[Solved] Problem with Samsung SmartTV and Transcoding

[lightingcloud]

Hi there,

new user here coming from PMS hoping to find something that works way better than PMS and is updated regularly.

Unfortunately, my first experience ins't that good. I'll explain: I usually use PMS to stream from my PC to my Samsung Smart TV and I usually stream anime. IDK if you're familiar with the italian fansubbing scene, but "we" use some pretty advanced and peculiar encoding, so most of the files can't be played the normal way. In PMS I have to go in the TRANSCODE folder and choose the one option which exactly the same name of the file that I want to stream (IDK if I explained myself, sorry) and then I can see my anime episode with no problem at all.

When in UMS there is a problem: as in PMS, some files can't play properly, so I go to the TRANSCODE folder, select the same file I'd select in PMS... and after a long loading time I get a "Network Error" notice and the SmartTV switch back to normal television program. I can reenter UMS but the same thing will happen over and over again.

I used both PMS and UMS to play the same file, first loading it in the normal way, then using the TRANSCODE folder. In PMS it started, UMS failed. I attached logs from both PMS and UMS, although IDK how to get a proper log in PMS, I hope the one I got can help.

Thanks in advance!

P.S.: the bug occurred in both 4.0.0-a1 and last stable available.

[Optimus_prime]

I'll take a look shortly and see if i can replicate it.

[lightingcloud]

Thanks a lot! Don't know if it can help, but when the TV is loading, UMS shows this "peculiar" number for buffer size. I took a screen 'cause the negative number was quite strange to see.

[Optimus_prime]

So i can try and replicate the issue, whats the type of files your trying to play. I can then focus on those

[lightingcloud]

So i can try and replicate the issue, whats the type of files your trying to play. I can then focus on those

I'm afraid that just .mkv won't help, am I right?

I tried to replicate with several formats: I had the same problem with both latest .mkv "h264 10bit HI444P 1080p video AAC audio" and lamest .avi with "xvid 480p video mp3 audio". Both with single/multi audio, both with/without soft subs.

I'm afraid it's general and not format specific.

[Optimus_prime]

Really, thats strange as my Samsung Smart TV will play any .mkv i throw at it. I don't have many .avi's but they all work too. What's the TV model?

[lightingcloud]

Samsung T27B750EW. What's really strange is the behaviour of the buffer counter and the fact that with PMS everything works fine.

EDIT: idk if I'm explayning properly. The simpler files will play flawlessly in the normal way, but trying to "force transcoding" (is that what the TRANSCODE folder does, isn't it?) will give the error. The problem comes with more "advanced" files, I can get them to work with TRANSCODE in PMS but not in UMS, and that's what's keeping me from using it.

[Optimus_prime]

I understand, let me take a better look and i'll get back to you. I've had the negative counter as well

[lightingcloud]

I understand, let me take a better look and i'll get back to you. I've had the negative counter as well

Thanks a lot! If you need other infos just ask (and eventually please tell me how to get them )

[Durandle]

I can second this issue, with a Samsung 7500 "52.

Note that MKV is just a file container and has nothing to do with the actual video/audio format. Sumsung supports MKV just fine, but doesn't support some of the older divx/mp4 encoding formats. Same goes for some mp3 encodes, it seems to struggle with them. Equally, some modern encoding formats are not support if used with less common settings. VBR often trips up embedded players.

However when transcoding, none of the above should be an issue.

I have the exact same issue - choose transcode, choose a engine/format, there is a longer than usual delay then I get "Check Network Connection" and I am dumped back to standard TV. Buffer is massive negative value as well.

PS3MS was what I used before and that had no issues.

Attached is a snip from my debug log showing the issue happening.

Also: Windows 7 64bit