Apple TV ALAC only 6 channels?

Hello,


does the Apple TV only support up to 6 channels for the Apple Lossless Audio Codec?


I have many mp4-containers with 6 channel (5.1) ALAC and they play fine.


If the container has an audio stream with 8 channels (7.1) I even cannot see the stream.


Best regards,

Felix

Posted on Jan 10, 2019 2:29 AM

Reply
4 replies

Jan 10, 2019 3:58 AM in response to FLX90

Which model Apple TV? Identify your Apple TV model - Apple Support


My Apple TV 4K plays .mp4 files with H.264 video and ALAC 7.1 through iTunes Home Sharing just fine. (Note that files that are not tagged for Media Kind, show up under Home Videos (not Movies).)

My iTunes won’t add the audio-only ALAC 7.1 .m4a file from the same source to its library, though. No error, just nothing. That would make it an iTunes issue, not an Apple TV issue.

Feb 14, 2019 1:29 AM in response to FLX90

I did some further testing.

Strange things going on here with ATV 4 (not 4K):


  • File contains two ore more audio streams and at least one of the audio streams is 7.1: ATV only plays (and only can see) the audio stream which is marked (in the meta information of the stream) as default (doesn't matter if it's 7.1).
  • File contains only one 7.1 stream: cannot see the stream, cannot here any sound.
  • File contains indifferent number of 5.1 audio streams: every is working fine.
  • iTunes plays everything fine.


Can someone do the testing on an ATV 4K please.

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Apple TV ALAC only 6 channels?

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