Plex

• NAS Compatibility [1]

How-To

Fix film metadata / bad matching

• Go in server library.
• Select movie, then Fix match....

If movie has several versions available, and one of these is not correct:

• Select first split apart.

See also this post about upgrading the matching agent.

Use Plex add-on in Kodi

Advantage of using the Kodi add-on is that it has (currently) better direct play support (in particular AC3 audio).

To install Plex add-on in Kodi [2],[3]:

• Go to Kodi add-on menu
• Select Download, Videos Add-Ons.
• Select Plex.
• Install.

Some settings to consider:

• Make sure direct play is enabled.
• Make sure H365 is enabled if supported.
• Set plex add-on to autostart when Kodi starts (to avoid to navigate to that add-on every time).

Prevent transcode with AC3 / EAC3 audio on Nvidia Shield TV

Although the NVidia shield TV supports AC3 / EAC3 natively, it is transcoded by the support [4], [5]

To prevent that:

• Use Plex add-on in Kodi, instead of the Plex app on the shield.
• ???

More on DirectPlay:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/f8eo85/plex_app_on_shield_tv_refuses_to_direct_play/

Troubleshooting

Issue with playing Lucy

• Trying to play Lucy (H265 HEVC AC3) on Shield TV -> can't play (error).
• Looking at the server log, we see there are errors in the transcoder.
• We also see that server says directplay is disabled

1382:Dec 20, 2020 00:42:18.545 [23009] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Lucy (2014): Direct Play is disabled
1383:Dec 20, 2020 00:42:18.545 [23009] DEBUG - [Transcode] MDE: Lucy (2014): media must be transcoded in order to use the hls protocol

• When forbidding transcoding on server, shield refuses to play as well (with another msg, but that basically says server tried to transcode but was refused to).
• It seems transcoding is forced with Shield Plex App because of AC3 audio / E-AC3 audio [6], [7].
• One solution is to use Plex addon on Kodi [8].

• Maybe another solution is to install Plex beta app from Plex.

• In Kodi addon:

• Select appropriate Plex Server.
• Make sure direct play is enabled (default).
• Enable H265 direct play (disabled by default).
• Optionally, set Plex addon to autostart (when kodi starts, so that to jump to Plex addon directly).

• ... Turns out that the audio track had a delay, so likely was corrupted in some way.

Miscellaneous issues

• 'Enhanced' - French SRT subtitles not showing.
• 'Ghost in the Shell' - can only play french audio, without subtitle.
• 'Lucy' - Cannot play AC3 audio. Turns out there was an issue in that track anyway (delay).
• Keep transcoding AC3 media.

To Do

• Shield TV - Play with Shield audio passthrough settings. See if that enables the direct play of AC3.