Anroid app Transcoding vs. AndroidTV app DirectPlay

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

AndroidTV app FOR THE WIN! :  OK here is a first for me when comparing Emby for Android TV vs Emby for Android on my Nvidia Shield Pro. The trust old Emby for Android TV direct plays but the Emby for Android transcodes (and changes the framerate from 30 FPS for some reason). Same hardware, same video file. In fact I challenge others to try this as its a free download of the GTA IV Extended Look in MP4 from Rockstar's site, linked below. Its a registered movie in TMDB too so add it to your movie folder but add the year to help Emby identification.

https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media/videos

 

 

Don't even get me started on the WebOS version playing this file as it converts it to a variable frame rate from the fixed 30 FPS up to over 40 FPS for some reason and it stutters like mad. But that is for another thread I may create. Perhaps Emby should download this free file and do some testing across multiple devices and see what happens.

Edited Tuesday at 08:43 AM by NeverReadyEddie

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

I just discovered a rather major difference, at least for me in one specific scenario. Its worth noting though, and in this instance the AndroidTV app is working better. If you want to comment on it please do it below my post rather than here:

 

[CBers 7732]

@NeverReadyEddieDo you have the "Auto Refresh Rate" option set in either of the apps?

 

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

Yes in both. Why would that trigger transcoding though? Please note it plays smoothly with no dropped frames on the Nvidia Shield in both the AndroidTV app and the Android app. It just transcodes in the Android one for some reason.

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

If I disable "Allow transcoding" and disable "Allow changing of container formats" on my server, it now works in full direct play in the universal Android app exactly like it does with these enabled when played in the AndroidTV app. So the universal Android app is triggering transcoding for no good reason. In fact I also checked my phone (Pixel 8 Pro) where it transcodes by default but when disabled at the server it direct plays perfectly too. Now for the last kicker; the WebOS Emby app on my LG C9 OLED TV was transcoding this GTA6 file and stuttering terribly when doing it, but when transcoding is disabled at the server, it direct plays perfectly too on my TV's native app with perfect frame pacing.

What is going on here?!

Please can someone at Emby download this free video file and do some testing with your latest apps? The only one that does not trigger transcoding for no reason (as all my client devices can play it directly when transcoding is disabled) is the AndroidTV app on my Nvidia Shield Pro. This defaults to direct play when when transcoding is allowed in the server settings.

Its the GTA6 Extended Look free to download here in MP4:

https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media/videos

Edited Tuesday at 02:14 PM by NeverReadyEddie

[GrimReaper 5159]

16 minutes ago, NeverReadyEddie said:

does not trigger transcoding for no reason

No client app triggers transcoding for no reason - it might be erroneous due to the number of factors, but there'll always be the underlying logic/selection process. As per your screenshot, app likely reports AVC Max. video level as 5.1, but ffmpeg log written would show exactly what's occurring.

How to report a media playback issue

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:27 PM by GrimReaper

[ebr 16813]

That's a really old version of the TV app...

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

Yes I was getting infrequent stutter on the latest AndroidTV version so I sideloaded the last version that had smooth playback on. Don't let that distract you from this issue though. That "really old version of the TV app" is direct playing perfectly and the universal Android app is transcoding so don't knock it.

Server and FFMPEG log attached.embyserver.txtffmpeg-transcode-17c285d1-a403-4c52-93bd-c96c8019c79a_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-2d310f2a-a0a5-4555-81cc-ae1825e7be7f_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-11a8bd5a-00e1-49a4-904e-0c5a521572a2_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-434fe270-e3c1-43dd-8794-515a8b6f011c_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-92a51533-c5e3-41ec-a727-a0a32c4702ab_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-24b5b568-95df-4e58-adbf-3db79a38e6a2_1.txtffmpeg-transcode-96c08d59-de39-4bec-9a7c-9323cd5f970b_1.txt

Edited Tuesday at 02:52 PM by NeverReadyEddie

[NeverReadyEddie 2]

For info I have two Nvidia Shields and the 2nd one is running the latest AndroidTV app (2.1.55g) and it worked the same on that version too, i.e. direct playing very nicely. So that app is not triggering any transcoding.

While on this other setup I tried the universal Android app on the same Nvidia Shield and also the WebOS LG app (1.0.51) on this LG G4 OLED TV and they both transcoded "converting to compatible video level" too. Smooth playback on all devices regardless of transcoding though so that's something.

Is this just because your universal app is conservative when reporting max video level? My Shield and my LG TVs all can clearly play the video level 5.2 (5.2 is shown in the MediaInfo summary in the OG post) but your universal app says they cant. However the AndroidTV app I suppose is reporting an unlimited or higher than 5.1 level based in the Nvidia Shield's actual capability so is direct playing. Anyway you have the logs so I will see what you find out.

I can run more tests and get more logs if you want them. 

Edited Tuesday at 06:12 PM by NeverReadyEddie

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

So here the main reason I stick with Emby for Android... I can press the home button on the onn remote and it kills any app. I am able to go back into any app and it starts over. No third party software, no remote mapping. Just using the developer mode., but the home button doesn't kill Emby for Android TV. Petty I know.

[ebr 16813]

14 hours ago, chrisrobbins1970 said:

but the home button doesn't kill Emby for Android TV

Its not supposed to and I don't see why it would "kill" any other app on the device either.  Double-click the home button and you'll probably see them all still running.

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

developer mode > don't keep activities (destroy every activity as soon as the user leaves it) . .. Press the home button on any app and it kils it so when go back into the app it starts at main menu or the beginning. 

[ebr 16813]

13 hours ago, chrisrobbins1970 said:

developer mode > don't keep activities (destroy every activity as soon as the user leaves it) . .. Press the home button on any app and it kils it so when go back into the app it starts at main menu or the beginning. 

Okay, that's not normal Android operation but I don't know why the TV app would behave any differently than any other app in that case.  Unless, you sideloaded the TV app and then also set it as your "Debug" app on the device - perhaps that would be an exception to that behavior.  I don't know because I've never used it since no normal user would ever have this.

I guess I'd need to see an example of why you think the TV app is doing anything differently.

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

 

 

OK. This video will make more since. On the left is Emby for Android.. On the far right is Emby for Android TV.

[ebr 16813]

Customized launcher too...

It looks to me like the app is re-loading as it re-loads the content but with all the customizations you have I can't be sure.

Do this:

• Open Emby for Android
• Press home
• Open Emby for Android TV
• Press home
• Double-click home

Does it show any apps running?

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

 

 

OK...new video...Disabled all customization and going straight google tv... Same results..

[ebr 16813]

You never double-clicked the "home" button...

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

ok...here is me double clicking...I just want to point out that I just wanted to 'SHOW' what I mean by killing the apps...I will defend EMBY forever.. I've been using with ROKU and have always asked for help and the DEVs are AMAZING.. 

 

 

 

[ebr 16813]

Either you still didn't actually double-click home or your modifications you've made have disabled the feature.  When you double-click home, you should get a screen of all running tasks.

e.g.

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

That's the point..I did double click the home button and and all the tasks are killed. That is what the developer options does it kills all the tasks so when you go back into the app it starts at the main menu, but for some reason the emby for Android TV does not do that... That is what I've been saying, it the one downside.. still a fantastic app but the Emby for Android does fully close out when I press the home button..

[ebr 16813]

1 minute ago, chrisrobbins1970 said:

and all the tasks are killed

I saw nothing indicating that.  Looking at the video closely, your "double click" speed looks too slow.  I copied your speed and my Shield did nothing.  Really double click it and see what happens.

Plus, if all the tasks are killed, then so is Android TV.

But, in the end, not sure what we're going to accomplish here as this is a situation that no other user is going to encounter.

[chrisrobbins1970 88]

Agreed.. it was just to explain what I meant by home button killing tasks... again Emby for the win.