h264 Playback Issues - Invalid NAL Unit

[maj170123 0]

Not sure when the issue started but I just started watching a lot more movies since the pandemic. For some reason, half of my library will bomb out when trying to play either on Roku or on Emby Web with Chrome. They should all be encoded the same and are in m4v container. These are showing they are direct playing but keeps restarting when loading and eventually gives up. I know I've played some of them before so I don't think it's the files themselves. They still work in WMP and Plex too. 

 

I did find a post related that said the issue is fixed in 4.4.2 but that is related to hvec. https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/84424-cannot-play-files-today-that-i-could-play-within-the-past-two-weeks/

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks in advance. 

 

 

EmbyError.txt

[pwhodges 2012]

There was also a fix for handling of files with the .m4v extension.

 

 

Paul

[maj170123 0]

There was also a fix for handling of files with the .m4v extension.

 

 

Paul

 

 

Sorry I should clarify, I'm already on 4.4.2.0. And these should be direct playing, not transcoding. 

[Luke 42080]

There is something about the file that both the browser and ffmpeg on the server had a problem with.

 

The web app tried to direct play it, but the chrome video player reported an error with the file so we switched to transcoding on the server in order to keep playing.

 

But that also didn't work because ffmpeg on the server also reported problems with the file.

 

You may just want to reencode this file.

[maj170123 0]

Unfortunately, this is hundreds of files, not just one. Some of which I have played with Emby before. Checking the modified dates of the files, they haven't been modified since they were originally encoded. They play fine on Plex so I don't think they are corrupted. 

 

Is there a way to 'check' each file to see if it's playable without trying to play each one so I can see if there is something different about them? 

 

Attached is another example, I know that I've watched this with Emby on my Roku before multiple times. It appears to be the same issue with each of them.  I really don't want to have to go back and re-encode all of these that have been working all along. 

EmbyError2.txt

[Luke 42080]

Can you provide a sample video for testing? Thanks.

[maj170123 0]

Interesting... 

 

I created a new folder on the same drive, added as a new library, threw that video in there... Works. So it's not the files or the drive. 

 

It's either something library specific or a permissions issue. I haven't changed permissions on these folders for years so maybe could have been caused by a windows update? I'm on 19041.264

 

I don't have time to dig too far right now but I'll see if I can do more testing this weekend. 

 

Thanks Luke!

[Luke 42080]

So then you could try refreshing the metadata on some of your existing titles and see if that helps.

[maj170123 0]

Refreshing the metadata ended up fixing the issue. Thanks!

 

Just curious, what would the metadata have to do with playback? 

[Luke 42080]

We rely on metadata obtained from the library scan when transcoding.