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I've seen this problem before in vlc 2.2.0, which was fixed in 2.2.1, but is back in 2.2.2 and 2.2.3. The problem is that I can no longer play h264/mp4, video-only files in 2.2.2 and 2.2.3. I get the "mp4 error: cannot create chunks index" message. Files play fine in Chrome, but not in QuickTime. Immediately prior to that message, I get the "mp4 error: invalid samples table: stsz table is too small" message.

I'm running Windows 7 Pro, 32-bit.

Is there a work-around or solution in vlc ?

What is the stsz table, is the error message correct, and if so, how do I fix the table in existing files ?

Thank you.

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.

Also upload a short sample of a problematic file to either http://streams.videolan.org/upload/ or to Zippyshare.com (200 MB max) or to EmbedUpload.com, the latter will upload the file for you to several other hosts (use the default ones) and then post the link to the file here.

If needed cut it with DGsplit and read here about how to do it:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=57724&p=193335#p193335
50 MB max should be enough.

I uploaded the tiny (164 KB) h264/mp4 video-only file to streams.videolan.org/upload. It asked for a trac ticket, which I did not have, so I used the title of this posting.

Below are the two full resulting logs you requested, both with verbosity = 2, for the same video file. The video file plays fine using the old, VLC 2.1.3, but does not play in the new, VLC 2.2.3 (or 2.2.2). I have edited the paths and file names slightly in the logs.

Here's the log (plays OK) using the old, VLC 2.1.3:

main debug: adding item `7_1__160602_120000.mp4' ( file:///C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4 )
qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: file:///C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4
main debug: processing request item: 7_1__160602_120000.mp4, node: null, skip: 0
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 2 items, index 1
main debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
main debug: resyncing on 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
main debug: 7_1__160602_120000.mp4 is at 1
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for '7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\steve\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' gives access `file' demux `' path `/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' file='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 12 candidates
main debug: no access_demux modules matched
main debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4', path='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: looking for access module matching "file": 20 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: Using stream method for AStream*
main debug: starting pre-buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 6 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter modules matched
main debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 6 candidates
main debug: using stream_filter module "record"
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' file='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
main debug: looking for demux module matching "mp4": 63 candidates
mp4 warning: unknown box type data (incompletely loaded)
mp4 debug: dumping root Box "root"
mp4 debug: | + ftyp size 32
mp4 debug: | + free size 8
mp4 debug: | + mdat size 165567
mp4 debug: | + moov size 1886
mp4 debug: | | + mvhd size 108
mp4 debug: | | + udta size 84
mp4 debug: | | | + data size 76
mp4 debug: | | + trak size 1686
mp4 debug: | | | + tkhd size 92
mp4 debug: | | | + mdia size 1586
mp4 debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32
mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 85
mp4 debug: | | | | + minf size 1461
mp4 debug: | | | | | + vmhd size 20
mp4 debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12
mp4 debug: | | | | | + stbl size 1397
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 141
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + avc1 size 125
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | | + avcC size 39
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 308
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 28
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stts size 592
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stco size 304
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stss size 16
mp4 debug: ISO Media file (isom) version 512.
mp4 debug: found 1 tracks
mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] read 72 chunk
mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] read 72 samples length:6894368383s
main debug: selecting program id=0
mp4 debug: adding track[Id 0x1] video (enable) language undef
main debug: using demux module "mp4"
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\
main debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 39 candidates
avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering
avcodec debug: allowing 3 thread(s) for decoding
avcodec debug: avcodec codec (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) started
avcodec debug: using frame thread mode with 3 threads
main debug: using decoder module "avcodec"
main debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\steve\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.luac
main debug: no meta reader modules matched
main debug: `file:///7_1__160602_120000.mp4' successfully opened
mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] using Sync Sample Box (stss)
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 33%
main debug: Buffering 66%
main debug: Buffering 100%
main debug: Stream buffering done (400 ms in 0 ms)
main debug: no fetch required for (null) (art currently (null))
main debug: looking for text renderer module matching "any": 2 candidates
freetype debug: Using Arial as font from file C:\Windows\Fonts\arial.ttf
freetype debug: using fontsize: 2
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: looking for video filter2 module matching "any": 55 candidates
swscale debug: 32x32 chroma: YUVA -> 16x16 chroma: RGBA with scaling using Bicubic (good quality)
main debug: using video filter2 module "swscale"
main debug: looking for video filter2 module matching "any": 55 candidates
yuvp debug: YUVP to YUVA converter
main debug: using video filter2 module "yuvp"
main debug: Deinterlacing available
main debug: deinterlace 0, mode blend, is_needed 0
main debug: Opening vout display wrapper
main debug: looking for vout display module matching "any": 10 candidates
direct3d debug: creating Vout EventThread
direct3d debug: DirectXCreateWindow
main debug: looking for vout window hwnd module matching "qt4,any": 3 candidates
qt4 debug: requesting video window...
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
qt4 debug: Video was requested 0, 0
main debug: using vout window hwnd module "qt4"
direct3d debug: created video sub-window
direct3d debug: Vout EventThread running
direct3d debug: disabling screen saver
direct3d debug: Direct3d Device: Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family 32902 10690 2
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 978x587 window
direct3d warning: trying surface pixel format: YV12
direct3d debug: selected surface pixel format is YV12
direct3d debug: Using D3DTEXF_LINEAR for minification
direct3d debug: Using D3DTEXF_LINEAR for magnification
direct3d debug: Direct3D scene created successfully
direct3d debug: Direct3D device adapter successfully initialized
main debug: using vout display module "direct3d"
main debug: original format sz 960x540, of (0,0), vsz 960x540, 4cc I420, sar 1:1, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0
main debug: removing module "freetype"
main debug: looking for text renderer module matching "any": 2 candidates
freetype debug: Using Arial as font from file C:\Windows\Fonts\arial.ttf
freetype debug: using fontsize: 2
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
avcodec debug: using direct rendering
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1920x1070 window
main debug: End of video preroll
main debug: Received first picture
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 478 ms
direct3d debug: Created 400x36 texture for OSD
main debug: auto hiding mouse cursor
main debug: auto hiding mouse cursor
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
main debug: finished input
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) stopped
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `h264', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: saving a free vout
main debug: reusing provided vout
main debug: removing module "mp4"
mp4 debug: freeing all memory
main debug: removing module "record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: dead input
main debug: changing item without a request (current 1/2)
main debug: nothing to play
main debug: destroying useless vout
main debug: removing module "direct3d"
direct3d debug: Direct3D scene released successfully
direct3d debug: DirectXEventThread terminating
direct3d debug: DirectXCloseWindow
direct3d debug: WinProc WM_DESTROY
qt4 debug: releasing video...
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
qt4 debug: Video is not needed anymore
main debug: removing module "freetype"
main debug: removing module "yuvp"
main debug: removing module "swscale"

Here's the complete log for the same file when I unsuccessfully try to play it in VLC 2.2.3:

core debug: adding item `7_1__160602_120000.mp4' ( file:///C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4 )
core debug: processing request item: 7_1__160602_120000.mp4, node: null, skip: 0
core debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
core debug: rebuild done - 3 items, index 2
core debug: starting playback of the new playlist item
core debug: resyncing on 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
core debug: 7_1__160602_120000.mp4 is at 2
core debug: creating new input thread
core debug: Creating an input for '7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: requesting art for 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
core debug: Creating an input for '7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: meta ok for (null), need to fetch art
core debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp'
core debug: `file:///C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' gives access `file' demux `' path `/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: specified demux `any'
core debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='any' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' file='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 12 candidates
core debug: no access_demux modules matched
core debug: creating access 'file' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4', path='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: looking for access module matching "file": 21 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: using access module "filesystem"
core debug: Using stream method for AStream*
core debug: starting pre-buffering
core debug: received first data after 0 ms
core debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
core debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 6 candidates
core debug: no stream_filter modules matched
core debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 6 candidates
core debug: using stream_filter module "record"
core debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='any' location='/C:/7_1__160602_120000.mp4' file='C:\7_1__160602_120000.mp4'
core debug: looking for demux module matching "mp4": 66 candidates
mp4 debug: added fragment moov
mp4 debug: dumping root Box "root"
mp4 debug: | + ftyp size 32 offset 0
mp4 debug: | + free size 8 offset 32
mp4 debug: | + mdat size 165567 offset 40
mp4 debug: | + moov size 1886 offset 165607
mp4 debug: | | + mvhd size 108 offset 165615
mp4 debug: | | + udta size 84 offset 165723
mp4 debug: | | | + data size 76 offset 165731
mp4 debug: | | + trak size 1686 offset 165807
mp4 debug: | | | + tkhd size 92 offset 165815
mp4 debug: | | | + mdia size 1586 offset 165907
mp4 debug: | | | | + mdhd size 32 offset 165915
mp4 debug: | | | | + hdlr size 85 offset 165947
mp4 debug: | | | | + minf size 1461 offset 166032
mp4 debug: | | | | | + vmhd size 20 offset 166040
mp4 debug: | | | | | + dinf size 36 offset 166060
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + dref size 28 offset 166068
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + url size 12 offset 166084
mp4 debug: | | | | | + stbl size 1397 offset 166096
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsd size 141 offset 166104
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | + avc1 size 125 offset 166120
mp4 debug: | | | | | | | | + avcC size 39 offset 166206
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsz size 308 offset 166245
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stsc size 28 offset 166553
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stts size 592 offset 166581
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stco size 304 offset 167173
mp4 debug: | | | | | | + stss size 16 offset 167477
mp4 debug: ISO Media file (isom) version 512.
mp4 debug: found 1 tracks
mp4 debug: track[Id 0x1] read 72 chunk
mp4 error: invalid samples table: stsz table is too small
mp4 error: cannot create chunks index
mp4 debug: ignoring track[Id 0x1]
mp4 debug: fragment offset 165607, data 480, duration 0
core debug: using demux module "mp4"
core debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\7\00\
core debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\reader\filename.luac
core debug: no meta reader modules matched
core debug: `file:///C:7_1__160602_120000.mp4' successfully opened
core debug: EOF reached
core debug: removing module "mp4"
mp4 debug: freeing all memory
core debug: removing module "record"
core debug: removing module "filesystem"
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: no meta fetcher modules matched
core debug: searching art for 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
core debug: dead input
core debug: changing item without a request (current 2/3)
core debug: nothing to play
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: art not found for 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\fetcher\tvrage.luac
core debug: no meta fetcher modules matched
core debug: searching art for 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\00_musicbrainz.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\01_googleimage.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\02_frenchtv.luac
lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\meta\art\03_lastfm.luac
core debug: no art finder modules matched
core debug: art not found for 7_1__160602_120000.mp4
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input

-- end of reply --

I uploaded the tiny (164 KB) h264/mp4 video-only file to streams.videolan.org/upload.

164 kB is a bit small for a video file but I think the problem is there: VLC has problems with low FPS video files. Known issue awaiting for a fix.

Thank you for your reply.

It is purposely a low data rate file, with high quantization, and a nominal frame rate of 5 fps. It plays fine in HTML5 in Chrome on a Windows PC.

How low is low ? Why does it work in VLC 2.1.3 but not 2.2.3 ? Can you tell me more about the issue and when it might be fixed ?