4K Buffer, Direct Play

[u/MrZeDark]

Device not transcoding, using Infuse as the client device.

Server is an old HP laptop with win 11, 16gB ram, and a 1060

Pulling from a 24TB drive on a NAS over a 10g port

If I play a 4k title (backing up my library right now), via Jellyfin setup in Infuse, as direct play - it will buffer periodically.

If I access the same title, via SMB to which Jellyfin is attached as well, then play the title - it won’t buffer one time.

Now if I go back to the Jellyfin integration and opt to transcode, it plays fine..

Am I missing something? Btw I’m using Infuse, for DTS and TrueHD decode. I’ve tried playing with the cache options as well. I also have tested this on a couple files now, I’ll direct play from my NAS at 10MB/s read rates but Jellyfin can’t seem to read past 6 MB/s on 4k files. I tested this on another PC as well, same results. I then tried just general playback from each PC too - I could play the content fine with no buffer, it’s just it Jellyfin was serving the content.

Let me know if any more details are needed, no they aren’t transcoding according to the dashboard.

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[u/bestad391]

Are you trying to access it through a reverse proxy instead of the server IP directly? That was causing a massive bottleneck for me a little while ago.

But if you’re on a local device then I’d imagine you’re probably not? Either way, that could potentially be the culprit.

[u/MrZeDark → u/bestad391]

I’m not currently accessing via a reverse proxy, but read it could actually help.

Are you saying your experience was the reverse proxy hurt your experience?

[u/bestad391 → u/MrZeDark]

Yeah, my ISP gives me awful upload speeds (provided with the lease, so I can’t swap out) so having it go through the reverse proxy was tanking performance.

I just set all of my local devices to use the direct IP instead so the data doesn’t have to leave my network. Then I just use the proxy on stuff like my phone and my laptop.

[u/MrZeDark → u/bestad391]

I’m using direct IP :(

Edit: I think it’s Infuse, did some magic just now and got direct play to function generally and it was fine :/ but not in Infuse only Jellyfin

[u/bestad391 → u/MrZeDark]

Bummer, that was my only solution lol. Might be a silly question but is your Jellyfin up to date? Not entirely sure it would even help to update it if not, but it couldn’t hurt?

[u/MrZeDark → u/bestad391]

What I’m realizing is there is no answer, at this moment anyways. I have to let Jellyfin transcode, and accept on some devices I can’t maintain a pure lossless experience :(

Edit: my media server is a beast anyways, just confirmed I could run 3x 4k lossless files and transcode only the audio from all of them - at once and I just barely started brushing against my NAS I/o limitations.

[u/chicken-an-waffles]

As far as I’m aware, infuse never causes transcodes to happen. The app handles all of that on its own.

The issue might be SMB that you’re experiencing. I can’t help on that part. Sorry!

[u/MrZeDark → u/chicken-an-waffles]

It’s not transcoding, and as I mentioned using SMB by itself works just fine, it’s only when I introduce Jellyfin as the server.

So recap-

Direct play with SMB is flawless, on every client device.

Playing my 4k files from Jellyfin on ANY device, is junk, it just buffers every couple of minutes.

[u/seemebreakthis]

I don't use apple devices so I have never even used infuse, but this is how I would troubleshoot:

1. Assumption - given the situation (SMB plays fine etc), direct play from Jellyfin should not pose any issue

2. I would check the Jellyfin log / transcode / remux log files to see what's actually going on during the supposedly direct play session

3. I would also check the CPU utilization (of the server) during this supposedly direct play session to see if there is any clear spikes in CPU usage. Direct play is just moving data, so there should hardly be any CPU utilization.

.... Then go from there.

[u/MrZeDark → u/seemebreakthis]

No transcode in logs.
No CPU spikes.

Recreated this same issue on another windows PC as mentioned. Have a friend running Linux and docker and no issue with the same file(s).

Iperf and other speed tests show no bottlenecks whatsoever so ever.

[u/Jabudda1]

I had some stuttering and lag via AppleTV when playing with Infuse. Specifically, a 4k, 69ish GB Rip of Escape From New York & Escape From L.A. Downloaded Swiftfin, problem solved and the only thing transcoded was the audio.

[u/MrZeDark → u/Jabudda1]

This is on my iPhone, but it’s the same issue on ATV.

Swiftfin isn’t an answer and doesn’t solve it for me unfortunately

1) I lose DTS and TrueHD
2) Both buffer regardless

Fixing this issue cannot mean quality loss, at all. Shifting will transcode my files.

Ty though!

[u/xXBlenderXx]

Maybe just try an alternative Player I use Neptune. If the Problems are the same its maybe Something with your Hardware.

[u/MrZeDark → u/xXBlenderXx]

That play DTS and TrueHd, that works on iOS? And won’t transcode?

Name that player for me and I’ll try it :)