Video playback issues on Fire TV

[thefranklin 0]

When the problem is occurring can you confirm that it is using VLC (OSD says "Direct/V")?

 

How many items have you tried?  Have you tried different types of items?  What is the media info from the web client for one that is having the problem?

It says Direct/l with VLC enabled.  Trans/l with VLC disabled (and displays picture, albeit unwatchable).  All of my media is just straight dvd rips of movies and tv shows using makemkv. 

 

They all worked yesterday and every day before that for quite awhile, it has been smooth.  They work on a Nexus player, android phone, web browser, etc.  I have two separate firetvs that stopped working at the same time, and had both worked.

 

I do have some workout dvd rips.  They did play and did say Direct/V.

 

Something that doesn't work:

Media Info
Video
CodecMPEG2VIDEO
ProfileMain
Level8
Resolution720x480
Aspect ratio16:9
AnamorphicNo
InterlacedYes
Framerate29.97003
Bitrate6827 kbps
Bit depth8 bit
Pixel formatyuv420p
Audio
Languageeng
CodecAC3
Layoutstereo
Channels2 ch
Bitrate187 kbps
Sample rate48000 khz
DefaultYes
Containermkv
PathI:\Kids TV\Chuggington\The Chugger Championship\s01e14.mkv
Size512 MB

Something that did work:

Media Info
Video
CodecMPEG4
Codec tagmp4v
ProfileSimple Profile
Level1
Resolution720x404
Aspect ratio16:9
AnamorphicNo
InterlacedNo
Framerate29.97003
Bitrate1361 kbps
Pixel formatyuv420p
Ref frames1
Audio
Languageeng
CodecAAC
Codec tagmp4a
ProfileLC
Layoutstereo
Channels2 ch
Bitrate124 kbps
Sample rate48000 khz
DefaultYes
Containermov
PathI:\Workout videos\Ultimate Ball\MOV\100284-29-Title1.mov

Thanks,

[ebr 16169]

What kind of sound system are the Fire TVs hooked up to?

[ebr 16169]

What kind of sound system are the Fire TVs hooked up to?

 

Also, can you please confirm the FireOS version on the devices?

[media-mad 0]

OK I have a very similar but very mysterious problem. These are the facts + symptoms:

1. I have two identical Amazon Fire TV boxes (the latest 4K capable Fire TV) both running  Fire OS version 5.0.5.1.
2. As above my media (.mkv files) worked on both boxes "yesterday and every day before..." and they when accessed via "a Nexus player, android phone, web browser, etc."
3. Both Fire TVs had working Emby apps previously but now:
4. PROBLEM 1 (caused by?): On one Fire TV everything I play says Direct/l (with VLC enabled) on the other it says Direct/V (with VLC enabled) - I have no idea why this difference!
5. I have treble checked and all settings are identical between the two boxes.
6. Emby Server version at the back-end is: 3.0.5931.0
7. Emby Fire TV apps on both boxes are latest 1.1.74a version.
8. PROBLEM 2 (caused by PROBLEM 1?): On the Fire TV that always says Direct/l (with VLC enabled!!!) SD content plays audio with no picture but HD content plays audio and shows picture without an issue (apart from it should be using Direct/V!!!)

Ahhhg. Any ideas?

 

Please help.

 

Thanks.

[ebr 16169]

Don't worry about which player it is using as long as it is working properly.

 

The difference is the content of what you are playing.  Dolby Digital tracks are now bitstreamed.

 

If you don't have DD capability in your system, then you can set your audio mode to "Compatible".  The next version (now in beta) will allow you to turn off the DD bitstreaming for cases like the one you have with the video not showing up.

[media-mad 0]

Thank you so much.

 

Switching Audio Mode from "Direct" to "Compatible" brought back the video side of things.

 

Not in a million years would I have guessed that having Audio Mode witched to Direct would allow the audio but stop the video side working!

Anyway many thanks again

[thefranklin 0]

We have hdmi cables directly to our tvs. 

 

You are right about the Compatible option, Perfect, that did it! Thanks!