No MKV picture with Samsung app but all other platforms are okay

[Frank_B 3]

I'm using the same user profile on several platforms and with the apps on iOS (iPhone 16 Pro Max) , Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV  ... everything is perfect!

Emby Server is based on a Synology DS923+ and runs without an issue. I can stream all my MKV without any issues, local and remote.

 

I installed the Samsung app version on my smart TV (QN800A 75 TV) and everything looks fine, but there is no Picture, only sound.

I tried it with several Account on the other platforms: everything is fine. All Accounts (User, admin) with the Samsung don't show the Picture?!

Any known issues with the Samsung app?

All apps and os are actual and official.

[Frank_B 3]

I tested the user login with the installed browser app on the smart TV - everything is fine and the pictures are shown?!

It seems to be an Emby app issue.

Edited September 29, 2025 by Frank_B

[Frank_B 3]

Next step:

DVD with 576i and 576p in MPEG2 (MKV) has the problem. BluRay 1080i h.264 (MKV) no Problem.

Delete and reinstall the app doesn't solve the problem.

Edited September 29, 2025 by Frank_B

[SamES 1056]

Can you please confirm the app and server version? I think Smasung have removed some mpeg support on recent models

Edited September 29, 2025 by SamES

[Frank_B 3]

Synology DSM 7.2.2-72806 Update 4 , Emby Server 4.8.11.0, Emby Client for Samsung 2.1.0

 

MPEG2 with the internal browser and the emby web interface is no problem!

[Luke 42077]

12 hours ago, Frank_B said:

I'm using the same user profile on several platforms and with the apps on iOS (iPhone 16 Pro Max) , Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV  ... everything is perfect!

Emby Server is based on a Synology DS923+ and runs without an issue. I can stream all my MKV without any issues, local and remote.

 

I installed the Samsung app version on my smart TV (QN800A 75 TV) and everything looks fine, but there is no Picture, only sound.

I tried it with several Account on the other platforms: everything is fine. All Accounts (User, admin) with the Samsung don't show the Picture?!

Any known issues with the Samsung app?

All apps and os are actual and official.

 

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

 

[Frank_B 3]

Last thing missing?! The log

Like I mentioned before: the Samsung app has an MPEG 2 issue!

The web based playback is no problem, but the UI is terrible  

 

 

Samsung log.pdf

Edited September 29, 2025 by Frank_B

[SamES 1056]

1 hour ago, Frank_B said:

Like I mentioned before: the Samsung app has an MPEG 2 issue!

Try putting the file on a USB drive. Plug the drive directly into the TV, then try playing with the TV's internal media player.  Please let us know how that plays. 

[Frank_B 3]

tested right now, and all versions of MKV files work fine (H.264 & MPEG2)

[Frank_B 3]

Quote

Like I mentioned before: the Samsung app has an MPEG 2 issue!

I mean the emby Version for Samsung.

[SamES 1056]

Can you please also attach the server log for the same time as the playback, or do another test with debug enabled for the server log, then upload both the server log and ffmpeg logs as text files? Thanks

[Frank_B 3]

That's what i can provide to you (debug on)

 

 

embyserver.txt ffmpeg-directstream-8601a934-1b7e-46fd-9a31-6ad00a162bfd_1.txt embyserver-2.txt

[SamES 1056]

So 'TranscodeReasons=DirectPlayError' in the ffmpeg log means that the TV can't directplay the video.  Most likely the file is not compatible with the TV supported formats.

This means we need to transcode the file.  I can see that the file is interlaced, and when we transcode it we need to convert it to progressive.  If we don't then you will get a black screen on playback, so I suspect this is the cause of your issue

This issue has been resolved in beta, so I expect it should be fixed for you in the next server release.

[Frank_B 3]

Perfect! Many thx

release date for the ne server version?
 

But why is playing direct via USB and via Web Interface no problem?

 

Edited September 30, 2025 by Frank_B

[SamES 1056]

On 01/10/2025 at 00:22, Frank_B said:

Perfect! Many thx

release date for the ne server version?
 

But why is playing direct via USB and via Web Interface no problem?

 

The mechanism that Samsung allows the apps to use is close, but not identical to the other methods.  If the other methods fail, then it is a clear sign that the file is unsupported, if they work but the app doesn't then it is just a difference in what the Samsung 'app player' can support.

When we see this in the log '&TranscodeReasons=DirectPlayError' it's a generic error from the Samsung player that it could not play DirectPlay the file

 

[Frank_B 3]

Installing the new Synology Server (not provided via Synology?!) V 4.9.1.80-724090180:

576i is now running with pictures

576p still no pictures 

 

[SamES 1056]

21 minutes ago, Frank_B said:

Installing the new Synology Server (not provided via Synology?!) V 4.9.1.80-724090180:

576i is now running with pictures

576p still no pictures 

 

Can you please send me via PM a sample 576p file that I can test? Thanks

[Frank_B 3]

Sorry, but >3GB is to much and they all are in a MKV container.
But you can take any DVD MPEG2 file with 576p and AC3 5.1 Sound.

I subscribed now the gold server version and go on testing.

btw: selected sound file in TRUE HD 7.1 stoped the playback of 1080p h.264 in the Samsung Version of the emby client.
AC3 5.1 is perfect

Edited October 2, 2025 by Frank_B

[Frank_B 3]

The same file type 576p & 576i crashes the emby for macOS 2.2.33 when started.  

It seams to be fundamental issue?

 

[FrostByte 5392]

SamES may not have something to test like that, but you can split your mkv into smaller chunks and then send him a link to some hosting site

 

[Frank_B 3]

Perfect! Didn't know that tool. example is ready. will send it

[Frank_B 3]

Any findings??

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we are looking at it. Thanks.

[SamES 1056]

On 21/10/2025 at 15:54, Frank_B said:

Any findings??

I've tested the sample file that you provided (576P MPEG2VIDEO)

On my 2017 model, this file works fine, both DirectPlay and if I force it to DirectStream to match your logs.

On my 2022 model, it does DirectPlay correctly, but if I force DirectStream then I get audio and a black screen which is what I think you are seeing.

Checking some of your log files, a few of your failures have been 576 interlaced, and I think these have been fixed in recent server updates to force them to transcode, but 576 progressive (such as the Alice example) will still have this issue.

I don't know why they don't DirectPlay on your TV. Just check that you have the latest firmware installed. There could be some regional differences (PAL/NTSC, etc) that might also be why we have different results.

It does look like that 576p MPEG2VIDEO video such as your example can't be Direct streamed, so we probably need to force it to transcode.  It's a little risky as no one else has raised this issue.  That either means it works fine for others, or that this format is not very common.  I checked a couple of other 576p files that I have and I can reproduce the issue with those files, so it's likely that forcing these to transcode on 2021 and newer models shouldn't have a negative impact.

[Frank_B 3]

Perfect!

My use the Samsung QN800A75TV with the latest FW in PAL.