Cast 4K to chromecast Ultra causes transcodung

[Bobby121418 17]

Hi,

Casting 4K movies through Emby app on Android mobile to a Chromecast Ultra device causes transcoding. The same video files work well without transcoding on the mobile app itself.

As per https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/media I understand Chromecast Ultra is enabled for :

 

• HEVC / H.265 Main and Main10 Profiles up to level 5.1 (4K/60fps)

So my question is why is transcoding taking place and can it be avoided?

Thanks

[Bobby121418 17]

Hi there

I realized that the chromecast is not doing 4K because I had a non standard power supply. So, please ignore this thread.

Thanks

[Luke 42077]

Thanks for following up.

[Bobby121418 17]

Hi,

Just going back to this again.

I seem to be again experiencing 4K transcoding even though now I have a standard power supply connected to the Chromecast Ultra.

I am no longer seeing the message about non standard power supply or limitation to 4K playback. So, my question is why is transcoding taking place because as mentioned before the device should handle the 4K format.

Thanks

[Luke 42077]

24 minutes ago, Bobby121418 said:

Hi,

Just going back to this again.

I seem to be again experiencing 4K transcoding even though now I have a standard power supply connected to the Chromecast Ultra.

I am no longer seeing the message about non standard power supply or limitation to 4K playback. So, my question is why is transcoding taking place because as mentioned before the device should handle the 4K format.

Thanks

Hi @Bobby121418 did you check your server dashboard during playback to learn why it was transcoding?

[Bobby121418 17]

Hi Luke,

Yes, it says media bitrate exceeds limit, but I do not see where the limit can be changed.

Thanks

[Luke 42077]

28 minutes ago, Bobby121418 said:

Hi Luke,

Yes, it says media bitrate exceeds limit, but I do not see where the limit can be changed.

Thanks

HI, try the Chromecast quality setting in the app that you're casting from.

[Bobby121418 17]

In the Emby app while casting I am not seeing any quality settings. Maybe I am not seeing it but can you please tell me where the setting is?

Thanks

[Bobby121418 17]

Ok, solved. I realised the quality setting should be set before casting.

Thanks 

[Luke 42077]

Thanks for the feedback.

[doron 10]

Hi,

Reviving an old thread. I just had this issue, for the first time (drove my Emby server to a grinding halt...). Seeing the first resolution on this thread, I hard-reset the Chromecast (disconnect / reconnect power). Lo and behold, it stopped this phenomena and the playback was again done smoothly with no transcoding. 

I've been using Emby on this contraption for several months now; this is the first time I've had this issue. Plus, I've not changed any app setting. I'm not sure what this means - could it be that at times the app would determine that it needs xcoding, while at other times it does not, for the same media, with no s/w or setting change in between? (just a random thought - does the app look at free resources, such as mem, available to it, to determine? The Chromecast might be having a mem leak or something)  

Thanks in advance for any insight.

(4K/24 H.265) 

[Luke 42077]

5 hours ago, doron said:

Hi,

Reviving an old thread. I just had this issue, for the first time (drove my Emby server to a grinding halt...). Seeing the first resolution on this thread, I hard-reset the Chromecast (disconnect / reconnect power). Lo and behold, it stopped this phenomena and the playback was again done smoothly with no transcoding. 

I've been using Emby on this contraption for several months now; this is the first time I've had this issue. Plus, I've not changed any app setting. I'm not sure what this means - could it be that at times the app would determine that it needs xcoding, while at other times it does not, for the same media, with no s/w or setting change in between? (just a random thought - does the app look at free resources, such as mem, available to it, to determine? The Chromecast might be having a mem leak or something)  

Thanks in advance for any insight.

(4K/24 H.265) 

Hi, did you check the server dashboard during playback to learn why it was transcoding?

[doron 10]

2 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, did you check the server dashboard during playback to learn why it was transcoding?

Thanks for the quick response. No, I did not... Can you guide me as to what to look for?

[doron 10]

@Luke

[Luke 42077]

On 7/5/2024 at 8:21 AM, doron said:

@Luke

@doronhave you checked the Now Playing section on the server dashboard during playback? It will either say Direct Play or if some conversion is happening, it will say that and indicate the reason why.

[Luke 42077]

You can also provide an ffmpeg log example and we'll tell you why it was transcoding:

How to Report a Problem

Thanks.

[doron 10]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

@doronhave you checked the Now Playing section on the server dashboard during playback? It will either say Direct Play or if some conversion is happening, it will say that and indicate the reason why.

Thanks. Will do next time it occurs. When it happened, I restarted the Chromecast and the problem went away.