2025-07-13, 06:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 2025-07-13, 06:45 AM by Checkerknight. Edited 2 times in total.)
0. I am not an expert, I do all my transcoding prior to moving my files onto my server (running off a pi so its not possible) and I am really just voicing my own thoughts here.
1. I do believe your understanding is correct, if the bitrate is higher than supported by your device (ie. older chromecast devices only allow a video with a bitrate of less than 12k and wil force transcoding to be compatible if higher) your host machine will transcode the file to work with your client.
2. Going hand in hand with #1, if you set a max bitrate on jellyfin then it will force transcoding for anything above that. Media with a bitrate less than the value you enter won't encode though. But I will ask as to why would you want to force transcoding always? If it's not necessary for playback theres no point in putting the strain on whatever your host device is.
3. My best suggestion would be to find a few movies that play flawlessly and look great, and set the limit to about that. I read a single discussion thread where someone stated that the Apple TV supports up to 31mbps, but I could not find that number on the product page so thats to be taken lightly My own personal limit for my transcoding I do is 10k (This value was decided in conjunction with the earlier mentioned chromecast issue). A 1080p video with a bitrate of 8k-12k is the optimal range from what I read when I started my project, and 10k looks just fine in my opinion.
4. Sorry if I'm talking out my ass, this is how my brain works
1. I do believe your understanding is correct, if the bitrate is higher than supported by your device (ie. older chromecast devices only allow a video with a bitrate of less than 12k and wil force transcoding to be compatible if higher) your host machine will transcode the file to work with your client.
2. Going hand in hand with #1, if you set a max bitrate on jellyfin then it will force transcoding for anything above that. Media with a bitrate less than the value you enter won't encode though. But I will ask as to why would you want to force transcoding always? If it's not necessary for playback theres no point in putting the strain on whatever your host device is.
3. My best suggestion would be to find a few movies that play flawlessly and look great, and set the limit to about that. I read a single discussion thread where someone stated that the Apple TV supports up to 31mbps, but I could not find that number on the product page so thats to be taken lightly My own personal limit for my transcoding I do is 10k (This value was decided in conjunction with the earlier mentioned chromecast issue). A 1080p video with a bitrate of 8k-12k is the optimal range from what I read when I started my project, and 10k looks just fine in my opinion.
4. Sorry if I'm talking out my ass, this is how my brain works