Solving playback issues

[pinaz]

WITH PROBLEM
3920X 10.0.0.0 4195-91

WITHOUT PROBLEM
7104X 10.0.0.0 4195-30

[mj34hig44]

Try this link, I posted this earlier in this thread and it should work, I know I gave rights to anyone with this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bpxy0zqePU4Fw6jPw4qs4jLQzX35RcFq/view?usp=sharing

[mj34hig44]

https://community.roku.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/42767

Let me try this since I can't see a way to copy link to post.

[gk802]

@atc98092 , I'm suspecting that the issue is not a function of the device model, and that all are seeing the same thing...   Some playback devices are smart enough to "fix" the problem, others aren't.  My DLNA is a "dumb" server, it has no transcoding capability, so it sends on to RMP only what the MP4/MKV file has encoded in it, and depends on Roku to transcode it if required.  Under OS 9.4, Roku seemed to correctly determine what the playback device was capable of and transcode/downmix as necessary.  It doesn't seem to do that now.  As best I can see, the playback device sends its capability back to the sender in the EDID metadata exchanged during the HDMI handshake.  Something has changed in what Roku does with that info.  As has been said, it would be possible to create versions with multiple audio tracks and select whichever was appropriate, but RMP seems to be fixated on using the AC3 track if it exists, so that solution isn't viable.

[mj34hig44]

I agree and to make matters worse than Roku unable or uninterested in solving the issue via software doesn't even offer the *workaround* to complaining customers in the meantime, they offer the standard boilerplate reboot, reset, change input BS throwing it back on the user.

[gk802]

Agree.  While, I'd like to have a fix or a rollback option, I'd feel better with even a "We hear you.", "We're looking at it.", or anything even resembling that.  But every communication seems to start all over again at ground zero like the issue is completely unknown.

[atc98092]

One thing I'll throw out from a conversation I had with the previous RMP developer (he has since retired) is that RMP is only a graphical front end, and the actual playback is all controlled under the OS itself. When the OS developers change (break) something, the RMP developer is stuck waiting for the OS developers to make the changes. It seems to me the OS developers don't give much of a hoot about local playback, so it doesn't get much priority. It's the primary reason I now use an Nvidia Shield for the vast majority of my local playback, as it plays everything without transcoding and with a Gigabit Ethernet connection doesn't have any issues with my UHD rips. I still use Roku for most of my other online streaming, in particular HBO Max, which HBO can't seem to make work well on most platforms. 

[mj34hig44]

FYI: While corresponding here today I ran a test, in Handbrake I ran one of my OTA *.ts recordings with the MKV h265 720p preset but added AC3 passthru (native audio stream) and set ACC to 192 bitrate (also native) and not only is it smaller than my usual Roku 720p preset default every audio selection in Roku Audio > HDMI works.

This will be my new preset.

[gk802]

I'm sure you're right.  I'd expect that the overall OS is responsible for handling this type of info.  Probably the reason I'm rattling around about this more than some is that adding local playback to a couple of old, dumb TVs is the reason I bought.  Since my streaming stick solution isn't working for the oldest, dumbest one, I'll probably end up just replacing it.  I have, though, seen posts about *some* channels (other than RMP) having what looks to me to be this same issue...perhaps depending on how they're programmed as well, and whether they're sending across a DD signal.  That gives me some hope that eventually, they'll recognize the issue and fix it.

[mj34hig44]

See the Handbrake I just posted. You are correct, Roku's all about the streaming, it's where the money is of course but I'm an old cordcutter, a purist if you will, I cut the cord in 1994 just prior to the digital conversion and dial-up was still mainstream. I was on the road playing the club circuit so paying a monthly fee for cable TV was foolish not to mention it went up constantly year after year. I just don't understand folks now calling themselves cordcutters when all they do is stop paying one service a monthly rate and switch to paying a different service a monthly rate. I'm OTA and I do now use the Spectrum TV app for CNN, MSNBC, ESPN, History etc at $20/mo but they basically force you to, you have to *bundle* 2 services or they'll charge you the same for one. It used to be they shoved their landline on you until they started with the TV app so it's actually easy to swallow. I say all this because it's the whole reason I went with Roku, their devices covered my local network, no monthly fees and low cost for the devices. They're still the best in that regard and I'll get over this in time 😉