Playback issues: AC3 Audio not playing in some files

[senso]

Good morning,

Long time user of Jellyfin, but I have been having some issues lately with audio playback, and the files that have audio playback issues will also freeze if I try to seek.
These files play perfectly when using VLC on the same TV.

I'm running version 10.10.7, and using the default client on a Android TV.


There isn't much on the logs, once it created a FFmpeg log, but only once:
log file only has this lines related to the playback:

Code:

[2025-04-23 10:08:27.873 +01:00] [INF] [182] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "tv". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2025-04-23 10:08:53.639 +01:00] [INF] [181] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.18.8" playing "Lilo & Stitch". Stopped at "10498" ms
[2025-04-23 10:08:55.001 +01:00] [INF] [31] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for "tv". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True

FFmpeg.DirectStream-2025-04-22_17-14-37_232f1ba37c2f6cbcb0c69c97e8a63462_db80445b.log:

Code:

[color=#000000]{"Protocol":0,"Id":"232f1ba37c2f6cbcb0c69c97e8a63462","Path":"/data/movies/movies PT/Lilo e Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch.mkv","EncoderPath":null,"EncoderProtocol":null,"Type":0,"Container":"mkv","Size":4979856799,"Name":"Lilo.e.Stitch","IsRemote":false,"ETag":"5b71b217c1690af48e719fde4e4b6f78","RunTimeTicks":51146240000,"ReadAtNativeFramerate":false,"IgnoreDts":false,"IgnoreIndex":false,"GenPtsInput":false,"SupportsTranscoding":true,"SupportsDirectStream":true,"SupportsDirectPlay":true,"IsInfiniteStream":false,"UseMostCompatibleTranscodingProfile":false,"RequiresOpening":false,"OpenToken":null,"RequiresClosing":false,"LiveStreamId":null,"BufferMs":null,"RequiresLooping":false,"SupportsProbing":true,"VideoType":0,"IsoType":null,"Video3DFormat":null,"MediaStreams":[{"Codec":"h264","CodecTag":null,"Language":"eng","ColorRange":null,"ColorSpace":null,"ColorTransfer":null,"ColorPrimaries":null,"DvVersionMajor":null,"DvVersionMinor":null,"DvProfile":null,"DvLevel":null,"RpuPresentFlag":null,"ElPresentFlag":null,"BlPresentFlag":null,"DvBlSignalCompatibilityId":null,"Rotation":null,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":null,"VideoRange":1,"VideoRangeType":1,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"AudioSpatialFormat":0,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":null,"LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":null,"LocalizedHearingImpaired":null,"DisplayTitle":"1080p H264 SDR","NalLengthSize":"4","IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":true,"ChannelLayout":null,"BitRate":7789204,"BitDepth":8,"RefFrames":1,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":null,"SampleRate":null,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"IsHearingImpaired":false,"Height":1080,"Width":1824,"AverageFrameRate":23.976025,"RealFrameRate":23.976025,"ReferenceFrameRate":23.976025,"Profile":"High","Type":1,"AspectRatio":"76:45","Index":0,"Score":null,"IsExternal":false,"DeliveryMethod":null,"DeliveryUrl":null,"IsExternalUrl":null,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Path":null,"PixelFormat":"yuv420p","Level":41,"IsAnamorphic":false},{"Codec":"dts","CodecTag":null,"Language":"eng","ColorRange":null,"ColorSpace":null,"ColorTransfer":null,"ColorPrimaries":null,"DvVersionMajor":null,"DvVersionMinor":null,"DvProfile":null,"DvLevel":null,"RpuPresentFlag":null,"ElPresentFlag":null,"BlPresentFlag":null,"DvBlSignalCompatibilityId":null,"Rotation":null,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":null,"VideoRange":0,"VideoRangeType":0,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"AudioSpatialFormat":0,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":"Default","LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":"External","LocalizedHearingImpaired":null,"DisplayTitle":"English - DTS - 5.1","NalLengthSize":null,"IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":false,"ChannelLayout":"5.1","BitRate":1536000,"BitDepth":null,"RefFrames":null,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":6,"SampleRate":48000,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"IsHearingImpaired":false,"Height":null,"Width":null,"AverageFrameRate":null,"RealFrameRate":null,"ReferenceFrameRate":null,"Profile":"DTS","Type":0,"AspectRatio":null,"Index":1,"Score":null,"IsExternal":false,"DeliveryMethod":null,"DeliveryUrl":null,"IsExternalUrl":null,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Path":null,"PixelFormat":null,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":null},{"Codec":"ac3","CodecTag":null,"Language":"por","ColorRange":null,"ColorSpace":null,"ColorTransfer":null,"ColorPrimaries":null,"DvVersionMajor":null,"DvVersionMinor":null,"DvProfile":null,"DvLevel":null,"RpuPresentFlag":null,"ElPresentFlag":null,"BlPresentFlag":null,"DvBlSignalCompatibilityId":null,"Rotation":null,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":null,"VideoRange":0,"VideoRangeType":0,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"AudioSpatialFormat":0,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":"Default","LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":"External","LocalizedHearingImpaired":null,"DisplayTitle":"Portuguese - Dolby Digital - Stereo - Default","NalLengthSize":null,"IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":false,"ChannelLayout":"stereo","BitRate":448000,"BitDepth":null,"RefFrames":null,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":2,"SampleRate":44100,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"IsHearingImpaired":false,"Height":null,"Width":null,"AverageFrameRate":null,"RealFrameRate":null,"ReferenceFrameRate":null,"Profile":null,"Type":0,"AspectRatio":null,"Index":2,"Score":null,"IsExternal":false,"DeliveryMethod":null,"DeliveryUrl":null,"IsExternalUrl":null,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Path":null,"PixelFormat":null,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":null}],"MediaAttachments":[],"Formats":[],"Bitrate":9773204,"FallbackMaxStreamingBitrate":null,"Timestamp":null,"RequiredHttpHeaders":{},"TranscodingUrl":null,"TranscodingSubProtocol":0,"TranscodingContainer":null,"AnalyzeDurationMs":null,"DefaultAudioStreamIndex":null,"DefaultSubtitleStreamIndex":null,"HasSegments":false}
/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -ss 00:25:51.467 -noaccurate_seek -fflags +genpts -f matroska  -i file:"/data/movies/movies PT/Lilo e Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch.mkv" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:2 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 libfdk_aac -ac 2 -ab 256000 -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -max_muxing_queue_size 2048 -f hls -max_delay 5000000 -hls_time 6 -hls_segment_type fmp4 -hls_fmp4_init_filename "e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6-1.mp4" -start_number 258 -hls_segment_filename "/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6.m3u8"
ffmpeg version 7.1.1-Jellyfin Copyright (c) 2000-2025 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg --target-os=linux --extra-version=Jellyfin --disable-doc --disable-ffplay --disable-static --disable-libxcb --disable-sdl2 --disable-xlib --enable-lto=auto --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-shared --enable-gmp --enable-gnutls --enable-chromaprint --enable-opencl --enable-libdrm --enable-libxml2 --enable-libass --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libbluray --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libdav1d --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libwebp --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libzvbi --enable-libzimg --enable-libfdk-aac --arch=amd64 --enable-libshaderc --enable-libplacebo --enable-vulkan --enable-vaapi --enable-amf --enable-libvpl --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-cuda --enable-cuda-llvm --enable-cuvid --enable-nvdec --enable-nvenc
  libavutil      59. 39.100 / 59. 39.100
  libavcodec    61. 19.101 / 61. 19.101
  libavformat    61.  7.100 / 61.  7.100
  libavdevice    61.  3.100 / 61.  3.100
  libavfilter    10.  4.100 / 10.  4.100
  libswscale      8.  3.100 /  8.  3.100
  libswresample  5.  3.100 /  5.  3.100
  libpostproc    58.  3.100 / 58.  3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'file:/data/movies/movies PT/Lilo e Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch/Lilo.e.Stitch.mkv':
  Metadata:
    title          : [SWOP] Lilo & Stitch (2002)
    encoder        : libebml v1.3.0 + libmatroska v1.4.1
    creation_time  : 2014-03-09T04:37:29.000000Z
  Duration: 01:25:14.62, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 7789 kb/s
  Chapters:
    Chapter #0:0: start 0.000000, end 175.884000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:00:00.000
    Chapter #0:1: start 175.884000, end 393.893000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:02:55.884
    Chapter #0:2: start 393.893000, end 509.384000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:06:33.893
    Chapter #0:3: start 509.384000, end 597.972000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:08:29.384
    Chapter #0:4: start 597.972000, end 895.895000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:09:57.972
    Chapter #0:5: start 895.895000, end 1198.823000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:14:55.895
    Chapter #0:6: start 1198.823000, end 1291.999000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:19:58.823
    Chapter #0:7: start 1291.999000, end 1434.391000
      Metadata:
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    Chapter #0:8: start 1434.391000, end 1494.952000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:23:54.391
    Chapter #0:9: start 1494.952000, end 1721.261000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:24:54.952
    Chapter #0:10: start 1721.261000, end 1826.491000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:28:41.261
    Chapter #0:11: start 1826.491000, end 1903.944000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:30:26.491
    Chapter #0:12: start 1903.944000, end 2100.348000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:31:43.944
    Chapter #0:13: start 2100.348000, end 2197.654000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:35:00.348
    Chapter #0:14: start 2197.654000, end 2370.159000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:36:37.654
    Chapter #0:15: start 2370.159000, end 2459.749000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:39:30.159
    Chapter #0:16: start 2459.749000, end 2765.012000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:40:59.749
    Chapter #0:17: start 2765.012000, end 2974.013000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:46:05.012
    Chapter #0:18: start 2974.013000, end 3025.689000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:49:34.013
    Chapter #0:19: start 3025.689000, end 3128.292000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:50:25.689
    Chapter #0:20: start 3128.292000, end 3311.433000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:52:08.292
    Chapter #0:21: start 3311.433000, end 3348.887000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:55:11.433
    Chapter #0:22: start 3348.887000, end 3438.977000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:55:48.887
    Chapter #0:23: start 3438.977000, end 3753.625000
      Metadata:
        title          : 00:57:18.977
    Chapter #0:24: start 3753.625000, end 3821.151000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:02:33.625
    Chapter #0:25: start 3821.151000, end 3907.153000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:03:41.151
    Chapter #0:26: start 3907.153000, end 4073.236000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:05:07.153
    Chapter #0:27: start 4073.236000, end 4433.804000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:07:53.236
    Chapter #0:28: start 4433.804000, end 4638.634000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:13:53.804
    Chapter #0:29: start 4638.634000, end 5114.624000
      Metadata:
        title          : 01:17:18.634
  Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(progressive), 1824x1080, SAR 1:1 DAR 76:45, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn (default)
  Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: dts (dca) (DTS), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s
  Stream #0:2(por): Audio: ac3, 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 448 kb/s (default)
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:2 -> #0:1 (ac3 (native) -> aac (libfdk_aac))
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6-1.mp4' for writing
Output #0, hls, to '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6.m3u8':
  Metadata:
    encoder        : Lavf61.7.100
  Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(progressive), 1824x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 76:45], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 16k tbn (default)
  Stream #0:1: Audio: aac, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 256 kb/s (default)
      Metadata:
        encoder        : Lavc61.19.101 libfdk_aac
      Side data:
        cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 256000/256000/256000 buffer size: 0 vbv_delay: N/A
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6258.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6259.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6260.mp4' for writing
[mp4 @ 0x7fa1e003eb40] Packet duration: -22 / dts: 69359576 is out of range
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6261.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6262.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6263.mp4' for writing
frame=  883 fps=0.0 q=-1.0 size=N/A time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed=  0x   
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6264.mp4' for writing
[mp4 @ 0x7fa1e003eb40] Packet duration: -14 / dts: 70278135 is out of range
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6265.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6266.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6267.mp4' for writing
[mp4 @ 0x7fa1e003eb40] Packet duration: -14 / dts: 71089134 is out of range
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6268.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6269.mp4' for writing
frame= 1861 fps=1861 q=-1.0 size=N/A time=00:00:41.00 bitrate=N/A speed=  41x   
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6270.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6271.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6272.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6273.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6274.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6275.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6276.mp4' for writing
frame= 2834 fps=1889 q=-1.0 size=N/A time=00:01:21.47 bitrate=N/A speed=54.3x   
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6277.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6278.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6279.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6280.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6281.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6282.mp4' for writing
[mp4 @ 0x7fa1e003eb40] Packet duration: -14 / dts: 75095046 is out of range
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6283.mp4' for writing
frame= 3772 fps=1886 q=-1.0 size=N/A time=00:02:00.60 bitrate=N/A speed=60.3x   
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6284.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6285.mp4' for writing
[mp4 @ 0x7fa1e003eb40] Packet duration: -5 / dts: 76016604 is out of range
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6286.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6287.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6288.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6289.mp4' for writing
frame= 4668 fps=1867 q=-1.0 size=N/A time=00:02:38.01 bitrate=N/A speed=63.2x   
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6290.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6291.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6292.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6293.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6294.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6295.mp4' for writing
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6296.mp4' for writing
[q] command received. Exiting.
[hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e280] Opening '/config/cache/transcodes/e7d44fe64db1dca4887fb7fc638f47d6297.mp4' for writing
[out#0/hls @ 0x55f5d2a5e0c0] video:177011KiB audio:7372KiB subtitle:0KiB other streams:0KiB global headers:0KiB muxing overhead: unknown
frame= 5650 fps=1879 q=-1.0 Lsize=N/A time=00:03:19.17 bitrate=N/A speed=66.2x    [/color]
[color=#000000]

[/color]
I have already tried the remux trick posted in a couple posts, but it results in the exact same behaviour. This is the fix that I tried:

Code:

ffmpeg.exe -fflags +genpts+igndts -i "E:\path\to\problem\video.mkv" -map 0 -codec copy -max_muxing_queue_size 2048 -max_interleave_delta 0 -avoid_negative_ts disabled E:\newFile.mkv

If I can supply any extra info I will be glad to do so.

If it helps, this are dual audio files, with original english audio in 5.1/dts and the portuguese audio is usually stereo only in ac3 format, this is happening with a couple files, some are 1080p, some are 480p, some came from DVDs, some from BlueRays.

Best regards.