Playback freezing after a while (VMR9helper playing=>repaint) (1 Viewer)

jcee

Portal Pro
November 23, 2004
282
1
I have tried 0.2.2.0 + several SVNS, different gfx drivers, updates motherboard and chipset drivers etc.. and codecs.

I use the Nvidia pure video codec as it offers superior image quality.

Basically the recorded streams freeze after a while when wacthing them. The workaround is skipping some minutes into future/past (which helps sometimes) to get in going again, or stop and restart.

The problem exists also without MP, just using WMP.

What I found out so far:

1. Any time the video freezes I get an "VMR9helper: playing => repaint x" entry in the logfile, where x is a number.

2. Some people pointed out that it might be caused by bad signal quality and errors in the stream. I checked with PVAstrumento and it reported lots of errors.
I see that this could be a problem, but nervertheless the playing mechanism must be that tolerant to just continue playing. One would expect errors in a cable TV DVB stream... !

3. To improve antenna signal I exchanged all my wiring, took away all splitters and things of that kind, replaced the antenna socket in the wall. With little success.
I have to mention that my old DVB-reciever had no problems at all, even with the old cables.
Maybe its reciever is of much better quality or it has some kind of error correction build in.. !
(I use a FloppyDTV (DVB-C))

4. When I playback the files with Nero, they play fine. Maybe Nero ist using another technique or codec.
I do not know whether a different codec or a different demuxer or a different render is the cure for the problem... !
(Or if Nero does so preprocessing of the stream, before or after demuxing it)

Conclusion:

MP relies on the external mechanisms of Windows: E.g. codecs, demultiplexers, renderers. These "chain" seems not that reliable to deal with DVB-streams like other system are.

What can be done here to solve the problem?

I heard lots of people complaining about these kind of problems, at some place it causes freezes, some other experience stuttering.

I guess it is always good to improve cabeling and signal strength, but it looks like beeing just a workaround. I would not expect an DVB-C stream to be 100% free of errors.

This problem is driving me nuts. Can please someone help?!


Maybe the devs could add some kind of watchdog into MP. Because the freeze is detected ("VMRhelper9: playing =>repaint"), so it could restart...?!
(Even if it is just a workaround?!)
 

jcee

Portal Pro
November 23, 2004
282
1
Nobody interested in this?

Some posts in other forums belive the problem is in the demuxing process. It seems that the demuxer is not very robust/tolerant to stream errors.

Might there be an improvement by replacing the demuxer by something else? Does anyone know about alternatives?
 

portal user

Portal Member
January 23, 2006
22
0
Hi Jcee
I am very interested, as I have the same problem.
At least there are 2 of us :)

Hope we can get a little help

Bst Regards
 

joboehl

Retired Team Member
  • Premium Supporter
  • July 30, 2006
    431
    4
    Home Country
    Brazil Brazil
    It's hard to help without logs and some more specific information.

    Take a look at the support template and provided some more information, like your setup, tv engine being used,logs and etc.
     

    jcee

    Portal Pro
    November 23, 2004
    282
    1
    Ok, you can have the template:
    TV-Server Version: 3 (latest SVN, and three different ones before)
    MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2.0 release + various SVNs
    MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
    Windows Version: XP Pro, XP MCE 2005 (tried both)
    CPU Type: Athlon 3400+
    HDD: Spinpoint 160GB
    Memory: 1Gb
    Motherboard: K8NFG4-VSTA
    Motherboard Chipset: Nforce
    Motherboard Bios:
    Video Card: Nvidia 7600GS
    Video Card Driver: tried 93.x and 91.x
    Sound Card: tried XFI, and now use onboard Realtek HD Audio (ALC833)
    Sound Card AC3:
    Sound Card Driver: tried R1.53 and now use R1.66 (latest from Realtek)
    1. TV Card: FloppyDTV
    1. TV Card Type: DVB-C
    1. TV Card Driver: Firewire, usinf BDA_light 3.1
    2. TV Card:
    2. TV Card Type:
    2. TV Card Driver:
    3. TV Card:
    3. TV Card Type:
    3. TV Card Driver:
    4. TV Card:
    4. TV Card Type:
    4. TV Card Driver:
    MPEG2 Video Codec: Nvidia Purevideo Platinum
    MPEG2 Audio Codec: Nvidia Purevideo Platinum
    Satelite/CableTV Provider: KDG (Germany)
    HTPC Case: Silverstone
    Cooling: 1xCPU 2xChassis, T-Balancer Fan-controller
    Power Supply: 450W (its new, forgot vendor)
    Remote: PowerSconi V3 (HID)
    TV: Pioneer Plasma 436
    TV - HTPC Connection: DVI=>HDMI


    and you can have the log file..

    2007-05-08 19:33:40.515625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    2007-05-08 19:35:43.796875 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:353,9788765 duration:5519,8431 pos:368,9788765
    2007-05-08 19:35:43.921875 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:353,006 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:47:27.687500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: playing->repaint 0
    2007-05-08 19:47:37.187500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:47:37.187500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:48:09.593750 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:48:11.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:48:19.218750 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:418,1516042 duration:5519,8431 pos:403,1516042
    2007-05-08 19:48:19.328125 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:418 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:20.062500 [Info.][19]: planescene: PresentSurface() frame:0 enabled:True allowed:False 1024x576
    2007-05-08 19:48:20.078125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    2007-05-08 19:48:22.203125 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:405,1052084 duration:5519,8431 pos:420,1052084
    2007-05-08 19:48:22.328125 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:405,002 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:23.140625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: playing->repaint 5
    2007-05-08 19:48:23.187500 [Info.][19]: planescene: PresentSurface() frame:0 enabled:True allowed:False 1024x576
    2007-05-08 19:48:23.187500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    2007-05-08 19:48:32.984375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:48:32.984375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 19:48:33.671875 [Info.][19]: planescene: PresentSurface() frame:0 enabled:True allowed:False 1024x576
    2007-05-08 19:48:33.671875 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    2007-05-08 19:48:36.046875 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:402,6254167 duration:5519,8431 pos:417,6254167
    2007-05-08 19:48:36.156250 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:402 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:39.093750 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:374,7680209 duration:5519,8431 pos:404,7680209
    2007-05-08 19:48:39.218750 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:374,008 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:42.109375 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:361,2235417 duration:5519,8431 pos:376,2235417
    2007-05-08 19:48:42.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:361,006 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:45.578125 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:348,5452084 duration:5519,8431 pos:363,5452084
    2007-05-08 19:48:45.703125 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:348,008 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 19:48:46.828125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: playing->repaint 1
    2007-05-08 19:48:46.859375 [Info.][19]: planescene: PresentSurface() frame:0 enabled:True allowed:False 1024x576
    2007-05-08 19:48:46.875000 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    2007-05-08 19:50:36.781250 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:398,4875417 duration:5519,8431 pos:458,4875417
    2007-05-08 19:50:36.890625 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:398 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 20:03:35.046875 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: playing->repaint 0
    2007-05-08 20:06:03.578125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:03.578125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:15.656250 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:15.656250 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.218750 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.218750 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.578125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.578125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.953125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:16.953125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:17.312500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:17.312500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:17.718750 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:17.718750 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:18.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:18.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:18.828125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:18.828125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.156250 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.156250 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.515625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.515625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.875000 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:19.875000 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:20.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:20.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:20.875000 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:20.875000 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:22.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:22.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:22.921875 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:22.921875 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:24.890625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:24.890625 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:26.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:26.234375 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:26.562500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:26.562500 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: SetRepaint()
    2007-05-08 20:06:56.625000 [Info.][MPMain]: SeekAbsolute:seekabs:578,5072292 duration:5519,8431 pos:593,5072292
    2007-05-08 20:06:56.750000 [Info.][MPMain]: StreamBufferPlayer: current pos:578 dur:5519,8431
    2007-05-08 20:06:57.687500 [Info.][19]: planescene: PresentSurface() frame:0 enabled:True allowed:False 1024x576
    2007-05-08 20:06:57.703125 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: repaint->playing 1
    [\Quote]

    At "2007-05-08 20:03:35.046875 [Info.][MPMain]: VMR9Helper: playing->repaint 0" the freeze happened. At 20:08 I tried get it going again.

    At 2007-05-08 19:47:27.687500 there was also a freeze..


    I think much is said in my early post: The chain breaks somewhere and Frodo in one post explained the rendering process.

    The stream is recieved, demultiplexed, decoded and the rendered.

    The "repaint-syndrom" tells that the renderer is waiting for the next frames to show, by they do not arrive.

    I guess that comes from broken streams and the demultiplexer or decoder is not that robust to tolerate this.

    But I did whatever I was able to do to improve signal strength: Replaced wiring etc.. So there is little I can do anymore and my old cable-box was working fine with the old cables.

    Maybe the hardware-boxes are more tolerant to weak streams. Anyway.. I need a solution.

    maybe there are other demultiplexers around that are better?!
     

    joboehl

    Retired Team Member
  • Premium Supporter
  • July 30, 2006
    431
    4
    Home Country
    Brazil Brazil
    jcee.

    Does skipping cause the video to play again? Eg: If you skipp 15 secs back or forwards whrn image stops, do you have video again?

    Frodo is actually the best dev to talk about this, but you might need to wait a few days for him to be back. ;)
     

    jcee

    Portal Pro
    November 23, 2004
    282
    1
    Yes, that is normally resuming playback.

    But not for 100% of the cases. Sometimes skipping for and back will just move you to a new frozen frame and the playback engine sits there and - I guess - is waiting for the "correct" next frame to come around.

    The harddisk continues running, so I can see that the stream is actually read from disk..

    Hope I am not the only one with this problem..

    I already exchanged almost all my hardware, had three TV cards..
     

    jcee

    Portal Pro
    November 23, 2004
    282
    1
    There is only a update available for the english version of XP. mine is german :-(

    What should I do?! Do you really think this will sove the problem? I wonder why other players like Nero run over the errors in the stream without freezing..
     

    jcee

    Portal Pro
    November 23, 2004
    282
    1
    To give some feedback:

    I got reasonable playback with almost no freezes anymore.
    The "work around" was using MPA/MPV.

    It seems that these decoders are more tolerant than Nvidia Purevideo.

    It might also be that a different demultiplexer is selected when using them.

    At the same time I installed Haalia, so I cannot tell you whether it is more codec or demultiplexer related..

    BUT this is not the final solution. Does anybody has news or similar experiences?!
     

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