topic Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast in Streaming

Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:21:17 GMT

I am using VLC (but problems happens with any player)

I can play a local file that is HD. But I cannot play a local 4k file (very slow)

Is file playing not supported? Or is the device not powerful enough?

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

GothamNY — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:52:57 GMT

Hey @jj001 you file is being played via VLC (the open-source media player, right?), and you're using the CCwGTV device to launch it. Once you open it, control is passed to VLC. Any rendering and playback issues are with the VLC so you should reach out to them for support with your playback issues.

Additionally, I don't believe 4k is a supported format, so the expectation that it would play doesn't seem likely, so that could explain the slow playback and performance.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:02:13 GMT

It is not VLC related. Any single video player I tried doesn't work.

As an example of file that doesn't work:

File .mkv with codec MPEG-H Part2/ HEVC (H.265) (hevc). Resolution 3840x1600. Frame rate 23.976216

I have read other TV android boxes like EN1040K can do it (didn't try myself).

It's a very basic functionality. So if you support a player that can play them, please let me know. If there is none because of some device limitations, can you please create some documentation explaining it? I have lost many hours troubleshooting because I could not believe it was not working

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

GothamNY — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:19:27 GMT

I can't help provide support for apps not related to CCwGTV. I would reach out to the developer and ask them. I'm not sure what you've read but perhaps the author of that post can help you figure it out.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:38:15 GMT

I just read some Amazon reviews, so no more details.

So VLC is not a CCwGTV app, even if you can downloaded? Which is the official list?

If you can confirm with a developer if 4k file playing is supported or not (or maybe in the future), it would be great. I'm sure it will help many people who was thinking on CCwGTV for this function as well.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

GothamNY — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:03:40 GMT

Because an app can be downloaded doesn't make it a CCwGTV app, it means some other creator/developer has manipulated the API and has created an app that will run on the Android system on CCwGTV. That doesn't mean CCwGTV is responsible for supporting those apps if they don't work -- if it didn't load, that would be one thing but it does. Hulu on TiVo or any of the other channels one chooses to load doesn't make performance/playback issues a TiVo support issue.

As suggested earlier, you should reach out to the developer to inquire if 4K is supported since that's the app that's actually playing the content you have and poor playback it seems only happens with that format.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:07:21 GMT

I misunderstood you. I thought you were going to reach to a CCwGTV developer.

I think I gave indications that it's not an app issue, but general CCwGTV performance. All apps work fine on other devices, just no on CCwGTV.

I'm not going to contact developers for each single video player application where 4k playing doesn't work.

If CCwGT doesn't want to support *any* video player app, that's fine. But it should be documented.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 20:04:45 GMT

Please, verify if your 4k video files contains DTS audio soundtracks and check your Google Chromecast with Google TV sound settings to enable only supported formats playback.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 21:32:36 GMT

It's A52 (AC3). Same than with 1080p files

Sound settings is set to automatic

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:20:15 GMT

I have a few questions:

Google Chromecast with Google TV updates are up to date?
VLC installation procedure: direct from PlayStore or side loaded? Is it an up to date version?
Media files for playback: are they loaded onto GCGTV internal shared memory, external storage device or retrieved from LAN/WiFi network?
TV set support 4K native or lower resolution? TV set HDMI port version is 2.0 or 1.4?

Currently Chromecast with Google TV supports the following video formats:

H.264 High Profile up to level 5.1 (4Kx2K/30fps)
HEVC / H.265 Main and Main10 Profiles up to level 5.1 (4Kx2K@60fps)
VP9 Profile-2 up to 4Kx2K@60fps

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:29:42 GMT

IT was just reinstalled from factory, so yes. VLC from playstore, and if you read above, I have the same problem with other apps. Media files loaded on CCGTV TV is 4k with HDMI 2.0, but I have the same problem if I connect it to a 1080p monitor. To make it clear, the video is shown, is just very very very bumpy.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:13:16 GMT

Check media files compliance with the GCGTV supported H265 profiles.

H265 codec has version 1 and version 2. Ensure that your files are compatible with H265 version 1 Main Profile or Main 10 Profile, up to Level 5.1 (maximum bitrate up to 40000 kbps). H265 version 2 encoded files are highly CPU and GPU intensive and GCGTV hardware is not up to the task, because of the video acceleration hardware required.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:26:12 GMT

That's the VLC info (posted above):

File .mkv with codec MPEG-H Part2/ HEVC (H.265) (hevc). Resolution 3840x1600. Frame rate 23.976216

So it would seem part2 is not supported by CCGTV? Still, if I divide the size of the file by the seconds, I get about 16000 kbps.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:28:55 GMT

Sorry... I guess H265 is always MPEG_H Part 2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding)

How would I know if H265 is v1 or v2?

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:51:44 GMT

Browse to your media file in VLC and in Tools menu select Codec Information.

Alternatively you can istall MediaInfo application and retrieve the file details inside it.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:52:21 GMT

YEs.. that is the same info I posted above:

File .mkv with codec MPEG-H Part2/ HEVC (H.265) (hevc). Resolution 3840x1600. Frame rate 23.976216

Other info (I think related to HDR):

Color primaries: ITU-R BT.2020

Color transfer function: SMPTE ST2084 (PQ)

Colour space: ITU-R BT.2020 Range

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:21:10 GMT

That's it then? Based on this info only you have established that the file is compliant with GCGTV requirements?

The most important details are Profile and Level, because based on those we astablish the colospace, image bit depth and maximum bitrate, required.

Do not compare Chromecast with Google TV with other Android based media players, because Chromecast with Google TV is not a full blown media player, but an Android based device specialized in playing video streams offered by online services. That's why its physical size and internal storage space are small.

Other Android based media players have superior technical specifications and can be used for more advanced tasks.

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:19:34 GMT

I missed a few more items (sorry, VLC doesn't allow me to do copy and paste). I see also Max/Min luminance, Primary R/G/B, White point, MAXCLL, MaxFALL. Dont' seem important.

It does not say anything about Profile or Level

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

djtetei — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:32:50 GMT

Get MediaInfo app then, because it is specifically developed for analysis of video files and will provide all needed information.

One other thing: you said above that your files are "loaded" on GCGTV. Please, define "loaded" term. Where the files are stored? They are on internal storage or external storage device? How big they are?

Re: Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

jj001 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 15:41:37 GMT

From Media info, I get

14.0 Mb/s, 3840*1600 (2.40:1), at 1 249.642 FPS, HEVC (Main 10@L5@High), HDR10