Channels DVR playback of some mkv files is dropping frames and stuttering

Channels Android TV Troubleshooting
#1

Having a problem with Channels DVR client on my Nvidia Shield. Playing back some video files, 1080p x264 and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio. Its dropping frames and stuttering badly. Plex on the same shield device plays the files flawlessly. Recorded video from my HD Home Run plays fine. Many files play fine but not this set for the show SUITS. Just for purpose of troubleshooting, I tried re-encoding to a lower bitrate and x265 codec and it still stutters on Channels and plays fine on Plex.
I have tried all three playback modes in settings. Hardware, Hybrid and Software. All 3 do the same thing.

Suggestions?

#2

With Surround Sound setting in the app set to Off, is there any difference?

Which version number is shown in the app?

#3

first, thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

Version number is 4.9.5.beta

Turning surround sound off seems to fix the video stutter.

What does turning off the surround sound setting actually do? I thought the audio stream is just passed through to my decoder. Should I be running a different version?

#4

Ok, so how do I get Channels to play these 1080p files and pass through the surround track on my Nvidea Shield? They play fine on Plex. They play fine in Channels with surround turned off but I only get stereo sound. Is this in the works to be fixed or has Channels development all moved over to Apple devices?

#5

The only way I have got it to work is turn off passthrough and the sound is sent as multi ch.

Passthrough does not work on my shield or firetv cube. Get frame drops on DD+ and all DTS.

#6

Thanks for the confirmation. Sure wish the developers would find a work around for this. Same files play fine through Plex with passthrough audio including full dolby atmos. For many tv shows I guess its not all that important but I will not bother with feature films this way through Channels.

#7

I might have missed something here. You say turn off passthrough and you get multichannel. I have turned off surround which does turn off passthrough but I only get stereo sound. Is there a different setting such that I can still get at least 5.1 via multichannel PCM out?

#8

I am on the beta version of the app. Under playback|advanced I have surrounded sound on. Then under Passthrough I have DD+,DTS and DTS-HD set to off.

#9

thanks! I'll give that a try. 5.1 surround via PCM is better than just stereo.

#10

Good luck.

Another work around is that I use emby to play my recordings. Added the comskip plugin and have channels create an edl. Been working great and passthrough works just fine.

Emby really does not do live tv as good.

#11

Is the Passthrough working any better in the latest release?

#12

My Shield still reports its running version 4.9.5.beta and no, passthrough for DTS is not working. I submitted troubleshooting logs a few days ago.

If I should be running a different updated version, let me know how to get it installed. I did check for updates from within the app and it reports i am running the latest version.

#13

Please try this one.

#14

YES, I've only played one video on the new version so far but its playing smoothly and passing through DTS-HD audio. THANK YOU. I will let you know if I see any further issues in this regard and send troubleshooting logs.

1 Like
#15

Great. DTS-HD was the only pass-through format that my Android TV devices did not support, so I had been unable to test it myself.

#16

This has fixed the issue. Still have a small issue with DD+ very small stutter. Turning off passthrough fixes the problem.

#17

@kennywalsh please submit diagnostics in the app after experiencing it.

#18

I submitted it.

Thanks!

#19

Can you give more detail of what you're experiencing here?

#20

The video looks like there is a dropped frame giving it a small studder look. If I look at the stats there is no dripped frames. Kind of looks like a frame rate mix match.

If there is a person walking it looks like they pause for a half second every step they take.

This is only on the beta version of the app and started when the passthrough option was added. I am using a 2019 shield. Also have the beta on a FireTV Cube 3 withe the same issue.

Thank you for time