increase video buffer?

[eod696]

I have a microsoft network in my house. Computer A hosts all my media files on two external USB drives (one for music, one for movies). Computer B is hooked up to my big ass LCD tv in the other room. They're both connected to the network wirelessly at 54mbps. I'm just trying to open movies from computer A on computer B with VLC, not using any streams or anything like that, just opening the files across the network. It works, the only problem is the movie lags; from time to time motion and sound just stop for a split second, then it comes back. And that happens at regular intervals throughout the movie. I figured if I could just increase the amount of buffer VLC sets aside for video files, the problem could be averted. I've considered setting up a stream from computer A to computer B...but that seems like a lot of hassle to go through every time I want to watch something on my tv. Also, let me mention, I've done this before, in a different house, with a slightly different setup, and it worked just fine...except for hi-def movies. I guess the transfer rate's just too slow for hi-def. Anyhow, there computer A was hardwired into the router. That's really the only difference between the two setups. Unfortunately, hardwiring computer A to the router is simply out of the question in this house.

[Arite]

So you aren't streaming from VLC client to VLC client? Are you just opening a file across the network?

If so, you probably just want to increase the file cache. Go to:
Tools >> Preferences >> (Select "All" for "Show settings") >> Input / Codecs >> Access modules >> File

And raise the "Caching value (ms)" to something higher (e.g. "2000" will be a 2 second caching value). Press "Save" and try a video.

Arite.

[eod696]

I take it back, that seems to have only partially resolved the issue. I mean, it is exactly what I was asking about, but perhaps the problem lies more in my router than with VLC. I don't know where to begin with that, but I appreciate your help and insight nonetheless. Now, some movies seem to do just fine, but others are halted altogether at one point or another; when the file freezes, the program (VLC in it's entirety) seems to as well. And I've even tried increasing the file cache to 10s, or 10,000ms as it were (10000 as it's annotated in the program). However, through this experience, I've discovered a work-around. I can just transfer the file across the network in it's entirety from computer A to computer B before viewing it. While this is somewhat more time consuming than I would like, it's better than watching the movie in 3-5 minute stents before catching a "freeze point," if you will. Thanks again for your help and insight. The more I learn about VLC's advanced settings and the way they're organized, the better I can troubleshoot simple issues like this one on my own.

-- "GIve a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

[Tradgedy12]

I'm having a related problem, with increasing the buffer. My issue is that I've got a ~20GB .mkv blu-ray rip file, and I can't play it without crazy artifacts and skips popping up. I couldn't find any threads here about this particular problem (sorry if I just missed them - wasn't sure exactly what search terms to use...) and this thread was on the right general topic, so I thought this was the place to be.

I tried upping the caching value to 10 seconds, thinking that should load 10 seconds of the video in advance, which I assumed would at the very least alleviate the problem... however, the only difference was that when I tried to skip to the middle of the movie (or of any movie of any file size) the audio had a 10 second delay, although it was still synced with the video (it just didn't play for 10 seconds after I skipped). The memory usage and CPU usage also weren't affected by this change, which makes me think that maybe I don't understand what the buffer does, or don't know how to make VLC media player do what I want it to (if it's possible).

I'm running:
500GB SATA 7200RPM HDD
4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM
Q6600 2.4GHz quad-core CPU

If anyone knows of a fix for this issue, or can even explain to me why what I tried isn't working, I'd really appreciate it. This has been bothering me for a while, I just haven't gotten around to really trying to figure it out until now.

[Freonpsandoz]

I am unable to find the file caching option in VLC 2.1.2. Anyone know where it is? Thanks.

[Freonpsandoz]

Still can find no such option in v2.1.3. What happened to it??? I can't get files to play from the DVD drive without lags, skips and artifacts.

[Lotesdelere]

Menu Tools -> Preferences (Show Settings = ALL) -> Input/Codecs
Then scroll down to Advanced/File Caching on the right panel.