Plex files are not playable when transcoding required

[mesqueeb]

I'm still new to PLEX, I just installed and set everything up, but it seems like transcoding is not working for me at all.

I cannot play any file that requires transcoding on my iPhone, only the audio will play, the video will only show a still image.
Any file that doesn't require transcoding plays fine, so I think there might be a problem with transcoding.

Any advice for me is much appreciated. Hereby my setup:

NAS configuration:
- NAS: QNAP TBS-453DX
- Multimedia Console v1.0.13
- CodexPack v4.7.0.2 installed
- in QNAP i went to Multimedia Console > transcoding > install the codex and make sure GPU-accelerated transcoding says "Enable" (in blue)
- home internet speeds: 180Mbps down / 140Mbps up

Plex configuration:
- Plex Media Server v1.18.7
- Plex pass: purchased
- Transcoder quality: Make my CPU hurt
- Use hardware acceleration when available: enabled
- Use hardware-accelerated video encoding: enabled

I also tried restarting my NAS.

After a lot of playing around, I found out that it's only transcoding by PLEX that's broken.

If I set the iOS Plex app to not transcode and play files in their native resolution, everything works fine.

I also tried via the QVideo app and I found that transcoding _did_ work for QVideo:
- I can play any file with live transcoding 1080p on my iPhone
- When I do, I see the file appears in the "On-the-fly Transcoding" list in Multimedia Console
- Some files don't allow scrubbing during live transcode: it just crashes or isn't able to scrub at all when I try to go back/forward a few sec.

TLDR;
Live transcoding doesn't work when Plex tries it.
Plex probably doesn't access the GPU of my TBS-453DX.
It does work when QVideo does it.

[dolbyman]

do you have a plexpass? if so ..use gpu transcoding
cpu quality setting wouldnt come into play here

also use the latest beta plex to test (directly from plex)

check with the plex forum for more info and troubleshooting

[Trexx]

Check in Plex console during playback that hw transcoding is being used.

Subtitle usage will cause issues.

Plex Qnap forum is best place for support. Codexpack isn’t used by plex btw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sharkie]

Hi,
i have the same problem i am trying to resolve on a TS-453Be.

The transcoding works with Qvideo but not on a TV using DLNA.

I did not activate PLEX, the existing multemida works for my needs but if it work in Plex i will activa PLEX

[dolbyman]

probably same answer for you, CPU overwhelmed with transcoding (small Celeron) , either avoid transcoding or get a Plexpass for hardware transcoding (HD 500 QSV)

[sharkie]

Hi Dolbyman,

i configured Qvideo and on my tablet. When i start a video like in 4K and ask to transcode at a lesser bit rate, i see the content after a few seconds and i see the session appear in the QNAP menu so i know transcoding works. The Celeron has a GPU.

My problem is with the DLNA service on a TV. The transcoding does not kick on and i receive on the TV that the content is not compatible.

I did not install the PLEX app and trying to make it work with the existing QNAP DLNA server.

[dolbyman]

I never used the QNAP DLNA server, I stay away from QNAP's stations (Video/Photo/Music), I am a very happy camper with Plex (and twonky DLNA)

[sharkie]

Hi Dolbyman,

are you using Plex and Twonky on your QNAP NAS ?

If i want to use for personnal pictures and videos, which one would you recommend and why ?

[dolbyman]

I use twonky on my TS-419 (free on it) and Plex on my TVS-951X (Plexpass)

Plex and twonky can both be used for personal media ..DLNA is quick and easy, Plex has a nice netflix vibe, but how useful would that be for peronal media?

[StLCards]

mesqueeb, I am having the exact same issue with a new QNAP TS-453D, did you ever find a solution? Even a 720p/4mbps MKV/H264 file, transcoding down to 720p/3mbps is unplayable, and the CPU stays at around 2% utilization. Thanks.

[mesqueeb]

@StlCards No, for transcoding I never found the issue.
I stopped watching stuff via Plex all together for the past 6 months. I'm gonna try again soon.

[mesqueeb]

@StlCards

it still doesn't work for me, but I'm discussing on the Plex forum now:
https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-tbs-453dx- ... t/621663/9

[holger_kuehn]

If Hardware acceleration is not working, you should avoid transcoding anyway. When switching to Plex I noticed it's mainly the audio causing the need to transcode.

So I changed the audio tracks to AC-3 and all Videos just play nicely wirh or without subtitles. If your player supports other audio-formats you can keep those, but AC-3 should always work.