Atmos playback now works with mkv files

[Deihmos 169]

ffmpeg has been updated (in June 2025) to preserve Dolby Atmos when remuxing from mkv to mp4 (fragmented mp4) with HLS. I now get atmos playback in emby while using native avplayer while the video is being remuxed to mp4. To get playback to work, I had to turn on tone mapping. I am not sure why. 

I believe remuxing videos to mp4 might be a better solution for those that want atmos playback.

I am not sure if this is working due to iOS 26 because emby is using an outdated version of ffmpeg. 

 

https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/278409848b11b263a0de77aa02c8bb2326ef6a76

Edited August 30, 2025 by Deihmos

[vdatanet 1617]

Emby does not support HLS in fmp4 container. If after so many years it is still not supported, I don't think I ever will be.

If you have to enable tone mapping, then it's transcoding.

[Deihmos 169]

Remuxing the video to mp4 results in native playback with HDR with no need to turn on tone mapping. So basically I am getting HDR with Atmos while using the native player. I did not see this before. It could be iOS 26. Not sure why Emby can't do HDR on Apple TV with the mpv player. 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Deihmos

[vdatanet 1617]

That’s direct play, no hls fmp4. 

[Deihmos 169]

That's what I said. With a remuxed video to mp4 container I can get HDR with Atmos. In an mkv container, I got atmos but no HDR while the video was being remuxed to mp4 by emby. HDR content can't seem to play without tone mapping enabled, while non-HDR plays fine.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Deihmos