HTTP Live Streaming Problem

[RLutz]

Hey all, I've been trying to use VLC as an HTTP Live Streaming client to watch hockey games. If I use 1.1.4 VLC and choose open network stream and point it to the m3u8 file, all it does is sequentially fetch each 3 second .ts file and play it one after the other (and so playback becomes choppy as it doesn't try to get the next file until after the first one is finished and it takes a few tenths of a second to get the next file).

After hearing VLC trunk has support for HTTP Live Streaming, I compiled 1.2.0, and the Live Streaming works flawlessly, but only for about two minutes and then stops. I can resume playback by pushing the play button again, but sometimes I have to push the button once or twice. Here's what the output looks like when pushing play doesn't work.
http://pastebin.com/YG5YRBWR

Here's the rest of the output from when it works till when it stops working unexpectedly (and I have to click play a bunch more times till it successfully restarts).
http://paste.ubuntu.com/563201/

I'm using Ubuntu 32 bit running compiled trunk as of the time of this posting. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for all the great work.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

You should mail jpsaman about this.

[RLutz]

I don't seem authorized to send PM's yet (new account). Here's the message I had typed up for him if someone could be so kind as to forward it to jpsaman.

Hi, j-b suggested I contact you regarding a problem I had with HTTP Live Streaming in the latest trunk build. The details can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=87216

Feel free to contact me if you need additional details or more playlists. You can replace the team name in the following URL with any NHL team name http://e3.cdnl3.neulion.com/nhl/mobile/ ... n_800.m3u8 (s/ducks/flyers, s/ducks/penguins, etc).

Thanks for all your work and for looking at this issue. Take care!

[jpsaman]

Your issue mentioned in http://pastebin.com/YG5YRBWR boils down to these error messages:

# [0x8e5401c] stream_filter_httplive stream: HTTP Live Streaming (e3.cdnl3.neulion.com/nhl/mobile/iphone/video/ducks/playlist_main_800.m3u8)
# Blocked: call to setenv("_PX_CONFIG_ORDER", "", 1)
# [0x8e5401c] stream_filter_httplive stream: downloaded segment 1035 from stream 0
# [0x8e5401c] stream_filter_httplive stream error: cannot quarantee smooth playback
# [0x8e5401c] stream_filter_httplive stream error: fetching first segment.

The code determined that downloading the first segments would take longer then the playback of it. This will result in being unable to quarantee a smooth playback without stalling. Therefor it will abort.

The same holds for your issue mentioned in: http://paste.ubuntu.com/563201/. See the error messages:

, old=/mobile/data/nhl/ducks/main_800-20110205173208.ts
[0x8dc724c] stream_filter_httplive stream: - segment 1050 appended
[0x8dc724c] stream_filter_httplive stream: - segment 1051 appended
[0x8dc724c] stream_filter_httplive stream error: cannot quarantee smooth playback
[0x8dc724c] stream_filter_httplive stream error: cannot quarantee smooth playback
[0x8dc724c] stream_filter_httplive stream error: cannot quarantee smooth playback

In recent vlc development tree the check is less rigorous and only prints a warning or error. Maybe I should open a dialog when the playback cannot continue due to it running in on the download.
This situation can happen if the download speed of segments gradually or suddenly gets longer. Maybe due to a HLS server being overloaded, stalling or intermittent bandwidth fluctuations, throthling or many other issues. There is no way to be sure what is happening.

HTTP LIve streaming client side has been updated to accept more .m3u8 files (you need at least git commit-id: 32c4e59c37e09e53c36fe1ca05564abf345e1131 from git.videolan.org master branch).

[RLutz]

I can report that the latest trunk I've checked out is working much much much better than before. Thanks jpsaman!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I can report that the latest trunk I've checked out is working much much much better than before. Thanks jpsaman!

thanks for the report.

[dcosalter]

Hi RLutz,

I have been having the exact problem that you describe for almost a month, and I still can't figure out how to make VLC play an HLS (m3u8) stream without stopping for a few milliseconds after the end of each segment. I have tried several trunk builds (all 1.2) without much success.

Could you please comment if you have experienced any improvement, and which specific build you are using?

Thanks in advance.

Diego.-

[ReD-BaRoN]

Has anyone tried HLS on the lastest trunk recently? I'm having trouble with the trunk version (it's can't obtain the stream at all), but the released version is working (albeit with the choppiness after each chunk).

[dcosalter]

The same happened to me. The latest trunk builds simply don't work with HLS at all. The most recent I found to be working is vlc-1.2.0-git-20100428 (Apr 28th, 2010).

[joolzg]

1.2.0-git-20110801-0002 Twoflower

Just tried streaming HLS from my own server, and i think there is a big memory problem as it seems that VLC was requesting "hJH&&((&&&**&(**(*(&&&(*&(&(*" or 'garbage' as a file name, ignore the name, so guess what my server fails to send anything.

Now the server works perfectly with IPad.

joolz

[dm01]

Same here. On Windows, using VLC 1.2.0-git-20111024-0002 Twoflower.

Here is the message log while accessing http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/sampl ... opall.m3u8, where garbage is loaded in place of proper filenames:

Code: Select all

stream_filter_httplive info: HTTP Live Streaming (devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/bipbopall.m3u8) stream_filter_httplive info: Meta playlist stream_filter_httplive info: bandwidth adaptation detected (program-id=1, bandwidth=200000). stream_filter_httplive info: VOD Playlist HLS protocol version: 1 stream_filter_httplive info: video on demand (vod) mode stream_filter_httplive info: bandwidth adaptation detected (program-id=1, bandwidth=311111). stream_filter_httplive info: VOD Playlist HLS protocol version: 1 stream_filter_httplive info: video on demand (vod) mode stream_filter_httplive info: bandwidth adaptation detected (program-id=1, bandwidth=484444). stream_filter_httplive info: VOD Playlist HLS protocol version: 1 stream_filter_httplive info: video on demand (vod) mode stream_filter_httplive info: bandwidth adaptation detected (program-id=1, bandwidth=737777). stream_filter_httplive info: VOD Playlist HLS protocol version: 1 stream_filter_httplive info: video on demand (vod) mode stream_filter_httplive info: Choose segment 0/181 (sequence=2) stream_filter_httplive info: downloaded segment 0 from stream 0 stream_filter_httplive info: detected faster bandwidth (737777) stream stream_filter_httplive info: downloaded segment 0 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive info: downloaded segment 1 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive info: playing segment 0 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive info: playing segment 1 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive info: playing segment 2 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive info: downloaded segment 2 from stream 3 stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) stream_filter_httplive error: segment 3 should have been available (stream 3) main info: stopping playback stream_filter_httplive info: downloaded segment 3 from stream 3 access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/G%40' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/1' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/K%DC%A1%94%3A%C3%D4%9B%17%1F' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%A3%DA%0D%10%01%3B%23%2FF%89%DA%FF%FE%60' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%B0%FB%A0%1AL%80%02H%C4%F8%3F%A3%7D%03%09%DD%CBs%F4%96%D6o%EF8%F1%1Fl%EA%01%D4%97%29%BF%FB%B2%2C%82%60%40%2B%F7%E4%B8%FF%EE%A0%02%B0%AA%01m%1D%B2%D9%10%FB%06%89%5BG%01%01%14-%D4%20~%20%26%9E%1B%80%F7%C4%80%10r%0Dh%7F%1F%FD%FC' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%5D%CF%FC' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%E4%1F%40%A5%F5%BBU%FF%DB' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%DC%BD%AB%23%E0%7B%BB%5E%9B%5D%F6%23' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%87%FC%25%2F%A6l%3F%14%CC%21G%01%01%1AW%D1%AC%20%B4%90%D6%28-%AF%08o%90%5E%11%BFb%E8%F4sJ%7F%FE%DA%CD%AD6%B7%3B%EC%02%A2%FE%7F%13%C1cl%17%C9%83%85%9EM%FF%96%0D%60%0C%13ZG%26%8B%18%D8%DF' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%9F%C7D%C6e%89%DA' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%8A%1D' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%AC%2F%A6%08%E93%D7Ze%B9%F5x%E3%04V%E1Y%1E%E8%F1%26%07F%FF%FF%8D%3F_s%FF%CA%DE%81%C2%86%80%02%3A%92%60g%E4%06Qe%B8%24r%7F%E2%82%BA%40%E6%EE%29%8F%E0%0B%983%279%23%D5%E7H%0D' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/4%83H%BC%B8%87%3Fs%DC%A0%22F%1A%B7%80%09%F6%07t%AF%13%B3%8F%E5%F0F%C1%5BSG%01%01%12%EEb%7F%EE%BCi%3B%2F%A6%18%D1%2F%60%FF%94%20%1Ba%C1%20%04%05%8D%B3%23%DA1%B3%0Cc%26I%D2%DA%07j' failed access_http error: error: HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found access_http error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found access_mms error: error: HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found main error: open of `http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/%B9%86%C1%1E%2F%81%CC%CD%D6%7D%EE%D7A%A5%F3%93%29%97%23%1B%F6%1F%FF%2F%FE%8B%B3%18%EE%5D%A0%E0%88bc%ED%C8%3D%EE%25a%2C%C0n%DC%06%17%20%F1%EA%04%C5%93%DF%C0%2C%14%0C%DA%DFdx%3C%17%19%95%DE%B8%F6%28_F%E2%CE%C2%1F%EE%2B%AAG%01%01%17%80%AF%A0H%9A%3A%96%9B%BFL' failed access_http error: failed to read answer access_mms error: cannot connect to devimages.apple.com:80

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

File bugs.