Refresh Rate Switching Google TV

[freddyfinn 9]

I have an issue with the app not switching refresh rate correctly. The screen flickers then reports it is using the correct refresh rate yet the picture stutters badly.  When I go into settings > display mode I get duplicate refresh rates see pictures. This doesn’t happen on my Nvidia Shield units. 
if I select the second refresh rate the screen flickers again  and changes correctly and playback is smooth.  Eg switch from 2160/23.98 to the same below.   
The only time it doesn’t do it is when you match content resolution and resolution is below 2160p.  
Duplicate refresh rates are constantly there as are various others at 2160p.   

Edited February 18, 2024 by freddyfinn
Spelling

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  On what device?

If you go to that devices display settings, it also has multiple modes with the same resolution and rate?  What's the difference between them?  Perhaps HDR vs not...?

[freddyfinn 9]

Hi @ebr 

it’s a Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K. Build STTL.231114.004
After doing some more testing the judder seems to be happening because exo player  is not resizing the picture properly when switching refresh rate (applies to all resolutions). If I fail to change refresh rate manually once the player has loaded the Google screen saver cuts in over the top occasionally after the screen saver time is reached which would suggest it’s not always going into full screen mode.  When I switch refresh rate once playing you can see the screen resize and playback is smooth with no screen saver. 
Could this an Android 12 refresh rate implementation issue?  Netflix switches without issue.

i have the 2019 shield 4K and it only shows single refresh rates no duplicates  

 

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  Whether or not the screen saver kicks in is a function of an option in the app and has nothing to do with resolution or screen size.  Did you check this?

On 2/18/2024 at 9:47 AM, ebr said:

If you go to that devices display settings, it also has multiple modes with the same resolution and rate?  What's the difference between them?  Perhaps HDR vs not...?

 

[freddyfinn 9]

Emby is continuously trying to force HDR by the looks causing refresh rate problems. 
When SDR is manually switched in Emby the TV shows 24Hz when Emby automatically selects HDR there is no refresh rate displayed by the TV even though it goes through the motions of trying to change to 24Hz. 
So the app is failing to trigger the refresh rate change for HDR. Even with enhanced HDMI turned off on the TV and SDR changed to preferred on the Google TV it’s still trying to force HDR and failing to switch the refresh rate. 

[ebr 16169]

Can you please play that item for a few seconds and then follow the instructions to send a log from the app?

 

[freddyfinn 9]

Done 

Playing: NCIS Hawaii

Time: 12.39pm utc-5

User: Emby

[ebr 16169]

The app is successfully changing the display mode but the device is reporting two identical display modes (from a resolution and refresh rate perspective anyway) and so the app is choosing the first one.  We need to discover why there are duplicates.

On 2/18/2024 at 9:47 AM, ebr said:

If you go to that devices display settings, it also has multiple modes with the same resolution and rate?  What's the difference between them?  Perhaps HDR vs not...?

 

[freddyfinn 9]

4 hours ago, ebr said:

If you go to that devices display settings, it also has multiple modes with the same resolution and rate?  What's the difference between them?  Perhaps HDR vs not...?

No. Single resolution and refresh rates only. Unlike the Shield which shows 8 and 10bit with the same resolutions. 

Edited March 12, 2024 by freddyfinn
Fix sentence.

[freddyfinn 9]

Hi @ebr,

Any fix for this issue yet?

[ebr 16169]

12 hours ago, freddyfinn said:

Hi @ebr,

Any fix for this issue yet?

Afraid not as I cannot reproduce nor reconcile how the device is reporting multiple options via the API but not exposing that in its UI.

[freddyfinn 9]

@ebr

I've had a chance to look at my daughters Chromecast with TV and her TV reports single refresh and resolution rates like the shield and hers doesn’t change refresh rates either and again Netflix has no issues doing it. 
It looks like emby tries to change as does mine and fails but emby reports that it’s changed. Play a fast moving tv show or movie and motion judder occurs continuously and noticeably. Go in manually and switch while playing and emby changes it to the correct refresh rate. Emby is still not changing refresh rates even when one res/refresh rate is shown. 

[ebr 16169]

9 hours ago, freddyfinn said:

It looks like emby tries to change as does mine and fails but emby reports that it’s changed.

In the log you provided, it is not failing.  It is just selecting a duplicate rate.

We'd have to look at a new log on the new device to know anything about what happened there.

[freddyfinn 9]

@ebrseems emby needs to trigger 4K smpte 4096x2160 /24/25/30/50/60 when changing frame rates. Instead it seems to be going for 3840x2160p which does not switch the tv frame rate even though emby flickers and shows it has.
Smpte seems to be the only way to switch the display frame rate correctly. 
The duplicates are as per the picture. 

3840x2160p 24/25/30/50/60. - device resolutions DO NOT have any affect on switching the TV FRAME RATE. 
4Ksmpte Comprises the following rates ALL SWITCH TV FRAME RATE CORRECTLY. 

4096x2160 /24/25/30/50/60

Emby is seeing 4Ksmpte as 3840x2160p causing duplicates to be created. . 

[Luke 42077]

@freddyfinn

Hi.  Can you try searching for our standard android app (Just "Emby" on Amazon and "Emby for Android on Google) on the same device's app store and see how that compares?

Thanks.

 

[freddyfinn 9]

@Lukesame issue.  

However after much trawling on google turning on “Disable HW overlay” in developer settings fixes the stutter but I’m still unable to use full 4096x2160 unless I change it manually. 

This article seems to be the only way around the issue for now but smpte resolutions are a still a sticking point. I was able to use them in Kodi as I was able to whitelist 4096x2160 /24/25/30/50/60Hz. 
 

Maybe the app has to Disable HW overlay before playing. No idea beyond that. 

 

 

 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

but I’m still unable to use full 4096x2160 unless I change it manually. 

Hi, what do you mean by change it manually? Change what exactly?

[freddyfinn 9]

17 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, what do you mean by change it manually? Change what exactly?

 

@Lukeas per the pictures I posted earlier showing duplicated resolutions if I move the resolution to the second duplicate manually the TV switches to full resolution of 4096x2160p True 4K as opposed to 3840x2160p UHD

The circled resolutions below are 4096p however I have to pop up settings in the player and select them manually. I believe 4096p is only available on the Google TV when the TV supports enhanced HDMI.   When it does another resolution becomes available in the Google TV settings which is 4K smpte which is exclusively for full 4096p or True 4K. If the TV does not support enhanced HDMI @4096p there will be no duplicate entries in Emby and no 4K smpte available in the Google TV settings. 

 

[freddyfinn 9]

For anyone experiencing this HW Overlay issue update to STTL.240508.005 on your Google TV.  From testing it today there are no longer frame rate issues with HW overlays on at this point. 
Emby is still unable to trigger full 4K 4096x2160p.  If you want full 4K there are some other apps you may consider using. 

[Luke 42077]

For video stuttering, please try Emby for Android 3.5.25 and let us know how that compares:

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

Thanks.