Multichannel Audio for Android TV - Raspberry Pi Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I use Android TV with Lineage 17.1 (konstakang) on a raspberrry 4. Attached is a AV receiver. At the moment no multichannel audio is supported.
But a lot of movies only show their magic atmosphere with more then two channels.
What is the problem here? Only missing codec or something serious?
Could somebody help?

Related

Is there DTS fix?

Hello,
I just bought a chromecast and i'm wondering that DTS Codec is not supported. Is there a way to get dts codecs working on the chromecast? Or is it necessary to convert files before they can be played by chromecast?
regards
Leichti
leichti said:
Hello,
I just bought a chromecast and i'm wondering that DTS Codec is not supported. Is there a way to get dts codecs working on the chromecast? Or is it necessary to convert files before they can be played by chromecast?
regards
Leichti
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the best work around is to install plex and have it convert to acc 5.1.
Ty for the tipp.
Unfortunately all my stuff lies on a NAS (NSA325v), and for Plex it is necessary to run a computer/server for streaming?
Do you think that DTS support will come?
leichti said:
Ty for the tipp.
Unfortunately all my stuff lies on a NAS (NSA325v), and for Plex it is necessary to run a computer/server for streaming?
Do you think that DTS support will come?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No probably not because it would require licensing the codecs from Dolby.
NetFlix can do it because they have the licensing so unless some other player/receiver is developed that has the licensing not likely to see it anytime soon.
Since you are using an NAS it's also not likely Plex will help in this regard unless you run a computer and map the NAS drives to it.
Then your options open as as you can also use BubbleUPnP which also does transcoding.
But if the computer is not an option for you then the only thing you can do right now would be to use handbrake and add/create an AAC Multichannel track (using the existing DTS track) that can give you surround support on a CCast.
If your library is not too big yet it's a good thing to do anyway, I make sure all of my Library files have whatever Dolby tracks plus one AAC Multi and one AAC Stereo just to be sure they are fully compatible with any device I have now or in the future.
Thank you for your help!
Is it possible to transcode only the audio data with handbrake?
Asphyx said:
No probably not because it would require licensing the codecs from Dolby.
NetFlix can do it because they have the licensing so unless some other player/receiver is developed that has the licensing not likely to see it anytime soon.
Since you are using an NAS it's also not likely Plex will help in this regard unless you run a computer and map the NAS drives to it.
Then your options open as as you can also use BubbleUPnP which also does transcoding.
But if the computer is not an option for you then the only thing you can do right now would be to use handbrake and add/create an AAC Multichannel track (using the existing DTS track) that can give you surround support on a CCast.
If your library is not too big yet it's a good thing to do anyway, I make sure all of my Library files have whatever Dolby tracks plus one AAC Multi and one AAC Stereo just to be sure they are fully compatible with any device I have now or in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
leichti said:
Thank you for your help!
Is it possible to transcode only the audio data with handbrake?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Handbrake isn't a LIVE option...
Based on the settings you can have it do No Transcoding to the Video at all and have it simply pass video and existing audio tracks to the destination file...
Which in essence if you just ADD an Audio track all it will really be doing is transcoding for that new track.
It will however do any decoding needed to read the source so it's still not going to save you much but you won't need a ton of horsepower as the horsepower of your unit will only affect the speed at which it completes.

No audio for some movies and tv shows in pegasus app. S6 edge plus MM

It works on some smaller yify rips but not most of my bluray rips or tv show archer for example
It's mostly because your videos use audio codecs the app cannot support without paying fees to the patent owners. There are ways to side load a codec library that support these codecs.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GearVR/comments/5c75g1/best_video_player_out_there/d9ub3bl
This does not work on Android 7 yet.

USB Audio player pro HiRES support added

With a recent update USB Player pro has added support for Hires audio to the A70.
It can now play Hires audio like FLAC, streaming service like Tidal (including with software MQA decoding) & Qobuz
PCM stream can be send directly to the internal DAC in bit-perfect.
I made some tests to compare the output with my USB Dac and so far the quality is on par
I wish Android auto would support USB Player, would be so perfect
downloaded it for my lg v20 today holy moly it is totally worth the money. so many cool options with it too. I have some original flac cds on my library aand some stream downloads from online purchases and it sounds alot different than i imagined. Will give my thoughts still playing around with it.

Chromecast with Google TV only casts 2-channel Audio with Many Apps including YouTube TV

If you are an Apple device user, stick with Apple, otherwise....
I've been into Home Theater for 30 years and try to keep up with everything, get best bang for the buck, make sure I'm using all my equipment to its fullest potential.
The Chromecast for Google TV has a well-designed interface, especially if you are willing to use their YouTube TV service for all your live channels as it is well integrated. However over the past three weeks with the goal of finally cutting the Comcast/Xfinity cable (which I did and am saving $80/month), this is my experience in a nutshell.
Chromecast with Google TV - YouTube TV & Hulu stream in 2-channel PCM. If you have a mid to high range AVR, it can spoof surround though quite well using DTS Neo 6 or Dolby Pro Logic 2 but still not as "clean" as a true 5.1 source signal.
Roku Streaming Stick + - A close competitor to the latest Chromecast with Google TV. Works well for people that want a simpler menu/interface to just navigate to each of their streaming services without a lot of other stuff/recommendations in your face. Has voice control from the remote. Hulu streams in 5.1. HBOMax streams in 2-channel PCM!!! Returned it.
Tivo Stream 4K - Streams every service in 5.1 (or Atmos Dolby Digital+ if service supports it). Better remote than the Chromecast with Google TV as it has more buttons including a very useful Info button that works in some apps like being able to see the video and audio stream specs in realtime of your Netflix stream to verify you are getting 4K and Atmos. Also if you can link your Tivo account to your Sling account, and Pluto, and Locast which allows the TIVO Guide to combine all the channels into one guide. Unfortunately though it doesn't have the option to add YouTube TV into the Tivo native channel guide. I'd still use this device over Chromecast with Google TV just because it streams Hulu in 5.1 instead of 2-channel PCM (currently.)
What is strange is essentially these are all Android TV Operating System Devices. So initially I thought it was the developers of the particular streaming service's fault that they are streaming their audio in 2-channel PCM. But apparently, it is both a combination of the hardware and app software, as otherwise why does Hulu stream in 2-channel PCM on the Chromecast and 5.1 on the Roku and Tivo or conversely why does HBOMax on the Roku stream in 2-channel and in 5.1 on the Chromecast? They are all Android TV Software Apps!
Story of my life in trying to get the most for my money -- end up spending tens if not hundreds of hours testing, talking in forums, troubleshooting, chatting with first-line tech support that has no clue about advanced technical issues, etc. This is where the Apple people can chime in an assert that Apple is wortth he extra money to avoid wasted time making everything "work" but Apple has it's issues drawbacks too.
I've kept my Chromecast and the Tivo Stream 4K. So if the Chromecast with Google TV gets their act together with the respective streaming devs, I may go back to it. But I'm no longer using YouTube TV as I watch very little live TV so the $70 with tax per month isn't justified. I'm lucky enough to have Locast.org for my areas, combine that with the Streamium DVR app (free or $5/month donation) and I use Sling for CNN and ESPN, and I'm quite happy on the TIVO Stream 4K.
Bottom line: Chromecast with Google TV has a great interface but it's just not up to speed on the audio streaming capabilities on all streaming services. Pretty disappointing.
jazee said:
What is strange is essentially these are all Android TV Operating System Devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a quick note that Roku is running RokuOS, not Android TV. Sure, if you go deep enough, they share a same core (Linux), but that's pretty much it. They're completely different operating systems.
jazee said:
stream in 2-channel PCM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak for everybody, but I only have 2 ears, so I'm perfectly happy with 2-channel audio.
As long as the device is secure and stable (read as: not some half baked made-in-china trash that spies on you and keeps crashing), and can run the software that I WANT (read as: I don't give a damn about "streaming services"), then the box works perfectly.
The main thing that bothers me about this chromecast are;
1) The included launcher has ads that can only be partially disabled,
2) The remote has THREE useless buttons.

New Chromecast with Google TV ads full support of HDR and Dolby Vision single track dual layer (FEL/MEL)

Hi everybody, surprisingly last february update of Chromecast with Google TV has brought full compatibility of this device to every Dolby Vision single track dual layer profiles, before it can only decode Profile 5 and some Profile 4 files (not everyone).
It also plays every HDR format:
HDR
HDR10
HDR10+
Dolby Vision single track dual/single layer (FEL/MEL)
HLG
I have tested with Makemkv and other test files and the Chromecast plays every of them fine and my Panasonic HZ1000 shows the Dolby Vision logo.
Playing with latest Plex and Emby beta for Android TV these are the results:
Dolby Vision profile P4 - OK
Dolby Vision profile P5 - OK, but some minor files don't show DV logo
Dolby Vision profile P7 MEL - OK
Dolby Vision profile P7 FEL - OK , but it can't fast forward or rewind, it can only play and pause.
Dolby Vision profile P8 over HDR - OK
Dolby Vision profile P8 over HLG (iPhone 12) - OK
It's mandatory that the reproduction goes direct without any transcoding on subtitles or audio (AC3 transcoding when audio format is not supported in Emby or optical AC3 conection in Plesk, must be disabled).
I've different issues in Emby an Plesk beta. The more stable playback is done in Plesk but the wide variety of formats supported is done in Emby.
It's a huge improvement, I'm sure in a near future both media servers/players will play everything without the actual minor issues:
Files with FEL layer have issues jumping on time or a concrete chapter, depends of the player and the file.
In Emby when it plays from the begining a file it began playing in DV mode but after a while (several minutes) it stutters a bit and change to HDR.
FEL Dolby Vision playback is a difficult task, I've run the tests proposed by MakeMKV to ensure if the device is capable of and this Chromecast seems to pass it.
Even the powerfull nVidia Shield TV 2019 can't play FEL files and have issues with the color management, and doesn't support HLG or HDR10+.
This little device is surprisingly amazing...
I have a New Chromecast with Google TV, and I test a fel dolby vision mkv video with plex, why don't fallback hdr10?
oh, yes, it can plya P7 FEL, but I don't know if it get the fel layer. could you please post the test file?
Root&Dev said:
I have a New Chromecast with Google TV, and I test a fel dolby vision mkv video with plex, why don't fallback hdr10?
oh, yes, it can plya P7 FEL, but I don't know if it get the fel layer. could you please post the test file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got a new CCgTV because it seemed to be the only streaming player to play proper FEL. I'm testing but on Plex most titles play as HDR10 for me. Seems to be videos with the HDR10 base layer.
You can check by turning off the "force Dolby Vision" in the CCgTV settings to off. Else everything will "seem" to play back as Dolby Vision even if it's not actually.
The real way to test for full FEL + profile 7 support is to try to playback these files as described here. https://www.avsforum.com/threads/du...onse-other-random-stuff.3188469/post-60582530
For me, on my CCgTV, the mkv file won't even play back
All to say: I think FEL playback on CCgTV is broken.
yossSP said:
Hi everybody, surprisingly last february update of Chromecast with Google TV has brought full compatibility of this device to every Dolby Vision single track dual layer profiles, before it can only decode Profile 5 and some Profile 4 files (not everyone).
It also plays every HDR format:
HDR
HDR10
HDR10+
Dolby Vision single track dual/single layer (FEL/MEL)
HLG
I have tested with Makemkv and other test files and the Chromecast plays every of them fine and my Panasonic HZ1000 shows the Dolby Vision logo.
Playing with latest Plex and Emby beta for Android TV these are the results:
Dolby Vision profile P4 - OK
Dolby Vision profile P5 - OK, but some minor files don't show DV logo
Dolby Vision profile P7 MEL - OK
Dolby Vision profile P7 FEL - OK , but it can't fast forward or rewind, it can only play and pause.
Dolby Vision profile P8 over HDR - OK
Dolby Vision profile P8 over HLG (iPhone 12) - OK
It's mandatory that the reproduction goes direct without any transcoding on subtitles or audio (AC3 transcoding when audio format is not supported in Emby or optical AC3 conection in Plesk, must be disabled).
I've different issues in Emby an Plesk beta. The more stable playback is done in Plesk but the wide variety of formats supported is done in Emby.
It's a huge improvement, I'm sure in a near future both media servers/players will play everything without the actual minor issues:
Files with FEL layer have issues jumping on time or a concrete chapter, depends of the player and the file.
In Emby when it plays from the begining a file it began playing in DV mode but after a while (several minutes) it stutters a bit and change to HDR.
FEL Dolby Vision playback is a difficult task, I've run the tests proposed by MakeMKV to ensure if the device is capable of and this Chromecast seems to pass it.
Even the powerfull nVidia Shield TV 2019 can't play FEL files and have issues with the color management, and doesn't support HLG or HDR10+.
This little device is surprisingly amazing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it still work for you? Seem my message above.
nickgofly said:
Does it still work for you? Seem my message above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, It continues working like a charm with DV FEL/MEL titles.
As I said: It's mandatory that the reproduction goes direct without any transcoding on subtitles or audio (AC3 transcoding when audio format is not supported in Emby or optical AC3 conection in Plesk, must be disabled).
You must ensure that everything goes in direct playback or DV processing didn't shows.

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