Subtitles not burning in when transcoding

[torell 4]

Not sure if something changed recently, so I'm posting this to see if others are having the same problem.

My primary devices are Firestick and ShieldTV and Chrome browser

AppleTV OS 18.2

Emby for AppleTV 1.9.2 (1)

Video file used to test, Silo S01E01 WEB-DL with subrip subtitles (also used The Day of the Jackal, especially important, as there are foreign language parts that need forced english subtitles)

Initiating play, playback quality set to Auto, file direct plays instantly, subtitles appear, skipping forward and backward is instant.

During playback, if I force playback quality setting low enough that it needs to transcode, (1080p - 5Mbps), the video freezes, the video card disappears from the emby dashboard, after several seconds (10+), the video card appears in the emby dashboard, shows that it’s transcoding but no subtitles appear.

The same video file testing playback, subtitles appear on Emby for Android and Emby for AndroidTV on phones, Firestick and ShieldTV and Chrome browser, regardless of direct play or transcoding with QuickSync.

Attached logs, created a user for testing named “appletv”

Testing was happening just before 10:06PM ET.

embyserver.txt ffmpeg-transcode-cadc7b32-ed81-49aa-ba52-9d6a0c763251_1.txt

Edited December 30, 2024 by torell
adding/changing words

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we'll take a look at it. Thanks for reporting.

[torell 4]

Server version 4.8.10.0
Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.3 (3)

I'll attach logs later today

Edited January 10, 2025 by torell
words

[torell 4]

Logs 02:32PM ET today, user appletv

embyserver2.txt ffmpeg-transcode-0ffca5bd-65b4-4598-b261-d668744e5902_1.txt

[Luke 42077]

OK we're looking into it. Thanks.

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.4 (3)

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.5 (4)

[Luke 42077]

Hi, how does it compare when playing in the Emby web app?

[torell 4]

Works fine, switching between 1080p 60mbps and 1080p 5mbps

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.6 (2)

This is what shows when you reduce the quality to 1080p 5mbps to force transcoding. Transcoding icon goes away, and srt subtitles do not show on screen.

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.7 (1)

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we're looking into this. Thanks.

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.8 (2)

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 1.9.9 (6)

[torell 4]

Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 2.0.0 (4)

 

[torell 4]

If "Preferred Video Player" is set to "Auto" or "MPV", then
Still the same problem as described in original post with Emby for AppleTV 2.0.1 (7)

If "Preferred Video Player" is set to "Native", then the subtitles display (what I'm guessing is) Apple's formatting (white text on transparent black background)

And media card in Emby shows the below for 1080p 60Mbps
Stream: MKV -> HLS and "Converting subtitles directly into video"
Video: Direct Play

And for 1080p 5Mbps
Stream: MKV -> HLS and "Converting subtitles directly into video"
Video: 1080p -> Transcode (now with green icon)

Edited November 9, 2025 by torell

[Luke 42077]

@torellhave you updated to Emby Server 4.9.1.90? Has that helped? if not then can you please attach a new emby server and ffmpeg log example from that? Thanks !

[torell 4]

tvOS 26.1

Emby Server: 4.9.1.90

Emby for AppleTV 2.0.2 (5)

Same thing happens as described in my November 9th post above.
I will try and collect logs and post soon.

[Luke 42077]

16 hours ago, torell said:

tvOS 26.1

Emby Server: 4.9.1.90

Emby for AppleTV 2.0.2 (5)

Same thing happens as described in my November 9th post above.
I will try and collect logs and post soon.

Hi, can you please provide a new emby server and ffmpeg log example? Thanks !