Kodi Community Forum

Hi there,

I just stumbled across this system after reading a post about it on gizmodo.com.au. Very interesting I have to say and something I could see myself using alot. I have installed it and played around with it a little but i have just one specific question I need answered before i continue to put in some more hours of work into it.

How is it playing video files? I know this is a silly question but here me out. I have been using my pc as a HTPC for over 2years now, but in order for my pc to playback 1080p content in audio sync and smooth with no lag I have to have my codecs working properly. To do this I am using Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC for short) with CCCP codec pack installed BUT (and here's the important 'but') I paid for and use Core AVC codec to handle alot of the video issues. Quite simply if this is not installed or being taken advantage of my 1080p gets out of sync audio problems and stuttering pics (never with the 720p files, just 1080p content).

What i would really like would be once I click on a movie from within xmbc it launches MPC to handle the playback, or if thats not the case then convince me it is definately using the same codec setup that MPC is using (namely Core AVC as well as CCCP).

Can anyone care to comment how xmbc is handling the whole video playback stuff?

PS: Oh and one last questions, is the default visualization program running in the background for now playing music milkdrop? If not can it be set to milkdrop (it looked like milkdrop to me)?

Ta,

Bruce

Yes, if you really, really want to use an external player you can - see the wiki for details on the playercorefactory. I highly suggest you don't - if your computer requires coreAVC, then go buy a new video card (a cheap one is fine) and relieve your poor CPU

Cheers,
Jonathan

Cheers for the reply Jonathan.

My pc aint that bad here r sum specs:

Memory (RAM): 2047 MB
CPU Info: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+
CPU Speed: 2509.2 MHz
Display Adapters: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB

It plays CS:S pretty well

Out of the box, GOM player and VLC had issues whereas MPC has NEVER EVER struggled to play back 1080p content, so i know my hardware is up to scratch and that my particular issue is software/codec related.
I tried using the default video playback for xbmc but alas it was struggling
So looks like I will have to get it to use an external player as I'm not paying for something that my pc can already do.
I really love the look and organisation of this program tho, even if it acts just as a portal for my media that will be good enuff

That GPU should be more than enough to CPU. What OS and version of XBMC are you running? With GOMplayer I'm guessing windows? Which version of windows? XP? A Debug Log from xbmc would help, check my signature how to acquire it

Using Windows, XP Home. XBMC is version 10.0 (latest i think?)

Here is the debug log of a quick few seconds of running avatar, stuttering occurs quite immediate. It matters not if its allowed to 'settle', it gets worse the longer u leave it (eventual audio sync issues). Of course on resume it takes awhile to settle but thats to be expected but if playing file from the start stuttering kicks in first 5-10secs in.
FYI i just did this on my desktop monitor, but i have another 27inch full HD 1080p monitor but its the same stuttering results.

13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030234112 NOTICE: -----------------------------------------------------------------------
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030209536 NOTICE: Starting XBMC, Platform: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 build 2600. Built on Dec 17 2010 (SVN:35647, compiler 1500)
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030209536 NOTICE: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030209536 NOTICE: Desktop Resolution: 1680x1050 32Bit at 60Hz
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030209536 NOTICE: Running with administrator rights
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030209536 NOTICE: special://xbmc/ is mapped to: C:\Program Files\XBMC
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: special://xbmcbin/ is mapped to: C:\Program Files\XBMC
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: special://masterprofile/ is mapped to: C:\Documents and Settings\Bruce\Application Data\XBMC\userdata
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: special://home/ is mapped to: C:\Documents and Settings\Bruce\Application Data\XBMC
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: special://temp/ is mapped to: C:\Documents and Settings\Bruce\Application Data\XBMC\cache
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: The executable running is: C:\Program Files\XBMC\XBMC.exe
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: Log File is located: C:\Documents and Settings\Bruce\Application Data\XBMC\xbmc.log
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030205440 NOTICE: -----------------------------------------------------------------------
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1030184960 NOTICE: Setup SDL
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029902336 NOTICE: Found screen: Plug and Play Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS, adapter 0.
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029894144 NOTICE: Primary mode: 1680x1050 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029894144 NOTICE: Additional mode: 640x480 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 640x480 @ 72.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 640x480 @ 75.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 800x600 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 800x600 @ 72.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 800x600 @ 75.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1024x768 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1024x768 @ 70.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1024x768 @ 75.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1152x864 @ 75.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1280x960 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1280x1024 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1280x1024 @ 75.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1600x900 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1600x1200 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1680x1050 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029890048 NOTICE: Additional mode: 800x600 @ 56.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029881856 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1440x900 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029881856 NOTICE: Additional mode: 640x400 @ 70.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029881856 NOTICE: Additional mode: 1400x1050 @ 60.00 - Full Screen
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029898240 NOTICE: load settings...
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029795840 NOTICE: special://profile/ is mapped to: special://masterprofile/
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029783552 NOTICE: loading special://masterprofile/guisettings.xml
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029533696 NOTICE: Getting hardware information now...
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029533696 NOTICE: Checking resolution 12
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029521408 NOTICE: Loading player core factory settings from special://xbmc/system/playercorefactory.xml.
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029513216 NOTICE: Loaded playercorefactory configuration
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029505024 NOTICE: Loading player core factory settings from special://masterprofile/playercorefactory.xml.
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029500928 NOTICE: special://masterprofile/playercorefactory.xml does not exist. Skipping.
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029496832 NOTICE: No advancedsettings.xml to load (special://masterprofile/advancedsettings.xml)
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029496832 NOTICE: Default DVD Player: dvdplayer
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029496832 NOTICE: Default Video Player: dvdplayer
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029496832 NOTICE: Default Audio Player: paplayer
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1029541888 NOTICE: Loading media sources from special://masterprofile/sources.xml
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1006628864 NOTICE: initializing playlistplayer
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1006616576 NOTICE: DONE initializing playlistplayer
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1001644032 NOTICE: initialize done
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1001623552 NOTICE: Running the application...
13:23:37 T:3152 M:1001611264 NOTICE: ES: Starting event server
13:23:37 T:3024 M:1000812544 NOTICE: ES: Starting UDP Event server on 127.0.0.1:9777
13:23:37 T:3024 M:1000800256 NOTICE: UDP: Listening on port 9777
13:25:00 T:3152 M:977633280 NOTICE: Storing total System Uptime
13:25:00 T:3152 M:977719296 NOTICE: Saving settings
13:25:00 T:3152 M:977666048 NOTICE: stop all
13:25:00 T:3152 M:977666048 NOTICE: ES: Stopping event server
13:25:00 T:3024 M:975790080 NOTICE: ES: UDP Event server stopped
13:25:00 T:3152 M:975802368 NOTICE: stop sap announcement listener
13:25:00 T:3152 M:975806464 NOTICE: clean cached files!
13:25:00 T:3152 M:975802368 NOTICE: unload skin
13:25:00 T:3152 M:986587136 NOTICE: stop python
13:25:00 T:3152 M:987795456 NOTICE: stopped
13:25:00 T:3152 M:987770880 NOTICE: destroy
13:25:00 T:3152 M:987746304 NOTICE: unload sections


Here is the file info for Avatar. It really doesnt matter if its avi, mkv or whatever, as soon as its 1080p i get stuttering and eventual audio sync issues (unless using MPC-HC). I saw the wiki page on making MPC-HC kick in and take over if files are 1080p or whatever, might just do that if you can't help.

General
Complete name : F:\BANNER\My Cinema\movies\avatar 1080p.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 10.9 GiB
Duration : 2h 41mn
Overall bit rate : 9 674 Kbps
Writing application : x264.exe
Writing library : mkv2rls v1.2 (date: 2010 febr 17)

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : [email protected]
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Muxing mode : Container [email protected]
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 2h 41mn
Bit rate : 7 744 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 8 171 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.156
Writing library : x264 core 93 r1542 5b86182
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=8171 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Audio
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 2h 41mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 536 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 24 bits
Title : English DTS 1509kbps
Language : English

Text #1
Format : UTF-8
Codec ID : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title : English
Language : English

Text #2
Format : UTF-8
Codec ID : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info : UTF-8 Plain Text
Title : English
Language : English

Windows XP is missing the extensions we need to get hw decode in our implementation. If you install windows vista or beyond or a recent version of ubuntu you will get hw accel and 1080p will be flawless.

Ah.. so yer saying this is specifically an xp issue? That if i go Windows 7 then all should be fine? Well i was thinking about doing that further down the line anyway.

But in the meantime...

If i mess around with getting the coreplayerfactory thing to play 1080p with MPC-HC, how do i revert it back to normal/default player? Should i just make a copy/backup of the coreplayerfactory file now before i mess about with it and then replace the messed about one with the backed up one when i eventually go win 7?

The playercorefactory.xml in C:\Program Files\XBMC\system shouldn't be modified. If you need to add a new external player create a new playercorefactory.xml in %appdata%\xbmc\userdata (%appdata% is an environment variable). When you want to go back to the built in player just delete your playercorefactory.xml.

JR

BruceBanner Wrote:Ah.. so yer saying this is specifically an xp issue? That if i go Windows 7 then all should be fine?

Yes, Windows 7 should work for you. If you don't want to shelf out the money for Windows 7 you can get ubuntu for free, which also sports the needed hooks for us to do hw accel on your GPU.

hi all,

this might be a really stupid question, but why exactly are external players highly discouraged?

is it just to avoid supporting bugs that might prop up because of 3rd party programs?

im asking mainly because i've been forced to use an external player for buffering and tearing issues (havent spent a whole lot of time looking into the latter).
just wondering if there is some huge disadvantage to using external players the way i am.

External players are external, they do not tie into our gui and we have little control over them. The interaction is not the same and the experience is compromised.

defender013 Wrote:this might be a really stupid question, but why exactly are external players highly discouraged?

As topfs2 says, it's for cosmetic reasons really. For example the remote control support for the external app usually isn't the same as XBMC so it can be a pain making the remote work. The most elegant solution is to switch to an OS that supports hardware acceleration. I use Windows 7 on a Revo 3610 with an Atom processor and it plays 1080p just fine.

JR

hi guys,

thanks for the response.

yes from what i can gather, there are a lot of hd decoding issues and tearing with xp in general..it even shows up with mpc-hc, and their response was also "switch to vista/7"

i just dont want to go through another round of os updating...yet.

thanks for the info, for now, i guess i'll just use eventghost to sooth the remote control pains...

It's because:

1. We can't support them as we don't use them.
2. It can give a bad experience (codecs need fiddling etc.)
3. It gives a bad experience as the integration is lost.

It's generally only ever needed on windows, and only on old hardware or old systems (XP) pretty much (or by folk who can't stop fiddling with codecs )

Cheers,
Jonathan

and integration is input control as jhsrennie says but another big part is vfs hooks, they can't use our vfs which is a big part of what we are. Ofcourse niceness integration stuff like getting put properly in the GUI (both in depth and in size and position).