Hi
So I have a Synology NAS which I have put several media files on. I have previously transcoded these files using Don Melton's video-transcoding scripts, using the following settings, with the intention of being able to play them straight, without on-the-fly transcoding on my PS4:
transcode-video --mp4 --small Game.Of.Thrones.S01E10.mkv
For the above file, the following is the resulting encoding/info:
Complete name : Game of Thrones - [01x10] - Fire and Blood.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 1.78 GiB
Duration : 52 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 4 841 kb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Tagged date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Writing application : HandBrake 0.10.2 2015060900
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 52 min
Bit rate : 4 284 kb/s
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Minimum frame rate : 23.810 FPS
Maximum frame rate : 24.390 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.086
Stream size : 1.57 GiB (88%)
Writing library : x264 core 142 r2479 dd79a61
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=16.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=5000 / vbv_bufsize=2500 / crf_max=25.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Tagged date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Color range : Limited
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
Menus : 4
Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 52 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 165 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 spf)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 62.1 MiB (3%)
Title : Stereo / Stereo
Language : English
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Tagged date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Menus : 4
Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : ac-3
Duration : 52 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 kb/s
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf)
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 145 MiB (8%)
Title : Surround / Surround
Language : English
Default : No
Alternate group : 1
Encoded date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Tagged date : UTC 2016-02-07 13:41:47
Menus : 4
I then mount the NAS onto my iMac and run a plex server on it which serves up the media on the NAS. On my PS4, I can locate the library on the iMac and can play files from there.
However, I cannot get the PS4 to stream 4Mbps 720p, let alone 1080p, without stuttering. Why is this happening? How do I check to see if Plex is still having to transcode on the fly, and can a iMac 5k not do this sufficiently?
My PS4 is connected by ethernet+powerline to the router, and the NAS is connected by ethernet to the router too. My iMac runs on WIFI. My download speed for services like Netflix is sufficient for 1080p streaming, and seeing everything is local network I doubt it's lack of bandwith???
Any help would be fantastic. Thanks!