Need help? Join the Norri Discord.Beta information

Supported Formats

Norri supports common media containers, codecs, audio formats, and subtitle types. Support does not always mean direct play. Norri may direct play, remux, or transcode depending on the file and the playback device.

How Compatibility Works

A video file has several parts:

  • Container, such as MKV, MP4, or WebM
  • Video codec, such as H.264, HEVC, VP9, or AV1
  • Audio codec, such as AAC, AC3, DTS, FLAC, or Opus
  • Subtitle tracks, such as SRT, ASS, PGS, or VOBSUB
  • HDR format, such as HDR10, HLG, or Dolby Vision

Norri checks the actual media streams inside the file. The file extension helps with discovery, but it does not override the detected contents.

Playback Outcomes

OutcomeWhat it means
Direct playThe original file can be streamed as-is.
HLS remuxThe codecs are compatible, but the container needs to be repackaged for the client.
TranscodeOne or more streams need conversion, such as video codec, audio codec, HDR to SDR, or subtitle burn-in.

Transcoded Video Quality

When video conversion is needed, the default connection setting lets the web app measure the connection and select a quality using the result and the file, player, and server capabilities. Playback keeps that quality instead of automatically changing it later.

In Settings → Web Client → Playback, you can turn off the connection test. Supported desktop Chrome and Firefox players also offer automatic quality changes during playback. Safari uses its native player with only the selected quality available.

The setting applies to movies and TV episodes that need video transcoding, including H.264 output. Direct play and remuxing preserve the original video and do not provide an adaptive video quality ladder. Music playback is separate.

See Transcoded Video Quality for the choices, connection test, and browser-specific settings.

Video Containers

Norri can scan and play media in these common containers:

  • MKV, also known as Matroska
  • MP4 and M4V
  • WebM
  • MOV
  • AVI
  • WMV

MKV Files

Norri can scan and play MKV files. If the playback device cannot use the MKV container but can play the video and audio codecs inside it, Norri uses HLS remuxing instead of a full transcode.

Startup and seeking depend on storage, the network, and whether new HLS segments need to be prepared. A short delay can occur even when the video itself does not need re-encoding.

WebM Files

True WebM files can direct play when the client supports the contained codecs, such as VP9 or AV1 video with Opus or Vorbis audio.

A file ending in .webm is not treated as WebM unless the streams inside it are WebM-compatible. For example, a file named .webm that contains H.264 video and AAC audio is routed by its actual contents and will not be incorrectly direct played as WebM.

Video Codecs

Norri detects and routes these common video codecs:

  • H.264 / AVC, including 10-bit High 10 input
  • H.265 / HEVC
  • VP9
  • AV1
  • VC-1

Client support varies by browser, TV platform, and hardware. HEVC and AV1 support are especially device-dependent.

Ten-bit H.264 may need software decoding even when a GPU can encode the output. VC-1, found in some Blu-ray files, normally needs conversion for browsers and mobile clients. On supported NVIDIA systems, Norri uses the available VC-1 hardware decoder for that conversion.

HDR Formats

Norri detects:

  • HDR10
  • HLG
  • Dolby Vision

If the client supports the HDR format, Norri keeps HDR intact. If the client does not support it and Enable HDR Tone Mapping is on, Norri converts the video to SDR for that session.

Ten-bit video is not necessarily HDR. When Norri can read a file successfully but finds no HDR signaling, it treats the video as SDR. Missing tags alone do not prove that a file is HDR.

Safari can decode HEVC Main 10 on supported hardware while using an SDR display. In that case, HDR content still needs tone mapping; support for the codec alone does not mean the screen can display HDR.

Audio Codecs

Norri detects and routes these common audio codecs:

  • AAC
  • AC3 and E-AC3
  • DTS and DTS-HD
  • FLAC
  • MP3
  • Opus
  • Vorbis

Unsupported audio can be transcoded to a client-friendly format. Norri also considers your selected audio output, such as Stereo, 5.1, or 7.1.

Music Libraries

Norri plays common music formats, including Apple Lossless and WMA. If your browser cannot play a file directly, Norri prepares a compatible version automatically. Your original file stays unchanged, and this step does not reduce its sound quality further.

The first play may take a little longer while Norri prepares the file. Later playback and seeking use the prepared version.

Subtitles

Norri detects:

  • SRT
  • ASS and SSA
  • VTT / WebVTT
  • PGS, common on Blu-ray rips
  • VOBSUB, common on DVD rips

Text subtitles can usually be sent separately from the video. Image-based subtitles and styled subtitles may require burn-in depending on the selected track and server settings.

See Audio & Subtitle Tracks for subtitle selection and subtitle policy settings.