VLC Android subtitles cause video to stutter/ drop frames

[barayaser]

I'm still having this exact problem on my Mi box, whenever i remove the subtitle the video playback is fine. I hope you will find a solution for this soon

[jockyw2001]

Have this issue on Android TV and Firetv both with dvb and teletext subtitles. Is there any dev working on this?

[UTAVATU]

Dear Friends

I own SONY KD-55XF9005 and I have the same issue as earlier Users. When subtitles are shown on the screen during playing .mkv 4K HDR BT.2020 23.976 it stutters and drop frames. I have tested via USB and SMB (wired ethernet connection) with the same results. There is a need to disable subtitles to fix this problem.

I would like to ask Developer, are you going to release fix version of VLC for Android or maybe there is already such version, but not on Google Play Shop?

I would be glad for any help and support.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Sincerely

[unidan]

Hi

This is tracked as https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/22317, it's gonna be fixed but not right now.

[UTAVATU]

Dear unidan

This is tracked as https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/22317, it's gonna be fixed but not right now.

Thank you for your fast reply. I don't see relationship between what I described in this topic (like other Users) and this problem described in the ticket. It's releated with Android version of VLC on Smart TV.

May you explain, what you mean?

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Sincerely

[unidan]

Hi,

the issue concerns every text subtitles, except maybe ssa, as it's inherent to the text renderer in VLC which output pictures with a non-unit aspect ratio. It means that subtitles needs to be resized, which is currently done in CPU using swscale. I have patches to remove the resize altogether, but it's not ready for mailing list yet.

[UTAVATU]

Dear unidan

I have patches to remove the resize altogether, but it's not ready for mailing list yet.

Thank you for your explanations... May you be so kind and say c.a. when new VLC for Android version with this patches will be released? As far as I understand, you have already tested it and it fixes stutters and frame drops whenever subtitles are shown on screen during playback of 3840x2160 HDR movies?

Thank you once more for your great support.

Sincerely

[unidan]

Hi,

My patches removes the issues, but currently produces other that I still need to fix. Unfortunately I don't have precise schedule/ETA for this yet.

Regards,

[UTAVATU]

Dear unidan

My patches removes the issues, but currently produces other that I still need to fix. Unfortunately I don't have precise schedule/ETA for this yet.

Great news about fixing the issue! I hope you release this fix soon, I would like to watch 4K HDR movies without stutter.

Thank you for your great support.

Sincerely

[sandman_artlover]

So do you think SSA style subtitles would not have this problem? Why wouldn't they have the same issue?

Hi,

the issue concerns every text subtitles, except maybe ssa, as it's inherent to the text renderer in VLC which output pictures with a non-unit aspect ratio. It means that subtitles needs to be resized, which is currently done in CPU using swscale. I have patches to remove the resize altogether, but it's not ready for mailing list yet.

[urbelt]

Any update on the fix?

[UTAVATU]

Dear Friends

Does 3.3.1 resolve the problem in this topic?

Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Sincerely

[juanfri]

Having the same problem streaming from Synology 218+ to Android TV Philips 55oled903/12.
Dropping frames when new subtitle line appears. Very annoying.

VLC for Android TV 3.3.1 so no fix has been done yet.

[dhlavaty]

Same problem on my TCL 55C815 with AndroidTV v9, VLC v3.3.2 (org.videolan.vlc)

Playing 2160p video with subtitles turned on is unwatchable, just stutters and/or drop frames. But same video without subtitles is absolutely smooth.

[SwediahViking]

Is this fixad yet? Just wonder because I still have this issue with latest beta for android.

[joshd435]

Have the exact same issue on my firestick and MI box... But on my sheild tv subtitles work perfectly... Must be cpu issue?

[cyberdelic]

Hi,

My patches removes the issues, but currently produces other that I still need to fix. Unfortunately I don't have precise schedule/ETA for this yet.

Regards,

Hi, any chance you can share this fix or tell us how to workaround? I like VLC a lot, but this issue is really annoying and make subtitles unusable an all Android TV and Fire TV devices.

[a4tech]

Any chance to see a patch to try adjust it by ourselves ?

[a4tech]

As I checked

display.c

Code: Select all

static void SubpicturePrepare(vout_display_t *vd, subpicture_t *subpicture)

function:

Code: Select all

picture_BlendSubpicture(sys->p_sub_pic, sys->p_spu_blend, subpicture);

then this method from subpicture.c

Code: Select all

unsigned picture_BlendSubpicture(picture_t *dst, filter_t *blend, subpicture_t *src)

forward us to

filter.c

Code: Select all

int filter_ConfigureBlend( filter_t *p_blend, int i_dst_width, int i_dst_height, const video_format_t *p_src )

then

Code: Select all

if( !p_blend->p_module ) p_blend->p_module = module_need( p_blend, "video blending", NULL, false );

Loading that module make freeze/drop frame on video.

Any tip or direction where to look more in that case ?

[a4tech]

There is one more observation, when choose to play the file in the 'picture' let's call it in PIP - no problem with loosing frames and playback is smooth.

[Fafascinant]

Hi,

Is there any patch for this ? What about coming back to older APK ?

Someone has a solution please ?

Thank you

[kampmann]

First post is nearly three years old...

I think it's too difficult to fix...

[a4tech]

First post is nearly three years old...

I think it's too difficult to fix...

Any tip ?

[getitoutme2]

Having this issue with Sony Android TV (XBR-65X850E)

[AdvMaple]

Fixed by resizing and save as ASS file