SOLVED: Jellyfin transcodes as AV1 even though it's not allowed

[pitfallfritz]

If you go to Settings->Playback, is the enable fmp4 enabled? This is required to have HEVC in browser and is a client side setting



It is still strange to me as enabling this is the default settings which means this should already be enabled.

But since you have mp3 direct playing I highly suspect you are using ts instead of fmp4, because most browsers does not play mp3 in fmp4 container.

This setting, "Prefer fMP4-HLS Media Container" was not active in all the browsers I tried. But it is active in Safari and Chrome, and still H264/MP3 with this setting enabled.

Playback Info is different between Safari and Chrome despite the same Playback settings. Chrome shows "HLS", Safari just shows "Video".
   
   

[gnattu]

> This setting, "Prefer fMP4-HLS Media Container" was not active in all the browsers I tried. But it is active in Safari and Chrome, and still H264/MP3 with this setting enabled.

That is not possible because mp3 won't be direct streamed into fmp4 in those two browsers. Did you saved the setting or you just leave the page?

Can you post the transcode log for those sessions?

[pitfallfritz]

> This setting, "Prefer fMP4-HLS Media Container" was not active in all the browsers I tried. But it is active in Safari and Chrome, and still H264/MP3 with this setting enabled.

That is not possible because mp3 won't be direct streamed into fmp4 in those two browsers. Did you saved the setting or you just leave the page?

Can you post the transcode log for those sessions?

Yes, I made sure to save and I just checked again. "Prefer fMP4-HLS Media Container" is active in both Safari and Chrome.

• The transcode log for Chrome: https://pastebin.com/kECN6AfA
  
• The transcode log for Safari: https://pastebin.com/RgH4wZyE
  

Edit: And just to be clear, I am getting audio from both browsers with these transcodes.

[gnattu]

> Opening '/Volumes/pinky/couch/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/ce9085a620acd408d3b4706eeaff53ad0.ts' for writing

Except they are using mpegts for transcoding?

If you use videos not in mp3 audio it will transcode with hevc with mp4. This is normal as the server is preventing unnecessary transcoding by direct passthrough mp3, and unfortunately mp3 can only be used in mpegts container in most browsers which does not support HEVC. There is nothing wrong with your setup or browser now, it is just your video is in a legacy format that uses mp3 as audio.

This means the server will transcode with HEVC when the audio track is not in mp3.

[pitfallfritz]

> Opening '/Volumes/pinky/couch/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/ce9085a620acd408d3b4706eeaff53ad0.ts' for writing

Except they are using mpegts for transcoding?

If you use videos not in mp3 audio it will transcode with hevc with mp4. This is normal as the server is preventing unnecessary transcoding by direct passthrough mp3, and unfortunately mp3 can only be used in mpegts container in most browsers which does not support HEVC. There is nothing wrong with your setup or browser now, it is just your video is in a legacy format that uses mp3 as audio.

This means the server will transcode with HEVC when the audio track is not in mp3.

Oh, that's true! I had to look a bit until I found a suitable video. Good ol' Private Snafu to the rescue. It's AVI/XviD/AC3 and it will transcribe to HEVC/AC3 (direct) on Safari at >1100fps.

Of course that means it still causes most of the videos that need transcoding to be transcoded to H264, at least for my collection. Maybe Jellyfin could find some smarter way to deal with the typical H263/MP3 combo from the 2000s? Allow the admin to set MP3 to always be transcoded?

Anyway, I'll just deal with it at this point, it's not that big of a deal. I'm glad HEVC transcoding works. Thank you so much!