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Hi all,

Since I updated to beta 3, I made several tests.
Today, in one of these tests, I notice a very poor playback from a particular MKV file: Avatar.2009.1080p.BluRay.DTSMA.x264-FLAWL3SS-HD.mkv. I always use this file for testing, because the bitrate is constantly high and, also, because it have a very beautiful image.
So, this is a reference file to me, since I use it to test the system and to convince friends to build a XBMC box too

Anyway, today I notice in my ION330 box (Asrock 330-HT, running Ubuntu Karmic + beta 3) that this file isn't running smooth as before. It is freezing a lot! Fast freezing (a fraction of second), but too many! Enough to make it unwatchable.
To be sure that nothing is wrong with my particular configuration, I burn a XBMC Live beta 3 CD and boot from it to run this file. Same terrible playback using Live!
Then, my next test was use the Live in my desktop computer, which is much more powerful than the little ION (Q9650 + GeForce GTX 285). Again, the same terrible "grasping" playback.
Beside the lame quality, in all tests the CPU utilization is very low, with shows me that VDPAU is working (but still a suspect).
My next test was install Beta 3 for Windows @ my desktop and try the same file. I was certainly the file will play smooth as always, thinking the problem is related to VDPAU. My mistake: it was a terrible play with a lot of hangs.
So, for sure, the problem isn't VDPAU related since is not limited to Linux OS!

This was the ONLY file I saw with this problem. Again, it was perfect until beta 2. I switch back to Beta 2, on my desktop and my ION box: the same file plays marvelous with beta 2, in Windows and Linux! Not a single quality problem.


Then I start to think: what can be different from this file to any other I've test? I just notice 2 major differences:

1. VERY high bitrate for audio and video (means a very large file also, about 24gb);
   
2. Is the only file I have with DTS-MA audio.
   

I don't think the 1st gues deserves all bets, because I tried many other files with hi bitrate, like killa.sampla and Planet Earth from CULTHD (the scene @ 6:30min from ep. 7 have an incredibly high bitrate!) .
Avatar.2009.1080p.BluRay.DTSMA.x264-FLAWL3SS-HD.mkv is the only file with I've found with this problem (so far). The scene @ 1:15:30 to 1:17:00 is my reference: completely unwatchable!

Anyone have this file, and can confirm this issue?
Anyone has notice something similar in any other file?

I'm downloading two other DTS-MA files to test my theory. Will post again as soon I test this 2 files.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Bingo!

The problem is definitely related with files with DTS-MA audio!

I downloaded 3 large files, 2 with DTS-MA and other with DTS:

2.Fast.2.Furious.2003.Bluray.1080p.DTSMA.x264.dxva-FraMeSToR.mkv (14.3gb)
Armageddon.1998.Bluray.1080p.DTSMA.x264.dxva-FraMeSToR.mkv (17.7gb)
Iron.Man.2.2010.BluRay.1080p.DTS.h264.Remux-HiFi.mkv (26.8gb)

The same crappy playback occurs with DTSMA file, but not with DTS one (Iron Man 2 plays fine, even being the larges file).

Is more evident that the problem is audio related in 2 fast 2 furious. This file have dual audio track: you get smooth playback when change from DTS-MA to AC3 2ch (track 2, director comment).

Again, it happens in Beta 3 (34731) for Linux Ubuntu, XBMC Live CD and Windows. All files play nice in Beta 2 (33778), no matter the OS.
Also, the problem is more evident in scenes with too much information (audio and video movements)

Cheers.

I would recommend filing a bug in trac for this, if you haven't already. Nice work tracking it down to the DTS-MA audio. I wonder what could have changed between beta2 and beta3? I doubt they did an ffmpeg update, but who knows.

Hi Teaguecl!

I will start a ticket in bug track, for sure!

Right now I'm running the debug mode to provide a useful log.
Take a look in these lines, running the Avatar DTS-MA @ Windows Beta 3. One minute of video playback generates about 1000 of warnings like this:

And another 1000 of "dropping package type: 1 dts", like these:

To a newbie eye, like mine, looks like a bug

Will run @ Live to generate the proper log and start the ticket.

Cheers.

EDIT: ticket created, http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/10522

Thanks for this post, at least I know it wasn't just my setup. I had done a fresh install of Dharma-Live Beta 3, and all Videos with AC3 audio were fine... but I could not play any of my Bluray rips (all with DTS-MA). At first I thought it had something to do with VDPAU with the way the video was stuttering, but then I saw all the "Discontinuity" errors in the log.

I wish I had seen this post earlier, so I could of helped out with a couple of logs. Unfortunately I have already reverted to Beta 2, in which of course all the symptoms have now disappeared.

If I get time in the next day or so, I may put Beta 3 on a USB drive so I can generate a couple of logs.

Thanks for the hard work in tracking it down!

Talk about promoting pirated movies.

Japaja Wrote:Talk about promoting pirated movies.

Thanks. You are very helpful. Your comment will solve all dtsma problems.

Also experienced this. There was an ffmpeg upgrade. Changing avformat-52.dll (or the equivalent on non-windows systems) to the one contained in Dharma beta 2 solves the issue. See here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=624...stcount=18. AFAIK my sample contains a standard dts soundtrack.

Hi a11599,

Thanks for your reply.
I don't thing this is the same issue, since it only affect Windows.
The problem that happens with DTSMA affects all OS.
Anyway, both bugs need to be fixed Maybe you should also filing up a bug in track for this.

Cheers.

The dts problem is also effecting all OS. So there is a chance that it is the same issue.