AV1 keeps getting transcoded for no reason

[hbbs 8]

Hi.

Today I got my hands on a device that has AV1 hardware playback capabilities: Xiaomi Stick TV 4k (2022)

Every video that I tried to play using Emby is being transcoded. And the reason given to conversion was the same on stats for nerds: unsupported video 

I have already tested the same files and they are being played using hardware on Kodi 20 Beta RC1.

This is a fresh install on a new device. I'm using Emby Server version 4.8.0.21 beta.

My Emby Client running on Android TV is version: 2.0.8.3g  Registred 

Why is this happening? 

Please, let me know.

Here is some logs from one of the files. Again, that happened to all av1 files I have.

Hope it helps.

@softworkz

@Luke

 

Emby Logs AV1.zip

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  Can you try sideloading our standard android app on the same device and see how that compares?

https://emby.media/emby-for-android.html

Thanks.

 

[hbbs 8]

1 hour ago, ebr said:

Hi.  Can you try sideloading our standard android app on the same device and see how that compares?

https://emby.media/emby-for-android.html

Thanks.

 

I just did.

It worked. AV1 is being hardware accelerated. 

Since no FFMPEG log was generated I'm only providing below the Emby Server one.

Hope it helps.

 

 

 

embyserver.zip

[VirulentPip 93]

2 hours ago, hbbs said:

I just did.

It worked. AV1 is being hardware accelerated. 

It is? Are you sure... Last I checked the other day it still Software Decodes when using the Emby Android app cause can see noticeable stuttering (on my Fire cube Gen3) when compared to using Nova Video Player which Hardware decodes. 

Edited December 18, 2022 by VirulentPip

[hbbs 8]

1 minute ago, VirulentPip said:

It is? Are you sure... Last I checked the other day it still Software Decodes when using the Emby Android app cause can see noticeable stuttering (on my Fire cube Gen3) when compared to using Nova Video Player which Hardware decodes. 

I let running for over 15 minutes. When using the Emby Android TV app within 3  minutes of playing it changes from Direct Play to Conversion on stats for nerds 

That wasn't the case using the Emby Standard app for Android. 

Since you mentioned. I'm going to look for a 4K AV1 file to see if it will work. I don't own a 4K TV. But I think it will be a good test 

I'll report back as soon as possible.

[VirulentPip 93]

8Bit or 10Bit AV1? Mine are all 10Bit. 

[hbbs 8]

1 minute ago, VirulentPip said:

8Bit or 10Bit AV1? Mine are all 10Bit. 

I do only archive 10bit. No matter what codec is being used. 

 

[VirulentPip 93]

I just tried again and yup noticeable judder even with 1080p when comparing to Novaplayer which reports HW Decoding. Be interesting to know your results as you'd imagine the CPU being weaker on your stick to my cube.  

[hbbs 8]

@VirulentPip

I can confirm it's working with 4K 

Sorry for the delayed response. I left playing for over 15 minutes a file with subtitles (SDH PGS) enabled 

It didn't choked once. It was good enough for me.

There's must be something missing. Your device is considered a premium one. 

I suggest you to provide some logs. Maybe the devs can work this out too.

@ebr how hard could it be to the Android TV app get AV1 hardware playback as well?  The Android phone app is very limited compared to the Android TV one. 

I couldn't get it to transcode audio from Opus to AC3 5.1.

Please, let us know.

Thanks 

 

[VirulentPip 93]

Yeah I dunno why it's doing it, noticeable on panning shots but completely smooth on Novaplayer as external player. Same on all AV1 files too. 

[hbbs 8]

A new BETA version of Emby for Android TV was released today. 

Version: 2.0.84g

It caught my attention that the first line in the changelog were about the subject of this topic. 

It can't be a coincidence. Anyhow, thanks for solving this @ebrand everyone else who was involved.

This issue is solved. At least on my end.

@VirulentPipyou'll need to subscribe to the Beta of Emby for Android TV to get this one. It can be done on the Google Play Store (smartphone, Desktop..) 

Edited December 21, 2022 by hbbs
Insert screen capture

[GrimReaper 4739]

32 minutes ago, hbbs said:

@VirulentPipyou'll need to subscribe to the Beta of Emby for Android TV to get this one. It can be done on the Google Play Store (smartphone, Desktop..) 

Or you can sideload beta. 

 

[hbbs 8]

@GrimReaperDo you know how can I make (force?) Emby to get to transcode Opus 5.1 to AC3 5.1? 

Already selected this option on the Emby for Android TV client to no avail 

I have an old receiver with only SPDIF. If I choose to play a file with Dolby Digital or even Dolby Digital Plus my receiver is getting Dolby Surround. 

 

[GrimReaper 4739]

During playback in OSD: Cog wheel>Playback correction; selecting it once causes remux, selecting it second time causes transcoding. Try and see how it compares. 

Edited December 21, 2022 by GrimReaper

[hbbs 8]

6 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

During playback in OSD: Cog wheel>Playback correction; selecting it once causes remux, selecting it second time causes transcoding. Try and see how it compares. 

Thanks for replying it.

I did what you described. 

The first and second time changed the audio to AC3 5.1. 

I even did a third time that resulted in a AAC audio 

However it didn't solved my issue because all those times the video was also getting transcoded.

I need that only the audio to get transcoded.

[GrimReaper 4739]

Usually the video doesn't get transcoded on the first press (audio remux); have you explored SFN (edit: long-press OK on the remote during playback) for reason for transcoding? 

Edited December 21, 2022 by GrimReaper
Append

[hbbs 8]

It was because of subtitles being enabled.

You were right. The first transcode is giving me only an audio remix 

But the sound keeps going in AC3 and the video image is freezed.

I'm rebooting my Emby Server (running on my NSTV BTW) now to see if that does the trick.

I'll keep you informed.

[hbbs 8]

It is definitely a pattern. It just doesn't work. The audio is remuxed to AC3 but the image freezes out right at the moment when I click to playback correct. 
it never picks up from there.

Any other ideas?

Should I open another thread about this?

Edited December 21, 2022 by hbbs

[hbbs 8]

The reason I inserted the image on the post above was to highlight that the audio was already 100% remuxed and still no video image (besides that one in the cameta shot) is shown.

Not even If I start to jump chapters. Nothing happens on the video image side. Only audio updates correctly.

[VirulentPip 93]

5 hours ago, GrimReaper said:

Or you can sideload beta

Not having much luck, “downloader” won’t work keeps throwing up issues, decided to download to a USB on PC and plug that into the FireTV Cube, starts the install process then results in “App not installed” this is the Amazon Variant of the Beta from the link. 
 

Edit - Had to uninstall current for it to work. 
 

However still transcodes for me on FireCube Gen 3 - Converting to supported video codec. 
 

@ebr

Edited December 21, 2022 by VirulentPip

[GrimReaper 4739]

16 hours ago, hbbs said:

Should I open another thread about this?

Recreate the issue and submit in-app logs as per how to report a media playback issue. Provide requested information afterwards.

Quote

Emby for Android TV/Fire TV and Emby for Roku Logs

 

These apps have the option to send an app log to us electronically.  You enter the settings page and turn on the "Debug Options".  Now there will be a new tile on your home page settings row (or menu option on the user menu at the top) labelled "Send Log".  Reproduce your problem and then use this button to send the log.  Then add the following information to your report in the forum:

 

• Exactly what you were doing and what happened.  Include the name of whatever you played if it is a playback problem
• The time you sent the log (in Eastern Time please - UTC -5)
• The name of the Emby user on the local server that was logged in at the time

 

 

[ebr 16169]

17 hours ago, hbbs said:

It just doesn't work. The audio is remuxed to AC3 but the image freezes out right at the moment when I click to playback correct. 
it never picks up from there.

That tells me that we cannot stream copy AV1 in HLS.  We have similar issues with HEVC in some instances.

[hbbs 8]

57 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

Recreate the issue and submit in-app logs as per how to report a media playback issue. Provide requested information afterwards.

 

 

It didn't appear any window for me to insert the information. Should I put it here? 

I have the time the log was sent noted.

[GrimReaper 4739]

23 minutes ago, hbbs said:

It didn't appear any window for me to insert the information. Should I put it here? 

Check bold red letters in those instructions.

But as @ebr already said, seems like:

53 minutes ago, ebr said:

That tells me that we cannot stream copy AV1 in HLS.  We have similar issues with HEVC in some instances.

 

[hbbs 8]

4 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

Check bold red letters in those instructions.

But as @ebr already said, seems like:

 

Here it is: