There was an error starting direct playback

[nothingveryobvious]

Hello, all. Can anyone please tell me why I am getting an error: Reason for transcoding: There was an error starting direct playback.

Jellyfin is transcoding even though I don't think it needs to. I'm playing the episode through the Jellyfin app on an iPhone. My only guess is that the profile is High instead of Main.

Here is the media info from Jellyfin:



Here are the logs:


[11:12:10] [INF] [19] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for redacted. EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[11:12:12] [INF] [31] Jellyfin.Api.Controllers.DynamicHlsController: Current HLS implementation doesn't support non-keyframe breaks but one is requested, ignoring that request
[11:12:12] [INF] [31] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -fflags +genpts  -i file:"/media/jellyfin-dimepiece/TV Shows/Tracker (2024)/Season 02/Tracker.(2024)_S02E01_Out.of.the.Past_WEBDL-1080p.Proper_h264_8bit_EAC3_5.1_[FLUX].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 libfdk_aac -ac 6 -ab 640000 -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 "d7bd0e52c5cc071e1ec4333ea6c79ca8-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename "/config/cache/transcodes/d7bd0e52c5cc071e1ec4333ea6c79ca8%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/config/cache/transcodes/d7bd0e52c5cc071e1ec4333ea6c79ca8.m3u8"
[11:12:15] [INF] [45] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Started user data sync
[11:12:15] [INF] [45] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: User Data Sync: User redacted (f9ba48664db445b38303488551a08960) posted 2 updates
[11:12:15] [INF] [45] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Finished user data sync, taking 00:00:00.0511649
[11:12:48] [INF] [12] MediaBrowser.Controller.MediaEncoding.TranscodingJob: Stopping ffmpeg process with q command for /config/cache/transcodes/d7bd0e52c5cc071e1ec4333ea6c79ca8.m3u8
[11:12:49] [INF] [12] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: Deleting partial stream file(s) /config/cache/transcodes/d7bd0e52c5cc071e1ec4333ea6c79ca8.m3u8
[11:12:49] [INF] [49] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: FFmpeg exited with code 0
[11:12:50] [INF] [45] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app Jellyfin Mobile (iOS) 1.5.0 playing Out of the Past. Stopped at 31397 ms
[11:12:51] [INF] [48] Emby.Server.Implementations.ScheduledTasks.TaskManager: Webhook Item Added Notifier Completed after 0 minute(s) and 0 seconds
[11:12:51] [INF] [45] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Started user data sync
[11:12:51] [INF] [36] jellyfin_ani_sync.UpdateProviderStatus: Item is in a folder the user does not want to be monitored; ignoring
[11:12:51] [ERR] [45] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: An error has occurred in UserUpdateTimerCallback
System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast object of type 'System.Guid' to type 'System.String'.
  at lambda_method1901(Closure, Object, Object)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.DeserializeObject(EntityMapper entity, Object obj, BsonDocument value)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.Deserialize(Type type, BsonValue value)
  at LiteDB.LiteQueryable1.<ToEnumerable>b__27_2(BsonDocument x)
  at System.Linq.Enumerable.SelectEnumerableIterator2.ToList()
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.Data.DbRepo.SetUserInfoSync(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SaveUserChanges(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userName, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SendNotifications(IEnumerable1 changes, List1 itemRefs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.UpdateTimerCallback(Object state)
[11:12:58] [INF] [36] Jellyfin.Server.Implementations.Trickplay.TrickplayManager: Finished creation of trickplay files for /media/jellyfin-duzzin/TV Shows/Terrace House - Boys x Girls Next Door/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S01E02_Week.02.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4
[11:12:58] [INF] [46] Jellyfin.Server.Implementations.Trickplay.TrickplayManager: Creating trickplay files at 320 width, for /media/jellyfin-duzzin/TV Shows/Terrace House - Boys x Girls Next Door/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S01E03_Week.03.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4 [ID: 55aa367c-db82-00bd-d314-4050f96a501b]
[11:12:58] [INF] [46] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Encoder.MediaEncoder: Trickplay generation: /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -loglevel error -threads 1 -i file:"/media/jellyfin-duzzin/TV Shows/Terrace House - Boys x Girls Next Door/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S01E03_Week.03.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4" -an -sn -vf "fps=0.10000000149011612,setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale=trunc(min(max(iw\,ih*(a*sar))\,320)/2)*2:trunc(ow/(a*sar)/2)*2,format=yuv420p" -threads 1 -c:v mjpeg -qscale:v 4 -fps_mode passthrough -f image2 "/tmp/jellyfin/e151084868434749b365db86828c7aac/%08d.jpg"
[11:12:58] [INF] [46] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for redacted. EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[11:12:59] [INF] [36] Jellyfin.Api.Controllers.DynamicHlsController: Current HLS implementation doesn't support non-keyframe breaks but one is requested, ignoring that request
[11:12:59] [INF] [36] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -fflags +genpts  -i file:"/media/jellyfin-dimepiece/TV Shows/Shrinking/Shrinking_S02E05_Honesty.Era_WEBDL-1080p_HEVC_8bit_AC3_5.1_[X265].mkv" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:43 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 copy -tag:v:0 hvc1 -bsf:v hevc_mp4toannexb -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 libfdk_aac -ac 6 -ab 640000 -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 "b3d6d27f9a84aa0c418a133764d31860-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename "/config/cache/transcodes/b3d6d27f9a84aa0c418a133764d31860%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/config/cache/transcodes/b3d6d27f9a84aa0c418a133764d31860.m3u8"
[11:13:03] [WRN] [51] Trakt.ServerMediator: Received playback progress from user redacted but initial state was never set - setting it now!
[11:13:04] [INF] [52] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Started user data sync
[11:13:04] [INF] [52] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: User Data Sync: User redacted (f9ba48664db445b38303488551a08960) posted 2 updates
[11:13:04] [INF] [52] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Finished user data sync, taking 00:00:00.1096265
[11:13:46] [INF] [45] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: FFmpeg exited with code 0
[11:14:14] [INF] [19] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: Deleting partial stream file(s) /config/cache/transcodes/b3d6d27f9a84aa0c418a133764d31860.m3u8
[11:14:16] [INF] [32] Emby.Server.Implementations.Session.SessionManager: Playback stopped reported by app Jellyfin Mobile (iOS) 1.5.0 playing Honesty Era. Stopped at 69487 ms
[11:14:16] [INF] [11] jellyfin_ani_sync.UpdateProviderStatus: Item is in a folder the user does not want to be monitored; ignoring
[11:14:16] [INF] [37] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Started user data sync
[11:14:16] [ERR] [37] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: An error has occurred in UserUpdateTimerCallback
System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast object of type 'System.Guid' to type 'System.String'.
  at lambda_method1901(Closure, Object, Object)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.DeserializeObject(EntityMapper entity, Object obj, BsonDocument value)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.Deserialize(Type type, BsonValue value)
  at LiteDB.LiteQueryable1.<ToEnumerable>b__27_2(BsonDocument x)
  at System.Linq.Enumerable.SelectEnumerableIterator2.ToList()
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.Data.DbRepo.SetUserInfoSync(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SaveUserChanges(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userName, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SendNotifications(IEnumerable1 changes, List1 itemRefs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.UpdateTimerCallback(Object state)
[11:14:18] [INF] [30] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for redacted. EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[11:14:22] [INF] [30] Emby.Server.Implementations.ScheduledTasks.TaskManager: Webhook Item Added Notifier Completed after 0 minute(s) and 0 seconds
[11:14:37] [INF] [51] Jellyfin.Api.Helpers.MediaInfoHelper: User policy for redacted. EnablePlaybackRemuxing: True EnableVideoPlaybackTranscoding: True EnableAudioPlaybackTranscoding: True
[11:14:38] [INF] [50] Jellyfin.Api.Controllers.DynamicHlsController: Current HLS implementation doesn't support non-keyframe breaks but one is requested, ignoring that request
[11:14:38] [INF] [50] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G  -i file:"/media/jellyfin-duzzin/TV Shows/Terrace House - Boys x Girls Next Door/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S01E02_Week.02.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 23 -maxrate 5990093 -bufsize 11980186 -profile:v:0 high -level 40 -x264opts:0 subme=0:me_range=16:rc_lookahead=10:me=hexpen_gop=0 -force_key_frames:0 "expr:gte(t,n_forced*3)" -sc_threshold:v:0 0 -vf "setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale=trunc(min(max(iw\,ih*a)\,min(1920\,1080*a))/2)*2:trunc(min(max(iw/a\,ih)\,min(1920/a\,1080))/2)*2,format=yuv420p" -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 3 -hls_segment_type fmp4 -hls_fmp4_init_filename "b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename "/config/cache/transcodes/b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/config/cache/transcodes/b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6.m3u8"
[11:14:38] [INF] [49] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: Started user data sync
[11:14:38] [ERR] [49] Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification: An error has occurred in UserUpdateTimerCallback
System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast object of type 'System.Guid' to type 'System.String'.
  at lambda_method1901(Closure, Object, Object)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.DeserializeObject(EntityMapper entity, Object obj, BsonDocument value)
  at LiteDB.BsonMapper.Deserialize(Type type, BsonValue value)
  at LiteDB.LiteQueryable1.<ToEnumerable>b__27_2(BsonDocument x)
  at System.Linq.Enumerable.SelectEnumerableIterator2.ToList()
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.Data.DbRepo.SetUserInfoSync(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SaveUserChanges(List1 dtos, List1 itemRefs, String userName, String userId)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.SendNotifications(IEnumerable1 changes, List1 itemRefs, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
  at Jellyfin.Plugin.KodiSyncQueue.EntryPoints.UserSyncNotification.UpdateTimerCallback(Object state)
[11:14:41] [INF] [11] MediaBrowser.Controller.MediaEncoding.TranscodingJob: Stopping ffmpeg process with q command for /config/cache/transcodes/b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6.m3u8
[11:14:42] [INF] [11] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: FFmpeg exited with code 0
[11:14:42] [INF] [11] Jellyfin.Api.Controllers.DynamicHlsController: Current HLS implementation doesn't support non-keyframe breaks but one is requested, ignoring that request
[11:14:42] [INF] [11] MediaBrowser.MediaEncoding.Transcoding.TranscodeManager: /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -ss 00:01:42.000 -noaccurate_seek  -i file:"/media/jellyfin-duzzin/TV Shows/Terrace House - Boys x Girls Next Door/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S01E02_Week.02.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 23 -maxrate 5990093 -bufsize 11980186 -profile:v:0 high -level 40 -x264opts:0 subme=0:me_range=16:rc_lookahead=10:me=hexpen_gop=0 -force_key_frames:0 "expr:gte(t,n_forced*3)" -sc_threshold:v:0 0 -vf "setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale=trunc(min(max(iw\,ih*a)\,min(1920\,1080*a))/2)*2:trunc(min(max(iw/a\,ih)\,min(1920/a\,1080))/2)*2,format=yuv420p" -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 3 -hls_segment_type fmp4 -hls_fmp4_init_filename "b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6-1.mp4" -start_number 34 -hls_segment_filename "/config/cache/transcodes/b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/config/cache/transcodes/b7df1d394ffb45b91a07505bb1df66f6.m3u8"
[11:15:53] [INF] [30] Emby.Server.Implementations.ScheduledTasks.TaskManager: Webhook Item Added Notifier Completed after 0 minute(s) and 0 seconds
close
close


I had just added this episode to the server, if that matters. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

[TheDreadPirate]

What model iPhone do you have running what version of iOS?

Also, can you run ffprobe on this file and share the output?

[nothingveryobvious]

Hi, @TheDreadPirate, thanks for your reply.

iPhone 11
iOS 17.6.1

ffprobe:

Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/hdd/Season 01/Terrace.House.Boys.x.Girls.Next.Door_S02E01_Week.14.2012_.1080p.NF.WEB-DL.AAC-IRENEBRO.mp4':
Metadata:
major_brand : mp42
minor_version : 512
compatible_brands: mp42dby1iso2avc1mp41
creation_time : 2024-11-06T17:58:43.000000Z
encoder : HandBrake 1.8.2 2024081000
Duration: 00:23:42.11, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 5237 kb/s
Stream #0:0[0x1](und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 5104 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2024-11-06T17:58:43.000000Z
handler_name : VideoHandler
vendor_id : [0][0][0][0]
Stream #0:1[0x2](jpn): Audio: eac3 (ec-3 / 0x332D6365), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2024-11-06T17:58:43.000000Z
handler_name : Stereo
vendor_id : [0][0][0][0]
Side data:
audio service type: main


Also, I just tried it with a profile of Main instead of High and I still get the same problem.

[TheDreadPirate]

I am pretty sure the issue is the EAC3 audio. But our documentation, and the devs, confirmed that EAC3 SHOULD be supported up to 5.1.

[nothingveryobvious]

Thanks again for your reply, @TheDreadPirate.

If that is the case, shouldn't Jellyfin transcode only the audio?

[Fate]

Thanks again for your reply, @TheDreadPirate.

If that is the case, shouldn't Jellyfin transcode only the audio?

According to the log you posted ealier that is what jellyfin did:

-codec:v:0 copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 libfdk_aac
Means video got "copied" and audio goz transcoded to aac.

[nothingveryobvious]

Hi, @Fate, thanks for your reply.

Okay, that's helpful information. I just wonder why the transcoding seemed to take a while (by watching the red bar). Usually when I see it transcoding audio, it's pretty fast in comparison.