Is it just me, or is Plex really buggy?

Megalith

Megalith

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I installed Plex a few short days ago and was instantly impressed by how it was able to pull and catalog my video collection. Unfortunately, I started running into a number of bugs and missing features. Just off the top of my head:

1. Video freezes up in Android if you switch bitrates too much
2. Poor cover art quality in web viewer.
3. Incapable of combining multi-disc albums properly.
4. Videos play back in a very low resolution when maximum quality is selected via Android.
5. Can't hide useless (to me, anyway) features like "on deck."

I got pissed off when I started browsing their support forums and seeing threads that touched upon some of these issues going years back. Apparently, their developers don't give a fuck about anything other than basic functionality, which is appalling since Plex is essentially a paid product.
 
It's not just you. I always had problems with it, whether my server showing, libraries being up to date, or decent transcoding by my main system to other devices.

I ended up abandoning Plex entirely, went to XBMC, and made sure my video files on my NAS were encoded to the correct format that all of my devices could support. XBMC runs great on Windows, android, and my raspberry pi. I also intend to set up a mysql library for cross-device library/file progress sync (when I have the time...).
 
1) If your pulling it over wifi to your phone then it could be your router.
2) Dont have that issue.
3) You're naming is incorrect then. I have quite a few of 5+ disc albums that are combined perfectly.
4) Router or Android issue,
5) Ignore it then. You're suppose to play back movies in the Home Theater and not in the server browser itself.


I have over 200 shows and movies and I have yet to run into a play back issue or freezing. Your server could be the issue, wifi, router, how you're encoding and/or cracking could also be the issue.
 
I've had a pretty good experience with Plex. I think your issues stem from a CPU or network issue, either your CPU isn't powerful enough or your network bandwidth isn't. I definitely think number 5 is valid, they could improve the features but the core is solid in my experience.
 
Your CPU and WiFi play a part, depending. Make sure you're WiFi is fast enough for Direct Play. Make sure you check the actual connected speed for the device (if possible). This makes a big difference, irregardless of rated speed (n vs G).

I had a windows 7 box upstairs that would say the connection strength was good/excellent but connecting at various speeds, typically around 11mbs and the Plex experience was awful. Transcoding killed my $50 Intel G630 CPU and made it no better. Two failures there. Daughter's MacBook worked decent since it connected at 54mbs but still had buffering issues now and again.

The following things have made Plex perfect for our house.

- Upgraded Plex Server (hackintosh) to an i7-2600k. I don't want to transcode on the network but this makes Plex Sync MUCH faster when syncing to iPhone or iPad for offline viewing (10-20 mins vs HOURS with the Intel G630).
- Wired the house with CAT 6 Ethernet. Gigabit to PMS and 10/100 to rokus & Apple TV.
- Upgraded to an 2013 Airport Extreme base station (no more MacBook buffering)
- Configured everything to use Direct Play by default (Rokus, iDevices, desktops, laptop)
- Standardized on 1080p m4v. Variable bit-rate, depending on the movie. Everything works great, even the grainiest of films, which run at up to 20-30mbps.

I tell the kids this is all "beta" and to let me know if it ever buffers, lags, or crashes or anything. It's been pretty stable and no complaints as of late. :)
 
teh_chem said:
It's not just you. I always had problems with it, whether my server showing, libraries being up to date, or decent transcoding by my main system to other devices.

I ended up abandoning Plex entirely, went to XBMC, and made sure my video files on my NAS were encoded to the correct format that all of my devices could support. XBMC runs great on Windows, android, and my raspberry pi. I also intend to set up a mysql library for cross-device library/file progress sync (when I have the time...).
Click to expand...

How did you get XBMC to stream over android?

I on the other hand love my Plex server. I get good buffering speeds and the quality is great when mobile. At home everything just works, Samsung Plex App on the TVs, Chromecast elsewhere, web app on PCs. It's a great easy to use system.
 
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NickJames said:
How did you get XBMC to stream over android?

I on the other hand love my Plex server. I get ready buffering speeds and the quality is great when mobile. At home everything just works, Samsung Plex App on the TVs, Chromecast elsewhere, web app on PCs. It's a great easy to use system.
Click to expand...
There's an xbmc app for android. It's not in the Google play store, you have to get it from the xbmc site directly.
 
I've had issue where my plex won't update my media collection. Other than that its been great to me. RaspPlex works on all my TV. Control it with my phone app.

Mobile streaming like watching youtube video but i have terrible upload on uverse. It works and better than twiddling my thumbs during 4 hour upgrades.

Even hooked my sister up with access to it.
 
I've been trying Plex on my Roku 3. Plex definitely is very buggy. If movie title names are too long it thinks its the same movie and won't display the second part of a two disc movie. A new problem I have now is it creating duplicates of the same movie, for no reason. Its a huge hassle to try fixing what it does wrong.
 
I have had zero issues with Plex. In fact, the only time I have witnessed someone having issues with Plex, it was due to them not naming media properly.
 
My fundamental problem with Plex is that it is advertised as being a "complete media center solution" and it's just not. XBMC is much closer to this than Plex since XBMC can talk to media center backends like MythTV and TVHeadEnd.

If you can't do Live TV then I don't think you should really be calling yourself a Media Center.

Beyond that, yes, I had lots of crashes with Plex, too. It was more prevalent in Windows than in Linux but in Linux when it crashed it was really hard to find out _why_ -- the log was not easy to use IMHO.
 
Plex seems to more or less work as advertised for me. Having everything remotely accessible and sharing the same "watched" library is a godsend. It is simple enough that it has 100% wife acceptance factor, and even her sisters don't have any issues using it when they visit. I don't use Plex for music since I use Google Play so I can't really comment on that aspect.

My only issue is related to remote content viewing. It seems that setting the remote streaming limitation speed on the server & client side doesn't seem to actually do anything. My connection gets completely swamped when I have 2 family members streaming from my server at the same time. My router's QoS (running Tomato firmware) doesn't seem to solve the issue either as it can't seem to mitigate the large tx bursts. This causes my ping to sky rocket in games when I have people streaming remotely basically making it unplayable for me.
 
boss6021 said:
I have had zero issues with Plex. In fact, the only time I have witnessed someone having issues with Plex, it was due to them not naming media properly.
Click to expand...

Yup. I had an issue at first with TV Shows and found out the right way how to do it.

TV shows go in TV shows while Movies go into Movies. Doing it the other way may not allow it to find the meta data or match it correctly.

https://plexapp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/200028098-Media-Preparation


As far as combining shows or movies with more then one part.

Example from the Plex website:

/TV Shows
/Heroes
/Season 1
Heroes - s01e01-pt1.avi
Heroes - s01e01-pt2.avi
Heroes - s01e02.avi
 
I use plex and yes its incredibly buggy... but it's the only app I've found that can do transcoding on the server side (my plex server is sitting in a datacenter) and can handle multiple users easily with their myplex...

if theres another option I'd love to hear it!
 
FLECOM said:
I use plex and yes its incredibly buggy... but it's the only app I've found that can do transcoding on the server side (my plex server is sitting in a datacenter) and can handle multiple users easily with their myplex...

if theres another option I'd love to hear it!
Click to expand...

Colocation or renting a server?
 
Yup, horribly buggy for me as well. I'm about to ditch it.

- The Plex DLNA server causes my Sony receiver to crash and reboot any time it tries to send an MKV file.
- The new Plex Home Theater client has no support for 16:10 screens (the UI breaks and is unusable). This makes it unusable on most of my PC's
- Server can't handle special-features video associated with movies. If you let is scrape them, it fills your library with garbage.
- No Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon instant Video support whatsoever.
- No Live TV support
- Obviously no DVR or time-shifting support.
- The latest update to my.plexapp.com is 100% broken. Unable to play any content from my server from the web portal now.

Back to Windows Media Center I go...
 
Unknown-One said:
Yup, horribly buggy for me as well. I'm about to ditch it.

- The Plex DLNA server causes my Sony receiver to crash and reboot any time it tries to send an MKV file.
- The new Plex Home Theater client has no support for 16:10 screens (the UI breaks and is unusable). This makes it unusable on most of my PC's
- Server can't handle special-features video associated with movies. If you let is scrape them, it fills your library with garbage.
- No Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon instant Video support whatsoever.
- No Live TV support
- Obviously no DVR or time-shifting support.
- The latest update to my.plexapp.com is 100% broken. Unable to play any content from my server from the web portal now.

Back to Windows Media Center I go...
Click to expand...


-Plex doesn't support MKV videos.
-Go to the older version, Plex media center
-I get rid of those anyways.
- https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/75265-readme-first-broken-andor-problematic-channels/
-.
-.
-Sometimes its the server or router that is the issue.
 
The Server version and Android version need to both be current (or aligned in versions which you can only be sure of if they are current).
 
Priller said:
-Plex doesn't support MKV videos.
Click to expand...
Don't know where you got that idea, but Plex supports MKV just fine.

The issue I was describing is an issue with their DLNA server sending malformed data to my receiver.

Priller said:
-Go to the older version, Plex media center
Click to expand...
So I'm stuck on an old version because the new version is full of regressions? With the old MediaStream skin, which I hate?

Yeah, that doesn't help me at all...

Priller said:
-I get rid of those anyways.
Click to expand...
And I don't, what's your point? Plex can't handle extras, a feature that a good number of people want.

Priller said:
- https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/75265-readme-first-broken-andor-problematic-channels/
Click to expand...
Seen that thread, doesn't help me or explain anything. Looks like they just "gave up" supporting major media services. Maybe I should just give up on plex...

Priller said:
--Sometimes its the server or router that is the issue.
Click to expand...
No, it's incompetent developers. Their server is handing out the wrong certificate and breaking authentication.
 
Plex has had issues with MKV files depending on how it is served. Plex itself does fine with it. Roku and Synology are two that had/have issues.

It's the same thing with a different name and not that much different between the two functionality wise.


It's free so Im not surprised it has its issues. Most of the people can work around without too much of an issue. I doubt it's incompetent devs, I mean, how good would something be if you did it for free...
 
Priller said:
It's free so Im not surprised it has its issues. Most of the people can work around without too much of an issue. I doubt it's incompetent devs, I mean, how good would something be if you did it for free...
Click to expand...
Plex isn't free, it's freemium.

Free for most features, pay to get everything / premium features.

As a paying customer, I'm about to cancel. It has done nothing but get WORSE since I signed up.
 
Unknown-One said:
Plex isn't free, it's freemium.

Free for most features, pay to get everything / premium features.

As a paying customer, I'm about to cancel. It has done nothing but get WORSE since I signed up.
Click to expand...

What do you get with the paid version?
 
Priller said:
What do you get with the paid version?
Click to expand...

https://my.plexapp.com/subscription/about

Tbh, I'm surprised people pay for plex subscriptions. I could see maybe buying the app, but even then for me, I could never justify it given how buggy the desktop software was. I think 90% of the paid features in plex you can do with xbmc with little effort and no fees. The last 10% you can still accomplish for free, you just have to do a bit more advanced setup and configuration work.
 
I haven't experienced any issues with Plex. However, I use it pretty minimally and from a Roku 3.
 
I originally started paying the 3.99 a month thinking I would use the Plex sync with our iPad. I ended up not using the sync function but continue to pay just to give them some love. Considering how much I've spent on my Plex server, 3 roku media players, and the time spent converting all my movies, $4 a month is pretty reasonable. ;)

edit: I wasn't too happy with their early december iOS 7 upgrade and my 7 month old wasn't either. It was crashing like crazy. They apologized and fixed it within a week. Now working great once again.
 
ive been using plex strictly for transcoding and remote watching when im at inlaws or on occasion when things are slow at the office. my biggest gripe is in order to watch really high end HD content i can only do it from the web browser. not the client. my storage/meddia server is decently powered and still struggles from time to time
 
I have a dedicated plex server in my house. I've had zero issues with it. Close to 6TB worth of media on it streams perfectly to my Roku3, PS3, Xbox360 and any other device. Even remote viewing via the website on my phone/laptop/at work is flawless. Server isn't anything special either. E8400 with 4GB ram. It transcodes and direct streams everything. All of my movies are MKV going up to 20GB is size with no issues.

Everything in my house is wired, and that helps. Plex has worked great for me.
 
Yea , Plex is pretty hit and miss. I know it gets aggressive development but when it comes to DLNA the most success I've had is with the PS3 Media player when it comes to external solutions.
 
I wish Plex could handle live tv somehow, but beyond that I love the interface and havent had any issues with it (its only been a couple of weeks though).
 
HydroBudz said:
I have a dedicated plex server in my house. I've had zero issues with it. Close to 6TB worth of media on it streams perfectly to my Roku3, PS3, Xbox360 and any other device. Even remote viewing via the website on my phone/laptop/at work is flawless. Server isn't anything special either. E8400 with 4GB ram. It transcodes and direct streams everything. All of my movies are MKV going up to 20GB is size with no issues.

Everything in my house is wired, and that helps. Plex has worked great for me.
Click to expand...

PLEX works great for my library of 12+TB, too. Primarily using Roku devices and the web interface.

You might be interested in a branch I am working on for Roku, which offers a completely re-designed UI for Plex for Roku. Screens below:

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I'm a new plex user and have found that using my Samsung BD-F5900 with the Samsung plex app, I had weird bugs. Using chromecasts, it has been nearly perfect. Even using 3 chromecasts at one time has been no issue. I am going to make the BD players just BD players and stop using the apps and just add chromecasts as needed.
 
The Donut said:
PLEX works great for my library of 12+TB, too. Primarily using Roku devices and the web interface.

You might be interested in a branch I am working on for Roku, which offers a completely re-designed UI for Plex for Roku. Screens below:
Click to expand...

Where do I get it?
 
maademperor said:
I wish Plex could handle live tv somehow, but beyond that I love the interface and havent had any issues with it (its only been a couple of weeks though).
Click to expand...

This topic gets ugly quick. Everyone is starting to encrypt all channels now, even basic TV. SiliconDust is shipping new boxes early next year that are capable of transcoding to h.264 on the fly. The first box to ship is only good for QAM and antenna. I can't pick up crap with antenna and QAM was killed off by Comcast encryption. Hopefully next year we'll see the 4 tuner cablecard SiliconDust box (HDHR4-CC) with h.264 transcoding available via Roku and or Plex. I refuse to pay Comcast $500 per year in per tv tuner fees (4 tvs).
 
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Plex generally works for me. I mainly use it for Roku and hopefully soon Chromecast. The Plex app's UI on Roku is the biggest piece of shit ever, but there is really no better alternatives at the moment. I hope I can end up just using Web interface on phone/tablet and having it play stuff on Chromecast.

On HTPC and stuff I still use XBMC because its genearlly better. Its just the transcoding option is basically unique to Plex only the only real way to tie everything together reasonably well.

Oh and on my phone Plex app just crashes. I mainly use web interface. Sucks the web interface is also not that great.... just slow in general.
 
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The Donut said:
PLEX works great for my library of 12+TB, too. Primarily using Roku devices and the web interface.

You might be interested in a branch I am working on for Roku, which offers a completely re-designed UI for Plex for Roku. Screens below:
Click to expand...

Images were blocked at work...... Wow, looks amazingly better! Where can we track your progress? I'd ditch plexconnet on Apple TV for this. I already have 3 rokus but hate the interface.
 
Priller said:
-Plex doesn't support MKV videos.
-Go to the older version, Plex media center
-I get rid of those anyways.
- https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/75265-readme-first-broken-andor-problematic-channels/
-.
-.
-Sometimes its the server or router that is the issue.
Click to expand...

This thread has piqued my interest. I have a pretty large library roughly 18TB worth of Movies and TV, the majority of which are wrapped in a MKV container. Up until recently I haven't had any issues whatsoever with Plex , local streaming to 3-4 clients as well as remote streaming with friends I've shared the server with has been flawless. The android app also worked for the most part without issues. Made the mistake of upgrading to Plex Home Theater and playback no longer works. I spent days tweaking the Audio/Video settings with some success. But still encountered playback issues. Fast forward, Rewind, skip etc. also don't work properly. These same files play perfectly in Plex Media Center. To those of you running Plex Home Theater have any of you encountered this?
 
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