MP3 Stutter

[Uplander]

I play MP3s that I use for meditation. I am finding that sometimes they will stutter which is very disruptive to the goal in hand. This happens in different places at different times so it is not a corrupted file. I suspect that it happens when other processes overtake my pc (MS being the main one I imagine). I have seen various mentions of the output module, the cache and so on but thought I would come here and see if this is a common problem and whether there is a "go to" solution.

Warning - I am not technical!

Many thanks.

[Lotesdelere]

Please open Tools -> Messages (set Verbosity to 2) before you start the playback, and then paste the full resulting log here or on Pastebin.com if it's too long.

And upload a short sample of your original problematic file to Zippyshare.com or to WeTransfer.com and then post the link to the file here.
https://www.zippyshare.com
https://wetransfer.com

[Uplander]

Thanks for the post.

I will endeavour to add the log below and a file that has caused problems is at:

https://we.tl/t-kPEDp9Sx32

As mentioned in OP, sometimes a file will play ok, sometimes not. I am using W10 Professional with 8mb Ram. I just wondered if it happens when something is putting on a high load as seen in Task Manager.

Hope I have done this ok.

-- logger module started --
main debug: VLC media player - 3.0.16 Vetinari
main debug: Copyright © 1996-2021 the VideoLAN team
main debug: revision 3.0.16-0-g5e70837d8d
main debug: configured with /home/jenkins/workspace/vlc-release/windows/vlc-release-win32-x86/extras/package/win32/../../../configure '--enable-update-check' '--enable-lua' '--enable-faad' '--enable-flac' '--enable-theora' '--enable-avcodec' '--enable-merge-ffmpeg' '--enable-dca' '--enable-mpc' '--enable-libass' '--enable-schroedinger' '--enable-realrtsp' '--enable-live555' '--enable-shout' '--enable-goom' '--enable-sse' '--enable-mmx' '--enable-libcddb' '--enable-zvbi' '--disable-telx' '--enable-nls' '--host=i686-w64-mingw32' '--with-contrib=../contrib/i686-w64-mingw32' '--with-breakpad=https://win.crashes.videolan.org' '--enable-qt' '--enable-skins2' '--enable-dvdread' '--enable-caca' 'host_alias=i686-w64-mingw32' 'CFLAGS= ' 'CXXFLAGS= ' 'PKG_CONFIG=pkg-config' 'PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR=/usr/i686-w64-mingw32/lib/pkgconfig:/usr/lib/i686-w64-mingw32/pkgconfig'
main debug: using multimedia timers as clock source
main debug: min period: 1 ms, max period: 1000000 ms
main debug: searching plug-in modules
main debug: loading plugins cache file C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\plugins\plugins.dat
main debug: recursively browsing `C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\plugins'
main debug: plug-ins loaded: 496 modules
main debug: opening config file (C:\Users\Uplander\AppData\Roaming\vlc\vlcrc)
main debug: looking for logger module matching "any": 2 candidates
file debug: opening logfile `C:\Users\Uplander\Documents\Uplander\IT, Cameras Etc\VLC\Log291121'
main debug: using logger module "file"
main debug: translation test: code is "C"
main debug: looking for keystore module matching "memory": 3 candidates
main debug: using keystore module "memory"
main debug: CPU has capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 FPU
main debug: Creating an input for 'Media Library'
main debug: Input is a meta file: disabling unneeded options
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path: C:\Users\Uplander\AppData\Local\Temp
main debug: `file/directory:///C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf' gives access `file' demux `directory' path `/C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='directory' location='/C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf' file='C:\Users\Uplander\AppData\Roaming\vlc\ml.xspf'
main debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 15 candidates
main debug: no access_demux modules matched
main debug: creating access: file:///C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf
main debug: (path: C:\Users\Uplander\AppData\Roaming\vlc\ml.xspf)
main debug: looking for access module matching "file": 27 candidates
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "prefetch,cache_read": 24 candidates
cache_read debug: Using stream method for AStream*
cache_read debug: starting pre-buffering
cache_read debug: received first data after 0 ms
cache_read debug: pre-buffering done 304 bytes in 0s - 296875 KiB/s
main debug: using stream_filter module "cache_read"
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 24 candidates
playlist debug: using XSPF playlist reader
main debug: using stream_filter module "playlist"
main debug: stream filter added to 036d2630
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 24 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter modules matched
main debug: looking for stream_directory module matching "any": 1 candidates
main debug: no stream_directory modules matched
main debug: attachment of directory-extractor failed for file:///C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 24 candidates
main debug: using stream_filter module "record"
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='directory' location='/C:/Users/Uplander/AppData/Roaming/vlc/ml.xspf' file='C:\Users\Uplander\AppData\Roaming\vlc\ml.xspf'
main debug: looking for demux

[Lotesdelere]

Sorry but I can't reproduce the issue.
Check your computer latency:
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ar ... cy-issues/

[Uplander]

Well thanks v much for having a look - I appreciate it!

[Hitchhiker]

I couldn't reproduce the problem either I'm afraid, but I noticed from your log file that you seem to be using the 32-bit version of vlc (x86 means it's 32-bit) even though you have Windows 10 64-bit installed. Is there any particular reason for that?

Code: Select all

main debug: loading plugins cache file C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\plugins\plugins.dat main debug: recursively browsing `C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\plugins'

Something you can try which might resolve the issue for you.

1. Hit Ctrl + P to open Preferences and then click "All" at the bottom to take you to the Advanced menu.
2. In the left hand menu under "Audio" click "Output modules".
3. In the right hand menu change "Audio output module" from "Automatic" to "WaveOut audio output" via the dropdown menu.
4. Below that change "Video" to "Music".
5. Click Save, exit and restart vlc.

Here's a screenshot of the menu to help you find your way through the settings jungle


(click to enlarge)

Anything you don't understand, please let me know.

[Uplander]

Thanks for this post and the help.

The reason I am using the 32-bit version is pure ignorance on my part. I suspect the reason others cannot replicate this issue is because it relates to the set-up of my pc. Anyway, I will try a few things (including re-installing the 64-bit version) and then I will put another post on.

Thanks again.

Later:

I have re-installed using the 64-bit download and made the changes to the audio output module - like any intermittent issue it is difficult to be sure what difference the changes have made but I will update in a few days time. Once again, many thanks.

[Uplander]

I have now played these MP3s a number of times and the interruptions seem to have ceased. Whether it is the 64-bit download or changes to the audio output module who can say? The main thing is that the problem does seem to have been resolved. Very grateful for the help and for uninterrupted mediation.

Btw I did not pursue the latency aspect as the link followed through to software called LatencyMon that expressly suggested a technical "audience" and that I am not! Anyway and as ever, appreciate folk offering their thoughts. Thanks again.

[Hitchhiker]

Thanks for the update Uplander.

[Uplander]

Unfortunately, although I thought this was resolved, it is still happening.

To recap, sometimes when I play MP3s they will stop - maybe for 1 - 2 seconds, then continue. Sometimes this happens several times within one 20 minute recording. It happens in different places on different recordings so it is not a corrupted file. When it happens I can usually hear my pc working hard so I suspect it is the case that other processes overtake my pc (MS being the main one). Because they are brief cessations it has never been possible to look at Task Manager and say precisely what is happening at that specific moment.

Thus far I have:

Updated VLC to latest 64 bit

Changed "audio output module" from "automatic" to "waveout audio output"

In the same area, changed "video" to "music"

Altered "stream output muxer caching" to 20,000

In addition, each time I go into "details" within Task Manager and set the priority for VLC to "realtime"

Notwithstanding, I still get some stuttering. Any help would be appreciated but I should stress that I am not technically minded!

Many thanks.

[Hitchhiker]

Hi Uplander, are you streaming mp3s from a site, or are they located on your machine somewhere.

Your upload to WeTransfer has expired so could you upload another one?

Last, but not least, I'm kind of in the same boat as you would you believe except my problem is with streaming youtube videos. They stutter constantly and are all pixelated. I know what the problem is, but not how to fix it (it's a network issue).

[Uplander]

Hello Hitchhiker

The problem I have relates solely to MP3 files I hold on my computer that I use offline. I will have to look at "WeTransfer" - I am not too technical and have forgotten what I did before. The point is, I cannot do anything that reflects what is happening on my PC at the time it stutters because by the time I realise it is faltering and get to the computer, it has resumed play. Will an upload (from me) help anyone help me?

Thanks again

[Hitchhiker]

A file will eliminate the file itself being the culprit. If playback stutters for us, it's the file which is at fault. If we can play it properly, the problem is elsewhere either the OS, a corrupt driver, or possibly vlc or anti-virus etc.

You can also upload it to zippyshare. Just drag and drop the mp3 to start the upload. Make a note of the URL and post that here. https://zippyshare.com/

[Uplander]

Thanks for that and I am sorry about this but if I click on the link it says "Forbidden 403" - this being so I Googled Zippyshare and used that link, again it says "Forbidden 403"

Googling around it would seem there is an issue with Zippyshare and UK users. I have uploaded a file to MediaFire;

https://www.mediafire.com/file/nppr45yw ... 8.mp3/file

Is this any help?

Thanks

[Uplander]

Never heard any more having posted the file, there you go. Meanwhile, I do so hate threads that lead nowhere so hence this final post. I use VLC for making MP4s into MP3s and for shortening MP3s. I also used it as my player of choice but I am sick to death of these stutters when I meditate. They are nothing to do with any particular file, they are to do with VLC one way or another. It happens when there is an additional load on the PC such as MS "services". I have tried, really tried, and do appreciate those who have endeavoured to help. But there comes a point when enough is enough. I will continue to use VLC for the conversion work but I am now using Windows media Player to listen to MP3s , at least when meditating. One of the main reasons I wanted to use VLC was that sometimes I play three MP3s at once and VLC allowed me to do this. However, I used Audacity to combine said files and that solves the issue. Shame about VLC but WMP works fine.