ALAC files being transcoded and not Direct Play

[666ways2love 1]

Very new to the Emby family so I'm just trying to work out the kinks in setup. 

All I want to use Emby for is to play music from my media server to my Yamaha R-n303 2ch receiver. 98% of my music is either mp3 or ALAC. The receiver supports native playback of MP3, WMA, MPEG4 AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD [R-N303 specs]. When I was using Yamaha's MusicCast application with my media server, there were no playback issues. In Emby, with what I believe to be transcoding disabled [Users>Playback>'Allow audio transcoding, if necessary, during media playback'], ALAC are still being transcoded on the fly. 

Since I'm still learning the application, there might be some settings to adjust that I am unaware of or changing incorrectly. As an example, I have tried modifying the DLNA Generic Device profile Server setting Protocol info to include 'http-get:*:audio/m4a:*' which doesn't seem to make a difference. FWIW, FLAC file plays direct w/o transcode.

TIA for helping a noob.

 

[Luke 42077]

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[666ways2love 1]

Sure thing. See attached.

ffmpeg-transcode-ca1da0d5-3837-4a37-b23e-6e48a60b08c1_1.txt embyserver.txt

[666ways2love 1]

hi. Just wondering if anyone had a chance to look into this?

[Luke 42077]

Hi, can you please try this build of the dlna plugin and let me know how it compares?

Emby.Dlna.zip

Thanks.

[666ways2love 1]

Should I be using the generic device profile? Or should I make any modifications to the profile i.e. streaming bitrate, server settings etc?

[Luke 42077]

I would use the generic.

[666ways2love 1]

Sorry to take so long to test this. Replaced plugin. Using generic DLNA profile. Still transcoding ALAC when casting to DLNA device.

Edited March 8, 2025 by 666ways2love

[Luke 42077]

Just now, 666ways2love said:

Sorry to take so long to test this. Replaced plugin. Using generic plugin. Still transcoding.

Hi, can you please provide a new log example from after doing that? Thanks.

[666ways2love 1]

ffmpeg-transcode-63de2c63-a0d9-4b83-93cd-14c4ba74bc24_1.txtembyserver.txt

[Project_DCB 0]

I had the same issue, whether ALAC or AIFF but to resolve I turned off all transcoding at a profile level and no issues since. But then I am using the beta Emby server so figured it was that. 
 

Is it possible Emby thinks it’s a video it will say stream and audio in the stats. 
 

Not really that concerned as everything works with Transcoding turned off. 

[vdatanet 1617]

I have de same issue. Wiim Pro Plus fully supports ALAC.

ffmpeg-transcode-de08cdb9-e507-406b-9a6c-56e082d41f78_1.txt

[vdatanet 1617]

Issue still present in plugin version 1.5.0

[Luke 42077]

@666ways2love  @Project_DCB  @vdatanet

Please let me know if Dlna plugin 1.5.2 resolves the issue for you. Thanks !

[666ways2love 1]

Yes! I am now seeing ALAC Direct Play when using DNLA. Many thanks.