Plex issues with MKV

[backstreetboy]

Cut plex and just use Kodi.

Honestly I can't understand why people think they need plex. It's retarded.

I can just download the plex app on my Samsung Smart tv...

 

[backstreetboy]

Hi Guys, having major issues with Plex not supporting MKV files to stream to my Samsung. I guess best bet is to convert them to .MP4 files. Is there a good free to use video converter out there to download. I have tried a few of the free versions, but they are very very slow, or have Malware (Handbrake for instance).

Thanks

https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/214079318-Media-Optimizer-Overview

 

[Rouxenator]

Huh?

What if your Samsung Smart TV has Tizen OS though?
Do Samsung have Android based Smart TV's?

If your TV is not running Android then it is not a smart tv. It is just a normal TV with a fancy UI.

And that doesn't work for everyone...

I have...

1 Samsung Smart TV - Non-Android with Plex App.
1 Samsung Old TV + Apple TV 4 with Plex App
2 x iPads with Plex
2 x iPhones with Plex (rarely used but still)
2 x Laptops that could run Kodi...but why.

And a Microserver sitting in the kitchen cupboard running Plex Server. It's painless and brilliant, absolutely no reason for Kodi in my life as it would simply complicate everything.

Not to mention if I really wanted to I could watch/listen to all my stuff remotely and so can my entire family.

You have over complicated things way too much. You can only watch one TV at a time to get a TV, run Kodi on it and just put all your stuff in one bigass Windows shared folder. Simple and effective.

I can just download the plex app on my Samsung Smart tv...

Again, you TV is not a smart tv so either get a Pi or a real smart TV.

Trust me, I am a professional. You don't need Plex just like you don't need AIDS.

 

[backstreetboy]

Again, you TV is not a smart tv so either get a Pi or a real smart TV.

Trust me, I am a professional. You don't need Plex just like you don't need AIDS.

Thanks for enlightening me. I shall go to Game ASAP to demand a full refund and pick up a Hisense.

 

[dualmeister]

Best combination is Plex & Kodi.

Plex Media Server to Kodi with PlexBMC addon and Amber skin.

 

[Rouxenator]

Thanks for enlightening me. I shall go to Game ASAP to demand a full refund and pick up a Hisense.

Good - Hisense with Kodi is best.

Best combination is Plex & Kodi.

Plex Media Server to Kodi with PlexBMC addon and Amber skin.

But why? Kodi kan decode all the files you want to play. Plex is useless. Kodi <-> SMB or Kodi <-> FTP is all you need.

 

[AfricanTech]

If your TV is not running Android then it is not a smart tv. It is just a normal TV with a fancy UI.


You have over complicated things way too much. You can only watch one TV at a time to get a TV, run Kodi on it and just put all your stuff in one bigass Windows shared folder. Simple and effective.


Again, you TV is not a smart tv so either get a Pi or a real smart TV.

Trust me, I am a professional. You don't need Plex just like you don't need AIDS.

*cough* Roku *cough*

 

[agentrfr]

Ima agree with Roux here, a Pi 3 is a much better HTPC than an app on a TV. Kodi to a newtork SMB or FTP is what I use, and it works amazingly well - I even set one up for my mom and she uses it.

 

[SauRoNZA]

When I run them through the optimizer, it will do the "conversion", but the file will still not be picked up by Plex.

Either you set it up wrong and it's deleting the file before you are using it.

Or you just aren't seeing it. It doesn't list a separate file but rather a "version" of the same file. So when you press Play you select "choose version" but by default it will play the pre-transcoded stuff anyway.

 

[SauRoNZA]

You have over complicated things way too much. You can only watch one TV at a time to get a TV, run Kodi on it and just put all your stuff in one bigass Windows shared folder. Simple and effective.

Actually you are the one overcomplicating things.

I have multiple users using multiple devices. I can start a movie in the lounge, stop it and then continue in bed with my iPad. This while my wife is watching TV in the other room.

Windows Shared Folder...LOL. You know it's been months since I even looked at folders. It's all automatic.

Oh and I forgot you can add a PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360 to the devices list that can't run Kodi but do run Plex in my house.

 

[dualmeister]

But why? Kodi kan decode all the files you want to play. Plex is useless. Kodi SMB or Kodi FTP is all you need.

Two words. Database management.

Plex database management is 1000 times better than Kodi / SQL setup.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Ima agree with Roux here, a Pi 3 is a much better HTPC than an app on a TV. Kodi to a newtork SMB or FTP is what I use, and it works amazingly well - I even set one up for my mom and she uses it.

It doesn't get any simpler than having a native app running on your TV.

Single remote, click button, press play.

Add multiple users with different needs and Kodi falls out the bus, sorry to say.

Single Device for a Single Person, sure Kodi does just fine.

 

[raind33r]

Are they maybe x.265 encoded mkv's ? You'll need some extra processing power for x.265

To check, Open one in VLC, go to Tools and then Media Information, click the "codec details" tab

 

[SauRoNZA]

But why? Kodi kan decode all the files you want to play. Plex is useless. Kodi <-> SMB or Kodi <-> FTP is all you need.

So can Plex.

The problem here is a deeper anomaly, not a regular one.

I'm betting the file is corrupt or otherwise broken.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I think a lot of people are missing the point here that Kodi and Plex don't exactly fill the same roles.

Plex is designed around the principle of being able to access your media from anywhere on any device. Kodi is more suited to a single installation environment, while it can be modified to provide a central server role this isn't what it was designed to be.

 

[backstreetboy]

Are they maybe x.265 encoded mkv's ? You'll need some extra processing power for x.265

To check, Open one in VLC, go to Tools and then Media Information, click the "codec details" tab

No need it'll tell you in Plex Library view if it's X264/5 otherwise just right click and go into Media Details.

 

[Rouxenator]

Ima agree with Roux here, a Pi 3 is a much better HTPC than an app on a TV. Kodi to a newtork SMB or FTP is what I use, and it works amazingly well - I even set one up for my mom and she uses it.

It is clean, straightforward and it just works. Plex has no useful purpose.

I have multiple users using multiple devices. I can start a movie in the lounge, stop it and then continue in bed with my iPad. This while my wife is watching TV in the other room.

1) You have too many TVs
2) You watch too much TV
3) The bedroom is for sleeping
4) Just remember where you were last in a video.

Windows Shared Folder...LOL. You know it's been months since I even looked at folders. It's all automatic.
Oh and I forgot you can add a PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360 to the devices list that can't run Kodi but do run Plex in my house.

I have one PC that I use at home and it has 10TB of storage that is shares. My TV has a Pi3 and the TV in my daughters room has a Pi2. Simple as that. PS4 and Eggsbox are games machines - fools play games on them.

Two words. Database management.

Plex database management is 1000 times better than Kodi / SQL setup.

It's suppose to play videos, not be the best OLTP on earth. What are you on about?

Are they maybe x.265 encoded mkv's ? You'll need some extra processing power for x.265

Kodi plays x265 MKV fine on my Pi3.

I think a lot of people are missing the point here that Kodi and Plex don't exactly fill the same roles.

Kodi is designed to be a media centre that plays media from many sources. Plex is designed to be a useless bit of middle ware.

 

[raind33r]

No need it'll tell you in Plex Library view if it's X264/5 otherwise just right click and go into Media Details.

Cool
Now if the OP can just confirm what encoding they are.

 

[Drifter]

*cough* Roku *cough*

I left out that little detail. Plex is running on my Roku 4 that is connected to my Samsung.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I see the Opel driver is as happy with the bare essential in his Media setup as he is with cars.

Oh wait. He rides a bicycle most of the time and can't stop telling us how it's better.

So makes perfect sense that he has no clue what he's talking about when it comes to Plex.