Video freezes, Audio carries on...

[LooseCannon]

Hello all,

I realize this isn't a new topic, but I have yet to see a fix for it. Basically, while playing video files (XVIDs) through my network, the video freezes but the audio continues on. I'm using a Core Duo with 3 GB of RAM, and a GeForce 7800 GTX graphics card, so I doubt that is the problem. Also, although the network is wireless, I'm using the D Link 655 with wireless N (300 MPS) which is faster then what most people use for wired connections today, so I doubt it's the LAN speed. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, I'm a bit confused about all this talk about 'streaming' this and 'streaming' that, while 'streaming and converting' this to that. Currently, I use VLC to play video's on my bedroom TV. By mapping a network drive that contains all my videos from my home server, I simply open the drive from my bed, pick the video I want, and VLC plays it. I suppose it could be said I am streaming the video from my home server to my bedroom PC and onto my bedroom TV, but the way 'streaming' is used in the VLC Wiki it sounds as if your using VLC to 'PUSH' the video, as opposed to what I am doing, which is to 'GRAB' the video.

VLC is a great video player and it certainly meets my need to have a lightweight, multi-format player that I can use anywhere. I wonder if there is a more efficient way I could be using it. (Although I am currently experimenting with XBMC.)

THANKS!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Increase file-caching.

[VLC_help]

the video freezes but the audio continues on

You see avcodec errors in VLC message log (Tools -> Messages... and set Verbosity to 2) when this happens?

[zhaguar]

I am also having this issue, although only since the latest update. I Use VLC to watch DVDS only. The sound is patchy like an old record, and eventually the video chunks out and then freezes and the audio continues on.

Here are some details of my computer. I'm not sure what other options i can tweak to make it work better, like for example, where are the cache options exactly? Are we talking about 'increasing latency' because that didn't work.

Again, this only started since the latest update.

Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.2GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 312MB used, 3626MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8800 GTS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0193&SUBSYS_042010DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 320.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8206 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/9/2009 13:18:00, 6185088 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 2/9/2009 13:18:00, 6307328 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-42D3-11CF-6053-2B2403C2CB35}

Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_CB8410DE&REV_A2
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5740 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: No
Date and Size: 1/12/2005 09:31:26, 2284864 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[LooseCannon]

Increase file-caching.

This is what worked for me.

I opened VLC, then went to Tool->Preferences->then I clicked the 'ALL' button, at the bottom where it says 'Show Settings'. Then, in 'Input/Codecs' I went to 'FILE' and increased the cache from a default of '300' to '5000'. While it takes the movie 15-20 seconds to start, it hasn't lagged yet. Thank you!

[VLC_help]

zhaguar: DVD movies work better if you playback them from hard drive?

[maizein]

Increase file-caching.

I'm having the same issue, video freezes and audio carries on, so I'll try your suggestion. I have a DNS-323 (NAS), and when I play XviD files over wi-fi with VLC (Ubuntu or Vista/XP), this freezing problem occurs. When I play them with Windows Media Player, it plays well. But I wanna fix this as I really, really, really prefer VLC.

Thx!

[nicainmiami]

@LooseCannon: I can't find "FILE" where is it located in the "Input/Codecs" dialog.

Thanks.

[VLC_help]

It is under Input/Codecs -> Access modules

[bastet8300]

Ok, I did what was suggested here, but the problem is still happening. It did improve it, but it still freezes momentarily. I closed and reopened vlc after this and it still happened.

If it makes any difference, when I try it in windows media, both the video and audio keep playing but they are out of sync with each other.

help!

[nicainmiami]

Thanks VLC_help! Found it

[VLC_help]

bastet8300: you get avcodec errors to VLC message log when you play those Xvid files?

[bastet8300]

I'm not sure where I would look for that.

[VLC_help]

Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2)

[s.g.]

I am having a similar problem...video plays the first couple of frames and then freezes while the play progress bar continues to increment until the end of the video (videos on hard drive).

I am playing a 1440x1080 Video (WMV format) using VLC 1.0.0 with the video output set to "OpenGL video output"...and it is in this setting that the video freezes.

When I play this same video with video output set to "Default", except for the first few seconds of video, the video plays smoothly.

Now, when I play this same video using VLC 0.9.8a with video output set to "OpenGL video output", the video actually plays without freezing, but it is glitchy.

I am able to play a 640x480 Video (MPG format) using VLC 1.0.0 with "OpenGL video output" smoothly.
Also, just in case, I re-installed the NVIDIA drivers and increased cache size, but that did not work.

With VLC 1.0.0, I get the following errors in the Messages window when trying to play the 1440x1080 Video:

main error: Invalid PCR value in ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR !
main error: Invalid PCR value in ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR !

It is necessary that I use "OpenGL video output" and VLC 1.0.0 to play high res videos.
Any suggestions?

My Machine Specs:
Windows XP
Processors: 2 x (x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel 2394 Mhz)
Memory: 1024 MB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Display: 1280x1024

Thanks.

[VLC_help]

WMV decoding doesn't work as good in 1.0.0 as it does in 0.9.9 so your issues are normal ones. Hopefully next libavcodec issue fixes that.