Setting: Stream selection type

This feature is available on Kodi 20 and above, on older Kodi versions the quality of the streams is closely dependent on the settings available.

This setting allows you to select the way in which the quality of the audio/video streams is chosen, but could be also overridden by the video add-on being used.

Stream selector types

Adaptive

• Designed for self-adapting stream quality based on available network bandwidth and to fit the screen resolution
• Allows smooth playback of a video without waiting for the buffer to load
• How works: As soon as you start a video, the initial bandwidth will be determined (if not set manually) which will determine the a/v quality with which playback will begin. While in playback, based on the download speed will be calculated the average bandwidth, which will determine the a/v quality in real time, so if the bandwidth becomes lower the quality will be scaled down by switching to a lower a/v streaming quality, if the bandwidth increases the quality will be scaled up by switching to a higher a/v streaming quality, to optimize the bandwidth the screen resulution will also be considered as parameter. If your enviroment dont works well for example due to low CPU performances, the max bitrate and/or resolution settings can be set to limit the range of action of the quality stream switching.

Fixed resolution

• Designed to have a fixed stream quality for the whole video length
• Stream quality will be chosen to fit the screen resolution
• A stable network connection is required to avoid buffer loading

Ask quality

• Designed to have a fixed stream quality for the whole video length
• Allows you to choose the stream quality before starting the video playback
• A stable network connection is required to avoid buffer loading

Manual OSD

• Designed for testing purposes, but could be used also to have a fixed stream quality
• Allows you to change stream quality from Kodi OSD settings
• The initial stream quality will be chosen to fit the screen resolution
• A stable network connection is required to avoid buffer loading

Test

• Designed for development and testing only
• Allows stream quality change according to specific patterns