vlc86b will not play valid ogg spx files (links to samples)

[filipg]

I have been looking for an application that can play back static (not streamed) Speex (spx) files. I tried VLC (0.8.6b) but it gives up on all of them. I think there is a header-decoding bug as the key line seems to be
"PTS is out of range (4650988), dropping buffer"

Indeed, when I click on play with CTRL+I pre-opened, 4650988 flashes up as (for 10ms, it seems) as the bitrate! That's impossible as the file is 8KHz!

Links to speex-in-ogg files that can be used to duplicate this problem:
http://www.javasonics.com/demos/formats/speex_40_8k.spx
http://www.javasonics.com/demos/formats/speex_05_8k.spx

You will note that both files play great (but you can tell the effect of the quality param rather well) in http://www.foobar2000.org/ - so, the files are most certainly NOT corrupted/non-standard. Something is screwy with the VLC speex plugin.

Cheers,
Fil

I am planning to use speex with Moodle (a la MoodleSpeex) so a reliable source of a multi-platform player is critical.

LOG:------------------------------------------------------------
-- logger module started --
main debug: CPU has capabilities 486 586 MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 FPU
main debug: looking for memcpy module: 3 candidates
main debug: using memcpy module "memcpymmxext"
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 3744 (playlist) created at priority 0 (playlist/playlist.c:184)
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 3760 (preparser) created at priority 0 (playlist/playlist.c:210)
main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate
main debug: using interface module "hotkeys"
main debug: thread 3784 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:231)
main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate
logger: VLC media player - version 0.8.6b Janus - (c) 1996-2007 the VideoLAN team
logger:
Warning: if you can't access the GUI anymore, open a command-line window, go to the directory where you installed VLC and run "vlc -I wx"

logger: using logger...
logger debug: opening logfile `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\vlc_log.txt'
main debug: using interface module "logger"
main debug: thread 3812 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:231)
main debug: looking for interface module: 3 candidates
main debug: using interface module "wxwidgets"
main debug: thread 3832 (manager) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:216)
wxwidgets debug: Using last windows config '(-1,0,0,1024,768)(0,132,132,355,94)(6,0,0,-1,150)'
wxwidgets debug: id=0 p=(132,132) s=(355,94)
wxwidgets debug: id=6 p=(0,0) s=(-1,150)
main debug: adding playlist item `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx' ( C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: creating statistics handler
main debug: thread 4480 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:265)
main debug: drive letter C: found in source
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: using access2 module "access_file"
main debug: pre-buffering...
main debug: received first data for our buffer
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for demux2 module: 45 candidates
main debug: using demux2 module "ogg"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx' successfully opened
ogg debug: found speex header, channels: 1, rate: 8000, bitrate: -1
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 4564 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
ogg debug: beginning of a group of logical streams
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.000000s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4564 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 4564 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
speex debug: Speex 8000 Hz audio using narrowband mode (mono)
main debug: no aout present, spawning one
ogg debug: end of a group of logical streams
main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: SoundMAX Digital Audio
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread 5012 (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (directx.c:372)
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: output 's16l' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "float32tos16"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: input 's16l' 8000 Hz Mono frame=1 samples/2 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'fl32' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: found 2 filters for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'fl32' 8800 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main warning: PTS is out of range (4744988), dropping buffer
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.140627s, kernel 0m0.109375s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4564 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 1 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: removing module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: removing module "bandlimited_resampler"
aout_directx debug: closing audio device
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread exiting
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.046875s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 5012 joined (directx.c:598)
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "float32tos16"
main debug: removing module "float32_mixer"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
ogg warning: couldn't find any ogg logical stream
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: closing input
main debug: removing module "ogg"
main debug: removing module "access_file"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.343756s, kernel 0m0.078125s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4480 joined (input/input.c:412)
main: nothing to play
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 4480 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:265)
main debug: drive letter C: found in source
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: using access2 module "access_file"
main debug: pre-buffering...
main debug: received first data for our buffer
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for demux2 module: 45 candidates
main debug: using demux2 module "ogg"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_40_8k.spx' successfully opened
ogg debug: found speex header, channels: 1, rate: 8000, bitrate: -1
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 5024 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
ogg debug: beginning of a group of logical streams
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.000000s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 5024 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 5024 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
speex debug: Speex 8000 Hz audio using narrowband mode (mono)
main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates
ogg debug: end of a group of logical streams
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: SoundMAX Digital Audio
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread 5060 (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (directx.c:372)
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: output 's16l' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "float32tos16"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: input 's16l' 8000 Hz Mono frame=1 samples/2 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'fl32' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: found 2 filters for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'fl32' 8800 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main warning: PTS is out of range (4666988), dropping buffer
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.046875s, kernel 0m0.015625s, user 0m0.015625s
main debug: thread 5024 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 1 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: removing module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: removing module "bandlimited_resampler"
aout_directx debug: closing audio device
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread exiting
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.015625s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 5060 joined (directx.c:598)
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "float32tos16"
main debug: removing module "float32_mixer"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
ogg warning: couldn't find any ogg logical stream
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: closing input
main debug: removing module "ogg"
main debug: removing module "access_file"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.203128s, kernel 0m0.015625s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4480 joined (input/input.c:412)
main: nothing to play
main debug: adding playlist item `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx' ( C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 4468 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:265)
main debug: drive letter C: found in source
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for access2 module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx'
main debug: using access2 module "access_file"
main debug: pre-buffering...
main debug: received first data for our buffer
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx'
main debug: looking for demux2 module: 45 candidates
main debug: using demux2 module "ogg"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\
main debug: `C:\Documents and Settings\ankun\Desktop\speex_05_8k.spx' successfully opened
ogg debug: found speex header, channels: 1, rate: 8000, bitrate: -1
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 5040 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
ogg debug: beginning of a group of logical streams
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.000000s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 5040 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: looking for decoder module: 28 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "speex"
main debug: thread 5040 (decoder) created at priority 2 (input/decoder.c:159)
speex debug: Speex 8000 Hz audio using narrowband mode (mono)
main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates
ogg debug: end of a group of logical streams
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: SoundMAX Digital Audio
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread 4612 (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (directx.c:372)
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: output 's16l' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 8000 Hz Stereo/Mono frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "float32tos16"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: input 's16l' 8000 Hz Mono frame=1 samples/2 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'fl32' 8000 Hz->8000 Hz Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: found 2 filters for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'fl32' 8800 Hz->8000 Hz Stereo/Mono->Stereo/Mono
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main warning: PTS is out of range (4650988), dropping buffer
main debug: removing module "speex"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.046875s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.015625s
main debug: thread 5040 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spx ', 1 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "s16tofloat32"
main debug: removing module "trivial_channel_mixer"
main debug: removing module "bandlimited_resampler"
aout_directx debug: closing audio device
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread exiting
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.015625s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4612 joined (directx.c:598)
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "float32tos16"
main debug: removing module "float32_mixer"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
ogg warning: couldn't find any ogg logical stream
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: closing input
main debug: removing module "ogg"
main debug: removing module "access_file"
main debug: thread times: real 0m0.156253s, kernel 0m0.015625s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 4468 joined (input/input.c:412)
main: nothing to play
main debug: removing all interfaces
main debug: thread times: real 2m33.252942s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 3832 joined (interface/interface.c:258)
main debug: removing module "wxwidgets"
main debug: thread times: real 2m33.331068s, kernel 0m0.015625s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: thread 3812 joined (interface/interface.c:258)
-- logger module stopped --

[DJ]

1. The file name's extension is incorrect for Speex in a an OGG container. The file must have an .ogg extension.

2. Speex in VLC is broken.

[filipg]

I did try renaming the file to .ogg and it did not improve matters. So, it looks like #2 is it. Should I file a bug report or you, as the developer, already "have it" in the system?

[DJ]

This is an known issue and has been known since VLC 0.8.4 along with a VCD issue. There has been no movement to correct these. Probably do to lack of manpower and time. While the MPEG 1 (VCD) issue comes up occasionally the Speex issue has never been mentioned in these pages until now even though it is a known issue.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

euhh... trac ticket ?

[DJ]

This one along with the VCD issue seems to have magically disappeared from Trac. I only wish the issues would also disappear.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

This one along with the VCD issue seems to have magically disappeared from Trac. I only wish the issues would also disappear.

grrr.. reopen it.

[DJ]

Be happy to! Do I have a new authorization yet?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Be happy to! Do I have a new authorization yet?

"DJ" is marked as validated.

[filipg]

To help the developers of VLC track down this bug, I prepared the following 'tests'. The files were found on the web and tested with VLC 0.8.6 beta and foobar 2000 0.9.4.3 with the results indicated. The "Type" was obtained by viewing the header visually/directly (not decoded via software) so may not be very precise.

Legend:
OK=Normal playback, PARTIAL=partial playback, FAULT=nothing

FILE TYPE VLC 0.8.6b FooBar2000_0.9.4.3
--------------- -------------- ----------- -------------------
mdl8008.spx Ogg Speex-1.0 OK OK
girls.ogg Ogg Vorbis FAULT OK
Arendal.ogg Ogg Vorbis PARTIAL OK
speex_05_8k.spx Ogg Speex-1.0 FAULT OK
speex_40_8k.spx Ogg Speex-1.0 FAULT OK

Since I can't seem to be able to attach files here, I've put it up at:
http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/gnu/vlc/VLC_tests.zip (~70kb)

[filipg]

That table looked fine in the editor, I even avoided tabs!
I really hate it when spaces get eaten like that without warning.
I.e., I tried :-)

[DJ]

https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/1197

[filipg]

A comment regarding text in the new ticket, "I only randomly run across Speex files, but I have never had them play in VLC for Windows." This is a function of one's application. As I deal with encoding speech inside a Java application and Speex being the only free codec for that purpose, I see Speex files all the time. The files are generally recorded to a temp file in WAV format, then compressed using Speex encoder, and sent to the server for safe-keeping. MP3 is not used because other than the already-iffy-legally lame encoder DLL (for win32 only, I might add), there's no "legit" way to deal with speech in such an application.

I do admit that in music one is 1 million times more likely to see MP3 or FLAC but in speech... speex is about it (unless you like sending WAV's around!) even though it's rather immature and its developers aren't quite in agreement with things like extensions, etc.

Just a bit of perspective.

Cheers,
Fil