AV1 Codec support not working?

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi,

I have serious issue with Emby when AV1 content is played. When playing this video content on a Mac App or Nvidea Shield Emby app it will stotter the video, audio will  sometimes brake and regularly the app on the Shield will crash. The strange thing that it will run fine in the Brave browser on the Mac when opening the Emby web gui.

How can this be resolved? What information would you need to assist me?

 

Thanks for the assistants

[Luke 42077]

 

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

 

[xbmcgotham 35]

Thanks for getting back to me @Luke

 

Maybe it be easiest if I provide you with two files that are having the issues so you can more easy troubleshoot?

Please find them here: https://www.transfernow.net/dl/20250918AK8riNHy

[Luke 42077]

Hi, I don't recognize this domain. Can you please attach the log files here? Thanks.

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @Luke I have attached to that link 2 video files that are showing the issue. This would be easier for troubleshooting at your end.

 

[Luke 42077]

2 hours ago, xbmcgotham said:

Hi @Luke I have attached to that link 2 video files that are showing the issue. This would be easier for troubleshooting at your end.

 

The info I requested would be the best place to start. Thanks.

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @Lukeplease find attached logs.

I also notice that the Macs CPU usage goes through the roof when playing AV1, it goes from 4 % to 1000%+ and the fan is picking up speed significantly, normally you dont hear it.

 

embyserver (1).txt hardware_detection-63894052613.txt

[GrimReaper 4739]

Was an ffmpeg log created? 

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @GrimReaper there is no ffmpeg log created for this particular date. I just played one of the files and checked the log for a new ffmpeg log, but there is none.

[Luke 42077]

So you're serving it from the mac to an ipad?

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @Lukesorry I dont understand your question. I have Emby installed on the Mac and playing the 2 video files through it.

 

The logs are from the Emby server.

[Luke 42077]

OK I don't really see an obvious cause.  Are you able to update to Emby Server 4.8.11 ?

[brothom 177]

On 23/09/2025 at 20:08, xbmcgotham said:

Hi @GrimReaper there is no ffmpeg log created for this particular date. I just played one of the files and checked the log for a new ffmpeg log, but there is none.

No log indicates that no transcoding has occurred.

 

On 18/09/2025 at 17:03, xbmcgotham said:

Hi,

I have serious issue with Emby when AV1 content is played. When playing this video content on a Mac App or Nvidea Shield Emby app it will stotter the video, audio will  sometimes brake and regularly the app on the Shield will crash. The strange thing that it will run fine in the Brave browser on the Mac when opening the Emby web gui.

How can this be resolved? What information would you need to assist me?

 

Thanks for the assistants

If the video stutters, but no transcoding is happening the video is probably "too heavy" for the device to handle, even if it should be able to play the codec.

An easy way to reproduce stutter on Windows is by having an older laptop (2014-ish) and playing 4K (h264) videos. The browser can and will play it but most older Windows devices will just stutter beyond believe.

Can you share the specifications of the file and on what device are you trying to play the AV1 file?

This information can be found at the bottom in Emby on the media's detail page, for example:  

[xbmcgotham 35]

8 hours ago, Luke said:

OK I don't really see an obvious cause.  Are you able to update to Emby Server 4.8.11 ?

Hi @Luke I have updated to 4.8.11, however no change in performance.

 

3 hours ago, brothom said:

No log indicates that no transcoding has occurred.

 

If the video stutters, but no transcoding is happening the video is probably "too heavy" for the device to handle, even if it should be able to play the codec.

An easy way to reproduce stutter on Windows is by having an older laptop (2014-ish) and playing 4K (h264) videos. The browser can and will play it but most older Windows devices will just stutter beyond believe.

Can you share the specifications of the file and on what device are you trying to play the AV1 file?

This information can be found at the bottom in Emby on the media's detail page, for example:  

Hi @brothom Please find below the details of the example files. As you can see they are small files and should not have any issue with the hardware both on a iMac 27-inch 2020 and a Nvidea Shield 2019. Also, as I can play these files without any issue directly on the mac using Emby web browser and VLC. So I do think there is something wrong with the AV1 codec in Emby app. Can one of the engineers dig into this as it effects all the AV1 videos I have. Have a nice weekend.





 

[brothom 177]

After some reading up on the NVIDIA Shield it seems that the AV1 support is sparse on it.

Even if your Mac can directly run it, doesn't mean the Shield can do it too.
Which version of the Shield are you trying to play the AV1?

It's also a 4K video so it might have some performance issues processing that.

Edited September 26, 2025 by brothom

[xbmcgotham 35]

thanks for looking into this. I would for now focus on the mac to get to the bottom of it as I can easily access logs and we know for sure that these files work fine on the mac using VLC and emby web interface. Troubleshooting the Shield is more complex.

[brothom 177]

1 minute ago, xbmcgotham said:

thanks for looking into this. I would for now focus on the mac to get to the bottom of it as I can easily access logs and we know for sure that these files work fine on the mac using VLC and emby web interface. Troubleshooting the Shield is more complex.

Yep. I found some people using Plex also complaining about the Shield being either slow or showing only a black screen (4K AV1 codec).

Regardless of the logs, the server is probably converting the file from the non-readable AV1 (since most Shields don't support it), to a readable file.
But because it's a 4K file, the server can't keep up with the playback speed so it causes stuttering. 

It would be helpful to know which version of the Shield you're using.

[xbmcgotham 35]

Thanks @brothom but as mentioned lets troubleshoot on the mac for now, you have already pointed out that the shield might have hardware issues. However the mac has no hardware issues as VLC and emby web interface is playing the files fine. It we can get this fix on the mac, then we can always go back to the Shield and see if it was resolved there as well. If its not, its probably then related to the shields hardware. btw its a Shield 2019

[Neminem 1518]

I would try remuxing it and have video a first stream.

See if that helps.

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @Neminemunfortunately that is no option as I have many files and more files these days are being coded in AV1. And as its working in Emby web interface and VLC, its really a emby issue for now.

[Neminem 1518]

Well video before all others is the norm.

Just try with 1 and see is that's your issue.

Right now we want to know the what ? why ? and how come ?

If you could test this, then we could eliminate this, if it does not change

[xbmcgotham 35]

Hi @Neminemwhat do you try to eliminate here? That the files are corrupt? Unfortunately I dont understand your reasoning. its clear the file works fine. its not working within emby app. converting a file to another format is not going to answer the issue of all the files having this AV1 coding issue. What I would suggest needs doing, is download the example video files I shared earlier in the post and have an emby developer analyse it themselves instead. @Luke where can I upload an official bug so its picked up by an Emby developer?

[Neminem 1518]

15 minutes ago, xbmcgotham said:

its not working within emby app. converting a file to another format is not going to answer the issue of all the files having this AV1 coding issue

Thats not what I ask for

Remux is not an reencode.

Just change video to 0:0 right now i looks like its 0:1

and audio is 0:0 and change that to 0:1 in the file.

That way video has first place.

I should take seconds.

[xbmcgotham 35]

Sorry for the confusion. If that is all, I am happy to try that, but I am lost to how and where you want me to do this.

[Neminem 1518]

Copy you video and edit the copy, to preserve original.

I use Tdarr to unify all my media files, for smooth streaming.

And the recommended is video first.

Handbreak might do it for you.

 

Edited September 26, 2025 by Neminem