Roku will only play commentary audio

[ITGuy1024 18]

Roku 4.1.42 on my TCL tv will only play the commentary track even though the standard track is selected. Two different movies had this issue.

If I play them on my android phone in the roku app its fine.

I have to lower the quality from auto to something like 1080 10mbps so it starts transcoding. Then the audio track plays fine.

Any ideas?

e456f6fa70&PlaySessionId=10633c7550ef41ffbbdd56e6a6eadcc7&api_key=x_secret8_x. Source Ip: host10, Accept=*/*, Host=host2, User-Agent=Roku/DVP-14.6 (14.6.4.9914-30), Range=bytes=14316596598-
2025-07-12 21:01:26.660 Debug SqliteItemRepository: GetitemById Movie 684883 \\172.30.1.111\DataA\Media\Movies\Despicable Me\Despicable.Me.2010.2160p.UHD.BluRay.DTS-HD.MA.7.1.HDR.x265-CtrlHD.mkv
2025-07-12 21:01:26.661 Debug SqliteItemRepository: GetitemById Movie 684883 \\172.30.1.111\DataA\Media\Movies\Despicable Me\Despicable.Me.2010.2160p.UHD.BluRay.DTS-HD.MA.7.1.HDR.x265-CtrlHD.mkv
2025-07-12 21:01:26.663 Info SessionManager: Playback start reported by app Roku SG 4.1.42 on 75' TCL Roku TV playing Despicable Me. Started at 0 ms. PlaySessionId: 10633c7550ef41ffbbdd56e6a6eadcc7
2025-07-12 21:01:26.664 Info PlaybackReporting - EventMonitorEntryPoint: _sessionManager_PlaybackStart : Entered
2025-07-12 21:01:26.664 Info PlaybackReporting - EventMonitorEntryPoint: Adding PlaybackInfo to playback_trackers : f4d22ec9-9536-5dc7-ae4e-6c8bc4808f1b|5644d3e530a747209eea339361fddf97|684883|DirectStream
2025-07-12 21:01:26.664 Info PlaybackReporting - EventMonitorEntryPoint: Saving PlaybackInfo to DB
2025-07-12 21:01:26.664 Info Server: http/1.1 Response 204 to host10. Time: 4ms. POST http://172.30.1.109:38000/emby/Sessions/Playing
2025-07-12 21:01:26.666 Info Server: http/1.1 Response 206 to host10. Time: 6ms. GET http://172.30.1.109:38000/emby/videos/684883/original.mkv?DeviceId=f4d22ec9-9536-5dc7-ae4e-6c8bc4808f1b&MediaSourceId=f46ba0e952ba295a6c9d2ce456f6fa70&PlaySessionId=10633c7550ef41ffbbdd56e6a6eadcc7&api_key=x_secret8_x
2025-07-12 21:01:26.674 Info Server: http/1.1 Response 200 to host10. Time: 153ms. GET http://172.30.1.109:38000/emby/videos/684883/original.mkv?DeviceId=f4d22ec9-9536-5dc7-ae4e-6c8bc4808f1b&MediaSourceId=f46ba0e952ba295a6c9d2ce456f6fa70&PlaySessionId=10633c7550ef

 

[speechles 2055]

Is the item direct playing? If it is then the Roku is controlling the audio selection and not allowing us to change it even though it looks like we can. You can use the "*" button during direct playback to also change the audio streams directly from the Roku interface. If this still doesn't work it has something to do with the container of the media. You can try using MKVToolNix GUI to remux the item into a new MKV container and that might correct any issues. It is quick since a remux copies all the streams.

You can also use the "Attempt Playback Correction" button from the cog/gear on the video player OSD. This will convert the container using very little CPU %, which will then allow you to change the audio stream since that puts us back in control of playback.

Edited July 13, 2025 by speechles

[ebr 16169]

No Roku supports DTS-HD MA though, right?  So, why isn't this already remuxing for the audio?

Have you disabled the transcoding options on  your server?

[ITGuy1024 18]

2 minutes ago, ebr said:

No Roku supports DTS-HD MA though, right?  So, why isn't this already remuxing for the audio?

Have you disabled the transcoding options on  your server?

I have not disabled transcoding. My work around was to change the quality from auto to 1080 10mpbs to force it to transcode and not direct play. Then the correct audio plays.

 

35 minutes ago, speechles said:

Is the item direct playing? If it is then the Roku is controlling the audio selection and not allowing us to change it even though it looks like we can. You can use the "*" button during direct playback to also change the audio streams directly from the Roku interface. If this still doesn't work it has something to do with the container of the media. You can try using MKVToolNix GUI to remux the item into a new MKV container and that might correct any issues. It is quick since a remux copies all the streams.

You can also use the "Attempt Playback Correction" button from the cog/gear on the video player OSD. This will convert the container using very little CPU %, which will then allow you to change the audio stream since that puts us back in control of playback.

It was direct playing with the quality set to auto. Changing the quality to 1080 10mpbs forced transcoding and then the correct audio played. I'll try to change the audio wth the * button next time for the Roku. I only tried from in Emby.

[speechles 2055]

1 hour ago, ebr said:

No Roku supports DTS-HD MA though, right?  So, why isn't this already remuxing for the audio?

No Roku model so far has proper support for DTS-HD MA in 8 channels. But the DTS core in 5 channels should still pass-through. This is why we allow it to direct play. DTS is just a pass-through. But the AC3 audio would be chosen by the Roku when direct playing if the user does not have support for DTS. This is just a native behavior of the Roku. The server should notice if the device doesn't support DTS and make that the transcode reason be because the audio codec isn't supported.

What we likely need to see is the Roku app log after trying to play it back. Those would disclose what the detected capabilities of that exact Roku were at that time. Then we could accurately know what is going on. Without knowing how the Roku was detecting DTS capability it makes it hard. I would assume DTS isn't supported. But then the entire DTS codec should get disabled. Any time you choose it it should cause a transcode.

@ITGuy1024In the "advanced" section of the Roku settings is an option to turn on debug logs. Then once you do that exit the app and restart it. Then attempt to play that exact same item. Afterwards go back to the Emby homescreen and navigate to your user icon in the top right. At the bottom should be an option to send the debug logs. That option will only appear when the debug logs setting is set to yes. Once we see the app logs from the Roku it will be much easier to know exactly what is going on. Thanks.

Edited July 13, 2025 by speechles