Best Server Settings to eliminate playback issues?

[Chris442 3]

Is there a "recommended best Emby server settings"?  Best recording format to reduce transcoding?  During Recorded TV playback we are experiencing the voices being over 5 seconds behind the video (it starts out fine but worsen as you go) as well as issues where there are massive delays when trying to FF a TV show, especially if the show is still recording.  I've included a couple screenshots of the settings as well as the PC Hardware specs.  The Emby server (PC) hardware is getting old so maybe an upgrade is needed on top of setting changes?  Are there recommended hardware specs?

Regards,

Chris

[Carlo 4561]

Hi,

Is you drive C an SSD?
What kind of tuner are you presently using?

[Chris442 3]

8 hours ago, cayars said:

Hi,

Is you drive C an SSD?
What kind of tuner are you presently using?

Yes, the C drive is an SSD.  I am using an AMD A8-7600 Radeon R7 processor which uses the Radeon R7 graphics processor.  This processor is about 6 years old so the system "could" use an update but I'd hate to spend money on that if it isn't the issue.

[ebr 16184]

Hi.  The general answer to your question is "the defaults".  Basically, you shouldn't go changing options unless you fully understand what they are and have a specific reason to do so.

[Chris442 3]

Well, I have been using this for some time.  Upgraded from Emby Theater and have made some changes in the past.  Is there a reset to default button?

[Luke 42078]

What version of Emby Theater do you have?

[Chris442 3]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

What version of Emby Theater do you have?

Guess I misspoke, I upgraded from WMC when I updated from Win7 to Win10.  This was for the Emby Server.  It is running v.  4.5.4.0. , Theater 3.0, Firestick 1.8.54a and Emby Mac 1.9.9.  Most of the playback issues are related to Firestick.

[rbjtech 5284]

I would tackle this issue another way - the best way to reduce or even eliminated transcoding, is to ensure your source files are compatible with your end clients.

For 1080p Content - H264 High @ 10Mbit, with AAC Stereo in an MP4 or MKV container with no embedded subtitles is probably about as 'compatible' as you can get.  Subtitles should be external .srt files.

If you have/want the ability to play multi-channel sound sound, then replace AAC with AC3 - but ideally, have both with the default being the AAC.

Using the emby 'Convert' function will allow you to do this - and from then onwards, it should never transcode again ... (assuming you have 10Mbit/sec bandwidth - which in todays networks/broadband, should not be that much of an ask).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by rbjtech

[Chris442 3]

2 hours ago, rbjtech said:

I would tackle this issue another way - the best way to reduce or even eliminated transcoding, is to ensure your source files are compatible with your end clients.

For 1080p Content - H264 High @ 10Mbit, with AAC Stereo in an MP4 or MKV container with no embedded subtitles is probably about as 'compatible' as you can get.  Subtitles should be external .srt files.

If you have/want the ability to play multi-channel sound sound, then replace AAC with AC3 - but ideally, have both with the default being the AAC.

Using the emby 'Convert' function will allow you to do this - and from then onwards, it should never transcode again ... (assuming you have 10Mbit/sec bandwidth - which in todays networks/broadband, should not be that much of an ask).

 

 

 

 

 

rbjtech, 

Thanks for the info but I think you are referring to movies vice TV recordings.  I am really having issues with TV recordings.

[ebr 16184]

On 2/3/2021 at 11:26 PM, Chris442 said:

as well as issues where there are massive delays when trying to FF a TV show, especially if the show is still recording.

That is a known limitation of watching something while it is still recording at this point.

One thing I would try on the Fire app is turn OFF the option to direct play .TS files and see if it works better for you.  Other than that, I don't believe there are any settings relevant to that particular situation.

[rbjtech 5284]

1 hour ago, Chris442 said:

rbjtech, 

Thanks for the info but I think you are referring to movies vice TV recordings.  I am really having issues with TV recordings.

ah right - yes sorry - this doesn't directly apply here but you should still 'try' and match the native broadcast codec to the playback device.  So if it's MPEG2 or h264, then you 'should' be able to Direct Stream or even Direct Play - BUT different channels do all sorts of weird configs - interlaced, weird Audio codecs etc - so getting a match for everything is near impossible.

[Carlo 4561]

Not to mention audio switching taking place between show/movie and commercials.

[Chris442 3]

So, still experiencing audio delays, even with mkv movies, and playback delays, etc.  Would like to reset all settings to default (including the FireStick) to clear out all the various troubleshooting changes that have been made.  Anyone know if there is an easy way to do this or what each is if I do it manually?

[Luke 42078]

On 2/14/2021 at 11:38 AM, Chris442 said:

So, still experiencing audio delays, even with mkv movies, and playback delays, etc.  Would like to reset all settings to default (including the FireStick) to clear out all the various troubleshooting changes that have been made.  Anyone know if there is an easy way to do this or what each is if I do it manually?

We don't have a reset settings to default button, although I guess we probably should. In the android OS you can always clear app data for individual apps.

Can we look at a specific playback issue? Thanks.

[sross44 431]

4 hours ago, Luke said:

We don't have a reset settings to default button, although I guess we probably should. In the android OS you can always clear app data for individual apps.

Having a reset to default would be huge. It would allow people to mess with things to get a better understanding of the server and if they don’t like it, just switch back with one click. Great idea and would love to see this implemented down the road! 

[Chris442 3]

Ok, I just sent logs via Fire Stick.  We were watching the series premier of Kenan at 10:55 PM EST and I (Chris) was logged in.  The audio kept getting more delayed from the video and then the screen went blank.  I've cleared the catch and cleared the data on the stick but still it won't resume Kenan or other shows now.  I did log in via my Mac and it played fine so this is definitely related to the Fire Stick.  I did a bandwidth test and it was getting 200 down and 10 up so that is working as good as it will get wirelessly.  This is a newer 2020 Firestick version.

[ebr 16184]

Hi.  There wasn't any playback in your log.  Did you sent it immediately after playing? 

[Chris442 3]

I sent it once I was able to get the app to respond.  Should I have waited a bit?  

[ebr 16184]

So the app crashed and you had to re-start it?

Were you watching a live TV channel?

[Chris442 3]

On 2/19/2021 at 5:18 PM, ebr said:

So the app crashed and you had to re-start it?

Were you watching a live TV channel?

Yes the app crashed.  I had to reset the FireStick.  
I was watching a pre-recorded TV show.

[ebr 16184]

9 hours ago, Chris442 said:

I had to reset the FireStick

Okay, that actually sounds like the device crashed at a much lower level than the app.

[Chris442 3]

2 hours ago, ebr said:

Okay, that actually sounds like the device crashed at a much lower level than the app.

Yes, I do think you are correct.  It is back up and running but the sound/video still become unsynced plus the fast forward is an issue, especially when you first start to watch a recording.  I believe this is due to transcoding.  I've noticed if we pause the playback for a few secs and then start to play again it seems to help the syncing to catch up.  I've reduced the playback quality a little to see if this helps.  It is strange since we have 200 Mbps when we run a speed test at the FireStick so I can't understand why we are having this delay unless the FireStick itself isn't fast enough to decode.

[Luke 42078]

Hi, has this advice resolved your issue? Are you still running into this?

[Chris442 3]

Sorry I didn't get back to you on this.  This issue is definitely related to our FireStick TVs.  Our PCs (Windows & Macs) don't seem to be having these issues.  I have reset everything to default that I can think of and was still experiencing these issues so I tried the external players option.  VLC didn't work very well so I moved on to MX Player and that has seemed to resolve the issues.  

On a side note, I've noticed the background pics for recorded TV are out of date.  For example, The Equalizer is showing the original series backgrounds.  Should I open a separate topic on this?

Thank you,

Chris

[Luke 42078]

21 hours ago, Chris442 said:

On a side note, I've noticed the background pics for recorded TV are out of date.  For example, The Equalizer is showing the original series backgrounds.  Should I open a separate topic on this?

Thank you,

Chris

Hi, yes please, thanks.