Cannot play some videos on Shield TV

[oldschool 16]

I'm on Version 3.1.192.0 beta on Win Server 2008 R2 using an E5-2609 v4 and 24GB RAM. I recently updated my hardware, and this is running inside a VM.

 

Just recently, I've been trying to play videos at first using a Shield TV, and for some videos, it would give me an error trying to perform the playback. It would error out 3 times, and then just give up. I can play it using the Chrome browser, but the Shield TV will not play it.

 

Logs attached. One of the transcode logs was the one on the Shield that didn't play, and the other is for the Chrome browser that played successfully.

logs.zip

[ebr 16169]

The browser converted the audio to mp3 while the app converted it to 5.1 aac.  That's the only real difference I see but both of those look like successful transcodes from the server end.

 

If you can send a log from the app I may be able to see more.  See instructions under Android TV here: How to Report a Problem

[oldschool 16]

Thanks for the quick response!

 

I just sent the logs from a second Shield TV that had the same exact problem.

 

User name: Kids

Tried to play back the same file as in the transcoding report.

Sent it around 2:43PM CST.

As far as what I did, I just navigated to the file using the shield TV and then tried to play. It attempted 3 times to play and then said it was giving up.

Edited October 19, 2016 by oldschool

[ebr 16169]

Okay, I think this may actually be the same as Audio issues with playback on Fire TV Stick but, in your case, the hardware cannot handle the audio stream at all so it is failing.

 

 

[oldschool 16]

This must be a new thing, because it's been pretty good at playing all my content up until maybe the last week or 2. I was trying to collect more information because just a couple of days ago I was receiving the same error on a lot more videos in my collection, but it seems as if something updated and now MORE of them play, but I'm still having problems with some videos.

[oldschool 16]

Live TV on the Shield TV is having the same problem. I tried making some changes like toggling the downsampling, and some of the different settings for Live TV, and I was never able to view the stream on the Shield. I AM able to stream using Chrome.

[mastrmind11 722]

Live TV on the Shield TV is having the same problem. I tried making some changes like toggling the downsampling, and some of the different settings for Live TV, and I was never able to view the stream on the Shield. I AM able to stream using Chrome.

Do you have hardware acceleration enabled on your Emby box?  I had the same issues as you describe when I was using VAAPI.  Disabled it and Live TV worked again.  This was a couple releases ago.

[oldschool 16]

Do you have hardware acceleration enabled on your Emby box?  I had the same issues as you describe when I was using VAAPI.  Disabled it and Live TV worked again.  This was a couple releases ago.

I have hardware acceleration off. I tried using OpenMax and VA API, but to troubleshoot, I turned it off.

 

One weird issue I was having was the FFmpeg version selection. When I change it to "Use system installed version", it says "We're unable to locate FFmpeg using the path you've entered. FFprobe is also required and must exist in the same folder. These components are normally bundled together in the same download. Please check the path and try again". I've had to download the latest FFmpeg from their website and point Emby to that folder, and then things have been OK.

[CBers 7450]

One weird issue I was having was the FFmpeg version selection. When I change it to "Use system installed version", it says "We're unable to locate FFmpeg using the path you've entered. FFprobe is also required and must exist in the same folder. These components are normally bundled together in the same download. Please check the path and try again". I've had to download the latest FFmpeg from their website and point Emby to that folder, and then things have been OK.

 

@@oldschool

 

Not sure if this helps: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/39847-ffmpeg-error-after-fresh-install/

[oldschool 16]

@@oldschool

 

Not sure if this helps: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/39847-ffmpeg-error-after-fresh-install/

OK, so I didn't install FFmpeg, I just unzipped it to a custom folder that I chose. So it looks like that message is expected? I don't see a way to "install" FFmpeg. All of the builds on their site are just the executable. Looks like the "system installed" option was from an earlier version of Emby? Somewhat confusing.

[MSattler 390]

OK, so I didn't install FFmpeg, I just unzipped it to a custom folder that I chose. So it looks like that message is expected? I don't see a way to "install" FFmpeg. All of the builds on their site are just the executable. Looks like the "system installed" option was from an earlier version of Emby? Somewhat confusing.

Wait, you running this on a Windows VM or Linux VM?

 

Windows VM should always have it included by default.

 

Now that view always defaults that selection to Custom, even if you selected the built in one.

[oldschool 16]

Wait, you running this on a Windows VM or Linux VM?

 

Windows VM should always have it included by default.

 

Now that view always defaults that selection to Custom, even if you selected the built in one.

I'm on a windows VM. When I change it to the default, that's when I get the error message. I had to go out and download the newest FFmpeg and put it in a folder and point Emby to that folder.

[oldschool 16]

The Shield was working great with a newer version of Emby, but just the past 2 days the failed playback problem has reoccurred. I've updated to the latest Emby beta and also the shield tv updated to 3.3.

[ebr 16169]

Can you please provide information on a specific instance?  Thanks.

 

How to Report a Problem

[oldschool 16]

Logs sent from my Shield tv.

[ebr 16169]

Please...

 

 

Reproduce your problem and then use this button to send the log.  Then add the following information to your report in the forum:

 

• Exactly what you were doing and what happened.  Include the name of whatever you played if it is a playback problem
• Any options you have changed from their default settings
• The time you sent the log
• The name of the Emby user on the local server that was logged in at the time

[oldschool 16]

• Exactly what you were doing and what happened.  Include the name of whatever you played if it is a playback problem

I just navigated to a movie and tried to play it. It attempted to play the video three times and then said "giving up".

• Any options you have changed from their default settings

It's been a while since I changed any settings on this Shield TV, but I would say that for the most part it is all default settings. No external players or anything like that. No complicated setup or configuration was applied.

• The time you sent the log

I posted here shortly after I sent the log, so somewhere around 6:19PM CST on 11/17/2016.

• The name of the Emby user on the local server that was logged in at the time

I was logged in as Katie.

[ebr 16169]

The Christmas Blessing (Movie 2005)

Is that a DVD folder rip?

 

Can you please post the media info for that item (from the bottom of the detail page in the web app) and the transcoding logs that were generated?

 

Thanks.

[oldschool 16]

No, it's an mkv.

 

Media Info

VideoCodecH264
AVCYes
ProfileHigh
Level41
Resolution1920x1080
Aspect ratio16:9
AnamorphicNo
InterlacedNo
Framerate23.97602
Bitrate10308 kbps
Bit depth8 bit
Pixel formatyuv420p
Ref frames1
NAL4
TitleThe Christmas Blessing (2005)

AudioLanguageeng
CodecDTS
ProfileDTS
Layoutstereo
Channels2 ch
Bitrate768 kbps
Sample rate48000 Hz
DefaultYes
TitleEng DTS

Containermkv

Path\\FILESERVE\Home\public\Video\Movies\Christmas Blessing (Movie 2005), The (2005)\ifpd-christmasblessing-1080p.mkv

 

ffmpeg-remux-b4e86cb7-9f68-4771-b0ec-87a85d713095.txt

[ebr 16169]

There should be up to three transcoding logs for the single attempt to play that item.

 

The Google player doesn't like something about it and we tried to transcode it multiple different ways.

 

I don't think I've ever seen stereo DTS before...

[oldschool 16]

Here's the rest of the logs for that transcode.

logs.zip

[ebr 16169]

In all instances we passed the video straight through and converted the DTS track to AAC.

 

So, the google player doesn't like something in either the raw video track or the audio that is coming through even on the conversion.

 

If you set your audio mode to direct what happens?  Also, if you check/uncheck the option to bitstream DTS?

[oldschool 16]

When I use direct audio, most of the videos will play the video but will not play any audio, as if it is mute. I did have one video play with the audio on direct, and that was a Mkv as well with ac3 audio.

 

I tried toggling the bitstream setting, but that didn't do anything, meaning that the video playing or not playing was unaffected by this setting. The direct setting is the only setting that allowed the video to play (with no audio). If I changed it back to doenmix to stereo, it gave me the same thing where it tried three times and then gave up.

 

Here's he audio stats for the video that played direct correctly:

 

Audio

 

CodecAC3

Layoutstereo

Channels2 ch

Bitrate192 kbps

Sample rate48000 Hz

DefaultYes

TitleDolby Digital stereo Default

Edited November 20, 2016 by oldschool

[ebr 16169]

Okay, so that has me suspecting the audio conversion that is happening on the server (by ffmpeg).  Are the ones that don't work all DTS Stereo?

[oldschool 16]

I have a TV episode that doesn't play with the following audio:

 

Audio

 

Languageeng

CodecAC3

Layout5.1

Channels6 ch

Bitrate384 kbps

Sample rate48000 Hz

DefaultYes

TitleEng Dolby Digital 5.1 Default

 

 

I have a movie with DTS that doesn't work:

Audio

 

Languageeng

CodecDTS

ProfileDTS

Layout5.1

Channels6 ch

Bitrate1536 kbps

Sample rate48000 Hz

DefaultYes

TitleEng DTS 5.1 Default

 

 

 

Another movie that doesn't work:

 

Audio

 

Languageeng

CodecAAC

Codec tagmp4a

ProfileLC

Layout5.1

Channels6 ch

Bitrate223 kbps

Sample rate48000 Hz

DefaultYes

TitleEng AAC 5.1 Default