Playback Error

[Astronut 5]

12 hours ago, Lessaj said:

The browser is more likely to require transcoding, a bit less so with hardware acceleration enabled to support HEVC, but I'm only mentioning it because I saw in your logs. Is it better with a higher bitrate selected?

 

1080p - 30mbps still had the issue and  when it would play the series kept buffering (probably due to increased network requirements). 

[Lessaj 467]

Is your internet connection fast enough for 30 Mbps? Provide the server log, ffmpeg logs (if any), and the time you had issues from this last attempt.

[GhostPirate 0]

I get this too but only on some older content and only on the web app since 4.8 update.

[Astronut 5]

9 hours ago, Lessaj said:

Is your internet connection fast enough for 30 Mbps? Provide the server log, ffmpeg logs (if any), and the time you had issues from this last attempt.

My internet is definitely fast enough for 30mbps.
Grabbed these logs right after I had the error. Series was Avatar Last Airbender Episode 2 if helps at all.

embyserver(2).txt ffmpeg-transcode-ae7e9d50-0f05-4dd5-98c9-0465306c9130_1.txt

[Lessaj 467]

It looks like it was transcoding but very very slowly since this is limited to CPU encoding. How many CPUs does this server have and how many threads have you set for transcoding? You might want to switch to using emby theater instead of the web client since it's more likely to direct play media and won't require transcoding.

Quote

23:52:43.922 elapsed=00:00:00.04 frame=    1 fps=0.0 q=0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=   0x    
23:52:45.712 elapsed=00:00:01.85 frame=   20 fps= 11 q=0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.83 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.449x    
23:52:48.648 elapsed=00:00:04.78 frame=   21 fps=4.4 q=0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.87 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.183x    
23:52:50.346 elapsed=00:00:06.48 frame=   22 fps=3.4 q=0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.93 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.145x    
23:52:52.215 elapsed=00:00:08.35 frame=   23 fps=2.8 q=0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.96 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.115x    

 

[Astronut 5]

19 minutes ago, Lessaj said:

It looks like it was transcoding but very very slowly since this is limited to CPU encoding. How many CPUs does this server have and how many threads have you set for transcoding? You might want to switch to using emby theater instead of the web client since it's more likely to direct play media and won't require transcoding.

 

Unfortunately I do need browser to be an option sometimes I watch from devices I simply cannot install software on. Not sure what specs this server has sadly they don't list on the rental site. Its a well-trusted service 100% though. It is a shared server though so CPU bottleneck is super likely.

[Happy2Play 9780]

This example just shows software encoding on your hardware is choking as shown above.

Processor count: 12

But here is an example of bitrate doubling or more @softworkz

Emby Server version: 4.8.7.0

"Bitrate":1308472

-c:v:0 libx264 -g:v:0 72 -maxrate:v:0 3271180 -bufsize:v:0 6542360

23:52:43.921   Stream #0:0: Video: h264, yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1440x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 4:3], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 90k tbn (default)
23:52:43.921     Metadata:
23:52:43.921       encoder         : Lavc59.37.100 libx264
23:52:43.921     Side data:
23:52:43.921       cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 3271000/0/0 buffer size: 6542000 vbv_delay: N/A

 

[Happy2Play 9780]

UseHardwareCodecs: True, HWA-Mode: Automatic suggests there are no hardware encoder/decoders.  But would need to see a server startup log and possibly the hardware_detection log.

 

 

[Astronut 5]

3 minutes ago, Happy2Play said:

This example just shows software encoding on your hardware is choking as shown above.

Processor count: 12

But here is an example of bitrate doubling or more @softworkz

Emby Server version: 4.8.7.0

"Bitrate":1308472

-c:v:0 libx264 -g:v:0 72 -maxrate:v:0 3271180 -bufsize:v:0 6542360

23:52:43.921   Stream #0:0: Video: h264, yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1440x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 4:3], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 90k tbn (default)
23:52:43.921     Metadata:
23:52:43.921       encoder         : Lavc59.37.100 libx264
23:52:43.921     Side data:
23:52:43.921       cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 3271000/0/0 buffer size: 6542000 vbv_delay: N/A

 

Gotcha. The cpu is AMD EPYC 7713P which looks great but I also could have like... 500 other users here to choke it out anyways. No clue its not dedicated. Is there a solution besides moving to something dedicated? Even that will fail if the CPU isn't good enough.

[Astronut 5]

2 minutes ago, Astronut said:

Gotcha. The cpu is AMD EPYC 7713P which looks great but I also could have like... 500 other users here to choke it out anyways. No clue its not dedicated. Is there a solution besides moving to something dedicated? Even that will fail if the CPU isn't good enough.

A dedicated server close to my current price point is Core i3-2130 8GB RAM 2x2TB HDD. The storage is sufficient not worried about that. Is the CPU good enough? 

[Lessaj 467]

Yea if you're using a shared compute node you're at the mercy of the provider for performance when it comes to a heavy processing task such as transcoding.

The i3-2130 does have an HD graphics 2000 which I think supports Quick Sync so if it does and it's made available to you then that is likely to perform better, however that's a really old CPU it would probably be worse than the AMD Epyc for other general functions.

[Astronut 5]

Just now, Lessaj said:

Yea if you're using a shared compute node you're at the mercy of the provider for performance when it comes to a heavy processing task such as transcoding.

The i3-2130 does have an HD graphics 2000 which I think supports Quick Sync so if it does and it's made available to you then that is likely to perform better, however that's a really old CPU it would probably be worse than the AMD Epyc for other general functions.

Really not trying to shill Plex just trying to understand how they avoid the issue. Is their browser app just direct playing it then? 

and understood about the limitations. The next price point is double the $$ so I’m hesitant to get that. 

[Lessaj 467]

Maybe, I have zero experience with plex and I never will. I assume they have a similar dashboard feature that would indicate what it's doing.

[Happy2Play 9780]

4 minutes ago, Astronut said:

Really not trying to shill Plex just trying to understand how they avoid the issue. Is their browser app just direct playing it then? 

and understood about the limitations. The next price point is double the $$ so I’m hesitant to get that.

In the end it is about the codecs supported by the client.

As most browsers are a Maybe for client hardware support for HEVC.  So trancoding h265 to h264 is a heavy cpu load.  So assuming your media can direct play you will not run into hardware limitations just bandwidth limitations.

You can check your browser with something like this.

Media MIME Support (cconcolato.github.io)

codec support (dolby.com)

HTML5test - How well does your browser support HTML5? (opensuse.org)

But every app/device/client will have their own playback capabilities.

If a Emby premiere user you will probably get better luck from Desktop Emby Theater.

 

 

[Astronut 5]

Just now, Happy2Play said:

In the end it is about the codecs supported by the client.

As most browsers are a Maybe for client hardware support for HEVC.  So trancoding h265 to h264 is a heavy cpu load.  So assuming your media can direct play you will not run into hardware limitations just bandwidth limitations.

You can check your browser with something like this.

Media MIME Support (cconcolato.github.io)

codec support (dolby.com)

HTML5test - How well does your browser support HTML5? (opensuse.org)

But every app/device/client will have their own playback capabilities.

If a Emby premiere user you will probably get better luck from Desktop Emby Theater.

 

 

Am emby premiere yeah but on some devices I just have to use browser and not theatre
Intel E3-1230 a better CPU option?

Thank you all for your help! Sad there isn't a fix available now but at least I know what the issue is and potential future solutions (move to dedicated with better CPU or Emby Theater to avoid transcoding)
 

[Happy2Play 9780]

3 minutes ago, Astronut said:

Intel E3-1230 a better CPU option?

A maybe as going from a 12 core to an old 4 core processor would expect worse performance.  But the i3 has quick sync so it could potential provider better transcoding functionality but don't think anyone has posted anything on this old of hardware.

Not sure of the limitations on your rental hardware or if HWA can be configure to work as I believe additional drivers have to be installed but don't know if it can be done on these shared systems.

Since you are Premiere I would at least test Desktop ET as it could possibly eliminate transcoding or significantly reduce it.  Otherwise you will need to only get media in codecs that are supported universally across clients as it will be h264 for several more years.  Or converting and maintaining additional copies of media.

[Happy2Play 9780]

Technically the i3-2130 would be worse as it does not support HEVC decoding so would all still be done in CPU (only 4 cores).  Need Braswell/Cherry Trail or better CPU.

Sorry did not notice the cpu change to Intel E3-1230 but no this would be potentially worse as you have no quick sync and only 8 cores.

So looks like you are currently with your best option.

Not sure if you can have the AMD requirements done on this system or if they will work via the shared system.

Hardware Acceleration on Linux | Emby Documentation #va-api

 

 

Edited June 11, 2024 by Happy2Play

[Lessaj 467]

Oh shoot I didn't see it didn't support HEVC I was only looking for quick sync, that's a good point.

If hardware acceleration is enabled in your browser it might be able to playback HEVC direct and only require a remux for audio instead which is a very light CPU operation, but it depends on your client hardware/software. I have no issues with it in my windows VM with an nvidia GPU, even getting support for various audio codec direct playing for some reason, but on my linux host there's some things missing to get it working or I don't have the right flags but my AMD GPU definitely supports it and generally audio gets remuxed to MP3 as well.

[visproduction 315]

Lessaj,

I have a slower server than yours, but I prepare all media by making copies with a slow encode, high quality, AVIDemux conversion to .mp4 and AAC or MP3 audio.  Doing a slow encode makes a big difference to quality and keeps the file size manageable.I think even fast servers and dedicated hardware may not be able to encode, at these quality settings, in real time. Real time conversion usually means .mp4 2 hours 1080P to be perhaps 4 or 5 GB or more.  When I use a high quality slow conversion I get excellent quality at about 2.3 GB for 2 hours.  My i7 notebook can easily take 3 to 5 hours to convert one 2 hour media.  Obviously, this is not in real time.  But when you have .mp4 media there is no need to transcode.  I don't ever run into stuttering or any media being non-compatible.  There are some other newer codecs that can also work. HEVC is still mostly not supported by browsers.  Leaving your media in HEVC, yes, it can save space, but often when a user demands the media, it may need to be transcoded.  If two users demand such media on their browsers at the same time, then both may need transcoding.  I use this pre-optimized approach to store my media in browser compatible files and everything plays directly.  Professional content online, all the Youtube, Netflix even Plex etc. uses optimized media copies that plays directly and does not need transcoding.

Be aware that quality, slow encoding can be finicky with a lot of optional settings to get it to look good. Your original media can have all sorts of file issues that might need to be tweaked.  FYI: Video encoding is a billable service in post production.  People pay professionals in post product to do it. Leaving the settings to highest resolution does not work, because all the files would be too large.  

I would be happy to share settings, but I have never seen anyone else, on the forum, who pre-encodes to MP4.  No one seems to be interested in doing this.  Everyone thinks mp4 a terrible old codec that takes up too much room.  I think it can look very nice and all my media plays direct and smoothly, all the time.

[Lessaj 467]

26 minutes ago, visproduction said:

Lessaj,

I have a slower server than yours, but I prepare all media by making copies with a slow encode, high quality, AVIDemux conversion to .mp4 and AAC or MP3 audio.  Doing a slow encode makes a big difference to quality and keeps the file size manageable.I think even fast servers and dedicated hardware may not be able to encode, at these quality settings, in real time. Real time conversion usually means .mp4 2 hours 1080P to be perhaps 4 or 5 GB or more.  When I use a high quality slow conversion I get excellent quality at about 2.3 GB for 2 hours.  My i7 notebook can easily take 3 to 5 hours to convert one 2 hour media.  Obviously, this is not in real time.  But when you have .mp4 media there is no need to transcode.  I don't ever run into stuttering or any media being non-compatible.  There are some other newer codecs that can also work. HEVC is still mostly not supported by browsers.  Leaving your media in HEVC, yes, it can save space, but often when a user demands the media, it may need to be transcoded.  If two users demand such media on their browsers at the same time, then both may need transcoding.  I use this pre-optimized approach to store my media in browser compatible files and everything plays directly.  Professional content online, all the Youtube, Netflix even Plex etc. uses optimized media copies that plays directly and does not need transcoding.

Be aware that quality, slow encoding can be finicky with a lot of optional settings to get it to look good. Your original media can have all sorts of file issues that might need to be tweaked.  FYI: Video encoding is a billable service in post production.  People pay professionals in post product to do it. Leaving the settings to highest resolution does not work, because all the files would be too large.  

I would be happy to share settings, but I have never seen anyone else, on the forum, who pre-encodes to MP4.  No one seems to be interested in doing this.  Everyone thinks mp4 a terrible old codec that takes up too much room.  I think it can look very nice and all my media plays direct and smoothly, all the time.

This isn't my topic. I have no need to do any of this, my server is on premise and can transcode multiple 4k HEVC in real time just fine if required but most streams direct play as most files are AVC but pretty much all modern hardware supports HEVC anyway.

[visproduction 315]

Lessaj,  thanks.  I meant to respond to Astronut instead.

[1972 15]

Don't know if the issue is still relevant, but I had exacly the same errror.
With me the rootcause turned out to be shared network path, that pointed to my movies, which was gone. The contents was still there, but the shared network link didn't exist anymore. Creating it back again solved it.

Maybe the error message could use some improvement, like: "can not find file, therefor no compatible stream can be created." 
Just my 2cts