Why is this file being DirectStreamed and not DirectPlayed?

[Guest plexman]

I've seen that some files are being remuxed (changed from mp4 to ts, no changes in video or audio codec) whitout apparent reason. Can somebody give me a clue why this file is being converted from mp4 to ts copying both the video and the audio?

 

The device where is being seen is able to do DirectPlay but insted it is DirectStreaming.

 

Thanks, can provide more info if needed.

ffmpeg-directstream-f118d222-127c-45bf-b8f8-f4943b9f68be_1.txt

Edited March 15, 2020 by plexman

[Luke 38866]

I would compare the quality setting in the app to the bitrate of the video.

[Guest plexman]

I would compare the quality setting in the app to the bitrate of the video.

 

I'm not sure to understand your answer sorry, what do I have to do?

 

Here is another file in the same situation.

 

EDIT: Users are not able to choose quality as transcoding video is disbled for them.

ffmpeg-directstream-d8cb3415-df5e-4f2f-9424-e3004785fa02_1.txt

Edited March 15, 2020 by plexman

[Luke 38866]

Did you check the quality setting in the app?

[Guest plexman]

Let me see if I can, I'll call the user.

[Guest plexman]

Checked the quality setting in the app and it is not there. I can't change the quality as users are not allowed to transcode video, the quality setting in profile > playback settings is disabled. And still, the file is being direct streamed instead of direct played, when the app (in this case firefox) should be able to directplay.

 

Another log and file attached.

ffmpeg-directstream-aeb3d3d8-c222-426e-83b3-a7652b6728d3_1.txt

[Luke 38866]

You would need to deny remuxing privilege as the only way of forcing it, but of course if you do that then you'll probably see playback failures with certain things. Better to just grant all the permissions and set the quality settings appropriately.

[Guest plexman]

Ok found the problem with the remuxing and the strange algorithm behid it. I'll try to explain my self best as possible, the situations explained are in order of execution, one after the other.

 

Video file 1080p 5 Mbps (mp4/h264/aac)

 

Situation 1:

• User settings: EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding - true
• App quality (Firefox): Auto (720p - 1.5 Mbps)
• Playback: Transcoding
• Comment: It plays correctly, but it is transcoding as the app decided that the original bitrate was too high, ok.

Situation 2:

• User settings: EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding - true
• App quality (Firefox): Forced by setting (1080p - 60 Mbps)
• Playback: DirectPlay
• Comment: Forcing the quality to the max plays correctly, which means the app is not deciding the best quality.

Setting back the quality to Auto, and then disabling user permission to transcode:

 

Situation 3:

• User settings: EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding - false
• App quality (Firefox): Can't change.
• Playback: DirectStreaming
• Comment: It is now remuxing to "ts" format coying video and audio, no sense as it can direct play it perfectly.

Enabling again the user permision to transcode, then setting back the app quality to the max and then disabling the user to transcode again results in:

 

Situation 4:

• User settings: EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding - false
• App quality (Firefox): Can't change.
• Playback: DirectPlayin
• Comment: It is now DirectPlaying .

Conclusion, the apps are not deciding correctly which one is the optimal quality because forcing it results in a correct play.

 

Hope it helps!

Edited March 15, 2020 by plexman

[Luke 38866]

Right, you're better off setting the quality setting to a value that you know is accurate rather than just forcing direct play.

[Guest plexman]

The thing is, that same file, played in Google Chrome (not Firefox) is DirectPlayed in all cases. So it's like with one app it recommends the best suitable quality (Chrome), and with the other app it recommend a medium suitable quality (Firefox) even if it is able to choose the best. Don't know, seems strange for me.

 

Thanks!

[Luke 38866]

The browsers are probably just reporting different bandwidth estimations. That is why I'm suggesting to specify a quality in the app settings.