Unable to play content when transcoding audio on 1.0.4.3

[keemy 25]

SInce the latest update I've noticed when playing media with unsupported audio that needs to be transcoded it freezes after a few seconds and is unable to be resumed unless I stop playing it completely and restart which just causes it to freeze again. I tested multiple media at different resolutions which all played fine before with the same result. Only thing in common is they all have a lossless audio format which transcoded and played fine before. User session shows the audio completing transcoding after a few seconds direct playing video in HLS container.

ffmpeg-remux-79da8a80-6e15-4c4c-97f6-30d6ac4d9dff_1.txt ffmpeg-remux-e8340bbd-8120-4caa-8a91-34f4ceab6152_1.txt

[keemy 25]

Made some additional observations. Issue is not present on C1, only C2. On C2 despite reporting transcoding to AC3 384kbps soundbar info shows stereo PCM. On C1 soundbar correctly shows dolby digital. Added additional logs.

(c1)ffmpeg-remux-4af83665-ac15-4074-8a50-64996993d633_1.txt (c2)ffmpeg-remux-9f0fcfe4-cf47-41e1-979f-0984115797e8_1.txt

[SamES 1056]

Thanks for providing comparable logs for the C1 and C2, this makes it easy to compare.

Aside from different episodes being played in your two logs, everything looks the same, and the TV should be getting effectively identical streams.

Please make sure that all the audio output settings in the TV settings are set identically, particularly settings such as 'Digital Sound Output' and any other relevant sound settings.  Also check that the sound bars are configured in a similar way.

Can you swap the soundbars to confirm if the problem stays with the same TV, or swaps to the other TV?

[keemy 25]

I won't be able to swap the soundbars until later to test but I did disconnect the soundbar connected to the c2 to eliminate it from the equation and it still froze after a few seconds. Audio settings on the TVs and soundbars are identical.

C1= Samsung q990c

C2=Samsung q800d

 

[SamES 1056]

1 minute ago, keemy said:

I won't be able to swap the soundbars until later to test but I did disconnect the soundbar connected to the c2 to eliminate it from the equation and it still froze after a few seconds. Audio settings on the TVs and soundbars are identical.

C1= Samsung q990c

C2=Samsung q800d

 

It probably won't resolve the freezing.

Are both TV's on wired or wireless networks?

[keemy 25]

Both TVs are connected wirelessly.

[keemy 25]

So I think I've narrowed it down to the C2. Swapped soundbars for both TVs. The Q990C now connected to the C2 reproduces the same issue with exact symptoms.  Picture freezes permanently unless I manually switch to a lossy track if available. Soundbar info display also shows stereo PCM instead of dolby digital. The Q800D now connected to the C1 plays normally and shows dolby digital on soundbar info display when transcoding unsupported audio.

Maybe the last update to the LG app to fix DTS audio not working on the C2 after LG updated the 2023 models to allow DTS passthrough is somehow related to this. Just spitballing here.

[SamES 1056]

Looking at the logs, I don't think it is related to DTS.  Did you check the TV Sounds settings to ensure it is set to 'Auto / Pass Through' and not PCM?

Are you able to test a connection with a network cable instead of wireless.  It's possible that you're getting wireless interference or a bad signal.  

[keemy 25]

My tvs are always set to passthrough for audio output. I'm not able to test the C2 with a network cable because of it's location but that being the issue seems unlikely as my network setup hasn't changed for the last 3 years. 

[SamES 1056]

32 minutes ago, keemy said:

My tvs are always set to passthrough for audio output. I'm not able to test the C2 with a network cable because of it's location but that being the issue seems unlikely as my network setup hasn't changed for the last 3 years. 

Sure. All I can confirm then is that from the logs, the TV is receiving a Dolby Digital signal (you can confirm this via the Stats for Nerds during playback), so if the soundbar is really receiving a PCM signal then it is either a TV setting or firmware issue.  

Regarding the freezing, it sounds like it is not getting the data reliably which is why I'm suggesting some type of network issue.

You could try and uninstall the app (don't just delete it from the home screen, make sure it is really uninstalled) then turn off the TV and remove it from the mains power for a few minutes then reinstall the app.  It is rare, but I have seen LG TV's end up with a bad/corrupt installation which does weird things.

[keemy 25]

Followed your instructions but still no change after reinstalling the app. For now I'll let it be as almost all my files have both a lossless and lossy track. I just happened to stumble upon this after quickly checking out a file. Thanks for all the suggestions.