4K Apple TV audio sync issues?

To add to my previous detailed feedback regrading this problem, of which some was removed by Apple sue to the mention of b$%a software (fair enough I guess), I have found another interesting related thing...

I went and purchased a NAS unit so I can stream my stuff bypassing the use of the TV app on iMac and everything was working fine until a few nights ago when I came across a show that uses

EAC3 5.1 audio.

I found the following....

Audio is fine (EAC3 5.1) when streamed from TV app on iMac 5k retina to Apple TV 4K. Yay!!

But no audio when same test file is streamed from NAS via Plex app on Apple TV 4K. Weird!

However, the same file is fine when streamed from NAS via Plex app directly on Samsung Ultra HD TV. (The same TV everything else is connected too)

Very strange things going on but this time it seems the Apple TV 4k isn’t the problem for this particular test file other than the Apple TV 4K isn’t playing the EAC3 audio through the Plex app.

JoshuaONE... Yep, just over a month ago I went and purchased a WD NAS box, 2 x NAS disks which I run through Plex. All at great expense in an attempt to be able to do the thing that my Apple devices once were able to do and should do.

Thinking of sending Apple the bill for it all, AND, taking my Apple TV4K back for a refund under Australian Consumer Protection Laws because it isn't doing what it's meant to do anymore 😚.

However, a current firmware version on the AppleTV4K seems to have fixed the audio/video lag problem. I can't mention what firmware version it is because.... It turns out Apple do in fact monitor these pages as they were pretty **** fast to email and inform me that they have removed my last post many many weeks ago that mentioned a certain firmware that isn't available to the public 😉. But yet, here we all sit, in complete silence, with devices, not just Apple TV box's (iPhones, iPads, Macs), that have been rendered useless and no one at Apple seems to be doing much about it.

Not to mention everyone at Apple seem to have stopped any kind of work at all for the past year at least, seeing as updates to address bugs on all devices have become so rare (read... non existent), it's almost like Apple don't exist any more.

I'm still, and I'm repeating myself now for the hundredth time, STILL waiting for bug fixes in macOS Big Sur that I reported (as a tester) before Big Sur was released to the public, and numerous times since it became public aaaaaaaand..... still no updates or fixes to the problems reported. Which seeing as the crafty modern day Robin Hoods will render my late 2014 iMac 5K Retina obsolete when they release the next macOS at some point as it wont be supported apparently. Therefore, a bug free version of Big Sur for us all could be considered imperative me thinks.

I'm guessing Apple have a building full of people trying to learn their new programming code, all of which are probably pre-pubescent or, ex Microsoft coders which wouldn't surprise me seeing as it's all gone to **** in a hand basket in recent years.

In which case, we are all doomed.

The takeaway from this Apple would be, communication. Show us you give a **** about the people who made you and keep you in the lifestyle you're accustomed too.

After the 14.7 update some apps (eg Channels) quickly go out of sync but then there is an audible hiccup and it gets back into sync. Sometimes it happens a couple of times. It's like it is self-correcting. Irritating but watchable, at last!

Found one video converter which works mojavi , seems like they are not using the apple dodec or an old one

You’re absolutely right. It’s fixed with the new update

No, not just with the 4K AppleTV, it happens exactly the same with my two AppleTV HD (appleTV5,3). My AppleTV could be downgraded to firmware 13.4.8 (latest good signed by Apple) as it has a USB-C port (compared to the 4K which has not), but I hope not to having to go for that hassle and count on Apple to fix this soon.

Further to my post yesterday, I've found last night after AirPlay-ing two similar programs, one went out of sync and had crackles and pops in the audio, whilst the other one was spot on with no sync problems. Details of files....

The following file played back with no problems.

TV App info...

MPEG-4 video file

encoded with: Lavf57.82.100

total bit rate: 3979 kb/s

dimensions: 1280x720

video codec: H.264

VLC App info...

codec: H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1)

resolution: 1280x720

frame rate: 23.976216

audio codec: A/52 B Audio (aka E-AC3) (eac3)

channels: 3F2M/LFE

sample rate: 48000 Hz

Bits per sample: 32

Inspector info from Quicktime...

resolution: 1280 x 720

video format: H.264

Audio Format: Dolby Digital Plus, 48000 Hz

Channels: 5.1 (L C R Ls Rs LFE)

The following file goes out of sync around the 4 minute mark and has crackles and pops in audio throughout.

TV App info...

profile: Low Complexity

kind: MPEG-4 video file

encoded with: Lavf57.82.100

total bit rate: 4867 kb/s

dimensions: 1920x1080

video codec: H.264

VLC App info...

codec: H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1)

resolution: 1920x1080

frame rate: 23.976216

audio codec: MPEG AAC Audio (mp4a)

channels: Stereo

sample rate: 48000 Hz

Bits per sample: 32

AAC extension: SBR

Inspector info from Quicktime...

resolution: 1920 x 1080

video format: H.264

Audio Format: AAC, 24000 Hz

Channels: Stereo (L-R)

Maybe that will make sense to someone. I find it interesting that the first file with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio plays back with no problems, however, the lower standard one with only stereo audio crackles, pops and goes out of sync. But, that file is AAC so, could the problem lay within MPEG AAC audio within Big Sur??

As mentioned in my previous post, none of the files play up at all when played back through another app such as VLC. Only happens through the TV App and Quicktime within Big Sur.

I'll check these two files a bit later on in my 2011 MacBook Pro running High Sierra to see what happens. I'm suspecting they will both play fine like previous test files did.

tvOS 14.6 and this is still not fixed.

C'mon Apple. You are pretty much asking people to switch to PLEX. Customers that utilize this Home Sharing feature are obviously not important to Apple. Either that or they don't know how to fix it.

Hello! I can confirm I’m having all the same issues on the new Apple TV 4K that others previously listed (audio sync issues, scratchy & poppy sound), but want to add that I’m running Catalina on my iMac, not Big Sur. I also noticed that the issues don’t occur with all the movie files in My Library, so I took a look at the encoding of files that play normally and those that have problems. Bad news is that I couldn’t isolate the issue as all the files used AAC H.264.

My TV is not a 4K TV and when problematic are played directly on my iMac.... no issues occur. They only the sync/popping sound issue when streamed via the Apple TV 4K. Never had an issue on older models of Apple TV devices.

Not sure if this helps the find the cause, but I’d be willing to test anything else if anyone has ideas.

Praying for a fix to this from Apple....

From previous experience with faults on the "computers" icon in Apple TV I have concluded that Apple most defiantly doesn't care at all about keeping peoples personal film library working flawlessly. Apple doesn't make any money from people watching there own libraries of media. Apple wants people to sign up for there own streaming services and buy their content. I suspect we'll all be wanting a long time for this issue to be fixed. I am already in the process of moving to Plex anyway.

mrpaulmcdonald... Funny you should mention this. I was about to update my posts to say the same thing.

Since Timbo took over Apple, everything good, and free, has been taken away slowly but surely.

Money hungry. Sign up, give us your $$$$ now it seems

mrpaulmcdonald --

I think that’s a very interesting and valid point. To be honest, I’m pretty fed up with my Apple TV. The old touch-pad style remote is rubbish and I can’t count the number of times I’ve nearly thrown it out the window in anger of not being able to get a show to fast forward 10 seconds. So freaking infuriating!!  The new remote with the latest Apple TV looks much better, but I have to shell out £60 for it!  REALLY!!  £60 for a remote to replace a bad design!!!

“I’m sorry, we F**KED up, here’s one that actually works. That’ll be £60 in addition to what you’ve already paid for your 4K Apple TV and remote. thank you.”

And now this issue. I’m very seriously looking at other streaming boxes. I hardly ever watch the Apple TV streaming service anyway.

It’s a shame, because I love everything else Apple. Watch, iPad, iPhone, Mac Mini, AirPods .... All works virtually flawlessly.

Even when I play my own content on them.

Bad Apple. BAD BAD APPLE!