Transcoding

[Checkerknight]

I have been all over the place trying to figure out supported formats for all my devices and I keep running into dead ends. The device in question right now is a chromecast that I have plugged into a projector. 
To start I will say that I am running Jellyfin off of a Raspberry Pi so transcoding is NOT an option and has been disabled on server and profiles (re-enabled in order to get a log and figure out my issue). My issue is not with transcoding itself, but it is with the fact that Jellyfin wants to transcode files.

The files I am using are direct Bluray rips, ran through Handbrake to turn them into MKV (x264) keeping one version of all audio tracks (5.1, 7.1, and stereo), and if no stereo track is available I downmix one of the tracks to a stereo (AAC) file just to cover all bases, and I rip, convert, and replace the subtitles into a .srt file. During this test subtitles are disabled, and the stereo AAC track has been selected. I have tried checking the logs but I for the life of me cannot make sense of it. Can somebody tell me why this particular file is attempting to transcode? And could you point out where I can find in the log what it says its trying to do. As far as I can tell (referring to the Codec support page) x264 and AAC should be available across all platforms with no problems. 
Tried attatching the log but forum said no 

/videos/10a95ec2-35c4-5595-f16b-68d3e3fa4f99/stream.mkv

{"Protocol":0,"Id":"10a95ec235c45595f16b68d3e3fa4f99","Path":"/mnt/Spaghetti_Worldwide/TV Shows/Breaking Bad/Season 1/S01E01 - Pilot.mkv","EncoderPath":null,"EncoderProtocol":null,"Type":0,"Container":"mkv,webm","Size":7279533056,"Name":"S01E01 - Pilot","IsRemote":false,"ETag":"2a005e16db65560df5502c676f181c38","RunTimeTicks":34865491968,"ReadAtNativeFramerate":false,"IgnoreDts":false,"IgnoreIndex":false,"GenPtsInput":false,"SupportsTranscoding":true,"SupportsDirectStream":true,"SupportsDirectPlay":true,"IsInfiniteStream":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":null,"ColorRange":null,"ColorSpace":"bt709","ColorTransfer":"bt709","ColorPrimaries":"bt709","DvVersionMajor":null,"DvVersionMinor":null,"DvProfile":null,"DvLevel":null,"RpuPresentFlag":null,"ElPresentFlag":null,"BlPresentFlag":null,"DvBlSignalCompatibilityId":null,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":null,"VideoRange":"SDR","VideoRangeType":"SDR","VideoDoViTitle":null,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":null,"LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":null,"DisplayTitle":"1080p H264 SDR","NalLengthSize":"4","IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":true,"ChannelLayout":null,"BitRate":16703125,"BitDepth":8,"RefFrames":1,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":null,"SampleRate":null,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"Height":1080,"Width":1920,"AverageFrameRate":23.976025,"RealFrameRate":23.976025,"Profile":"Main","Type":1,"AspectRatio":"16:9","Index":0,"Score":null,"IsExternal":false,"DeliveryMethod":null,"DeliveryUrl":null,"IsExternalUrl":null,"IsTextSubtitleStream":false,"SupportsExternalStream":false,"Path":null,"PixelFormat":"yuv420p","Level":40,"IsAnamorphic":null},{"Codec":"aac","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,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":"Stereo","VideoRange":null,"VideoRangeType":null,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":null,"LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":null,"DisplayTitle":"Stereo - English - AAC - Default","NalLengthSize":null,"IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":null,"ChannelLayout":"stereo","BitRate":382871,"BitDepth":null,"RefFrames":null,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":2,"SampleRate":48000,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"Height":null,"Width":null,"AverageFrameRate":null,"RealFrameRate":null,"Profile":"LC","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":"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,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":"Surround 5.1","VideoRange":null,"VideoRangeType":null,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"LocalizedUndefined":null,"LocalizedDefault":null,"LocalizedForced":null,"LocalizedExternal":null,"DisplayTitle":"Surround 5.1 - English - DTS-HD MA","NalLengthSize":null,"IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":null,"ChannelLayout":"5.1","BitRate":3896163,"BitDepth":24,"RefFrames":null,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":6,"SampleRate":48000,"IsDefault":false,"IsForced":false,"Height":null,"Width":null,"AverageFrameRate":null,"RealFrameRate":null,"Profile":"DTS-HD MA","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},{"Codec":"subrip","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,"Comment":null,"TimeBase":"1/1000","CodecTimeBase":null,"Title":null,"VideoRange":null,"VideoRangeType":null,"VideoDoViTitle":null,"LocalizedUndefined":"Undefined","LocalizedDefault":"Default","LocalizedForced":"Forced","LocalizedExternal":"External","DisplayTitle":"English - Default - SUBRIP","NalLengthSize":null,"IsInterlaced":false,"IsAVC":null,"ChannelLayout":null,"BitRate":null,"BitDepth":null,"RefFrames":null,"PacketLength":null,"Channels":null,"SampleRate":null,"IsDefault":true,"IsForced":false,"Height":null,"Width":null,"AverageFrameRate":null,"RealFrameRate":null,"Profile":null,"Type":2,"AspectRatio":null,"Index":3,"Score":null,"IsExternal":false,"DeliveryMethod":null,"DeliveryUrl":null,"IsExternalUrl":null,"IsTextSubtitleStream":true,"SupportsExternalStream":true,"Path":null,"PixelFormat":null,"Level":0,"IsAnamorphic":null}],"MediaAttachments":[],"Formats":[],"Bitrate":20982159,"Timestamp":null,"RequiredHttpHeaders":{},"TranscodingUrl":null,"TranscodingSubProtocol":null,"TranscodingContainer":null,"AnalyzeDurationMs":null,"DefaultAudioStreamIndex":null,"DefaultSubtitleStreamIndex":null}

/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -ss 00:16:12.656 -f matroska,webm -autorotate 0 -i file:"/mnt/Spaghetti_Worldwide/TV Shows/Breaking Bad/Season 1/S01E01 - Pilot.mkv" -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -force_key_frames "expr:gte(t,n_forced*5)" -vf "setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale=trunc(min(max(iw\,ih*a)\,1920)/2)*2:trunc(ow/a/2)*2,format=yuv420p" -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -start_at_zero -preset superfast -crf 28 -maxrate 10617129 -bufsize 21234258 -profile:v:0 main -level 40 -x264opts:0 subme=0:me_range=4:rc_lookahead=10:me=dia:no_chroma_me:8x8dct=0:partitions=none -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -codec:a:0 copy -y "/mnt/dietpi_userdata/jellyfin/transcodes/af0d22b3742decfb458e8f1683f2c55d.mkv"


ffmpeg version 5.1.3-Jellyfin Copyright © 2000-2022 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 10 (Debian 10.2.1-6)
  configuration: --prefix=/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg --target-os=linux --extra-libs=-lfftw3f --extra-version=Jellyfin --disable-doc --disable-ffplay --disable-ptx-compression --disable-static --disable-libxcb --disable-sdl2 --disable-xlib --enable-lto --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --enable-shared --enable-gmp --enable-gnutls --enable-chromaprint --enable-libdrm --enable-libass --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libbluray --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libdav1d --enable-libwebp --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libzvbi --enable-libzimg --enable-libfdk-aac --toolchain=hardened --enable-cross-compile --arch=arm64 --cross-prefix=/usr/bin/aarch64-linux-gnu-
  libavutil      57. 28.100 / 57. 28.100
  libavcodec    59. 37.100 / 59. 37.100
  libavformat    59. 27.100 / 59. 27.100
  libavdevice    59.  7.100 / 59.  7.100
  libavfilter    8. 44.100 /  8. 44.100
  libswscale      6.  7.100 /  6.  7.100
  libswresample  4.  7.100 /  4.  7.100
  libpostproc    56.  6.100 / 56.  6.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'filemnt/Spaghetti_Worldwide/TV Shows/Breaking Bad/Season 1/S01E01 - Pilot.mkv':
  Metadata:
    title          : S01E01 - Pilot
    creation_time  : 2023-08-10T18:52:14.000000Z
    ENCODER        : Lavf58.29.100
  Duration: 00:58:06.55, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16703 kb/s
  Chapters:
    Chapter #0:0: start 0.000000, end 247.164000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 1
    Chapter #0:1: start 247.164000, end 967.341000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 2
    Chapter #0:2: start 967.341000, end 1901.233000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 3
    Chapter #0:3: start 1901.233000, end 2910.658000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 4
    Chapter #0:4: start 2910.658000, end 3432.346000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 5
    Chapter #0:5: start 3432.346000, end 3485.399000
      Metadata:
        title          : Chapter 6
  Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (Main), yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn (default)
    Metadata:
      BPS            : 12419776
      DURATION        : 00:58:06.525000000
      NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 83593
      NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 5412732459
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v78.0 ('Running') 64-bit
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2023-08-10 18:52:14
      _STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
  Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp (default)
    Metadata:
      title          : Stereo
      BPS            : 382871
      DURATION        : 00:58:06.549000000
      NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 163432
      NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 166862622
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v78.0 ('Running') 64-bit
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2023-08-10 18:52:14
      _STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
  Stream #0:2(eng): Audio: dts (DTS-HD MA), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s32p (24 bit)
    Metadata:
      title          : Surround 5.1
      BPS            : 3896163
      DURATION        : 00:58:06.528000000
      NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 326862
      NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 1698010224
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v78.0 ('Running') 64-bit
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2023-08-10 18:52:14
      _STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
  Stream #0:3(eng): Subtitle: subrip (default)
    Metadata:
      BPS            : 51
      DURATION        : 00:56:48.988000000
      NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 777
      NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 22051
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v78.0 ('Running') 64-bit
      _STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2023-08-10 18:52:14
      _STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (copy)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] using SAR=1/1
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] using cpu capabilities: ARMv8 NEON
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] profile Main, level 4.0, 4:2:0, 8-bit
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] 264 - core 160 r3011 cde9a93 - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2020 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=1 ref=1 deblock=1:0:0 analyse=0x1:0 me=dia subme=0 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=0 me_range=4 chroma_me=0 trellis=0 8x8dct=0 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=0 threads=6 lookahead_threads=1 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=0 bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=1 b_bias=0 direct=1 weightb=1 open_gop=0 weightp=1 keyint=250 keyint_min=23 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=10 rc=crf mbtree=0 crf=28.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 vbv_maxrate=10617 vbv_bufsize=21234 crf_max=0.0 nal_hrd=none filler=0 ip_ratio=1.40 pb_ratio=1.30 aq=1:1.00
Output #0, matroska, to '/mnt/dietpi_userdata/jellyfin/transcodes/af0d22b3742decfb458e8f1683f2c55d.mkv':
  Metadata:
    encoder        : Lavf59.27.100
  Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (H264 / 0x3436324, yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 1k tbn (default)
    Metadata:
      encoder        : Lavc59.37.100 libx264
    Side data:
      cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 10617000/0/0 buffer size: 21234000 vbv_delay: N/A
  Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([255][0][0][0] / 0x00FF), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp (default)
frame=    1 fps=0.3 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed=  0x   
frame=    4 fps=1.1 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.17 bitrate=  33.6kbits/s speed=0.0478x   
frame=    7 fps=1.7 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.32 bitrate=  17.9kbits/s speed=0.076x   
frame=    9 fps=1.6 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.32 bitrate=  17.9kbits/s speed=0.0573x   
frame=  12 fps=1.9 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.49 bitrate=  11.7kbits/s speed=0.0787x   
frame=  13 fps=1.8 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.51 bitrate=  11.1kbits/s speed=0.071x   
frame=  15 fps=1.9 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.66 bitrate=  8.7kbits/s speed=0.083x   
frame=  16 fps=1.8 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.66 bitrate=  8.7kbits/s speed=0.0738x   
frame=  17 fps=1.7 q=0.0 size=      1kB time=00:00:00.66 bitrate=  8.7kbits/s speed=0.0659x   
frame=  21 fps=1.9 q=29.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:00.85 bitrate= 272.7kbits/s speed=0.0762x   
frame=  23 fps=1.9 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.00 bitrate= 232.4kbits/s speed=0.0835x   
frame=  25 fps=1.9 q=29.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.00 bitrate= 232.4kbits/s speed=0.0747x   
frame=  29 fps=2.0 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.30 bitrate= 179.1kbits/s speed=0.0902x   
frame=  33 fps=2.2 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.49 bitrate= 155.9kbits/s speed= 0.1x   
frame=  37 fps=2.4 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.68 bitrate= 138.2kbits/s speed=0.109x   
frame=  44 fps=2.7 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:01.83 bitrate= 126.9kbits/s speed=0.114x   
frame=  48 fps=2.9 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:02.00 bitrate= 116.2kbits/s speed=0.12x   
frame=  53 fps=3.1 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:02.19 bitrate= 105.9kbits/s speed=0.127x   
frame=  57 fps=3.2 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:02.36 bitrate=  98.3kbits/s speed=0.133x   
frame=  61 fps=3.3 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:02.66 bitrate=  87.3kbits/s speed=0.146x   
frame=  69 fps=3.7 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:02.96 bitrate=  78.6kbits/s speed=0.158x   
frame=  73 fps=3.7 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:03.15 bitrate=  73.8kbits/s speed=0.161x   
frame=  79 fps=3.9 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:03.32 bitrate=  70.0kbits/s speed=0.165x   
frame=  85 fps=4.1 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:03.49 bitrate=  66.6kbits/s speed=0.168x   
frame=  89 fps=4.1 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:03.69 bitrate=  63.1kbits/s speed=0.171x   
frame=  96 fps=4.3 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:03.98 bitrate=  58.4kbits/s speed=0.181x   
frame=  101 fps=4.4 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:04.18 bitrate=  55.7kbits/s speed=0.183x   
frame=  107 fps=4.6 q=31.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:04.50 bitrate=  51.7kbits/s speed=0.192x   
frame=  113 fps=4.7 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:04.69 bitrate=  49.6kbits/s speed=0.194x   
frame=  121 fps=4.9 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:04.99 bitrate=  46.6kbits/s speed=0.202x   
frame=  125 fps=4.9 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:05.16 bitrate=  45.1kbits/s speed=0.204x   
frame=  129 fps=5.0 q=28.0 size=      28kB time=00:00:05.35 bitrate=  43.5kbits/s speed=0.207x   
frame=  135 fps=5.1 q=27.0 size=    2048kB time=00:00:05.67 bitrate=2956.9kbits/s speed=0.215x   

[q] command received. Exiting.

frame=  139 fps=5.0 q=-1.0 Lsize=    2559kB time=00:00:05.84 bitrate=3587.2kbits/s speed=0.211x   
video:2229kB audio:326kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 0.156782%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] frame I:2    Avg QP:23.15  size:101672
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] frame P:35    Avg QP:27.34  size: 32831
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] frame B:102  Avg QP:29.71  size:  9110
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] consecutive B-frames:  1.4%  1.4%  2.2% 95.0%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] mb I  I16..4: 45.0%  0.0% 55.0%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] mb P  I16..4: 15.0%  0.0%  0.0%  P16..4: 46.6%  0.0%  0.0%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:38.4%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] mb B  I16..4:  2.3%  0.0%  0.0%  B16..8: 17.4%  0.0%  0.0%  direct: 9.6%  skip:70.7%  L0:39.0% L1:45.7% BI:15.3%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 62.2% 30.1% 4.7% inter: 8.5% 5.7% 0.0%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] i16 v,h,dc,p: 34% 24% 33% 10%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 27% 30% 14%  3%  7%  4%  6%  3%  6%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] i8c dc,h,v,p: 44% 26% 24%  6%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] Weighted P-Frames: Y:0.0% UV:0.0%
[libx264 @ 0x55aacc6580] kb/s:3125.95

[bitmap]

When you go to play this, you can see the reason for transcoding in two spots that I know of: in the Dashboard, you can see when a user is playing back a file if it is being direct played or transcoded and why and you can also find detailed information in the Jellyfin log in Dashboard > Logs. Various clients also support playback information statistics that provide transcoding information (Roku, Android mobile, webOS) but I'm unsure whether it's possible with a Chromecast.

A few things. A pastebin of the log might be easier than reading it here, as that can dilute your post and make it hard to read (i.e., monospaced with line numbers is way easier to parse than tiny sans serif). Additionally, if you take a look at the ffmpeg command that's running:

Code:

/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -ss 00:16:12.656 -f matroska,webm -autorotate 0 -i file:"/mnt/Spaghetti_Worldwide/TV Shows/Breaking Bad/Season 1/S01E01 - Pilot.mkv" -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -force_key_frames "expr:gte(t,n_forced*5)" -vf "setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale=trunc(min(max(iw\,ih*a)\,1920)/2)*2:trunc(ow/a/2)*2,format=yuv420p" -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -start_at_zero -preset superfast -crf 28 -maxrate 10617129 -bufsize 21234258 -profile:v:0 main -level 40 -x264opts:0 subme=0:me_range=4:rc_lookahead=10:me=dia:no_chroma_me:8x8dct=0:partitions=none -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -codec:a:0 copy -y "/mnt/dietpi_userdata/jellyfin/transcodes/af0d22b3742decfb458e8f1683f2c55d.mkv"

We can cut out most of it and get this:

Code:

ffmpeg -i "/mnt/Spaghetti_Worldwide/TV Shows/Breaking Bad/Season 1/S01E01 - Pilot.mkv" -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:s -codec:v:0 libx264 -codec:a:0 copy -y "/mnt/dietpi_userdata/jellyfin/transcodes/af0d22b3742decfb458e8f1683f2c55d.mkv"

While still complicated, it tells us the video is being manipulated while the audio is not and that it doesn't appear the subs are the issue. You probably need to look at your Jellyfin log after making this happen again or make it happen, then go to the Dashboard and check the transcode reason there. My next best guess as a culprit? Bitrate restriction. 

If you're using this outside your network that can be an issue. Inside your network, you would've had to DIG to make that happen. Check your user profile (the one playing the media for any bitrate streaming limits. You could also double check if you have it set artificially in your player on the Chromecast or if there's a limit to the network connection on the Chromecast...only other time I've seen this exact issue without another explanation was a Chromecast as well.

[Checkerknight]

then go to the Dashboard and check the transcode reason there. My next best guess as a culprit? Bitrate restriction. 

I had no idea that was just listed right under the device in the dashboard. It tells me that transcoding is happening because of a bandwidth limit. I have no restriction set and am on network at home. My home upload is 40mb. Would this imply that the file is simply too big to be streamed to the Chromecast for whatever reason? Works perfectly fine on my phone (on and off network via Tailscale) and computer.

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My bad, I meant bitrate, I don't see a way to edit a post. Bitrate exceeds the limit which I'm assuming is the same thing. I've tried some other files as well, about 1Gb in total and it's still having to transcode. The Breaking Bad (original file) is about 6Gb. Is there anything to do for this?

[TheDreadPirate]

If you could share the main jellyfin logs (not ffmpeg logs) we could also figure out if there is some networking issue going on. For example, if you are using a domain name for your jellyfin server URL is your traffic going out to the Internet instead of staying local? The log would tell us that. "IsLocalNetwork" is the field name, IIRC?

[Checkerknight]

Where can I find the log file? When I go to var/jellyfin/logs the main log file is just empty. It creates one but it is unpopulated.

I did find the difference between bitrate and file size as well, which was my mistake, but despite Googles codec page saying that a Chromecast ultra supports a bit rate of up to 50000kb,it in fact is closer to 11000kb. Many users have reported 8-11Mb bitrates. I tested more files and the only ones that play without problems have a bitrate of around 11000kb. Im going to pickup a new generation Chromecast with Google TV, and also try hardwiring it.