Recording plays on iOS and on HTTP but not on Emby Roku

[HappyGilmour 20]

I sure hope this is an easy one that someone has had experience with. I have a recording (and this has happened with multiple previous recordings) where it plays perfectly on iOS client on my phone. Plays perfectly on HTTP interface. But won't play on the Roku client (Roku clients are up to date.)

On my external Roku client it just sits there and does nothing. I get the time in the upper right corner and that's it.

On my TLC TV built-in Roku the circle spins for a while and then I get a "No compatible streams found" error. I have attached the transcode log. Thank you in advance for all you guys do.

ffmpeg-transcode-6d512fa3-6279-4ca0-8268-8d5c161d1e63_1.txt

[HappyGilmour 20]

Wanted to add one more thing. I converted the files to MP4 (using Emby convert feature.) And the exact same issue happens. That is really really strange.

Also, sent Roku logs at 10:15 EDT on 10/27. Thank you again!

embyserver (5).txt

Edited October 27, 2025 by HappyGilmour
Added server log as well. Added infor for Roku logs.

[visproduction 315]

Related - Roku bandwidth - number of available streams limitations?
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=roku+limits+media+stream+TV&ia=web

[HappyGilmour 20]

9 minutes ago, visproduction said:

Related - Roku bandwidth - number of available streams limitations?
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=roku+limits+media+stream+TV&ia=web

Thank you for the response! Unfortunately this is not that. I have tried watching when this is the only device accessing the Emby server. Still get the "No streams available" error. 

[Luke 42077]

HI, as a test, if you disable hardware transcoding in server transcoding settings, does that help?

[HappyGilmour 20]

44 minutes ago, Luke said:

HI, as a test, if you disable hardware transcoding in server transcoding settings, does that help?

I will try that. Just curious does that affect playback or the recording? In other words, do I change it and test the existing recording? Or do I change it and make a new recording to test?

[Luke 42077]

It only affects playback, so you can test on an existing recording.

[HappyGilmour 20]

On 10/28/2025 at 4:53 PM, Luke said:

It only affects playback, so you can test on an existing recording.

So turning off hardware acceleration did not solve the issue. Also, I ran FFPROBE on the recording that was created. Both the original .TS and the converted MP4 show as H264 codec which seems pretty standard to me. I don’t know why the Roku client would have problems playing it. I also sent the Roku Emby client log files via the interface. I can’t see them but you must be able to. 
 

[HappyGilmour 20]

Wanted to also add that this particular stream appears to be 50-60 fps. I don't know if that would be important here or not. Thanks.

 

[Luke 42077]

Can you try lowering the app quality setting and see if that helps?

[HappyGilmour 20]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

Can you try lowering the app quality setting and see if that helps?

Hi,

I can't get it to play so I can't set it on the client itself (unless there is a way other than hitting the down arrow and clicking the gear icon.) And I can only change internet streaming bit rate on the server side. These clients are local.

I'm curious. Did you receive the Roku Emby client logs I sent? Did you see anything in the server or transcode logs? I'm hoping there are clues there. Thanks.

Edited October 30, 2025 by HappyGilmour

[Luke 42077]

Hi, you could go into playback settings before playing to do that.

[HappyGilmour 20]

Just now, Luke said:

Hi, you could go into playback settings before playing to do that.

OK I will look for the setting on the Roku Emby. Thanks.

[HappyGilmour 20]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

Hi, you could go into playback settings before playing to do that.

Ok I change the setting from Auto to numerous different settings all the way down to 480p and 1 Mbit and nothing has changed. 
 

Have you had a chance to review the Roku Emby logs or the server and transcode logs?

 

[ebr 16168]

17 hours ago, HappyGilmour said:

Have you had a chance to review the Roku Emby logs

Hi.  Whatever is going on here is in the transcode or source.  From the app perspective, we're just getting an invalid stream.

[HappyGilmour 20]

1 hour ago, ebr said:

Hi.  Whatever is going on here is in the transcode or source.  From the app perspective, we're just getting an invalid stream.

But it records fine. Playback fine on http and my iPhone app. It is only Roku that won’t play it. If Emby is encoding it to H264 then it should play everywhere, no?

 

 

[ebr 16168]

20 hours ago, HappyGilmour said:

Playback fine on http and my iPhone app

Are they transcoding?

[HappyGilmour 20]

9 hours ago, ebr said:

Are they transcoding?

It says Direct Play when I look at “stats for nerds” on the phone and http. 

[visproduction 315]

http is known to be faster than https
 

Quote

http                                                                                            https
Performance    Faster due to no encryption overhead     Slower by ~10-30ms higher latency and 5-15% lower throughput

https://sslinsights.com/http-vs-https/

Newer version of https is listed as faster for some situations of some data type on newer bowsers, but I don't think that applies to video streaming via TCP.  I have not tested this lately, but I think the 5% to 15% slower with https may well apply for media streaming.

If true, then could explain why http streams arensmoother than https on your particular server and test routing.  For whatever large media file that needs transcoding or even direct playback, your server + whatever hardware and TCP connection and TV app is perhaps close to the limit of smooth playback and the slower https, causes an issue.  This is just a guess.  I did not review the log from last Monday.

[ebr 16168]

14 hours ago, HappyGilmour said:

It says Direct Play when I look at “stats for nerds” on the phone and http. 

That would be why.  Something in the transcode process is creating something the Roku doesn't like.

[Luke 42077]

On 10/29/2025 at 6:49 PM, HappyGilmour said:

So turning off hardware acceleration did not solve the issue.

Can you please provide a log example of that? Thanks.

[HappyGilmour 20]

7 hours ago, Luke said:

Can you please provide a log example of that? Thanks.

Sorry came down with the flu. I will do this tomorrow. Thank you for getting back to me. 
 

Edited November 4, 2025 by HappyGilmour

[Luke 42077]

@HappyGilmour ?

[HappyGilmour 20]

Sorry. I answered the private message as well. I got the flu/COVID/Ebola...whatever it was had me down and out for about a week and a half. Then had preplanned travel. Back now and I will do the test this evening. 

[HappyGilmour 20]

On 11/13/2025 at 12:32 AM, Luke said:

@HappyGilmour ?

Hi,

 

11/19 between 7:06 and 7:15 EST was the test time. Logs sent from Emby. Other logs attached. When I tried to play files in Emby I just got a blank screen. Again, these recordings play fine on http and ios. Thanks.

 

 

ffmpeg-directstream-14201ef9-e569-415d-aef7-c88a7778434b_1.txt embyserver (6).txt ffmpeg-directstream-7415b97c-c888-4751-985f-05ed804b0a58_1.txt