[enigma9o7]

Thanks Diana,

I'm using Plex for Tivo 3.13.13 on a Roamio OTA with Tivo version 21.8.

I have transcoder at automatic. If I use a file with x264 video and aac 5.1 audio, Plex Server shows Direct Play. Unchecking "Allow Direct Play" on the Tivo Client results in Plex Server transcoding video but audio still doing "direct stream". Unchecking allow Direct Stream is the same. Note both of those settings are under Video; there is no similar audio setting.

vs

(If I use my Roku then plex will transcode AAC audio, fwiw, thats what I want Tivo to do)

 

[enigma9o7]

I found a public domain sample file at 5.1 Surround Sound test files various formats AAC,AC3,MP4,DTS WAV : Sir Round : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive however it I couldn't figure out how to direct download with surround. The torrent works, just select the file "5.1 Surround Sound AAC Test.mp4" from magnet:?xt=urn:btih:6dab7e06b6bb6514c46f7fffa45a038ffe25dad8&dn=5.1SurroundSoundTestFilesVariousFormatsAACAC3MP4DTSWAV&tr=http%3a%2f%2fbt1.archive.org%3a6969%2fannounce&ws=http%3a%2f%2fia600406.us.archive.org%2f7%2fitems%2f&ws=http%3a%2f%2fia800406.us.archive.org%2f7%2fitems%2f&ws=https%3a%2f%2fia800406.us.archive.org%2f7%2fitems%2f

When I play that sample file, plex says it's audio transcoding AAC to AAC (and video h264 to h264, no idea about that, but not important as my videos dont have that problem.) [On roku, plex shows Video as direct stream and transcoding AAC to AC3, that's what I want Tivo to do.]

 

[enigma9o7]

Anyone? I'd really like plex to transcode surround aac to ac3 for Tivo. I think the problem is that Tivo reports it can handle AAC so plex doesn't transcode, but in reality Tivo can only handle stereo AAC. Either that or it's passing it thru and my receiver can't handle it, but I looked into that, it seems very very few receivers can handle surround AAC directly.

 

[enigma9o7]

Still haven't solved this. Unless someone reports otherwise, I assume this is a problem for all tivo plex users?

 

[enigma9o7]

I realize I could convert or re-encode before streaming. But that's what Plex is for, the server is supposed to transcode it if the client doesn't support the format.

So basically you've confirmed there's a problem with the tivo plex client, that it's not just me. It surprises me there is a similar issue in apple tv/etc but I don't have one of those, it's my Tivo I want to work right, and as mentioned my Roku does work right so the server is able to do it.

So I'm wondering if there's a workaround like there is for DTS, or better yet how to get the actual client fixed thru an update or whatever.

 

[enigma9o7]

Ok, seems like creating a user profile could be the solution. I'll try to figure that out. I'm surprised nobody has done that already tho, that thread is over 5 years old...

 

[enigma9o7]

Ok so that's not an option then. Argh.

 

[enigma9o7]

A year later, and still no surround sound. Disappointing.

 

[enigma9o7]

Another year later, and still not working. Tivo still telling plex it can play surround AAC but then only playing stereo.

Tivo software version is now 21.10.2
Plex for Tivo 3.13.14

I see these are both newer versions than when I first posted this couple years ago. But still not fixed.