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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 sudde...
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:-
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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
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
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.
Hi StephenB
First, thanks for clarifying your first question because my answer, although correct, is not accurate for your updated question.
OK, you meant to asked: "I meant trying to watch a 720p mp4 using the plex web browser interface on a PC?". Although I can access my Plex database via my browser interface, and perform data maintenance chores (amending and updating video and music data descriptions, etc.), I have never been able to play videos via the browser interface, the RN Duo v2 cpu is not powerful enough. However, I can play and still play my music/mp3 files without any problems via my browser interface.
In fact, if I want to watch a video on my PC I then use my VLC media player, which I only do for a few seconds to check that the video file is intact.
You also suggested, "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", I will do that tomorrow (later on for me - being in a different country and time zone) and perform the suggested task.
However, before I do that, can you take a look at my Plex settings page and possibly suggest changes, bearing in mind that these are defaults that I have not changed.
Finally, as a thought, is it possible that Plex deliberately sent out an update to cripple older versions of PMS, ie. the last time I updated my PMS was April 2015 and I have not touched it since.
At the moment, I still have the next versions of PMS for my NAS, ie. PlexMediaServer-0.9.12.1.1079-b655370-arm.bin and PlexMediaServer-0.9.16.3.1840-cece46d-arm.bin, but I have been wary of installing either of them because Plex forum members were reporting, at the time, that upgrades were bricking their computers, that's why I've stuck with my nearly two years old PMS version PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.16.958-80f1748-arm.bin.
Please note, PMS database refreshes itself at 12 midnight, lasting 2 - 3 hours, every night and from time to time I would also refresh my TV shows section, especially if I wanted to watch a newly entered program.
Thanks in advance.
UK Bob
PS. Is there anything else on my settings pages you would like to see?
ukbobboy wrote:
However, before I do that, can you take a look at my Plex settings page and possibly suggest changes, bearing in mind that these are defaults that I have not changed. ... PS. Is there anything else on my settings pages you would like to see?
Your player settings look fine (and other than audio boost match current defaults in 1.3.3.3148). Though there is no "experimental player" in the current plex. I'm not thinking of any other player settings to look at.
Are you using the plex app on the Rokus, or do you have DLNA enabled on the plex server, and use that?
Though it might be obvious - if you didn't try rebooting the duo, you should probably do that.
ukbobboy wrote:
Finally, as a thought, is it possible that Plex deliberately sent out an update to cripple older versions of PMS, ie. the last time I updated my PMS was April 2015 and I have not touched it since.
At the moment, I still have the next versions of PMS for my NAS, ie. PlexMediaServer-0.9.12.1.1079-b655370-arm.bin and PlexMediaServer-0.9.16.3.1840-cece46d-arm.bin, but I have been wary of installing either of them because Plex forum members were reporting, at the time, that upgrades were bricking their computers, that's why I've stuck with my nearly two years old PMS version PlexMediaServer-0.9.11.16.958-80f1748-arm.bin.
Hard to know why they would. They took legacy ReadyNAS off their supported list some time ago now (current versions are only available for OS 6).
I am wondering if there was a plex app update in the Rokus though. A bug or incompatibility there might be relevant.
ukbobboy wrote:
Although I can access my Plex database via my browser interface, and perform data maintenance chores (amending and updating video and music data descriptions, etc.), I have never been able to play videos via the browser interface, the RN Duo v2 cpu is not powerful enough.
If you are using the plex app on the Rokus, you might try trying DLNA.
Hi StephenB
Thanks for your reply and I'll answer your supplementary questions as you have asked them:
Q1) Are you using the plex app on the Rokus, or do you have DLNA enabled on the plex server, and use that?
A1) Well, I am using a Roku 3 clone, which is actually designed and manufactured by Roku for the UK market, called a Now TV Black Box, it has the same specs as a Roku 3 but does not have access to Roku's apps or facilities.
I've never had any Plex related problems with this box or the Plex app installed on it, which I recently removed, tried another app which had no affect on the problem, then reinstalled original app.
Q2) Try rebooting the duo?
A2) Done that a couple of times already.
Q3) I am wondering if there was a plex app update in the Rokus though. A bug or incompatibility there might be relevant.
A3) Highly unlikely, the last time an update was issued for my box was on 19th November and that was to cure an outage caused by a technical fault at Now TV HQ, the outage knocked out almost every Now TV box in the UK. But since then it's been smooth sailing.
Please note, although my Now TV box is designed and manufactured by Roku the admin, i.e. sales, OS and support, are managed by Now TV.
Q4) If you are using the plex app on the Rokus, you might try trying DLNA.
A4) I always have DLNA turned on.
You know Stephen, I honestly think my only option now is to install one of my PMS updates for my RN Duo V2, i.e. PlexMediaServer-0.9.12.1.1079-b655370-arm.bin, which is the next version on from the PMS I am currently using.
Anyway, I'll let you know how I get on after Christmas, if not then in the new year.
Until then, have a merry Christmas and, hopefully, a happy new year.
UK Bob
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