Unable to play complete albums

[Tipuana 2]

This is wierd, because I'm sure it didn't use to happen, but I'm unable to play complete albums.  I can select an artist, display a list of their albums, select a album and if i then click on the play button it flashes green, but nothing plays.  I can open and play all the tracks individually, but not the entire album - which is a bit tedious.  I can add the album to a playlist and then it plays fine and that's what I'm doing at the moment - ie creating a playlist every time I want to play an album, but as I say, I'm sure it didn't used to be like this.  Feels like I may have done something stupid along the way, but I can't work out what it is.

 

[Carlo 4560]

Hi, what client version are you using  and what server version?

[Tipuana 2]

Emby server 4.6.3.0

Emby for Android 3.2.01

[Carlo 4560]

I just tested this a couple different ways and my albums play right away.

What I would try and do is a full library rescan.  If that doesn't help then we're going to need logs so see what's going on.

You could also try this from the web admin as well to see if it's just the android client or happens in web as well.

[Tipuana 2]

I did a rescan before i messaged you goys and have just done another.  No change.  Happy to send logs ig you tel me how to generate them.

Not sure how to play/cast from web admin.  If you give me some pointers, I'll give it a go.  But the problem exists whatever android device I use, so I'm guessing the server is more likely to be the issue.

[Carlo 4560]

Just try using the web player to see if you have the same issue or not.

[Tipuana 2]

If I try to do that, I get the message: "We're unable to connect to the selected server right now. Please ensure it is running and try again.".  I get that via PC or via Android device.  BUT - I am logged on to Emby Server Dashboard and seem to be able to see everthing OK.

[Carlo 4560]

Is that from remote or in lan?

[Tipuana 2]

Both.

[Carlo 4560]

If you pick an album, can you manually play every individual track of that album?

[Tipuana 2]

Yes I can.  Also, as I mentioned, if I set up a playlist and add the album to that it plays fineall the way through.  It's just if I try to play the whole album directly it doesn't work.  I press the play (or play all) button, it flashes green, but nothing happens

[Carlo 4560]

This is really strange.  Most likely a dev will need the app log to look at.

@ebr What do you need to look at for this?

[Luke 42077]

Hi, please try refreshing the metadata on the album in emby server and let us know if that helps. Thanks

 

[Tipuana 2]

Hi - That was one of the first things I tried, but have just refreshed again.  Problem remains the same.

[Tipuana 2]

Hi again - I have the solution and pass it on, in case it may help someone else in the future. 

I discovered a number of albums/folders which contained .m3u files.  I don't know why.  Emby doesn't display them in the track list, but it does try to play them and gets stuck.  All the other media players I tried just step over them, but Emby does not.  Since the .m3u file is generally track 00, Emby never gets past it.  So it looks like the album is playing, but nothing happens.  This also explains why all the tracks were playable individually. 

It's always the little things that are the hardest to find!

[Carlo 4560]

Wow, nice find.

That shouldn't happen and we'll have to take a look and see if we can reproduce this.

Any way you could zip up an album off your system as is with one of these m3u files in it I can use for testing?
Appreciated if you can do that.

Carlo

[Tipuana 2]

Ahh - I've just done a bulk delete of m3u files.  That was the quickest way of solving the problem.  I'll go and try to find them in the recycle bin and get back to you.

[Carlo 4560]

That would be great if you can do that.  Just one album should do.

[Tipuana 2]

There you go.

Alabama3 - Outlaw.m3u .m3u Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich - Krupa And Rich.m3u

[Tipuana 2]

Sorry, I didn't read you message properly.  I've only sent the m3u files.  Will that do, or do you need a complete album?

Edited July 1, 2021 by Tipuana

[Carlo 4560]

Hi, yes a complete album with the m3u file sitting in the folder as it was on your system.  That way we can try and reproduce the issue with the same content you had.

[Tipuana 2]

Another dive into the recycle bin, and here it is.

The Beatles - 1969 - Abbey Road.zip

[Carlo 4560]

I added this to my library as is with no changes and it plays straight away for me.

I'm on the 3rd song right now without touching it.

 

[Tipuana 2]

Well, that is super weird, because without the m3u file (in this or any of the other albums  that were giving problems) everything plays perfectly, but I just tried putting the m3u file back into this album and it locks up straight away.  I'm not sure what can be the difference between your setup and mine??  I'm using Emby for Android 3.2.01 and Emby Server 4.6.4.0.  Which I believe is all up to date ¿No?  Server is running on Windows 10 Home Version  10.0.19042 Build 19042 - Which Windows says id up to date + using Android 10.

Obviously, the problem is fixed for me, but still weird.

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by Tipuana

[Carlo 4560]

Mind trying something for me?

Rename the m3u file so it doesn't appear to be a track.  You could name it TestPlaylist.M3U or something.
Do a rescan and let me know if you still get the same problem?

I'm just trying to think outload something and this will give me an idea if related.