How does transcoding/buffering work on Emby for LiveTV and TVShows?

[hemandk 12]

Hi,

Could one of the developers explain how buffering/transcoding works for LiveTV and regular streaming?

I'm asking because im on a 1000/1000mbit fiber at home and when I'm summerhouse and streaming a movie or watching livetv I have issues that the stream stops.

When i'm at the summerhouse I'm on a fiber line as well and I have no issue downloading from my Emby server with +100mbit/s.

So when watching something the stream will suddenly stop and it seems that buffer runs out and then new buffer is requested. But why is there not a contuinesly download of buffer?

Is there someway to test the speed between server and client? Maybe I have some weird issue.

To start with can you elaborate a bit on how buffering / transcoding works?

Thanks

 

[Carlo 4561]

Hi, you shouldn't have an issue with buffering in a situation like this.

Are you connecting to your server over https?
What client are you using?

Do you have this problem playing back normal movies and tv shows or just Live TV?

[hemandk 12]

Yes connecting via HTTPS.

Either Chromecast with Google tv or Xbox one s.

I have it with both tv-shows/movies and live TV. Obviously live tv is a different story.

Normally it directs streams or direct play depending on client and file type. But I assume it should still buffering in this situation?

[Carlo 4561]

Everything will buffer in some way or other regardless of direct play, direct stream or transcoding.
Even direct play from disc has to buffer as the whole media file can't fit in memory.

[Luke 42085]

@hemandk have your questions been answered?

[hemandk 12]

3 hours ago, Luke said:

@hemandk have your questions been answered?

Yes and no I guess.

I mean it was confirmed that it should do some buffering, but not in any details.

 

[rbjtech 5284]

If you look in the ffmpeg log for that stream (in the 'logs' area of emby), it will tell you all you need to know in great detail.

In summary, it buffers ahead of the .ts playback - if your download is unreliable and the stream 'stops' then it it generally not recoverable, so the best option is to stop and re-start a new stream.  

Again, the ffmpeg logs will show you when and why this happened.

Note the 'speed' of any upload/download is not the only factor in networking/streaming, latency is key - and a low latency, low speed line is much preferable to a high or intermittent latency high speed line. 

[hemandk 12]

I will check the log next time it happens.

You can close the thread @Luke

[Luke 42085]

On 9/10/2021 at 4:07 AM, hemandk said:

I will check the log next time it happens.

You can close the thread @Luke

Let us know how you get on. Thanks.

[hemandk 12]

So I'm in the Sommerhouse and now it is happening again.

So first it was transcoding and also showing it in dashboard and showing transcoding buffer (which was approx. 7 min).

Then I fast forward 30s and it still transcoding but it does not show transcoding buffer anymore in dashboard. And now I get the occasional freeze.

I can pm logs.

[Luke 42085]

On 9/19/2021 at 1:06 AM, hemandk said:

So I'm in the Sommerhouse and now it is happening again.

So first it was transcoding and also showing it in dashboard and showing transcoding buffer (which was approx. 7 min).

Then I fast forward 30s and it still transcoding but it does not show transcoding buffer anymore in dashboard. And now I get the occasional freeze.

I can pm logs.

Hi, yes please, thanks !