ASS Subtitles causes stuttering

[Grimx00 1]

On 6/11/2025 at 12:17 PM, Luke said:

Hi, we'll take another look at this. Thanks.

Is this still being worked on? It seems to me that the current implementation of emby/exoplayer ASS subtitle rendering simply requires way too much single core performance. Some scenes with very complex subtitles will freeze or stutter with anything less than an A76 core, which is basically all android tv boxes and smart TVs. VLC and MPV seem to handle it significantly better most of the time, not sure if they use more GPU acceleration or better multithreading. I really hope the emby developers can optimize the built in player to improve graphical subtitles rendering on weaker devices. Here is some example screenshots of scenes that will absolutely obliterate most android tv boxes.

 

[Luke 43532]

HI, what Emby app version is that on ?

[RanmaCanada 600]

This is to be expected on potatos. Seriously. The only real option is to burn them in if your devices are so weak that they can't handle the graphics.

I know people don't like to be told that their hardware sucks, but that's reality. If you want to watch the really cool stuff, you gotta pay to play that game. 

[Luke 43532]

41 minutes ago, RanmaCanada said:

This is to be expected on potatos. Seriously. The only real option is to burn them in if your devices are so weak that they can't handle the graphics.

I know people don't like to be told that their hardware sucks, but that's reality. If you want to watch the really cool stuff, you gotta pay to play that game. 

There may still be improvements that can be made though.

[pwhodges 2132]

Rather than burning them in to your files permanently, you can consider forcing transcoding (using "playback correction") when necessary, if your server is good enough to handle them.

Paul

[RanmaCanada 600]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

There may still be improvements that can be made though.

There might be improvements, but seriously, some of the content is so advanced that even a low end PC will choke on it.  People need to start understanding the limitations of their hardware and realize that their players are just not strong enough for the pretty bells and whistle content they want to watch. Constantly complaining because a user's box is not powerful enough to handle multi colour karaoke graphics with scaling while using multiple true type fonts, is just insanity. This is like people complaining at a game dev that they made their game too pretty for their potato machine.

Again, if you want to watch the really awesome graphics that come with fansubbed anime, you need the right hardware, period.

[talung 1]

4 hours ago, RanmaCanada said:

This is to be expected on potatos. Seriously. The only real option is to burn them in if your devices are so weak that they can't handle the graphics.

I know people don't like to be told that their hardware sucks, but that's reality. If you want to watch the really cool stuff, you gotta pay to play that game. 

What an absolute cop out of an answer.  If this was true, why does Jellyfin and Moonfin play the exact same file with zero issues from the same server on the same network on the same devices.  Also, these devices are maybe 1-2 years old.

 

The APP IS THE PROBLEM!  it is simple as that.  It has been for a long time.

[Grimx00 1]

2 hours ago, RanmaCanada said:

There might be improvements, but seriously, some of the content is so advanced that even a low end PC will choke on it.  People need to start understanding the limitations of their hardware and realize that their players are just not strong enough for the pretty bells and whistle content they want to watch. Constantly complaining because a user's box is not powerful enough to handle multi colour karaoke graphics with scaling while using multiple true type fonts, is just insanity. This is like people complaining at a game dev that they made their game too pretty for their potato machine.

Again, if you want to watch the really awesome graphics that come with fansubbed anime, you need the right hardware, period.

If optimizations can be made to bring a better experience to more people and hardware, then I don't see the harm in bringing it up and providing info that could be helpful. I'm sorry if that offended you. Most of my devices can run them fine, but several people use my server, so I've been manually burning them in for years. 

[Luke 43532]

56 minutes ago, Grimx00 said:

If optimizations can be made to bring a better experience to more people and hardware, then I don't see the harm in bringing it up and providing info that could be helpful. I'm sorry if that offended you. Most of my devices can run them fine, but several people use my server, so I've been manually burning them in for years. 

What version number of the app are you on ?

[talung 1]

20 minutes ago, Luke said:

What version number of the app are you on ?

I can't Answer for Grimx00, but on the Sony Bravia it is the latest universal app from the playstore.  IT is especially bad when there are the overlays rather than the plain subtitles as stated in previous message on this thread.  "Reincarnated as a Sword" has a lot of overlays and it grinds to a halt basically making it unwatchable.  As previously stated, Jellyfin app and Moonfin App running off the same Emby server have ZERO problems with this.

[Luke 43532]

2 minutes ago, talung said:

I can't Answer for Grimx00, but on the Sony Bravia it is the latest universal app from the playstore.  IT is especially bad when there are the overlays rather than the plain subtitles as stated in previous message on this thread.  "Reincarnated as a Sword" has a lot of overlays and it grinds to a halt basically making it unwatchable.  As previously stated, Jellyfin app and Moonfin App running off the same Emby server have ZERO problems with this.

To establish a new baseline, can you sideload the latest test version and verify the problem still happens with that:

After that I can give you another new build with some potential fixes. Thanks.

[Grimx00 1]

18 hours ago, Luke said:

HI, what Emby app version is that on ?

It seems to happen regardless of app version. I'm not really repoting a bug just showing examples of the type of scenes that have had problems on weaker devices. I've gone through several upgrades over that last few years to fix the issue (LG Nanocell 2020 > Fire Stick 4k Max > Ugoos Am9 Pro > Ugoos SK3) so I no longer have a device to demonstrate it. The latter plays almost anything but the most extreme subs like the Dragon Maid and Chainsaw Man examples above, which only has mild to moderate stuttering. Any mid or high end phone from the last 5 years won't have this problem but android boxes are a defferent story.

[Luke 43532]

1 hour ago, Grimx00 said:

It seems to happen regardless of app version. I'm not really repoting a bug just showing examples of the type of scenes that have had problems on weaker devices. I've gone through several upgrades over that last few years to fix the issue (LG Nanocell 2020 > Fire Stick 4k Max > Ugoos Am9 Pro > Ugoos SK3) so I no longer have a device to demonstrate it. The latter plays almost anything but the most extreme subs like the Dragon Maid and Chainsaw Man examples above, which only has mild to moderate stuttering. Any mid or high end phone from the last 5 years won't have this problem but android boxes are a defferent story.

Nonetheless, that is the current app version number? And can you install the version i linked to above? Thanks.

[RanmaCanada 600]

18 hours ago, talung said:

What an absolute cop out of an answer.  If this was true, why does Jellyfin and Moonfin play the exact same file with zero issues from the same server on the same network on the same devices.  Also, these devices are maybe 1-2 years old.

 

The APP IS THE PROBLEM!  it is simple as that.  It has been for a long time.

And have you bothered to check if they are direct playing, or are they burning the subs in? More than likely they are burning the subs in on the server end.

According to the wiki for moonfin, the default setting for .ass subs is to burn them in. They are not direct playing on your TV. The server is working it's butt off to make the pretty graphics work seemlessly.

Ciao.

[talung 1]

5 hours ago, RanmaCanada said:

And have you bothered to check if they are direct playing, or are they burning the subs in? More than likely they are burning the subs in on the server end.

According to the wiki for moonfin, the default setting for .ass subs is to burn them in. They are not direct playing on your TV. The server is working it's butt off to make the pretty graphics work seemlessly.

Ciao.

Confidently Incorrect as all you other takes.

It is DirectPlay using HEVC video codec.  It is direct play from both Jellyfin and Emby servers using the variety of clients.  As said before, it is the ONLY the emby App that has issues.

I am not sure why you are trying to find every excuse under the book, but you are doing a terrible job at it.

[Luke 43532]

4 hours ago, talung said:

Confidently Incorrect as all you other takes.

It is DirectPlay using HEVC video codec.  It is direct play from both Jellyfin and Emby servers using the variety of clients.  As said before, it is the ONLY the emby App that has issues.

I am not sure why you are trying to find every excuse under the book, but you are doing a terrible job at it.

hi, are you able to try the sideload build I linked to?

[talung 1]

I have not tried the sideloading yet and not sure when I will get a chance to as I have other things taking up my time.  Currently I am using Moonfin as it works.

I have reported the issue with my tests and where I believe the issue lies.

 

If I get a chance I will try the sideloading, but from what I have read from the changelog, nothing actually addresses the issue.

 

[Luke 43532]

8 minutes ago, talung said:

I have not tried the sideloading yet and not sure when I will get a chance to as I have other things taking up my time.  Currently I am using Moonfin as it works.

I have reported the issue with my tests and where I believe the issue lies.

 

If I get a chance I will try the sideloading, but from what I have read from the changelog, nothing actually addresses the issue.

 

Right but I said this:

Quote

To establish a new baseline, can you sideload the latest test version and verify the problem still happens with that:

After that I can give you another new build with some potential fixes. Thanks.

I already have changes ready for you to try.

[talung 1]

56 minutes ago, Luke said:

Right but I said this:

I already have changes ready for you to try.

I currently have version 3.5.55 from the app store installed.  I downloaded from your page using the direct github link, and it is 3.5.55.

https://github.com/MediaBrowser/Emby.Releases/raw/master/android/emby-android-google-arm64-v8a-release.apk

 

[Luke 43532]

9 hours ago, talung said:

I currently have version 3.5.55 from the app store installed.  I downloaded from your page using the direct github link, and it is 3.5.55.

https://github.com/MediaBrowser/Emby.Releases/raw/master/android/emby-android-google-arm64-v8a-release.apk

 

HI, can you try again? The version number at that url is 3.5.71. Thanks.

[talung 1]

10 hours ago, Luke said:

HI, can you try again? The version number at that url is 3.5.71. Thanks.

Apologies, this was my mistake.  Phone used the arm64, tv uses the arm7.  Downloaded correctly, installed 3.5.71.

It, however, does not resolve the issue.  Same stutter as before with zero change.

[Luke 43532]

7 minutes ago, talung said:

Apologies, this was my mistake.  Phone used the arm64, tv uses the arm7.  Downloaded correctly, installed 3.5.71.

It, however, does not resolve the issue.  Same stutter as before with zero change.

OK can you please try this version:

emby-android-google-armeabi-v7a-release.zipThanks.

[talung 1]

1 minute ago, Luke said:

OK can you please try this version:

emby-android-google-armeabi-v7a-release.zipThanks.

What is this and what are the changes?  

[Luke 43532]

2 minutes ago, talung said:

What is this and what are the changes?  

It's a test build with some experimental changes that I've been working on.

[talung 1]

After a LOT of pain trying to get this on the TV, navigation is completely broken and it doesn't accept anything from the remote control.

 

I am NOT trying any more of your "experiments".  

I have described the problem, given a lot of comparisons between various apps and same media. Please replicate and fix on your side.

For a more precise example,  at 14 minutes (for 20 seconds)  into s01e05 of Reincarnated as a Sword there is a part that has lots of overlays where the play stutters and comes to an almost halt for a few seconds.

I leave it to you, I am using Moonfin from here on out, or moving completely to Jellyfin.  And yes, I am have a lifetime Emby membership.