External Player - Add {audio-lang} and {subtitle-lang}

[Scobra 10]

I use VLC as my player since it has features that I use regularly. To name a few

- Snapshot

- Frame by Frame Playback

- HUD (Playback Controls) hides very fast

However, one thing that I wish were possible is to add audio and subtitle language on a per series basis. The way to implement this is simply by adding {audio-lang} and {subtitle-lang} to the argument list. Right now, the only arguments that can be "imported" from emby are {path}, {ms} and {Seconds}. Among these, only {path} can really be used since the other two cannot be sent from the external player back to Emby. So even if you stop in the middle of a movie/episode, it will not get that timecode. Unless I'm getting something wrong here, those two arguments aren't really useful. 

I think adding  {audio-lang} and {subtitle-lang} would be much more useful and can be implemented the same way it does with Emby's Player, which I'm assuming uses the id for each track. 

As an example, I'll use VLC and MPV.

VLC: 

{path}
--audio-track={audio-lang}
--sub-track={subtitle-lang}

MPV:

{path}
--aid={audio-lang}
--sid={subtitle-lang}

 

In both these cases, {audio-lang} and {subtitle-lang} would be stream numbers/integers. My current VLC arguments are:

{path}
--audio-language=en,jp,any
--sub-language=eng

The reason I do not like this is because having eng as my audio does not select forced subtitles or "Signs and Songs". 

Would love to see this implemented if possible. 

[Luke 42077]

Quote

Unless I'm getting something wrong here, those two arguments aren't really useful. 

Hi, not entirely. You could start on one device, then resume with an external player. It is at least half of the puzzle.

[Scobra 10]

3 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, not entirely. You could start on one device, then resume with an external player. It is at least half of the puzzle.

I see. I did not think of it that way. Thanks for letting me know.

[Luke 42077]

OK and yes ,these language params are certainly possible.

[Scobra 10]

Thanks! Also, just to clarify, it's not just the language. Sometimes there can be multiple sub tracks with the same language. Eg. English - Default (Translated Subs), English - Signs and Songs (Forced), English - SDH (English CC), etc.

[poopsniffer 0]

Any updates with this?

[poopsniffer 0]

I want to use mpv with anime4k to upscale my 1080p anime but I have dual audio so this would be a godsend. The new app still doesn't support external players so I tried to use the theater app and ran into exact problem.

Edited September 14, 2025 by poopsniffer

[Luke 42077]

On 9/13/2025 at 8:39 PM, poopsniffer said:

The new app still doesn't support external players 

Hi, this is on our to do list. Thanks.