Throttling Not Happening

[BlackDub 50]

8 hours ago, Happy2Play said:

Yep as devs get pull into many different directions so which one takes priority?  As this is a conditional but that does not affect all or should say only subtitle users.

This should be priority number one. It affects all Nvidia, iGPU, and Intel ARC hardware (I haven't tested AMD, but I assume it also). It doesn't matter which player, since it affects LG TVs, Samsung TVs, Android TVs, Fire TV, iOS, etc.

What content doesn't include subtitles? Most of us who use Emby have subtitles. You can't tell your older relatives either; you have to disable the subtitles for it to work, as if we were back in 1980. (like the 4k playback problem with the fire tv *black screen* - "You need to force transcode to play 4k content", seriously?)

Many people have this same problem, but they don't know how to identify it, they don't post here to try to solve it, or they simply wait for you to solve the posts they already have. (Or they've simply moved on to another platform.)

Edited March 25, 2025 by BlackDub

[SShzin 32]

@sa2000can you take a look at this please? 

[FranBeltran 2]

Up!

[LAPS0082 13]

Can anyone provide Samples for the devs?

The old link ist down.

[BuzStringer 33]

20 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, we’ll take a look at this. Thanks for reporting.

GUYS WE ARE SAVED! The post above is from this thread for the same problem!

 

Luke says they looking into it! maybe they'll see something this 5th time i'm so happy and excited for this, this time it's real!

/s (just in case)

[sa2000 674]

In Emby Server Beta 4.9.0.44 the throttling method was changed to be based on the playback position reported by the player. For anyone circumventing the issue through settings in the Diagnostics Plugin, this should not be necessary anymore

Note that the current beta is 4.9.0.46 which would be the version to update to (or a later version)

 

Edited April 11, 2025 by sa2000

[BlackDub 50]

On 11/04/2025 at 17:25, sa2000 said:

In Emby Server Beta 4.9.0.44 the throttling method was changed to be based on the playback position reported by the player. For anyone circumventing the issue through settings in the Diagnostics Plugin, this should not be necessary anymore

Note that the current beta is 4.9.0.46 which would be the version to update to (or a later version)

 

No, i tried now with 4.9.1.3 beta and the conversion error still happen. 

[sa2000 674]

41 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

No, i tried now with 4.9.1.3 beta and the conversion error still happen. 

OK - lets look at diagnostics for a specific example. Suggest first enabling debug logging on the emby server and then restarting the server to get a fresh new log file and then reproduce the produce and download the embyserver log file and also any ffmpeg log files created for the playback and attach here together with info on what was being played and time of the error

Thanks

 

[BlackDub 50]

52 minutes ago, sa2000 said:

OK - lets look at diagnostics for a specific example. Suggest first enabling debug logging on the emby server and then restarting the server to get a fresh new log file and then reproduce the produce and download the embyserver log file and also any ffmpeg log files created for the playback and attach here together with info on what was being played and time of the error

Thanks

 

 

hardware_detection-63887053252.txt ffmpeg-transcode-2e8501e4-7896-41bc-805c-5c2165e5ff8f_1.txt embyserver (20).txt

[sa2000 674]

Thanks @BlackDubfor the log file.

Is this easily reproducible with this Rebel Moon movie?

The logs are showing start of transcoded playback from this movie started at about 45 minutes into the movie (00:45:06) and then the transcoder logs a conversion error after 53 seconds. The throttling related log lines show that the transcode position has not advanced forward. The analysis of the transcoding log file highlights a suspected issue with the media file
 

The stream information in the ffmpeg output is different from the server's MediaSourceInfo data.
The following differences were found:

The number of (A,V,S) streams in the server data (6) differs from ffmpeg output (5)
No stream with with index #0 in ffmpeg output

Does this media file play ok on other players ? the file being 

/mnt/share1/Peliculas/4K WEBDL/Rebel Moon (Parte dos) La guerrera que deja marcas [NF WEB-DL 2160p HEVC DV-HDR10 ES DD+ Atmos 5.1][HDO].mkv

If you believe the file is OK and it does play ok with the same subtitle and audio options from offset 00:45:00 onwards on other players, then suggest getting me a sample of the file. The ffmpeg log shows that it read about 840Mb from the file. So try to use mkvtoolnix to create a sample from the file starting at offset 00:45:00 (45 minutes in) creating an 840Mb file. I will send you a link to upload zip of the sample. I will see if I can reproduce the issue

Edited July 2, 2025 by sa2000

[BlackDub 50]

2 minutes ago, sa2000 said:

Thanks @BlackDubfor the log file.

Is this easily reproducible with this Rebel Moon movie?

The logs are showing start of transcoded playback from this movie started at about 45 minutes into the movie (00:45:06) and then the transcoder logs a conversion error after 53 seconds. The throttling related log line show that the transcode position has not advanced forward. The analysis of the transcoding log file highlights a suspected issue with the media file
 

The stream information in the ffmpeg output is different from the server's MediaSourceInfo data.
The following differences were found:

The number of (A,V,S) streams in the server data (6) differs from ffmpeg output (5)
No stream with with index #0 in ffmpeg output

Does this media file play ok on other players ? the file being 

/mnt/share1/Peliculas/4K WEBDL/Rebel Moon (Parte dos) La guerrera que deja marcas [NF WEB-DL 2160p HEVC DV-HDR10 ES DD+ Atmos 5.1][HDO].mkv

If you believe the file is OK and it does play ok with the same subtitle and audio options from offset 00:45:00 onwards on other players, then suggest getting me a sample of the file. The ffmpeg log shows that it read about 840Mb from the file. So try to use mkvtoolnix to create a sample from the file starting at offset 00:45:00 (45 minutes in) creating an 840Mb file. I will send you a link to upload zip of the sample. I will see if I can reproduce the issue

I tested the same file with 4.7 and no problems, this error happen with a lot of files on 4K but i tested most of the time with rebel. I sent you in private message to test it, thanks for your time

[sa2000 674]

5 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

I tested the same file with 4.7 and no problems, this error happen with a lot of files on 4K but i tested most of the time with rebel. I sent you in private message to test it, thanks for your time

Thanks. I will use the 12Gb file to do tests !

In the meantime, could you try these variations to establish which combinations / options give rise to the error:

- trying without hardware accleration for transcodes disabled

- trying without subtitles

- trying without throttling enabled

 

[BlackDub 50]

23 minutes ago, sa2000 said:

Thanks. I will use the 12Gb file to do tests !

In the meantime, could you try these variations to establish which combinations / options give rise to the error:

- trying without hardware accleration for transcodes disabled

- trying without subtitles

- trying without throttling enabled

 

 

FFMPEG - THROTTLING OFF.txt embyserver - THROTTLING OFF.txt FFMPEG - SUBS OFF.txt embyserver - SUBS OFF.txt FFMPEG - Hardware OFF.txt embyserver - Hardware OFF.txt

[sa2000 674]

Thank you - so all 3 tests failed in conversion

With hardware acceleration off
13:39:15.126 Conversion failed!

Without Subtitles
13:49:15.977 Conversion failed!

Without Throttling
13:53:35.867 Conversion failed!

I now have the movie and I will start to do some testing. My initial playback on Android phone was successful - it was direct playing and not transcoding. 

So is the issue only arising for remote connections and having internet streaming bitrate limit set ?

What value do you have in Server Network Setting for "Network streaming bitrate limit" ? and on the user account?

Update:

Adding a few more questions:

- Does every transcoded playback of this movie fail for you or only some ? Does it happen on play from beginning or only resuming / after skipping ?

- What settings do you have in Server Settings for Transcoding and also Tone Mapping?

- What settings do you have on the Android App Settings for Playback on the device: "Bib"

Update 2:

Not sure if this has any bearing but still would like to change this in case there is memory pressure on the server. Could you reduce the DB Cache from your custom setting of 1024 Mb to 128Mb. We are now using multiple DB connections and each connection would try and reserve that much cache. See if there is any difference in outcome.

Edited July 3, 2025 by sa2000

[sa2000 674]

@BlackDub I have not been able to reproduce and get a Conversion Error. I have got a lot of questions above for you to go through - I have added more questions since I first responded in the above post. Please go through and let me know and i will see if i can reproduce the issue once I get all the answers

 

Edited July 3, 2025 by sa2000

[BlackDub 50]

1 minute ago, sa2000 said:

@BlackDub I have not been able to reproduce and get a Conversion Error. I have got a lot of questions above for you to go through - I have added more questions since I first responded in the above post. Please go through and let me know and i will see if i can reproduce the issue once I get all the answers

 

Its easy, you need force do a transcode, direct play obviously dont reproduce the error

[sa2000 674]

2 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

Its easy, you need force do a transcode

Yes I have been getting it to transcode but no Conversion Error yet. I get buffering / pauses but no convesion error as you had

Please go through my list here and let me know the answers 

 

[BlackDub 50]

On 02/07/2025 at 12:50, sa2000 said:

OK - lets look at diagnostics for a specific example. Suggest first enabling debug logging on the emby server and then restarting the server to get a fresh new log file and then reproduce the produce and download the embyserver log file and also any ffmpeg log files created for the playback and attach here together with info on what was being played and time of the error

Thanks

 

So is the issue only arising for remote connections and having internet streaming bitrate limit set ?

It doesn't matter if it's local or remote, it happens when you transcode.

What value do you have in Server Network Setting for "Network streaming bitrate limit" ? and on the user account?

No limit, this doesnt care, i dont know why you asking that.

Update:

Adding a few more questions:

- Does every transcoded playback of this movie fail for you or only some ? Does it happen on play from beginning or only resuming / after skipping ?

All playback with TRANSCODE fail. Doesnt matter the devices (android, lg, samsung etc) And happen if you start from 0 or you resuming , doesnt matter.

- What settings do you have in Server Settings for Transcoding and also Tone Mapping?

OFF enable software, ON enable hardware
Extra T OpenCL /Hable on both

- What settings do you have on the Android App Settings for Playback on the device: "Bib"

This doesnt matter.

Update 2:

Not sure if this has any bearing but still would like to change this in case there is memory pressure on the server. Could you reduce the DB Cache from your custom setting of 1024 Mb to 128Mb. We are now using multiple DB connections and each connection would try and reserve that much cache. See if there is any difference in outcome.

This doest matter

[sa2000 674]

10 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

No limit, this doesnt care, i dont know why you asking that

Because the log had this

2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001
2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectPlay limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001
2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001

 

11 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

All playback with TRANSCODE fail. Doesnt matter the devices (android, lg, samsung etc) And happen if you start from 0 or you resuming , doesnt matter.

- What settings do you have in Server Settings for Transcoding and also Tone Mapping?

OFF enable software, ON enable hardware
Extra T OpenCL /Hable on both

Ok - how exactly are you forcing transcode and lets concentrate on the android app for now because that was what was in the provided log and what i am using to reproduce

Also there are a lot of settings on the server Transcoding page - please can i have screenshots - eg what you have for Enable HEVC video encoding. I need to replicate your setting as close as possible,

Now that you mention Tone Mapping is enabled on hardware, does disabling it make a difference?

 

 

[BlackDub 50]

1 hour ago, sa2000 said:

Because the log had this

2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001
2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectPlay limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001
2025-07-02 11:41:00.102 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 13576496, max bitrate: 5000001

 

Ok - how exactly are you forcing transcode and lets concentrate on the android app for now because that was what was in the provided log and what i am using to reproduce

Also there are a lot of settings on the server Transcoding page - please can i have screenshots - eg what you have for Enable HEVC video encoding. I need to replicate your setting as close as possible,

Now that you mention Tone Mapping is enabled on hardware, does disabling it make a difference?

 

 

Im forcing on client changing the bitrate to a lower than movie. I tried with disabling tone mapping and same error.

[sa2000 674]

3 hours ago, BlackDub said:

Im forcing on client changing the bitrate to a lower than movie

OK I have worked it out from looking further in your log - it was a quality setting of "1080p - 5 Mbps" in Emby for Android Playback setting

I am not getting the conversion error but getting hung transcode on the video stream - similar to what was in your log - getting stuck at a specific transcoding position and not going forward.  I will compare with Emby Server 4.8.11.0 to see if similar result.

 

Edited July 3, 2025 by sa2000

[BlackDub 50]

7 minutes ago, sa2000 said:

OK I have worked it out from looking further in your log - it was a quality setting of "1080p - 5 Mbps" in Emby for Android Playback setting

I am not getting the conversion error but getting hung transcode on the video stream - similar to what was in your log - getting stuck at a specific transcoding position and not going forward.  I will compare with Emby Server 4.8.11.0 to see if similar result.

 

Then you should have the same conversion failed error

[sa2000 674]

6 minutes ago, BlackDub said:

Then you should have the same conversion failed error

I don't. I am running Emby for Android 3.4.76 - but that should not be relevant

Same server version 4.9.1.3 - 

I have HEVC Hardware Transcoding Decoder enabled for QuickSync - it is not on your server. Other settings look the same. But you also had the conversion error without hardware transcoding. 

Trying now with hardware tone mapping enabled - and it is playing fine at 5Mbps transcode

Does it actually play ok for you initially and then later or on resume from specific offsets giving a conversion error ?

 

[sa2000 674]

Actaually - there is another difference - You have the Emby Diagnostics plugin installed - I do not at this moment

Let me know what options / settings you have set for it

Also if you try without it installed, what is the symptom then ?

[sa2000 674]

@BlackDub I would like to summarize the current position of the investigation:

I have not been able to get the Convesion Error that has been seen in your logs using the same movie file with transcoding. I tried on Linux ubuntu, Synology NAS and Windows all using Emby Server 4.9.1.3 with the Emby for Android 3.4.76 beta.

At this moment the only apparent difference in my setup is the Diagnostic Plugin. So one thing to see, is what happens if you test with the Diagnostic Plugin uninstalled - but also please see my next point:

20 hours ago, BlackDub said:

Not sure if this has any bearing but still would like to change this in case there is memory pressure on the server. Could you reduce the DB Cache from your custom setting of 1024 Mb to 128Mb. We are now using multiple DB connections and each connection would try and reserve that much cache. See if there is any difference in outcome.

This doest matter

 I would like to mention that whilst you discounted memory pressures as being a factor, we did have investigations before of ffmpeg struggling with video files and failing to extract images at specific offsets on this forum topic and this was due to memory shortage. So just in case there is some impact to ffmpeg, do change the DB cache from 1024 Mb to 128 Mb as we do have evidence from your logs of many DB connections being opened - eg 

2025-07-02 13:52:01.123 Info SqliteUserRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/users.db. isReadOnly: False
2025-07-02 13:52:01.159 Info ActivityRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/activitylog.db. isReadOnly: False
2025-07-02 13:52:01.227 Info AuthenticationRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/authentication.db. isReadOnly: False
2025-07-02 13:52:01.229 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: False
2025-07-02 13:52:01.235 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:01.266 Info SqliteUserRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/users.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:02.792 Info AuthenticationRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/authentication.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:06.100 Info ActivityRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/activitylog.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:09.545 Info AuthenticationRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/authentication.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.428 Info AuthenticationRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/authentication.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.433 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.434 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.434 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.435 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.440 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.440 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.441 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.441 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.443 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.443 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.444 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.444 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.445 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:52:56.445 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:53:10.795 Info ActivityRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/activitylog.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:53:16.433 Info AuthenticationRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/authentication.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:53:16.439 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True
2025-07-02 13:53:16.439 Info SqliteItemRepository: Opening sqlite connection to /config/data/library.db. isReadOnly: True

and we do try to allocate that cache for each connection.

Please when you remove the Diagnostic Plugin - also edit the max db cache setting - reducing it to 128 Mb or 96 Mb, restart the server and repeat the test and let me have the debug server and ffmpeg logs to see if the convesion error remains

Edited July 4, 2025 by sa2000