feat: Add FFmpeg audio transcoding for Dolby/AC3/EAC3 compatibility

- Add /api/transcode endpoint for audio-only transcoding
- Video passthrough (no re-encoding) for fast performance
- Audio transcode to AAC for browser compatibility
- Add 'Force Audio Transcode' setting toggle in UI
- Add ffmpeg-static as optional dependency
- Handle Electron asar.unpacked path for packaged apps

public/index.html

@@ -343,6 +343,17 @@
                     directly.</span>
                 </div>
               </div>
+              <div class="setting-item">
+                <label class="setting-toggle">
+                  <input type="checkbox" id="setting-force-transcode">
+                  <span class="toggle-slider"></span>
+                </label>
+                <div class="setting-info">
+                  <span class="setting-label">Force Audio Transcode</span>
+                  <span class="setting-hint">Transcode audio to AAC for browser compatibility. Enable if you get video
+                    but no audio (fixes Dolby/AC3/EAC3). Requires ffmpeg-static.</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
               <div class="setting-item">
                 <div class="setting-info" style="flex: 1;">
                   <span class="setting-label">Stream Output Format</span>

public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js

@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             rememberVolume: true, // Persist volume between sessions
             lastVolume: 80, // Last used volume (if rememberVolume is true)
             autoPlayNextEpisode: false, // Auto-play next episode in series
-            forceProxy: false // Force all streams through backend proxy
+            forceProxy: false, // Force all streams through backend proxy
+            forceTranscode: false // Force audio transcoding (fixes Dolby/AC3 audio)
         };
         try {
             const saved = localStorage.getItem('nodecast_tv_player_settings');
@@ -202,6 +203,25 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             // Determine if HLS or direct stream
             this.currentUrl = streamUrl;
 
+            // CHECK: Force Transcode Priority - transcoded streams bypass HLS.js
+            if (this.settings.forceTranscode) {
+                console.log('[Player] Force Transcode enabled. Routing through ffmpeg...');
+                const transcodeUrl = this.getTranscodeUrl(streamUrl);
+                this.currentUrl = transcodeUrl;
+
+                // Transcoded streams are fragmented MP4 - play directly with <video> element
+                console.log('[Player] Playing transcoded stream directly:', transcodeUrl);
+                this.video.src = transcodeUrl;
+                this.video.play().catch(e => console.log('[Player] Autoplay prevented:', e));
+
+                // Update UI and dispatch events
+                this.updateNowPlaying(channel);
+                this.showNowPlayingOverlay();
+                this.fetchEpgData(channel);
+                window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('channelChanged', { detail: channel }));
+                return; // Exit early - don't use HLS.js path
+            }
+
             // Proactively use proxy for:
             // 1. User enabled "Force Proxy" in settings
             // 2. Known CORS-restricted domains (like Pluto TV)
@@ -377,6 +397,13 @@ class VideoPlayer {
         return `/api/proxy/stream?url=${encodeURIComponent(url)}`;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get transcoded URL for a stream (audio transcoding for browser compatibility)
+     */
+    getTranscodeUrl(url) {
+        return `/api/transcode?url=${encodeURIComponent(url)}`;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Decode base64 EPG data
      */

public/js/pages/Settings.js

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class SettingsPage {
         const rememberVolumeToggle = document.getElementById('setting-remember-volume');
         const autoPlayNextToggle = document.getElementById('setting-autoplay-next');
         const forceProxyToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-proxy');
+        const forceTranscodeToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-transcode');
 
         // Load current settings
         if (this.app.player?.settings) {
@@ -41,6 +42,9 @@ class SettingsPage {
             if (forceProxyToggle) {
                 forceProxyToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.forceProxy || false;
             }
+            if (forceTranscodeToggle) {
+                forceTranscodeToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.forceTranscode || false;
+            }
         }
 
         // Arrow keys toggle
@@ -83,6 +87,12 @@ class SettingsPage {
             this.app.player.saveSettings();
         });
 
+        // Force transcode toggle
+        forceTranscodeToggle?.addEventListener('change', () => {
+            this.app.player.settings.forceTranscode = forceTranscodeToggle.checked;
+            this.app.player.saveSettings();
+        });
+
         // EPG refresh interval
         const epgRefreshSelect = document.getElementById('epg-refresh-interval');
         if (epgRefreshSelect) {