SOLVED: Playback Error

[Hostile_18]

Update: I tried the latest Fire 4K Max 2nd Gen stick and it too had problems with the same files under exo player. Perhaps it's some setting on Jellyfin/Unraid after all. I did notice the Lib player didn't have the audio delay so there's that though lol.

[TheDreadPirate]

A lot of Fire Stick users have had issues with exo recently. Most had success just setting libVLC as the preferred player. Does that work for you?

[Hostile_18]

A lot of Fire Stick users have had issues with exo recently.  Most had success just setting libVLC as the preferred player.  Does that work for you?

Yeah that works fine for me. I guess as long as there is no disadvantage to it, it doesn't really matter.

[Hostile_18]

Has the ability to change player been removed? or am I being crazy? lol. My Firestick clients can't play certain movie files again with seemingly no obvious reason in the logs. I went to check if they are using the player that worked and I can't seem to locate it anymore?

[TheDreadPirate]

libVLC was because it hasn't been updated in 2 years and there were several security vulnerabilities that VLC wasn't addressing.

The issue you are experience is probably related to audio. Read this forum post.

https://forum.jellyfin.org/t-solved-play...9#pid34069

There are a few audio related bugs that have been confirmed and are being worked on. But this post has some workarounds to try to get by until the bugs are fixed.

---

Just saw that you found that post already.

[Dirty504]

Has the ability to change player been removed? or am I being crazy? lol. My Firestick clients can't play certain movie files again with seemingly no obvious reason in the logs. I went to check if they are using the player that worked and I can't seem to locate it anymore?

Those fixes don't work on the newest Firestick Gen 2 Max...

I just tested my old 1st gen Firestick 4k, and a brand new Firestick 4k Max (2nd Gen).

Both sticks running the most updated apps/firmware... playing the same file, on the same TV, from the same server, with the same Jellyfin/VLC/Firestick settings... old Firestick plays it no problem; new Firestick only audio, black screen.  

I'm no expert, but I'm really struggling to understand how that's even possible...

[theguymadmax]

@Dirty504 The playback error message is very generic and can be caused by various things. Why don't you post a new thread with your issue? Please include server logs and the media info of the file/s you are having problems with.

[Hostile_18]

I suppose ideally the LibVLC player should of only been removed when the other player was 100% with all firesticks as its hard work getting none tech clients sorted lol.

I'm going to look into different settings tomorrow and see what works

[Dirty504]

@Dirty504 The playback error message is very generic and can be caused by various things. Why don't you post a new thread with your issue? Please include server logs and the media info of the file/s you are having problems with.

That's another interesting caveat... it's not throwing the playback error message.  Jellyfin says everything is cool, but the Firestick 4k Max shows just a black screen with only audio.  

I may make a post about it later tonight... I haven't decided if I want to dig into the logs further or if I want to just return this 4K Max and pay-up for another Nvidia Shield.  I was mainly trying to help the guy who was struggling to understand why the "fix" isn't working for him on the 4k Max... because I'm in the same boat.

[theguymadmax]

That's another interesting caveat... it's not throwing the playback error message.  Jellyfin says everything is cool, but the Firestick 4k Max shows just a black screen with only audio.  

I may make a post about it later tonight... I haven't decided if I want to dig into the logs further or if I want to just return this 4K Max and pay-up for another Nvidia Shield.  I was mainly trying to help the guy who was struggling to understand why the "fix" isn't working for him on the 4k Max... because I'm in the same boat.

Based on that description, just the media info for the file is sufficient. The Fire TV 4K has a bug that causes files with both Dolby Vision and HDR+ profiles to show a black screen with only audio playing. If that describes most of your media then I would recommend returning it.