Encoding settings for 4k HDR for direct play? (roku, apple)

[EddyMerkxs 17]

Hey! I want to test out encoding 4k HDR blu rays. Any tips? I do the classic makemkv then handbrake encode. 

I plan on separate HD and 4k versions, the 4k will likely just be accessed locally. Planning on using Roku in the short term and Apple TV in the next year, and would like to direct play of course. x265 obviously. 

Stuff like Dolby Atmos, etc is kind of lost on me. Something I read on another post is that True HD audio tracks often transcode? So should I encode an AC3 5.1 track based on the truhd track? (if there isn't a 5.1 track already)

Any other things I missing, like do subtitles screw this up?

[Happy2Play 9783]

Yes, you will want to ensure you have an audio track that the device can natively play whether it be AC3 or EAC3.

And yes, subtitles can/will be problematic most clients do not support psgsub, you will want to ensure they have srt subs.

[EddyMerkxs 17]

Thanks Happy!

[EddyMerkxs 17]

13 hours ago, Happy2Play said:

Yes, you will want to ensure you have an audio track that the device can natively play whether it be AC3 or EAC3.

And yes, subtitles can/will be problematic most clients do not support psgsub, you will want to ensure they have srt subs.

So do I need to convert any DTS audio tracks to AC3 for direct play on the apple tv? And any Mkvs should be mp4s?

Edited January 21, 2022 by EddyMerkxs
mp4

[RanmaCanada 499]

You will want to avoid Apple TV as they are not exactly user friendly when it comes to using your own content.  Stick with Android, specifically a Shield Pro.

[vdatanet 1617]

19 hours ago, RanmaCanada said:

You will want to avoid Apple TV as they are not exactly user friendly when it comes to using your own content.  Stick with Android, specifically a Shield Pro.

I agree, but emby could get a little more out of Apple TV.

[EddyMerkxs 17]

Yeah it sounds like if I want to use Emby on apple tv it only really works if I encode everything to ac3 mp4 or use infuse. Thanks everyone!

[Luke 42083]

On 1/25/2022 at 12:45 AM, EddyMerkxs said:

Yeah it sounds like if I want to use Emby on apple tv it only really works if I encode everything to ac3 mp4 or use infuse. Thanks everyone!

This should be improved with the upcoming 4.7 release of the server as well as an updated version of our Apple TV app. Thanks.

[EddyMerkxs 17]

Excited, thank you Luke!

[rbjtech 5284]

On 21/01/2022 at 16:19, EddyMerkxs said:

So do I need to convert any DTS audio tracks to AC3 for direct play on the apple tv? And any Mkvs should be mp4s?

The secret to getting 4K Remux playing back without transcoding, is to ensure the first Audio Track is AC3 and set to the DEFAULT Audio track.   Any DTS, and or HD Audio (True-HD, DTS-HD etc) can be selected in other tracks, but must not be the default.

You'll need to re-order the tracks in something like MKVtoolnix - but once remuxed, you can playback a 4K Remux even in a Browser (Edge) using the hevc/h265 plugin.

You can of course just select the AC3 track before you press play, but for the average user - they just want to (understandably) press play..