HDR HEVC Playback stutters in Theater Desktop

[brencd01 1]

I am struggling to get Emby Theater to playback a 4K HEVC file smoothly.

The same file plays perfectly smoothly in both MPC-HC and Kodi, so I would appreciate any help/advice to get Theater/mpv configured correctly for it to play smoothly here too.

Here is a screenshot of the stats when playing:

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited October 6, 2019 by brencd01

[Luke 42077]

Hi there, what video settings have you configured in the app?

[brencd01 1]

First screenshopt was with Auto (copy back)

Auto without copyback is no better - still stuttery video, as per this screenshot:

[Guest asrequested]

It's dropping frames. What GPU do you have?

[brencd01 1]

Intel UHD Graphics 600
(Celeron N4100 Processor)
 

Other video settings are:
Deinterlacing set to No  (although I did implement deinterlacing workaround as described here: https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/63958-303-is-not-deinterlacing/ )
Audio delay set for 23-25fps at 90ms
Frame rate switching enabled

Anything else default/auto.

[Guest asrequested]

Why are you using the audio delay? You shouldn't need that if you're using refresh rate switching.

Edited October 4, 2019 by Doofus

[brencd01 1]

Because I have a sync issue with my hardware. Its been the same through different PCs and TVs so I assume its the AVR, but its not consistent across different framerates, hence the correction.

Anyway, tried turning it off but didn't make any difference to video performance.

[Guest asrequested]

Try turning off audio bitstreaming and not using audio delay.

[Guest asrequested]

If that doesn't change anything, turn off refresh rate switching, set your display to 30Hz and try again.

[brencd01 1]

I have done all of the above.

With other content (i.e. a H.264 1080p file) the playback is acceptable. It's in sync although video is less smooth than with native refresh rate.

For the 4K HEVC file, no change to video performance. Still dropping lots of frames.

[brencd01 1]

Incidentally, re: Kodi...

My new PC came with Kodi pre-installed. I have never tried it before and don't really know much about it.

However, I was aware that there is an Emby plugin for Kodi (Embycon), so I installed that and made the set-up changes I would normally make (audio pass through and refresh rate switching). The Kodi player then plays the HEVC file perfectly smoothly and in sync, so I know the hardware can do it...

[Guest asrequested]

I have a mini PC with that GPU, and I know that it is pretty weak, but I was able to play 4k HDR stuff at 59Hz with a few dropped frames. At 30Hz, perfectly smooth. I don't know what KODI is doing, they have their own built in player.

 

What happens if you connect directly from PC to TV?

[Guest asrequested]

And maybe post an mpv log

 

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/50975-how-to-enable-mpv-logging-for-theater/

[brencd01 1]

All settings still as you suggested above. Log attached. Thanks.Theater_mpv_log.txt

[Guest asrequested]

OK, it looks like you are using one of the mpv.conf configurations that I have posted. Can you post the conf that you are using?

Edited October 5, 2019 by Doofus

[brencd01 1]

I'm using the mpv conf from here, to fix deinterlacing (I have a bunch of old non-movie DVD rips which need it):
https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/63958-303-is-not-deinterlacing/

 

[Video Codec]

profile-desc=cond:p["video-codec"]==hevc

deinterlace=no

 

[HDR]

profile-desc=cond:p["video-params/primaries"]=="bt.2020"

deinterlace=no

 

[interlaced]

profile-desc=cond:p["video-frame-info/interlaced"]

deinterlace=yes

 

[720p]

profile-desc=cond:p["width"]==1280

deinterlace=no

Edited October 5, 2019 by brencd01

[brencd01 1]

Tried removing the profile (renamed the mpv dir containing the scripts dir and mpv.conf). Didn't make any difference.

[brencd01 1]

Windows 'Films & TV' app plays HEVC files fine too. So, every other player I have tried plays nicely...

[Guest asrequested]

Find the mpv.exe in the Theater installation folder and drag n drop your movie directly onto it. It should play automatically. Tell me what happens.

Edited October 5, 2019 by Doofus

[Guest asrequested]

Oh and add this to the conf

 

hwdec=auto

Edited October 5, 2019 by Doofus

[brencd01 1]

OK, I dragged it straight on to mpv.exe (with hwdec=auto in mpv.conf file).  Performance visually the same as when played in ET.

Log attached.
Theater_mpv_log.txt

[Guest asrequested]

Ok, I'm attaching a portable version of mpv. Unzip it anywhere you want and drop your movie on the mpv.exe in that folder.

[daedalus 434]

it's pretty hard to track down any playback issues with that unknowingly modified age-old version of mpv that ET is still using

[brencd01 1]

That version stutters, just the same as with the ET version.

(I really appreciate your help with this btw... :-) )

[Guest asrequested]

it's pretty hard to track down any playback issues with that unknowingly modified age-old version of mpv that ET is still using

 

I'm using the March 10th Git build in that zip file. That's the last we can use, because later than that, live tv won't work.