

        ac3

        ac3

        640000

        eng

        progressive

        6

        48000

        True

        False

     

     

        subrip

        subrip

        fre

        progressive

        True

        True

     

     

        subrip

        subrip

        fre

        progressive

        False

        False

     

     

        subrip

        subrip

        fre

        progressive

        False

        False

     

   

 

 

 

Hi, the default label doesn't come from your library settings, it comes from the embedded information within the video file. This must mean the track is marked as default inside the video file. Have you checked on this?

[Titanarchon 2]

No i am pretty new to this. How do i do this and can i change it? Thank you!

[Luke 37360]

Generally you'd have to remux your video files to change the default tracks, but I would start by clicking your emby user icon in the top right and configuring your audio and subtitle language settings. This will help control what tracks Emby will select by default.

[Titanarchon 2]

That worked for me! Wish there was a setting to force all users to English so i don't have to explain that to anyone i share the library with. Maybe a feature request?

[Luke 37360]

Yes it's a good idea for the future. thanks.

[chowbok 77]

Generally you'd have to remux your video files to change the default tracks

 

Small correction: this isn't necessary, at least with .MKV files. mkvtoolnix-gui's "Header Editor" lets you change the default audio track without having to remux.

[Titanarchon 2]

Small correction: this isn't necessary, at least with .MKV files. mkvtoolnix-gui's "Header Editor" lets you change the default audio track without having to remux.

Just so happens most if not all of these doing this are MKV files. I’ll try this out. Thank you!