opening HTTP stream with LIBVLC

[avi_tal]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I am trying to open the following link with LIBVLC version 2.0.5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg
LIBVLC will not open this link (no error is displayed). Waited for more then 5 minutes.

VLC Player opens this link with no issues.
LIBVLC opens other links with no issues.

Your help is greately appriciated.

Thanks,

A.T.

[sherington]

When playing YouTube, or other things like internet radio stations, you will find that playing the URL will cause sub-item(s) to be created and added to the media instance. You can access these sub-items when the you receive the "finished" media player event from libvlc. This is analagous to parsing a playlist I suppose.

You can then inspect the sub-items to find the "real" streaming MRL, which you then play. Usually you simply want the first sub-item.

You can see what is going on if you add an event callback for the "subitem added" event.

Note that a recent change to YouTube actually caused a change in how this works - what I have seen from vlc logs is that it fails to locate the streaming URL by it's primary method, and falls back to a secondary method. In practical terms this means when you play the sub-item and it finishes, you get yet another sub-item - when you play this new sub-item, your YouTube video will start.

[avi_tal]

Dear Sherington,

Thanks allot for your reply.

When I try to call: m_list = libvlc_media_subitems(media); m_list is allways NULL.

Do you have an idea why?

Thanks,

A.T.

[sherington]

Did you call libvlc_media_subitems *after* you received the "finished" event from the media player?

I know this works, I have a test-case specifically for it, here's a fragment of the vlc log on a test I just ran:

Code: Select all

[0x7fe568119148] main input debug: Creating an input for 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' [0x7fe568119148] main input debug: `http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' successfully opened [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux warning: Couldn't extract video URL, falling back to alternate youtube API <--- This used to work... [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: old path: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: Path: http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: Name: Watch Dogs - Game Demo Video [UK] [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: Description: A glimpse at the future with the first game demo video of Watch Dogs. [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: ArtURL: http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/FcMRkyoHKeA/maxresdefault.jpg?feature=og [0x7fe55c00dd88] lua demux debug: meta-URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA [0x7fe55c00dd88] main demux debug: removing module "lua" [0x7fe55c003ca8] main access debug: removing module "access_http" subItems=[http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage] <--- First sub-item [0x7fe564002348] main input debug: Creating an input for 'http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage' [0x7fe564002348] main input debug: `http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage' successfully opened [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: old path: http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: Path: http://r2---sn-cn3tc-ajts.c.youtube.com/videoplayback?ipbits=8 [snip] [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: Title: Watch Dogs - Game Demo Video [UK] [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: Artist: ubisoft [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: ArtURL: http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/FcMRkyoHKeA/default.jpg [0x7fe55c031778] lua demux debug: meta-URL: http://www.youtube.com/get_video_info?video_id=FcMRkyoHKeA&el=detailpage subItems=[http://r2---sn-cn3tc-ajts.c.youtube.com/videoplayback?ipbits=8 [snip] <--- NOTE!!! This is the MRL you really want [0x7fe564002d78] main input debug: Creating an input for 'http://r2---sn-cn3tc-ajts.c.youtube.com/videoplayback?ipbits=8 [snip] [0x7fe564002d78] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path '/tmp' [0x7fe564002d78] main input debug: `http://r2---sn-cn3tc-ajts.c.youtube.com/videoplayback?ipbits=8 [snip]

The final streaming MRL is the first sub-item of the first sub-item of the media you played.

[tommygr]

Im having this same issue. This whole thing is very frustrating because VLC Player is doing it just fine.

My Path is this:
path => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XztPtK7yAUk

If I use the VLC Player this video opens just great.
if I go through LibVLC its not working. Using 2.1.2.

Tried these from the api:

m_pVlcMedia = libvlc_media_new_path (m_pVlcInst, path);

m_pVlcMedia = libvlc_media_new_location(m_pVlcInst, path);


after the clip starts to load I get the libvlc_MediaPlayerEndReached event which is what I expected.

Set my own End of media reached flag.

Just so I dont deadlock I call the libvlc_media_subitems() on another thread and all I get is NULL every time. I even tried the clip you used.

I just want to know the "Best Practice Method" for YouTube videos. I've seen a number of threads and everyone seems to be trying it differently. Some are using the standard libvlc_media_new_path and other are using libvlc_media_list_player_new.

I really dont want to rewrite my player for a list Player but if I have to then I might consider it.

I just want to get something working... This shouldn't be this hard.

[tommygr]

When I try using libvlc_media_new_location(inst, path);

i get this in the debugger output:

'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\profapi.dll'
main libvlc debug: opening config file (C:\Users\VLCDev\AppData\Roaming\vlc\vlcrc)
main libvlc debug: translation test: code is "C"
main libvlc debug: CPU has capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 FPU
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\cryptbase.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\clbcatq.dll'
Warning: no message line prompt for ID 0x8008.
Warning: no message line prompt for ID 0x800E.
main input debug: Creating an input for 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\VLCDev\AppData\Local\Temp'
main input debug: `http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' gives access `http' demux `' path `www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main input debug: creating demux: access='http' demux='' location='www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' file='\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main demux debug: looking for access_demux module matching "http": 12 candidates
main demux debug: no access_demux modules matched
main input debug: creating access 'http' location='www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA', path='\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main access debug: looking for access module matching "http": 20 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libaccess_http_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
access_http access debug: querying proxy for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA
access_http access debug: no proxy
access_http access debug: http: server='www.youtube.com' port=80 file='/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\mswsock.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\WSHTCPIP.DLL'
main access debug: net: connecting to www.youtube.com port 80
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\wship6.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\dnsapi.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\IPHLPAPI.DLL'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\winnsi.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\rasadhlp.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\FWPUCLNT.DLL'
main access debug: connection succeeded (socket = 604)
access_http access debug: protocol 'HTTP' answer code 200
access_http access debug: Server: gwiseguy/2.0
access_http access debug: Accepting Cookie: YSC=9E8EkQpkUNc; path=/; domain=.youtube.com; httponly
access_http access debug: Accepting Cookie: VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE=J5asWncR0zw; path=/; domain=.youtube.com; expires=Wed, 13-Aug-2014 12:55:08 GMT
access_http access debug: Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8
access_http access debug: Connection: close
main access debug: using access module "access_http"
main stream debug: Using stream method for AStream*
main stream debug: starting pre-buffering
main stream debug: received first data after 0 ms
main stream debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 6 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\stream_filter\libsmooth_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\stream_filter\libhttplive_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\stream_filter\libdash_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libzip_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libstream_filter_rar_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
main stream debug: no stream_filter modules matched
main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "record": 6 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\stream_filter\librecord_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
main stream debug: using stream_filter module "record"
main input debug: creating demux: access='http' demux='' location='www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' file='\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main demux debug: looking for demux module matching "any": 63 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmp4_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libavi_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libasf_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libflacsys_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libes_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmpc_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libtta_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libnuv_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libwav_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libsid_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\services_discovery\libsap_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libogg_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmkv_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libdirac_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\liblive555_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libsmf_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libplaylist_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libpva_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libxa_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libaiff_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libvoc_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libau_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libgme_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\librawvid_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libimage_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libnsv_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmod_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
mod demux debug: MOD validation failed (ext=com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA)
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libts_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
ts demux debug: TS module discarded (lost sync)
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libps_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libty_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmpgv_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libmjpeg_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\librawdv_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libnsc_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\demux\libdemux_cdg_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\codec\libavcodec_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
avcodec demux debug: trying url: \\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA
avcodec demux debug: couldn't guess format
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\lua\liblua_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
lua demux debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\VLCDev\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\playlist
lua demux debug: Trying Lua scripts in \lua\playlist
ps demux warning: this does not look like an MPEG PS stream, continuing anyway
main demux debug: using demux module "ps"
main demux meta debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\meta_engine\libtaglib_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua scripts in C:\Users\VLCDev\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\meta\reader
lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua scripts in \lua\meta\reader
main demux meta debug: no meta reader modules matched
main input debug: `http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA' successfully opened
ps demux warning: garbage at input, trying to resync...
main input debug: EOF reached
main demux debug: removing module "ps"
main stream debug: removing module "record"
main access debug: removing module "access_http"
The thread 'handle_input_state_event' (0x1068) has exited with code 0 (0x0).


If I try to use libvlc_media_new_path (inst, path)

I get this:

main input debug: Creating an input for 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path 'C:\Users\VLCDev\AppData\Local\Temp'
main input debug: `file:///d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA' gives access `file' demux `' path `/d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA'
main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' location='/d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA' file='d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main demux debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 12 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\liblibbluray_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libaccess_bd_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libdvdnav_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\shfolder.dll'
'LibVlcSB.exe': Unloaded 'C:\Windows\System32\shfolder.dll'
dvdnav demux warning: cannot open DVD (d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA)
main demux debug: no access_demux modules matched
main input debug: creating access 'file' location='/d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA', path='d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
main access debug: looking for access module matching "file": 20 candidates
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libaccess_vdr_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
'LibVlcSB.exe': Loaded '\plugins\access\libfilesystem_plugin.dll', Binary was not built with debug information.
filesystem access debug: opening file `d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA'
filesystem access error: cannot open file d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA (Invalid argument)
main access error: File reading failed
main access error: VLC could not open the file "d:\Source\svn\trunk\LibVlcSB\http:\\www.youtube.com\watch?v=FcMRkyoHKeA" (Bad file descriptor).
main access debug: no access modules matched
main input error: open of `file:///d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA' failed
main input error: Your input can't be opened
main input error: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'file:///d:/Source/svn/trunk/LibVlcSB/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFcMRkyoHKeA'. Check the log for details.
The thread 'handle_input_state_event' (0xd4c) has exited with code 0 (0x0).