Volume difference between Emby and Emby android tv

[furnibird 6]

Hi all, I am a complete noob to Emby, I have been using Kodi since the xbmc days and have decided to switch over to a server for in home and travel. So far so good, I gave plex and jellyfin a go and Emby is the best by far. 

At present I am testing, running the server on my main pc, with the server accessing media on the usb drive attached to my nvida shield (drive is network mounted). This is running well so far for both in and out of home streaming. 

The android app on my phone worked well and volume between files is fine. 

The issue I have found is, the standard android app and the android tv app when playing the same file play at very different levels. The android tv add seems OK and files play at the same level however,  the standard app plays with very low volume on same files. AAC 5.1 file I have can be barley heard on standard app but fine on android tv on my nvidia shield. Now I know the solution is, use the android tv app however, I thought I would pass on the info and I do like the horizontal viewing options in the standard app. 

Otherwise well done to all.

[Luke 42077]

Hi, is this all on the same device that you're comparing with?

[furnibird 6]

Yes,nvidia shield. 

[Luke 42077]

Are they both direct playing?

[furnibird 6]

Yes both direct play. I just tested again. The file plays very different between apps. The volume is normal as are other files in android tv app but can't hear it in original app. All other files so far or OK. 

[ALD76 26]

The Android TV app is not direct playing it is direct streaming as the audio is being transcoded to AC3. Some devices like the Fire Cube 3 play AAC quietly so AC3 will be a lot louder.

Edited December 13, 2024 by ALD76

[Lessaj 467]

These examples aren't the same video though, not sure how we're supposed to compare between the apps if you didn't use the same video for both examples. But try setting this to 1.5 under Transcoding and see if that helps.

[ebr 16169]

27 minutes ago, Lessaj said:

These examples aren't the same video though

Correct.  The two examples are completely different formats, containers, streams, etc.  They are also playing back differently.  Please test with the exact same item.

28 minutes ago, Lessaj said:

But try setting this to 1.5 under Transcoding and see if that helps.

That won't help in this case as the one he says has low volume is not transcoding.

[Lessaj 467]

2 minutes ago, ebr said:

That won't help in this case as the one he says has low volume is not transcoding.

I agree that it won't make a difference if it's not transcoding but the examples provided were confusing and one of them looks like it's audio transcoding so it could be a factor. But really need to see a result for the same file in both apps.

[furnibird 6]

Sorry my bad, selected wrong photos. 

If you need anymore info I have time this weekend. Direct play volume as I said is fine in android tv app but very low in sideloaded original app on my nvidia shield. I have been using the android tv app with no issues. 

[Luke 42077]

HI, one is direct playing and one is transcoding with the server. Usually most users want to direct play as much as possible and avoid conversions. So they're playing in two different ways. Are you able to just turn up the volume?

[furnibird 6]

Turning the volume up didn't really help, very low dialogue. Only seems to be this file. All working well on Android tv app. Is this the app that will continue to be updates? 

I will redo the test with my new server set up and upload the logs.

[furnibird 6]

So, I have read that the standard emby app is to be used rather than the android tv as this is being push out ? So I have moved to use this on all android boxes. I believe the issue is any file that is AAC stereo. The volume is so low I can't watch unless volume is double. Seems this is an old issue? 

[furnibird 6]

This is definitely a media server issue. Playing the same file on plex the volume is low however through kodi , no problem. 

[furnibird 6]

I can safely say the audio issue with aac is both emby android apps on my nvidia shield. I have tested embycon through kodi and they all play fine. Is this something of a concern ? I really don't need to run kodi on every android tv set up. Would prefer just an apk. This issue is stopping me buy a life time licence. 

[Luke 42077]

Hi, the player we are embedding is configured at max volume internally, so then the only thing limiting volume is system volume.

We will be updating our embedded player to the latest version very soon, and when it comes down to hard to track issues such as this, there's always a chance it will help with this, so stay tuned for Emby app updates with this.