A video is constantly stuck; another has issue with subtitles

[lyapounov 1]

Hello there !

it is my first post, so forgive me is the format is wrong.
I love emby, to the point that, in order to get HW acceleration, I bought premium for life.

However, I had recently two big problems.

The first one is a movie which would take about 5 seconds to start, then play one second, then spin for 5 seconds, then play one second, etc...

The second one is a movie which would start correctly if I did not add subtitles. Once I played it with subtitles, emby was constantly spinning... However it happened once, I can't reproduce it.

My environment:

emby server on a Synology DS920+ 8GB Ram 4 8T Samsung SSD; ethernet cables are top quality, all switches are in Gbs.

Movies are in mkv format with subtitles embeded.

For information the same movies play without any problem on the Plex server on the same Synology... Weird because I gave up Plex for emby, and now Plex is getting it's revenge

Thx !!!

embyserver.txt

[Luke 42077]

HI, please attach the corresponding ffmpeg log file. Thanks.

[lyapounov 1]

Sorry, I should have done this.

Well, there are so many of them...

I changed to add the proper one

Many thx !

 

ffmpeg-transcode-b7db7085-a95e-4a2f-a2f6-913c2342cb0a_1.txt

Edited November 28, 2024 by lyapounov
wrong file

[Neminem 1518]

It look like your server can't handel transcoding your movie.

I have marked some of the lines with red showing transcoding speeds, its below 1, that means your server cant transcode fast enough.

16:30:16.242 elapsed=00:00:00.58 frame=    5 fps=0.0 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.08 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.147x    
16:30:16.815 elapsed=00:00:01.15 frame=   10 fps=8.7 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.27 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.24x    
16:30:17.268 elapsed=00:00:01.71 frame=   14 fps=8.1 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.38 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.223x    
>> ThrottleBySegmentRequest: RequestPosition: 00:00:00 - TranscodingPosition: 00:00:00 - ThrottleBuffer: 0s (Treshold: 120s)
16:30:17.961 elapsed=00:00:02.30 frame=   20 fps=8.7 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.57 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.25x    
16:30:18.539 elapsed=00:00:02.86 frame=   25 fps=8.7 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.76 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.268x    
16:30:18.994 elapsed=00:00:03.44 frame=   29 fps=8.4 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.89 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.26x    
>> ThrottleBySegmentRequest: RequestPosition: 00:00:00 - TranscodingPosition: 00:00:00 - ThrottleBuffer: 1s (Treshold: 120s)
16:30:19.703 elapsed=00:00:04.04 frame=   35 fps=8.7 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:01.06 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.264x    
16:30:20.284 elapsed=00:00:04.62 frame=   40 fps=8.7 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:01.25 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.272x    
16:30:20.755 elapsed=00:00:05.20 frame=   44 fps=8.5 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:01.36 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.262x    
16:30:21.457 elapsed=00:00:05.79 frame=   50 fps=8.6 q=-0.0 size=N/A time=00:00:01.55 bitrate=N/A throttle=off speed=0.269x    

This shows it can't transcode your embedded subs, and falles back to CPU transcoding. 

Name                                        CanDoInHW  WillDoInHW  Reason                                                 
        VAAPI GeminiLake UHD Graphics 600 - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec                                          
        VideoInput                               >> True       True        Same adapter (/dev/dri/renderD128), same hardware co... 
        Deinterlace                              >> True       True                                                                
        SubtitleOverlay                          >> False      False                                                               
        VideoOutput                              >> True       True        Hardware encoder                                        
        VAAPI GeminiLake UHD Graphics 600 - H... >> True       True        Hardware Codec

And it's look like you have selected PGS Subs.

Try with srt subs.

Edited November 28, 2024 by Neminem

[lyapounov 1]

Thx

I'll check the sub. I own the blueray and I ripped it with subtilites already into it, so I have to see how I can change the subtitles type using mkvtoolnix.

However, can you then explain to me why there is no issue with Plex on the same files with subtitles, plex being on the same server, and for which I didn't buy the HW acceleration, contrary to emby ?

Thx !

Best

 

[Neminem 1518]

I would not know.

Haven't used the other girl, in years, do to privacy concerns.

[lyapounov 1]

So it means that the theory which is that my server can't handle the file is wrong because it can handle the same file perfectly with Plex.

So it is neither a HW issue nor a file issue.

If emby is relying on ffmpeg to do this, I can see only one explanation, which is that the version of ffmpeg which emby is using is not as good as the one which plex is using.

Am I right ? Or is there another explanation ?

If I am right, is there a way to force emby to use another ffmpeg ?

Thx !

Best

 

Edited November 28, 2024 by lyapounov

[Neminem 1518]

Devs will have to answer

I'm just telling you, what I see in your logs.

[lyapounov 1]

My apologies, as you kindly replied, I thought you were one of the dev !

Cheers

[lyapounov 1]

OK, it seems the issue are the subtitles. I transformed them in .srt and it looks better. I still need more test though

Remains the problem : why emby does not work when plex does work ?

[Carlo 4560]

Hi, @lyapounovPlex and Emby each have custom modification they use with ffmpeg as well as command lines passed to it.  However looking at your server log I see:

2024-11-27 16:29:54.808 Warn App: Hardware-accelerated subtitle-overlay is disabled due to diagnostic option

With hardware-accelerated subtitle-overlay turned off, Emby has no choice but to try and do this in software which as pointed out earlier is to slow to do on your system.

Try turning that back on and trying it again.
Upload any ffmpeg log files produced during the test as well as the server log.

Carlo

[lyapounov 1]

Thx @Carlo

However, I am not sure I found where is this parameter in the dashboard.

The closest one I saw is in Transcoding section,

"Allow subtitle extraction on the fly"

Which was ticked and I unticked it. The problem is still there though...

The two files are attached.

Thx !!

 

embyserver.txt ffmpeg-transcode-b95c7546-02c1-484f-9a13-96fc03de92a4_1.txt

[Carlo 4560]

On 12/6/2024 at 6:20 AM, lyapounov said:

Thx @Carlo

However, I am not sure I found where is this parameter in the dashboard.

The closest one I saw is in Transcoding section,

"Allow subtitle extraction on the fly"

Which was ticked and I unticked it. The problem is still there though...

The two files are attached.

Thx !!

 

embyserver.txt 607.31 kB · 0 downloads ffmpeg-transcode-b95c7546-02c1-484f-9a13-96fc03de92a4_1.txt 27.97 kB · 0 downloads

Your current ffmpeg log shows:
 

Warning: Hardware-accelerated subtitle-overlay is disabled due to diagnostic option

That would indicate you have loaded the diagnostic plugin and have the option set to disable it.

Try disabling that option and see what affect it will have.
Any sub that is graphics or non text based is going to require resources to overlay on the video or just cause problems with transcoding in general. You'll notice, no commercial streaming service, IPTV TV provider or broadcast TV stations use graphical subs.

[lyapounov 1]

@Carlo

Thank you ! That seems to have solved the problem.

However, here is the weird thing : I had not installed this plugin... So I had to install it first, then untick the Disable subtitles overlay.

So how come this was on by default ???? BTW graphic subtitle comes from the fact that I ripped my dvd.

Thank you anyway, will do more testing, but on one video, it works now !

[Carlo 4560]

Good, question that I don't know the answer to.
Is it possible you might have added the plugin sometime in the past then removed it?

[lyapounov 1]

@Carlo

here is the situation. It was working perfectly until now, where the issue is back.

So I went to the Diagnostic Option, and guess what: the "Disable Hardware Subtitle Overlay" was ticked again.

Now to be clear: I did not touch this parameter (actually did even not return at emby parameter page), and I am alone at home. Last use of emby was yesterday evening (french time), and it worked perfectly.

Therefore: there is a process somewhere which does change this parameter...

Curious, isnt'it. But boring.

How can I debug this ?

Thx

 

[lyapounov 1]

@CarloOK, more

I stopped the emby server on my synology. Then I started the server.

The "Disable Hardware Subtitle Overlay" was ticked again, aven though I unticked it before stopping.

So it seems that at start time, this is set-up by default, and that is not good.

Well, even more. I untick, I save. And one mimute later, the button is ticked again.

That make emby impossible to use on any video which has graphic subtitles.

I let you start the debug at that level. Thx !!!

 

Edited December 11, 2024 by lyapounov

[Neminem 1518]

Yes those settings are for debugging and will reset after a restart of the server.

You will need to redo the setting after each restart of your server.

[Neminem 1518]

15 hours ago, lyapounov said:

Well, even more. I untick, I save. And one mimute later, the button is ticked again.

That should not be happening.

[lyapounov 1]

@Neminem

Thank you; The second part may have been me not clicking properly on the save button.

But regarding the first part, if I understand correctly, it means that, by default, any video which does have embedded graphic subtitle will not play, unless you 1) download the diagnostic plugin and 2) you untick the value and 3) you untick it again any time the server is stopped ?

If that is the case, this is not very user friendly, specially given the fact that graphic subtitle are often coming from ripped DVD...

[Neminem 1518]

13 minutes ago, lyapounov said:

But regarding the first part, if I understand correctly, it means that, by default, any video which does have embedded graphic subtitle will not play, unless you 1) download the diagnostic plugin and 2) you untick the value and 3) you untick it again any time the server is stopped ?

It would appear so, form your testes.
1) Yes

2) Yes

3) Yes

I do not use embedded subtitle, I always extract them from media, and only use .srt subs.

I have had to many issues over the years with embedded subtitle and graphic subtitle even if they where not embedded.

And this is with plex, jellyfin and emby.

I have learned to avoid embedded and graphic subtitle.

[lyapounov 1]

@Luke@Carlo@Neminem

More:

This morning, I looked at the 2 parameters:

Disable Hardware Subtitle Overlay

Disable Subtitle Filtering

They were back again to ON !!

And I have not rebooted my synology, nor did I stop emby server.

Conclusion: there is something which automatically puts those 2 values to on on a regular basis, like a cron job.

This is an issue : I have a lot of DVD which I ripped, and all of them have graphics subtitles embeded, and that means I have to check everytime if those values are Off. Not very user friendly.

Can you please help me; I paid to have something which must be working...

Many thx

Best

 

[lyapounov 1]

And now I was watching a movie, all fine.

I then switched movies, and guess what: it didn't work.

The two options were back again.

At least it works with plex.

I start realizing I wasted my money

[visproduction 315]

I don't actually use Emby transcoding, so these are just guesses...

In the meantime, you could remove the subtitles and remux copy the media to a new version without subtitles (2 minutes per 2 hour media).  Then convert the subs you want to .srt or .ass using MKVtools and online converters, if needed (also 2 minutes each).  Place the new version video with separate subtitles in the Emby library and that may fix the issues. (another 2 minutes each.)

Yes, these are extra steps, but it's quite typical to need to prep media for streaming playback for a particular server and bandwidth setup.  I know you prefer that everything happens automatically. That is just very rarely true.

I wonder if the annoying settings switching back off,  may have something to do with your hardware media encoding support.  Perhaps checking the hardware encoder for driver updates, might be an idea.  Which hardware support device do you have?  Is there setup software for this separate video processing device?

 

[Carlo 4560]

On 12/13/2024 at 5:49 AM, lyapounov said:

Conclusion: there is something which automatically puts those 2 values to on on a regular basis, like a cron job.

Maybe you missed it earlier, but those 2 options are the default settings in the diagnostic plugin and reset to startup.

I've not tried this, but worth a try.  Try setting it the way you want it, then immediately remove the plugin.
It's going to want you to restart the server. Don't yet.
Do a test and see if it's still working correctly.
Restart server.
Do a test and see if it's still working correctly.

What results did you get on those two tests?
I have a feeling it's not going to work but worth a shot.

Carlo