Cannot play 4k video files on Google TV with chromecast

[jj001]

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?

[GothamNY]

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.

[jj001]

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

[GothamNY]

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.

[jj001]

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.

[GothamNY]

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.

[jj001]

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.

[djtetei]

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.

[jj001]

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

Sound settings is set to automatic

[djtetei]

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

[jj001]

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.

[djtetei]

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.

[jj001]

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.

[jj001]

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?

[djtetei]

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.

[jj001]

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

[djtetei]

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.

[jj001]

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

[djtetei]

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?

[jj001]

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

[djtetei]

Very well then.

From your MediaInfo extras I observe only one detail that could cause problem: the "High Tier" flag from HEVC (Main 10@L5@High). That means high bitrate, up to 100000 kbps.

Given the fact that GCGTV is focused on playing mostly web based media content, its hardware is not able do handle H265 High Tier video content.

[jj001]

Ok.. so using this reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding

I guess that this HVEC stream has L5 profile and High tier, and L5 profile it's supposed to support up to 100000 kbps. But as I mentioned, the file is 16000 kbps average, and it's watched poorly all over (whatever the time postion).

So if you are saying a HVEC L5 High Tier is not supported on CCWGT, then I would like this info to be tested and make clear on specs.  From https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/media  it says L5.1 is supported. I would assume main and high profiles are supported.

BTW, is there a way of knowing which profiles is the netflix stream using?

[djtetei]

Netflix is using multiple codecs, based on user internet bandwidth, so they use H264, VP9 and H265, same as Google Chromecast with Google TV.

[djtetei]

The "Main Tier" requirement is assumed, because, as I previously said, Google Chromecast with Google TV is not a full blown media player designed from the start with high capabilities to handle demanding media content from local storage. It is simply a device ment to offer you the possibility to enjoy video content streamed online by various industry players, like Netflix.

[jj001]

I understand Neflix can use multiple codecs (adaptatively). My question is if there is a way of knowing the codec being used at the moment when I'm streaming from Netflix. I guess it would be to the Netflix app to tell me or to some debugging app. My thought is that perhaps with a better CPU I could get a better Netflix profile.

I understand it can have limitations, I just want them to be clearly specified. As I think anybody would read it, L5 without further specification would mean everything under L5. My request for better documentation still holds. But I guess I cannot force  you to do it.

[jj001]

From the wikipedia page: 

 A decoder that conforms to a given tier/level is required to be capable of decoding all bitstreams that are encoded for that tier/level and for all lower tiers/levels.

So I would assume if it's said to support L5.1, it should support L5 for all the tiers.

[djtetei]

You still haven't told me where the files are located: internal storage, external storage or network share?

[jj001]

I think I did.. internal storage

[djtetei]

I understand your point of view regarding better documentation on what can and cannot be played by Google Chromecast with Google TV, but that is an issue with many electronic equipments these days. Many manufacturers are not very thorough or specific on what their equipment is capable of, either because, sometimes, they have something to hide or simply because they expect that present young generation should do their homework, either before or after purchasing an equipment.

That being said, it is up to the Google Chromecast with Google TV support staff to provide us with more detailed answers.

[jj001]

Well, the CPU specs mention L5.1, so my L5 stream should be supported no matter what tier.

But for some essential functionality like this, doesn't Google do some basic testing

[djtetei]

And you still have internal storage space left or you use a storage device attached to a USB-C Hub?

I ask you this, because if you are using a storage device attached to a USB-C hub, you need to use a USB 3.0 port on that hub and your storage device must be USB 3.0 capability in order to maintain the proper transfer data rate for 4K media files.

[jj001]

I have space left. File is only 250Mb and 2 mins

[djtetei]

So, you have this media file stored in internal shared memory of GCGTV?

How many apps are installed on device?

You have to leave some space available for the system to work its background processing..

Try and move this file on a high speed USB 3.0 mass storage device, like a thumb drive or a HDD, formated in FAT32 filesystem and connect it to Google Chromecast with Google TV via high quality USB-C powered Hub with at least one USB 3.0 port. Then, try to play the file again.

[jj001]

I just have a few apps.. But problem was happening just after a factory reset. I have plenty of space.

I don't have a USB-C hub and I am not planning to buy one just as a wild and unlikely test.

[djtetei]

You can borrow one for testing.

Furthermore, even if the CPU capabilities includes H265 Main and Main-10 Profiles up to level 5.1, that doesn mean the High Tier property is supported.

[jj001]

So how is the dependencies? You support LX  and for LY  (Y lower than X), then it means that perhaps you don't support LY higher tier?  IT's not clear from wikipedia link

[djtetei]

To clarify the situation, Google Chromecast with Google TV runs on Amlogic S905D3 processor, which, by itself, is very capable and feature packed.

Amlogic S905D3 processor has video hardware acceleration, both for decoding and encoding video material, and it definitely supports decoding H.265, Main Profile and Main-10 Profile, up to Level 5.1, including High Tier.

So, in fact, Google Chromecast with Google TV should be able to handle your 4K video files, in direct play mode, with no problems, unless Google decided to restrain it in any way via software instructions, but I don't think so.

Therefore, the jerkiness video playback you are experiencing has another cause.

Personally, I would advise you to bite the bullet and move your media files to a high speed USB 3 external storage device, connected to a powered USB-C hub, or to a network share.

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help? If not, I'll go ahead and lock up this thread in 24 hours.

Just checking up,
Jeran
 

[jj001]

I'd like official answer from Google whether this is supported or not. And the right documentation about it.

[djtetei]

Have you tried to contact Google Chromecast support team by message?

I'm sure they'll be able to, at least, give you an answer, even an unsatisfactory one.