SOLVED: Bluetooth connection prevents playback

[Karlsmith]

Jellyfin 0.17.8 on the Google TV Streamer 
Jellyfin.Server 10.10.0-1 (Arch Linux)

On the Google TV Streamer (GTV), Jellyfin videos that play fine when no Bluetooth earbuds are connected, fail with too many errors when they are connected. The only difference is that Samsung Earbuds2 pro are connected.

I did find a workaround. If I start playing the video without the buds connected, then pause the video, connect the buds (which happens automatically without leaving the video) then rewind to the beginning, then they work as expected and audio/video are in sync.

This started about a month ago, recent server update to 10.10.0 didn't make a difference. Some videos, even though they are both in .mkv containers, one might work and one exhibits the problem. Those are exceptions most videos in the library that I checked have problems.

Earbuds work fine elsewhere, Jellyfin app on Roku device works fine. Also, Amazon Prime videos on the GTV streamer work no problem. The earbuds work with the same videos through the Kodi app. on the GTV streamer.

No other BT devices connected.

I've tried stopping, clearing the cache/data, and deleting/reinstalling. Looking at the GTV debug output, which just acknowledges the stop. Google Nest community felt it was a Jellyfin issue.
Jellyfin Server log showing successful start (10:27) then stop of video without Earbuds. Then with Earbuds (10:29):

Code:

[color=#ffffff][2024-11-02 10:27:21.689 -10:00] [INF] User policy for "moke". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2024-11-02 10:27:34.202 -10:00] [INF] Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.17.8" playing "Cent'anni". Stopped at "11104" ms
[2024-11-02 10:28:13.080 -10:00] [INF] WS "192.168.1.175" closed
[2024-11-02 10:28:13.389 -10:00] [INF] WS "192.168.1.175" request
[2024-11-02 10:29:10.906 -10:00] [INF] User policy for "moke". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2024-11-02 10:29:11.792 -10:00] [INF] Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.17.8" playing "Cent'anni". Stopped at "0" ms
[2024-11-02 10:29:11.810 -10:00] [INF] User policy for "moke". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.047 -10:00] [INF] Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.17.8" playing "Cent'anni". Stopped at "0" ms
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.052 -10:00] [INF] User policy for "moke". EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.312 -10:00] [INF] "/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg" "-analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -fflags +genpts -f matroska  -i file:\"/seabak/Jellyfin2/Shows/The Penguin (2024)/the.penguin.s01e04.1080p.web.h264-successfulcrab.mkv\" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 copy -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -max_muxing_queue_size 2048 -f hls -max_delay 5000000 -hls_time 6 -hls_segment_type mpegts -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename \"/var/cache/jellyfin/transcodes/f688e75ea0da669fb1764bb5d02dc044%d.ts\" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y \"/var/cache/jellyfin/transcodes/f688e75ea0da669fb1764bb5d02dc044.m3u8\""
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.819 -10:00] [INF] Stopping ffmpeg process with q command for "/var/cache/jellyfin/transcodes/f688e75ea0da669fb1764bb5d02dc044.m3u8"
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.871 -10:00] [INF] FFmpeg exited with code 0
[2024-11-02 10:29:13.871 -10:00] [INF] Deleting partial stream file(s) "/var/cache/jellyfin/transcodes/f688e75ea0da669fb1764bb5d02dc044.m3u8"
[2024-11-02 10:29:15.406 -10:00] [INF] Playback stopped reported by app "Android TV" "0.17.8" playing "Cent'anni". Stopped at "0" ms
[2024-11-02 10:29:47.968 -10:00] [INF] WS "192.168.1.175" closed
[2024-11-02 10:29:48.254 -10:00] [INF] WS "192.168.1.175" request[/color]

FFmpeg log attached.

thanks in advance

[TheDreadPirate]

I also have a GTV Streamer, but was not able to replicate when I connected my Pixel Bud A-series.

How is the app configured? Specifically the Audio output, refresh rate scaling, and bitstream dolby audio.

[Karlsmith]

I also have a GTV Streamer, but was not able to replicate when I connected my Pixel Bud A-series.

How is the app configured?  Specifically the Audio output, refresh rate scaling, and bitstream dolby audio.

In the Jellyfin app. I was not able to find refresh rate scaling, where is that? Bitstream DD audio is enabled. Under Video>Max Streaming bitrate is 100Mbit, Under Audio I switched to from "Direct" to "Downmix to Stereo" and now the videos appear to work at this time. Obviously the buds are stereo, maybe that was it.

I'll mark as solved if you agree.

[TheDreadPirate]

Refresh rate scaling is in the same menu as Bitstream DD Audio. A bit farther up that menu.

I tried both direct and downmix and didn't have problems with either. But "downmix to stereo" has resolved various playback issues with other users. The playback code is being re-written for 0.18 and most of these types of problems should be resolved.