Direct streaming reason

[wakeboarder141 40]

I converted all of my remotely shared movies to Mp4, but I still have some that are direct streaming instead of direct playing.  Can someone explain why?  Hopefully someone can decipher the logs. I can't seem to get the main embyserver log to download as I get an error message every time.

ffmpeg-remux-beca4983-2b4b-40fc-b7c7-c5f4dc26c96b_1.txt

[Happy2Play 9780]

Nerd states should tell you also but from the log it is do to Audiochannels.

&TranscodeReasons=AudioChannelsNotSupported

 

English AAC 7.1

 

17:19:33.135 [aac @ 0xdc6480] Assuming an incorrectly encoded 7.1 channel layout instead of a spec-compliant 7.1(wide) layout, use -strict 1 to decode according to the specification instead.
17:19:33.136 Stream mapping:
17:19:33.136   Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
17:19:33.136   Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (aac (native) -> ac3 (native))

 

Will have to look up but believe Roku is limited to 5.1 also.

&aac-audiochannels=6

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by Happy2Play

[wakeboarder141 40]

Just now, Happy2Play said:

Nerd states should tell you also but from the log it is do to Audiochannels.

&TranscodeReasons=AudioChannelsNotSupported

 

English AAC 7.1

 

17:19:33.135 [aac @ 0xdc6480] Assuming an incorrectly encoded 7.1 channel layout instead of a spec-compliant 7.1(wide) layout, use -strict 1 to decode according to the specification instead.
17:19:33.136 Stream mapping:
17:19:33.136   Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
17:19:33.136   Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (aac (native) -> ac3 (native))

 

Thank you for that.  I wasn't the one playing the file so I don't know how to use nerd stats for a remote user.  I have seen that error when I was converting to mp4 using ffmpeg.  Does that mean if I use -strict 1 this file will direct play, or is the 7.1 channel the problem?

[Happy2Play 9780]

Just now, wakeboarder141 said:

Thank you for that.  I wasn't the one playing the file so I don't know how to use nerd stats for a remote user.  I have seen that error when I was converting to mp4 using ffmpeg.  Does that mean if I use -strict 1 this file will direct play, or is the 7.1 channel the problem?

Made update to post but the Roku doesn't support 8 channel AAC.

Streaming specifications | Roku Developer

Supported audio codecs

Roku devices support the following audio file types:

• AAC: HE-AACv2, AAC-LC (CBR)
• MP3
• WMA, WAV (PCM)
• AIFF
• FLAC
• ALAC
• Dolby Audio: Dolby Digital (AC3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC3)
• Passthrough: DTS

The most common audio codecs for video content are AAC, AC3, E-AC3, and DTS. It is strongly recommended that content with multichannel audio (i.e., 5.1, 7.1 channels) be made available in Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC3). This is the preferred multichannel format for streaming on Roku's Dolby Digital Plus-enabled devices.

	AAC	AC3/E-AC3	DTS
Decode/Passthrough	Decode on all devices	Device specific	Passthrough
Sampling Rate	44.1 Khz, 48 Khz	48 Khz	Passthrough
Sample Size	16-bit	16-bit	Passthrough
Bit rate	32-256 Kbps	96-768 Kbps	Passthrough
Number of Channels	2.0	2.0, 5.1, 7.1, Atmos	Passthrough

• Multichannel AAC is not supported on all Roku models. Roku TVs, Roku 4, and Roku Ultra set-top-boxes support multichannel decode to PCM stereo.
• Roku TVs and Roku Ultra can decode AC3 and E-AC3. All other Roku devices will do passthrough to the receiving device. Roku Ultra supports the latest Dolby technologies such as Dolby Atmos and System Sound Mixing (MS12).
• Encoding in Dolby Digital Plus instead of Dolby Digital is recommended.

[wakeboarder141 40]

Interesting.  This is becoming difficult to figure out what format to use.  I had read that AAC was more widely compatible than AC3 so I converted all of my remotely shared media to AAC/x264/mp4.  Perhaps AC3 would have been better?  Most of my users are on either some kind of Roku or Fire sticks.

[Happy2Play 9780]

True back when there was just 5.1.  The Roku itself will decode 5.1 but returns 2.0 audio.  So there are variable across any client/app to consider.  But now adays you may need multiple audio tracks if you are trying to get Direct Play.

Me I do h264/ac3 5.1/mp4.  But everyone has their preferences when it comes to compatibility encodes.

[Ronstang 293]

17 minutes ago, wakeboarder141 said:

Interesting.  This is becoming difficult to figure out what format to use.  I had read that AAC was more widely compatible than AC3 so I converted all of my remotely shared media to AAC/x264/mp4.  Perhaps AC3 would have been better?  Most of my users are on either some kind of Roku or Fire sticks.

For maximum compatibility I have been told it is best to keep all the audio tracks you want for options plus make an AAC Stereo audio track to set as the default,  that way the file plays directly on everything and for those with the ability to use multi-channel audio up to 8 channels can select their audio from the menu upon playing.

Edited December 22, 2020 by Ronstang

[wakeboarder141 40]

I currently have AAC multi channel and a AAC Stereo track.  The problem is that most of my users are techno-challenged so whatever happens when they click is going to be the only option.

[Ronstang 293]

1 minute ago, wakeboarder141 said:

I currently have AAC multi channel and a AAC Stereo track.  The problem is that most of my users are techno-challenged so whatever happens when they click is going to be the only option.

Then simply make the stereo AAC track the default one in all your files and your problem is solved.....except you will have to choose your audio upon playing if you want more than stereo.

[wakeboarder141 40]

Thanks for the suggestions

[roaku 842]

@speechles
 has advised in other threads to avoid setting the default flag for audio tracks on Roku because it can throw off the audio track selection.

You could still reorder so that the stereo aac comes first.

I'll also mention that if you have any DTS tracks, those videos should be wrapped in mkv rather than mp4. Roku will refuse to pass through the DTS otherwise.

Edited December 22, 2020 by roaku

[ebr 16177]

Unless you are in the Apple ecosystem, mkv with an ac3 track is pretty universal now.

[Carlo 4561]

With that said for I think for full support on every platform an MP4 with AAC audio track will direct play on everything assuming you don't have bandwidth limits.

[ebr 16177]

37 minutes ago, cayars said:

with AAC audio track

With stereo audio track, yes.  But if people want 5.1 I think DD is pretty universally supported now.

[wakeboarder141 40]

14 minutes ago, ebr said:

With stereo audio track, yes.  But if people want 5.1 I think DD is pretty universally supported now.

So you think DD instead of Ac3 or AAC for the 5.1 track?  I will ditch the 7.1 option and still have an AAC stereo track

[wakeboarder141 40]

It's pretty much all Firesticks and Rokus that stream remotely from my server so that would be my main compatibility concern. 

[Ronstang 293]

I can't speak to the Roku but I use all Firesticks and most of my files are MKV with AC3 6 channel and I have no issues direct playing any of them.

[wakeboarder141 40]

I know at least some of the Firesticks have problems with mkv and it direct streams them to mp4.  Perhaps the 7.1 audio is most of my problem. 

[rbjtech 5284]

Simply put - if the end users are playing on their Stereo only TV, then why does it matter what multi-channel sound format you choose - it will be converted to Stereo by the internals of the TV anyway ...

Thus as your Audio 'default' where the majority of your users (on TV's, Phones, Tablets etc) will be playing Stereo - then imo AAC Stereo as the default Audio track is the obvious choice. 

I pre-convert mine making the dialogue channel a little louder - which normally sounds better from a TV than what the internal conversion does.

For those that have multi-channel sound systems (likely your more knowledgeable users) - then simply have those as alternative tracks which they can select - AC3, DTS etc - or both for maximum compatibility.

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by rbjtech

[Ronstang 293]

 

10 minutes ago, wakeboarder141 said:

I know at least some of the Firesticks have problems with mkv and it direct streams them to mp4.  Perhaps the 7.1 audio is most of my problem. 

Mine are all 2020 and when I had a 7.1 file that was from a Blu-Ray rip I did last week it transcoded because of the audio so I'm pretty confident 7.1 isn't supported by any Firesticks at the moment and it's possible they may never be.  I don't have a good way to wire 7.1 in my den so it's not an issue for me and most people I know with surround systems are still 5.1.

[Ronstang 293]

Just now, rbjtech said:

Simply put - if the end users are playing on their Stereo only TV, then why does it matter what multi-channel sound format you choose - it will be converted to Stereo by the internals of the TV anyway ...

Exactly, and even though my FIresticks all play my 5.1 audio I am switching over to a default stereo track soon for future growth in how I use my system.  If I ever have time I will go back and make a stereo AAC or mp3 track for the default on my current collection of 4500 movies.....but I need to find a batch way to do that to make it easier.

[rbjtech 5284]

Just now, Ronstang said:

....but I need to find a batch way to do that to make it easier.

It's easy enough with a simple script using ffmpeg with a recursive find.  I'll put an example here if you like - or I can PM you my script to get you going ?

[Ronstang 293]

3 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

It's easy enough with a simple script using ffmpeg with a recursive find.  I'll put an example here if you like - or I can PM you my script to get you going ?

That would be great.  I need to learn about scripts anyway since it seems so many things can be done with them.  

While we're on the subject of different audio streams in our movies maybe the powers that be can answer me this....while viewing in the den is there a way using say the firestick for video playback to have the audio handled by the AV receiver so you can have 7.1 or even the 5.1 played through the surround system without transcoding?

[wakeboarder141 40]

16 minutes ago, Ronstang said:

That would be great.  I need to learn about scripts anyway since it seems so many things can be done with them.  

While we're on the subject of different audio streams in our movies maybe the powers that be can answer me this....while viewing in the den is there a way using say the firestick for video playback to have the audio handled by the AV receiver so you can have 7.1 or even the 5.1 played through the surround system without transcoding?

I believe your device would need to support passthrough Bitstream if you want the lossless audio streams.  My Nvidia Shield passes every audio format to my receiver. 

[rbjtech 5284]

You should be able to use ARC from the TV (via HDMI or TosLink/Optical/Co-Axial) to get non-HD multi-channel audio back to the AV Receiver without too much trouble.  ie Plug the firestick into the non-ARC TV HDMI Port, then connect the ARC HDMI port on the TV back to the AV Receiver / or use TosLink if you don't have HDMI available which will do the ARC. (Audio Return Channel).

If you want HD Audio (True-HD/DTS-HD/X etc) then you need to use an Nvidia Shield plugged directly into your AV receiver - which will then passthrough the Video to the TV.   I'm not aware of any other 'streaming' device that properly supports HD Audio/Atmos.

Edited December 22, 2020 by rbjtech