[Nvidia Shield] Plex video playback in Kodi 21.1 incredibly slow, native plex is fine
#1
Hello all, I mainly got interested in running Plex through KODI due to the added support to convert DV layer 7 to 8.1 which should enhance the quality of movies on the Nvidia Shield.

The problem I run into however is that Plex movies play incredibly choppy in Kodi Plex whereas in the normal Plex it plays perfectly fine.

I followed the following steps to get Kodi and Plex working
* Install Kodi from playstore
* Update Kodi by using the Kodi Android Installer (to 21.1)
* Install pm4k Plex version

Here's my log file during which I played a fragment of the Mad Max Movie:
https://paste.kodi.tv/ilexemiwiw

I also made a small video that shows my problem:
https://youtu.be/DC6rC6PwVWE?si=yw6OEn_YuTmArbyE

I hope someone can chip in and help me solve the issues I'm encountering Smile.
Reply
#2
Here is your Problem:
Code:

2025-01-08 18:45:48.396 T:20317    info <general>: CDVDVideoCodecAndroidMediaCodec::Open Testing codec: OMX.Nvidia.h264.decode
2025-01-08 18:45:48.396 T:20317   error <general>: CDVDVideoCodecAndroidMediaCodec::Open profile not supported: 16
The decoder claims that it can't handle that type of file. This is often wrong, likely also here because it works in the other player. To ignore what the decoder says we added an advancedsetting option: https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/25878

The problem is that this setting is only available in the Kodi 22 nightlies. You can try then, but maybe not everything works. In the past there were e.g. issues with adapting the Plex add-on to new Kodi versions.
Reply
#3
Thanks for the explanation, I'll see if I can try this tomorrow.
Reply
#4
I just tried installing Kodi nightly from the master branch (20250106) but I can't find the seeing under advanced in the UI. Where should I look for it?
Reply
#5
You have to create an Advancedsettings.xml with the same content as in the PR: https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/25878
Reply
#6
Hmm, I wish this would've been a UI setting as this is quite hard to configure for your average Joe. (Not sure if the average Joe is Kodi's target demographic but still)

How would you go about creating this file on the Nvidia Shield?
Reply
#7
It's a 10 bit h264, even in 4K, which is everything but non standard. Some Anime people with their 5 GHz core i20 processors thought it's a smart idea. Most likely Plex native client simply transcodes it and that's why it is working.
I highly doubt the Shield can hw decode such files.
First decide what functions / features you expect from a system. Then decide for the hardware. Don't waste your money on crap.
Reply
#8
I can play this file on my Shield which shows "Direct Play" in Tautulli. I'll post a screenshot later if that helps investigate this further.
Reply
#9
This is the FileName, so as far as I can see, just a regular Remux: Mad Max Fury Road (2015) {imdb-tt1392190} [Remux-2160p][DV HDR10][TrueHD Atmos 7.1][HEVC]-FraMeSToR.mkv
Or am I missing something that makes this file special?
Reply
#10
Yes, you miss something:
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High 10), yuv420p10le(tv, bt2020nc/unknown/unknown, progressive), 3840x2160 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 120 fps, 120 tbr, 1k tbn

It's H264 Reencode, not a remux. Even DV and HDR10 are wrong in that regard. It's not even HEVC as your posted string might make you assume, but presents itself as H264 10 bit.

Post a mediainfo of this file please - it might be that PLEX transcodes it to kodi which it should not do.
First decide what functions / features you expect from a system. Then decide for the hardware. Don't waste your money on crap.
Reply
#11
I'll investigate this furthern when I'm back home. I just found out I have multiple versions of the same movie on my system. So it might actually be playing the wrong one. I'll come back, thanks for helping me figure this out Smile
Reply

Logout Mark Read Team Forum Stats Members Help
[Nvidia Shield] Plex video playback in Kodi 21.1 incredibly slow, native plex is fine0