How to debug unnecessary transcoding / media bitrate exceeds limit

[ulfda 0]

I have a Windows 10 computer with both Plex and Emby Theater. Plex works fine, Emby not.

 

Emby always thinks (spinning circle/arc) for nearly two minutes (!) before starting playback, and then in transcoding mode. Stats for Nerds says "Reason for transcoding: Media bitrate exceeds limit."

 

I don't think there should be any problem playing directly. I have a wired gigabit network. Plex works fine. Playing a file over the network with Windows Media Player works fine.

 

The Emby Server is the Docker app on an UnRAID server.

 

Since Emby is so much better than Plex (IMHO) I would like to debug this thorougly and fix it, but no luck so far. I've tried different settings, looked through the log files etc, but can't find what is actually causing this.

 

Any tips on debugging techniques? Thanks!

 

[PenkethBoy 2068]

what client are you using - as that determines via its capabilities what needs transcoding

 

sorry scratch that

Edited February 3, 2018 by PenkethBoy

[Luke 42077]

Please discuss some examples and attach the log files. Thanks.

[ulfda 0]

Please discuss some examples and attach the log files. Thanks.

 

Ok! A low-bitrate example is "Planet of the Apes", 480P H264 (Media Info Screenshot attached). Starting it with Emby Theater takes a couple of minutes and plays in transcoding mode.

 

Playing this movie works fine in Emby's web interface (SERVER:8096/web/), even with Microsoft Edge! It starts in a couple of seconds and with no transcoding.

server-63653212800.txt

[Luke 42077]

If it transcoded then please attach the ffmpeg log as well, thanks.

[Guest asrequested]

How have you configured the path in your library?

Edited February 3, 2018 by Doofus

[ulfda 0]

If it transcoded then please attach the ffmpeg log as well, thanks.

 

Ok, here it is!

ffmpeg-transcode-950e820f-f487-4586-9473-bb4dee548ed2.txt

[Luke 42077]

The player reported an error with the file so it automatically switched to transcoding. Try going back to Emby library setup and click on your folders that you entered and fill in the optional network path field. If Theater is given direct network access to the files then it can play that way which sometimes will offer a better experience. thanks.

[ulfda 0]

The player reported an error with the file so it automatically switched to transcoding. Try going back to Emby library setup and click on your folders that you entered and fill in the optional network path field. If Theater is given direct network access to the files then it can play that way which sometimes will offer a better experience. thanks.

 

Oh, I hadn't noticed that setting. I tried it and it worked! Instead of 2mins and transcoding I got 2sec and direct! Thank you very much!

[chudak 24]

Oh, I hadn't noticed that setting. I tried it and it worked! Instead of 2mins and transcoding I got 2sec and direct! Thank you very much!

@@Luke

Would you suggest local file access or mounted network drive?

[Luke 42077]

With respect to?

[chudak 24]

With respect to?

“the optional network path field”

[Luke 42077]

Why would you fill in a local file path into a network path setting?

[medric 5]

I have the same issue for awhile now first on windows 10 now on xpenology where h264 will play direct others will transcode i have the the network share path setup correctly 
 
 some of the errors are which is odd since its mkv h264 and subs are normal .srt file and my tv is lg webos 3.0 which supports this
 
Media bitrate exceeds limit.
Subtitle format not supported

ffmpeg-transcode-e3b4625c-6883-4f05-9c2d-ecc398991fb7_1.txt

ffmpeg-transcode-53bb1cc3-5bdd-4464-b534-a7c41e0b1369_1.txt

Edited February 22, 2019 by medric

[Luke 42077]

I have the same issue for awhile now first on windows 10 now on xpenology where h264 will play direct others will transcode i have the the network share path setup correctly 

 

 some of the errors are which is odd since its mkv h264 and subs are normal .srt file and my tv is lg webos 3.0 which supports this

 

Media bitrate exceeds limit.

Subtitle format not supported

 

In this example the app tried to direct play it, the player reported an error with the file, and so it automatically switched to transcoding in order to make it just work.

[medric 5]

In this example the app tried to direct play it, the player reported an error with the file, and so it automatically switched to transcoding in order to make it just work.

 

hmm does it say why? cause i have another file that is doing and they are all h264 mkv with no subs and the bitrate is being exceeded but it shouldnt

ffmpeg-transcode-4a7aabd8-86ea-47cd-b8fd-88073f727c6f_1.txt

[medric 5]

odd same files works on ipad hmm i know the lg webos 3.0 should work with these files 

[Luke 42077]

If this is our LG app then it's probably best to re-evaluate once the upcoming app update is released. Thanks.

[medric 5]

If this is our LG app then it's probably best to re-evaluate once the upcoming app update is released. Thanks.

 

okay thanks, look forward to it.

[shrouski 7]

I'm having problems with something I believe should direct play. Here's what I get in the log:

2019-03-17 20:01:26.559 Info App: Bitrate exceeds DirectStream limit: media bitrate: 28495529, max bitrate: 7466667

This is on the LG as well. Local network. In fact a movie I watched before the update (also before the update to server v4) is no longer direct streaming. Where is this bitrate setting? I have my WAN limit set to 50Mbps so is this something to do with the LG app deciding the cap is 7Mbps?

[shrouski 7]

To update my own post, it seems that when I loaded the server via Emby Connect, it was sending me over the internet rather than local. After deleting my server and adding via IP manually, it's fine. However, the cap over the internet still should have worked as the bitrate was well below 50Mbps (about 18Mbps).

 

Thanks

[Luke 42077]

Thanks for the feedback.

[leeknight1981 0]

Hi guy's lol Me again 

 

Can you tell i am new to Emby? 

 

Ok so a Movie that Direct Plays on Plex but wont on Emby? i don't have logs right now unfortunately but my uncle pauls apple TV has never transcoded anything on plex Ever that i have seen all his settings in emby are automatic and he has good broadband

played the  same movie on plex Direct Play, Emby transcode

i really really want to move away from plex so any help getting this running right would be great 

any help i buy beers lol 

TIA 

 

Lee

 

Edited December 19, 2019 by leeknight1981

[Luke 42077]

Hi @@leeknight1981, did you try clicking the info button in  your first screenshot to learn why it was transcoding?

[leeknight1981 0]

Hi @@leeknight1981, did you try clicking the info button in  your first screenshot to learn why it was transcoding?

Hi Luke just added it in original post Media bitrate exceeded

 

Cheers