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I am trying to use VLC to playback some .mts files (from my Canon HF100 camcorder) that I took over the holidays. However, the video is choppy. I tried numerous searches and possible fixes (1. changed loop filter for h.264, 2. changed cache size, 3. changed filters and codecs), and none of them worked.

In the message log, all I get is the following:
and it continues till the clip ends.

I don't know if my computer is slow to playback these files, but I'm thinking about upgrading my CPU to fix the problem.

Here are my specs:

E4400 @ 2.0 Ghz
2 GB (1 GB x 2) DDR2800
8600 GT
Windows XP SP3
VLC 0.9.8a

Thanks,
I would appreciate any help (as I don't want to have spend money upgrading my CPU unnecessarily).

Could you share us short sample file or tell us more details about those problematic files?

Here is a sample: http://crumby.free.fr/00157.MTS. File size is 37.5 MB.

AVC bitrate of that file is way too high for VLC. Media Player Classic with CoreAVC or DivX 7 should work better (they both support dual core decoding).

I downloaded Divx 7.0, but it won't play that file. It says "The file does not appear to contain a Video track." As for MPC, I downloaded the K-Lite pack and have CoreAVC but I have pretty much the same problem. It plays back a lot smoother but there are artifacts at random points every few seconds.

Not the DivX Player. I meant to use the codec with MPC. You can also try Media Player Classic Home Cinema which should have GPU assisted H.264 decoding build-in.

Here are my specs:
E4400 @ 2.0 Ghz

Your CPU is not powerfull enough for decoding this video in software mode.

Here are the specs of your sample: So for a 1920*1080 video at ±60 FPS (because it's interlaced) you need at the very least a Core2Duo 2.6 GHz or a P4 HT 3.0 GHz.

Have a look at Apple's system specs recommendations for H264 aka AVC:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/guide/hd ... tions.html

The problem is not VLC or any other codec you can try but your CPU. Your only chance is to use DXVA with Media Player Classic – Homecinema. It should work because I think your video card can handle it and your video sample is within the specs of DXVA.

Actually...

Same problem when playing back .mts files from my Canon HF20 via VLC. However Windows "Generic" Media Player does just fine, on Windows 7. First time I have seen VLC fail where Win Media does fine.

My undying faith in VLC is slightly shaken... Still my go to video app though VLC. I could never quite you

You could try DXVA builds from this subforum.

I had this problem -- choppy playback of MTS files. After testing many different solutions, this is what solved the problem on my Windows XP system:
Set Tools -> Preferences -> (Show settings = All) -> Input / Codecs -> Video codecs -> FFmpeg -> Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding to All.
Hope this helps others having this problem.

Thank you EileenP Your setting above solved my mts playback problem. I can hardly believe it!
Thank you so very very much! Hugs and kisses !!

Wow, thanks ceofwales, that made my day! Glad it helped.
/Eileen

Hi Eileen...
Please excuse my COMPLETE ignorance but, where do I find the Set Tools area you mentioned??? Thank you!

Hi Eileen...
Please excuse my COMPLETE ignorance but, where do I find the Set Tools area you mentioned??? Thank you!

No problem. Sorry I was unclear.

1. When you open VLC Media Player, you see a menu along the top. Click Tools and select Preferences.
2. In the bottom left corner of the dialog, click All.
3. On the left side, under Input / Codecs, click the tiny triangle in front of Video codecs.
4. Click FFmpeg.
5. Now in the settings that are displayed, look for the Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding setting. Click that setting and select All.
6. Click Save to close the dialog.
7. Probably unnecessary, but I'm unsure: Close the program and start it up again.

Hope this helps!
/Eileen

Thank you Eileen! Still choppy stuff happening but greatly apprecite you getting my heading corrected!!!

Hello again Eileen,
Well, I set the Video Settings, Deinterlacing to Automatic and Blend which helped greatly! More hugs and kisses to you!