Transcoding seems not working on FireTV client

[danergo 45]

I'm using Emby for some transcoded streaming. Client is a FireTV Stick. I configured 3MBps max bitrate which seems activating the transcoding but it seems not happening in reality.

 

I can check "nvidia-smi", which does not show any ongoing process. Also in my router I can clearly see there is much more bandwidth (~10MBps) used than I requested. Stats for nerds also confirms this (direct play), emby server admin also shows direct play. But transcoding log doesnt really show any errors at least I couldn't find any on my phone.

 

Can you please take a look at it?

ffmpeg-transcode-6a8c6abe-3545-4b24-9dcd-f6bcbbb98a7d_1.txt

[Lessaj 545]

What makes you think it's not being transcoded to 720p 3 Mbps? This log very clearly indicates that. It cannot be direct playing, both the video and audio tracks are transcoded. You don't have throttling enabled so it finished transcoding the whole file in a little over 4 minutes. Are you sure this it the correct example?

[danergo 45]

Stats for nerds on FireTV emby client shows direct play. Also Emby server shows direct play. And router is indicating higher bandwidth than 3 so that's why I think it is not getting done. Maybe all these are bugs?

[danergo 45]

Hi folks! Do we have any news for this please?

 

Thank you!

[Luke 42925]

What app version number are you on now?

[Luke 42925]

@danergo?

[saadrana211 0]

I’d check the Fire TV client settings first, especially whether Direct Play is being forced despite the bitrate limit. I’ve dealt with similar streaming behavior while working on OnStream, and checking the client, server, and network stats together usually makes it easier to see where the setting is being ignored.

[danergo 45]

On 6/18/2026 at 8:46 PM, Luke said:

What app version number are you on now?

On fire tv stick, I'm on 3.5.44.

Emby Server: 4.9.5.0

Transcoding simply doesnt start, see screenshot:

 

[danergo 45]

It seems, neither "stats for nerds" nor emby server's main status page doesnt display the current transcoding method.

Moreover transcoded stream starts perfect, but after a short (1-3mins) time it starts cracking: pause play pause play. Then I change the bitrate in firetv stick, and it starts playing smooth again for a short time and it collapses again.

Im attaching here the transcode log from the server, @Lukeyou might see some useful insights from this.

 

Please let me know your opinion!

ffmpeg-transcode-b407e758-68d3-4573-880e-9c0692e0e3b4_1.txt

[Luke 42925]

Hi there, please attach the Emby server log from when the problem occurred:

How to Report a Problem

Thanks!

 

[danergo 45]

Sure please find it here

embyserver (3).txt