The VideoLAN Forums

I just recently started using .MKV files and in 0.9.8 they were fine, loaded up instantly. However in 0.9.9 they take like 7-10 seconds to load up, which isn't that much big of a deal really but still - Why was it better in a previous version when no improvements seem to have been made that would justify such a drastic change in loadtimes?

Also why doesn't the .MKV file subtitles correspond to the subtitle preferences you can make in VLC?

You can make these changes in other programs, such as MPC (however it just resets the settings after restarting the program or opening a new file, so what's the point?), but i think that VLC is a better player overall so i don't see why you can't do this :S

So bottom line - Why does it take so long to load the .MKV files, and why can't i change the appearance of the .MKV files subtitles?

Use VLC 1.0.0 devel version.

Use VLC 1.0.0 devel version.

Alright i'll try that, thanks! But just where do i find this 1.0.0. devel version then? I've been all over videolan.org but i can't find it.

goto http://nightlies.videolan.org

goto http://nightlies.videolan.org

Didn't find anything named "devel" but i did find some 1.0.0 and i downloaded the latest one and installed. Didn't change anything, mkv still takes a long time to load up and its subs won't change according to my preferences. The files in question are located on an external HDD though and if it goes into "hibernation" it does take a little bit for it to access content, however this is when it's up and running.

Of course i do realize it's still a WIP but exactly what was supposed to have changed?

On the plus side though - The subs autoload, i don't remember if they did that in the previous version. Perhaps it was another player... Anyway thanks for the help and here's to hopin' the final 1.0.0 version will be the best one yet

You have multiple MKV files in same folder?

You have multiple MKV files in same folder?

Latest NB should have the preload MKV files from the same folder deactivated.

Yeah, I also have that same problem.
Yesterday I've installed 0.9.9 version, and mkv files (not stored in same folder) need around 5-7 seconds to load.

Edit:

Now I have tested latest 1.0.0 nightlbuild (from: /build/win32/trunk-20090405-2334) but it behaves the same.

I have the same problem. It's annoying.

At least for me http://showcase7.divx.com/DivXThreeScre ... vX7%5D.mkv that file opens immediately. So if you have some file that we could use to replicate the issue, please tell.

@Vlc_Help or to who is behind the nick:
Search internet for: Naruto Shippuuden, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Bleach.....etc.

I didn't tested HD mkv, for I have reverted back to 0.9.8a

At least for me http://showcase7.divx.com/DivXThreeScre ... vX7%5D.mkv that file opens immediately. So if you have some file that we could use to replicate the issue, please tell.

That one does indeed open immediately.

I tried moving one of the files away from its original folder, that had a number of other .mkv files in it, but there's no change. And i'm no wiz around videofiles but maybe the loadtime is because of the .mkv is like a compressed file with separate video, audio and sub tracks? But then comes the issue again of why it changed from 0.9.8 when it was loading almost instantly :S

About the .mkv subs btw, i tried playing one of those files in MPC and it has like... 7 different settings for different types of subs and there's apparently at least two tracks of subtitles - One for the foreground, "normal" conversations and one for background talk. And the settings only correspond to one of the types. When i tried the "Default", it didn't do anything but when i went to the one called "Normal" it changed, while yet another changed the background sub. So maybe the one in VLC simply isn't set to alter the correct set of subs? (or maybe it's just me doing something wrong :S)

(BTW dunno how keen you guys are on me comparing VLC to MPC but i think you gotta take a look on the competition to learn from each other and then outdo it)

So all the problematic files have multiple subtitle tracks embedded to them?

So all the problematic files have multiple subtitle tracks embedded to them?

That appears to be the case for me, yes. Well they all have at least one main sub track, that i'm sure of. Can't say if all of them got more than one but some do, so maybe the rest of them still have a secondary blank one it still needs to read from?

@VLC_Help:
Today I tried all of the mkv files that I have, after installing 0.9.9, from TV series to HD movies.
Mkv movies are movie per folder, and TV shows are season based per folder.
Series that have only one audio and one subtitle track still behaves the same. Even mkv movies (duration hour+) that have 2 audio and 2 or 3 subtitles embeded have same loading time. Around 5-7 sec.

Could you tell the message log section where the loading freezes? (Tools -> Messages... set Verbosity to 2 before opening the file)

Verbosity level 2 msg:

Naruto Shippuuden 100 - 480p.mkv'
main debug: looking for demux module: 60 candidates
mkv debug: | + Seek head
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - info at 4135
mkv debug: | + Information
mkv debug: | | + TimecodeScale=1000000
mkv debug: | | + Muxing Application=libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
mkv debug: | | + Writing Application=mkvmerge v2.4.1 ('Use Me') built on Dec 5 2008 18:30:05
mkv debug: | | + Duration=1391084
mkv debug: | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska10KaxDateUTCE)
mkv debug: | | + UID=704424891
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - tracks at 4282
mkv debug: | + Tracks
mkv debug: | | + Track Entry
mkv debug: | | | + Track Number=1
mkv debug: | | | + Track UID=964176059
mkv debug: | | | + Track Type=video
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska19KaxTrackFlagEnabledE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default=1
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska18KaxTrackFlagForcedE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Lacing=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track MinCache=1
mkv debug: | | | + Track TimeCodeScale=1.000000
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska21KaxMaxBlockAdditionIDE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecId=V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska17KaxCodecDecodeAllE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecPrivate size=41
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default Duration=41708333
mkv debug: | | | + Track Language=`und'
mkv debug: | | | + Track Video
mkv debug: | | | | + width=848
mkv debug: | | | | + height=480
mkv debug: | | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska22KaxVideoFlagInterlacedE)
mkv debug: | | | | + display width=853
mkv debug: | | | | + display height=480
mkv debug: | | + Track Entry
mkv debug: | | | + Track Number=2
mkv debug: | | | + Track UID=2659731617
mkv debug: | | | + Track Type=audio
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska19KaxTrackFlagEnabledE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default=1
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska18KaxTrackFlagForcedE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Lacing=1
mkv debug: | | | + Track MinCache=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track TimeCodeScale=1.000000
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska21KaxMaxBlockAdditionIDE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecId=A_AAC
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska17KaxCodecDecodeAllE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecPrivate size=5
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default Duration=23219954
mkv debug: | | | + Track Language=`und'
mkv debug: | | | + Track Audio
mkv debug: | | | | + afreq=44100
mkv debug: | | | | + achan=2
mkv debug: | | + Track Entry
mkv debug: | | | + Track Number=3
mkv debug: | | | + Track UID=2116371857
mkv debug: | | | + Track Type=subtitle
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska19KaxTrackFlagEnabledE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Default=1
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska18KaxTrackFlagForcedE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track Lacing=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track MinCache=0
mkv debug: | | | + Track TimeCodeScale=1.000000
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska21KaxMaxBlockAdditionIDE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecId=S_TEXT/ASS
mkv debug: | | | + Unknown (N11libmatroska17KaxCodecDecodeAllE)
mkv debug: | | | + Track CodecPrivate size=743
mkv debug: | | | + Track Language=`und'
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - chained seekhead at 126878832
mkv debug: | + Seek head
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 54297
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 265294
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 453561
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 724416
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1056958
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1229982
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1437211
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1663496
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1784727
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 1925775
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 2123135
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 2285470
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 2468228
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 2637457
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 2817790
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3007441
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3196326
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3349148
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3455441
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3626703
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3794267
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 3942100
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4100297
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4298683
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4417677
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4513007
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4647656
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 4845778
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5051864
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5217467
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5383091
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5576480
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5755340
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 5845643
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6002253
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6141753
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6251547
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6410033
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6508320
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 6725861
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 7021210
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 7473316
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 8034988
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 8557718
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 8954891
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 10063240
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 10607473
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 10737863
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 10859722
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 11271737
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 12044597
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 12572158
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 13184723
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 13666052
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 14370565
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 14839674
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 15102421
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 15334073
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 15652403
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 15942777
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 16406130
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 16918194
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 17316431
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 17806351
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 18303136
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 18579954
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 18929490
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 19301340
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 19861492
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 20324897
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 20868843
mkv debug: | | + Seek
mkv debug: | - unknown seekhead reference at 21333538
mkv debug: | | + Seek
message warning: message queue overflowed
main debug: using decoder module "libass"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 5399.000 ms - Total 5399.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 5399.000 ms)
main debug: thread 6320 (decoder) created at priority 0 (../../src/input/decoder.c:217)
main debug: `file://E:\Torrent\hs naruto 100.mkv/[HorribleSubs] Naruto Shippuuden 100 - 480p.mkv' successfully opened
main debug: thread started
qt4 debug: New Event: type 1103
qt4 debug: Updating the stream status: 3
faad warning: decoded zero sample
main debug: no aout present, spawning one
main debug: looking for audio output module: 5 candidates
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: SB X-Fi Audio [C000]
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: Windows says your SpeakerConfig is stereo
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread 5880 (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../../modules/audio_output/directx.c:392)
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 8.000 ms - Total 8.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 8.000 ms)
main debug: thread started
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: output 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "converter_float"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
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: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: input 'fl32' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'fl32' 48510 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: control type=1
main debug: no usable vout present, spawning one
main debug: window size: 853x480
main debug: looking for video output module: 9 candidates
direct3d debug: creating Vout EventThread
main debug: waiting for thread initialization
main debug: thread started
direct3d debug: DirectXCreateWindow
main debug: looking for vout window module: 2 candidates
qt4 debug: waiting for interface...
qt4 debug: requesting window...
qt4 debug: Video was requested -1, -1
qt4 debug: Video is resizing to: 853 480
qt4 debug: Qt FS: Attaching Vout
qt4 debug: Qt: Changing Fullscreen Mode
main debug: using vout window module "qt4"
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms)
direct3d debug: created video sub-window
main debug: thread 5828 (Vout Events Thread) created at priority 0 (../../../../modules/video_output/msw/direct3d.c:206)
direct3d debug: Vout EventThread running
direct3d debug: disabling screen saver
main debug: using video output module "direct3d"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 8.000 ms - Total 8.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 8.000 ms)
main debug: thread started
main debug: waiting for thread initialization
direct3d debug: Direct3D device adapter successfully initialized
direct3d debug: selected surface pixel format is YUY2
direct3d debug: 1 Direct3D pictures created successfully
direct3d debug: Direct3D scene created successfully
main debug: got 1 direct buffer(s)
main debug: picture in 848x480 (0,0,848x480), chroma I420, ar 853:480, sar 853:848
main debug: picture user 848x480 (0,0,848x480), chroma I420, ar 853:480, sar 853:848
main debug: picture out 848x480 (0,0,848x480), chroma YUY2, ar 853:480, sar 853:848
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 19 candidates
main debug: using video filter2 module "i420_yuy2_sse2"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: indirect render, mapping render pictures 0-7 to system pictures 1-8
main debug: thread 5120 (video output) created at priority 1 (../../src/video_output/video_output.c:502)
qt4 debug: New Event: type 1109
main debug: looking for video filter2 module: 1 candidate
main debug: using video filter2 module "sharpen"
main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: Filter 'sharpen' (00C99718) appended to chain

So the playback hangs to

main debug: Filter 'sharpen' (00C99718) appended to chain

?

I have the same problem. I think the problem is with .a s s subtitle stream. The mkv files load normally if they don't have any subtitles or only .srt subtitles.

Jusa: thanks for the info.

Possibly ssa sub make problem, but I do not have mkv files without ssa/a s s subtitle to test.
I do not believe that sharpen makes delay, cause every other video extension works.

Few days ago, I uninstalled vlc, and installed afterwards, mkv files loaded immediately. But longer I used it, it reverted to the old state - longer loading time for mkv.

Does removing %appdata%\vlc shorten the load times?

And yes, the issue seems to be in ASS/SSA subtitles used in some MKV files. So other combinations shouldn't cause issues.

Yes, but only first start was immediate, but second one wasn't, and going.

Then it has something to do with settings stored. Thanks for the info.