Forum Discussion

Luminary

Dec 22, 2016

Solved

Suddenly, as of this morning (1.00am), my system can no longer play MP4 720p HD files

Dear Forum Members, especially Plex users

Yesterday, Wednesday 21st December, I was happily playing my MP4 720p files without any problems, which I have done for the past 2 plus years. Then suddenly this morning my MP4 720p files will no longer play, I get the following error:

Transcoding Unavailable

Your Plex Media Server doesn't support transcoding.

Now suddenly my 720p direct play files seem to require transcoding, although I have not made any changes to my system or Plex since April 2015.

However, I've that I can still play SD MP4 video files, anything less than 720p, without any problems.

My equipment was as follows:

Hardware

ReadyNAS Duo V2 running Firmware 5.3.11
Now TV Black Box (Roku 3 clone) with sideloaded Plex-NowTV-2_8_2 app

Media Software

PlexMediaServer-v0.9.11.16.958-80f1748-arm.bin

Today, within the past few hours, I have done the following:

Replaced the sideloaded Plex-NowTV-2_8_2 app by deleting it and installing PlexClassic.v3.1.7 on my Now TV Box.

Installed a Netgear issued a firmware update, for the ReadyNAS Duo V2, upgrading the firmware from 5.3.11 to 5.3.12, this has no affect on Plex.

Is there anything I can possibly do to get back the ability to play MP4 720p HD files again.

Please note, I will answer any queries and/or clarify any points that may not be clear.

UK Bob

No longer able to play MP4 720p files.

Streaming Video & Audio

ukbobboy
Jan 02, 2017
Hi StephenB

I've re-edited and summerise my last post to show the solution and to thank you for your help in my time of dire need, now on with the solution:-

------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I've found the reason why my system so was so suddenly and unexpectedly went belly up, the clue lays in one of our discussions, especially about the Plex app installed on my player, i.e my NowTV black box (Roku 3 clone).

The morning when I was going to watch some films my bandwidth suddenly dropped, Plex responded by making some automatic changes to it's own settings. However, when the bandwidth came back up again Plex did not reset itself back to it's original settings.

When accessing the Plex app I scrolled down to the Preferences menu and found that the quality settings had been reset from 4.0mps - 720p to 1.5mps - 480p, I was stunned because I had not touch those or any other settings, also the text at the top of the screen suggested that my Internet bandwidth had dropped, at the time I had no idea this had happened.

I'm guessing that the settings dropped to accommodate the lower bandwidth and so could no longer play any files above 480p.

Anyway, I reset the quality settings from 1.5mps - 480p up to 3.0mps - 720p and I can now play 720p HD files again.

Thanks for you help because without it I would not have stumbled across the solution.

UK Bob

31 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

StephenB
Guru - Experienced User
Dec 22, 2016
Did you try the plex web browser interfact on the PC?
- ukbobboy
  Luminary
  Dec 22, 2016
  Hi StephenB
  
  It's been a long time since I've been here, hope you and the gang are getting on OK.
  
  Anyway, you asked, "Did you try the plex web browser interfact on the PC?", yes I have and nothing has changed. In fact I have not changed or added anything from the time you and MGDM helped me to upgrade my hard disks, on my RN Duo V2, from WD Green 2TBs to WD Red 4TBs.
  
  Apart from the unexpected firmware upgrade that appeared from Netgear this afternoon (5.311 to 5.3.12) my NAS has been untouched.
  
  I just don't understand how Plex is playing my MP4 direct play 720p HD videos yoesterday, between 10.30am and 1.00pm, and at about 1.00am Thursday morning everything changes and I can no longer play my MP4 720p HD files anymore, I get this totally unexpected "Transcoding" error.
  
  I'm completely stumped.
  
  UK Bob
  - StephenB
    Guru - Experienced User
    Dec 23, 2016
    ukbobboy wrote:
    
    Anyway, you asked, "Did you try the plex web browser interfact on the PC?", yes I have and nothing has changed.
    
    Not sure how I typed "interfact", I meant trying to watch a 720p mp4 using the plex web browser interface on a PC.
    
    ukbobboy wrote:
    
    I just don't understand how Plex is playing my MP4 direct play 720p HD videos yoesterday, between 10.30am and 1.00pm, and at about 1.00am Thursday morning everything changes and I can no longer play my MP4 720p HD files anymore, I get this totally unexpected "Transcoding" error.
    
    I don't get it either.
    
    Plex wants to transcode if (a) the player says it doesn't support the codecs in the file or (b) if it has trouble delivering the content at the full bitrate. I don't think you are dealing with (b) - usually that will play for a while, and then stall out.
    
    MP4s generally have H.264 video and AAC audio, and all Rokus should support that. Some might have AC3 (dolby digital) surround sound as well as AAC stereo, but AFAIK that won't confuse plex. And it worked before.
    
    Maybe create a test share, and a test library to go with it. Then copy one mp4 that fails to the test share, refresh the test library and see if it plays in the test library.
    
    ukbobboy wrote:
    
    Hi StephenB
    
    It's been a long time since I've been here, hope you and the gang are getting on OK.
    
    Sure are, and it's good to hear from you again.