mux mp4 problem (maybe related to frame rate)

[pacemedia]

Hi,

I am trying to record a UDP/TS stream and save it to disk in MP4 format using the following syntax:

vlc udp://@:5001 --sout=file/mp4:record.mp4

The transport stream has H.264 and AAC streams. While recording VLC often prints the following warning:

mux_mp4 warning: i_length <= 0

When playing the recorded files with vlc playback stutters as if frames where dropped every second. This is about the interval in which the warnings appeared while recording. I found a similar issue in trac (ticket 2715) and it is marked as fixed. I am using vlc 2.1.0 x64 on Windows.

However, when I record the stream to MKV the files play smooth in vlc. And when I remux them using mp4box the remuxed files also play smooth in vlc.

When I remux mp4 and mkv files that are playing smooth in vlc using vlc --sout, the remuxed files don't play smooth any more.

I analyzed the files with MediaInfo and I determined that are differences in the frame rates. E. g. I have a file with 25 fps constant frame rate. After remuxing it with vlc it has variable frame rate between 24.415 fps and 25.025 fps. In the trac ticket the author reports relation to the frame rate too.

What can I do? Try an older version of vlc? Maybe 32 bit build? Is there any parameter for the muxer to write a fixed frame rate that would possibly help? The stream must be recorded in MP4 and if I am not able to solve this I have to switch to another solution (outside of vlc). But at the time being, I find vlc the sweetest solution for stream recording...

Best regards
Steve Eschke

[pacemedia]

Hi,

in my last post I posted some wrong information: all my tests where done with vlc for Windows x64, version 2.0.2.

Now I tested recording and remuxing with vlc for Windows x86 version 2.1.0. The issue has changed a bit: while recording the error message is now

mux_mp4 warning: i_length

and the recorded files stutter while playback. Still remuxing with vlc doesn't help. But in the case of remuxing other mp4 files that were not created with vlc, now these files have constant frame rate and play fine. So the issue still resides in the stream recording feature and unfortunately this is what I want to do...

Anyone knows something about the MP4 muxing module? Especially when muxing streams that are encoded from other (commercial) applications?

Best regards
Steve

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I think our mp4 muxing module is a bit limited. Ask funman for more info.

Can you share the files?

[funman]

What can I do? Try an older version of vlc? Maybe 32 bit build? Is there any parameter for the muxer to write a fixed frame rate that would possibly help?

What is your source container?

[pacemedia]

Hi,

I can share some files tomorrow when I'm back in the office. The original source stream is a transport stream that is received over UDP.

Best regards
Steve

[pacemedia]

Hi,

I have created some sample files. You can download it from here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t6t2y2nu6w4j3p8/mzHyZfRYxe

There are three files:

1. test.mp4 (stuttering): This is a record created with "vlc udp://@:5051 --sout=test.mp4"
2. test.mkv (smooth): This is a record created with "vlc udp://@:5051 --sout=test.mkv"
3. remux.mp4 (stuttering): This was created by remuxing test.mkv with "vlc test.mkv --sout=remux.mp4"

Thank you very much for your patience!

BTW: Is there a way to try the avformat muxer on Windows? vlc --list and --full-help print no option for that. I have libav installed on my Windows 7 machine so maybe it is a hidden option that I can try somehow?

Best regards
Steve

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

VLC version used?

[pacemedia]

At last I used VLC 2.1.0 x64 on Windows 7 x64.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Hmm, we need more fixes then.