AC3/DTS S/PDIF passtrough doesn't work in VLC 2.1.0-rc1

[artbio]

I compiled and tried VLC 2.1.0-rc1 in Ubuntu 13.04. However I no longer get AC3 nor DTS passtrough working! It works under previous VLC versions like 2.0.8

On previous versions of VLC I had to select "Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output" on pavucontrol. Then ticking the "AC3" and "DTS" checkboxes under the "Output Devices" tab within pavucontrol always made it work. VLC 2.1.0-rc1 is configured like the previous version. The "Use S/PDIF when available" checkbox is selected like before. The audio output module is pulseaudio. This is what I get from "vlc -vvv":

[0x7fdc58c9bb18] dts decoder: DTS channels:6 samplerate:48000 bitrate:1536000
[0x1597b88] main playlist debug: reusing audio output
[0x1649e48] pulse audio output debug: using surround-51 channel map
[0x1649e48] pulse audio output error: stream connection failure: Invalid argument
[0x1649e48] main audio output error: module not functional
[0x1597b88] main playlist debug: keeping audio output
[0x7fdc58c9bb18] main decoder error: failed to create audio output

So I get no sound at all! If I deselect the "AC3" and "DTS" checkboxes under the "Output Devices" tab within pavucontrol I get sound. But the CPU is being used to decode the AC3 and DTS streams which is what I don't want. I want the receiver (Logitech Z-5500 speakers) to decode these streams. Just like it did before VLC 2.1.0-rc1

Am I missing something here?

Thanks in advance.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

This is a bug. Are you using the same PulseAudio version on both sides?

[artbio]

I don't know what you mean by "both sides"! I am running Ubuntu 13.04 which comes with Pulseaudio 3.0 by default. However I compiled and installed Pulseaudio 4.0 myself! VLC was also compiled on this very same machine. So against pulseaudio 4.0! Just like I did with VLC 2.0.8 This is the output from "vlc -vvv" command line:

user@owner-Aspire-5738:~$ vlc -vvv
VLC media player 2.1.0-rc1 Rincewind (revision 2.1.0-rc1)
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: VLC media player - 2.1.0-rc1 Rincewind
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: Copyright © 1996-2013 the VideoLAN team
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: revision 2.1.0-rc1
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: configured with ./configure '--includedir=${prefix}/include' '--mandir=${prefix}/share/man' '--infodir=${prefix}/share/info' '--localstatedir=/var' '--libexecdir=${prefix}/lib/vlc' '--disable-dependency-tracking' '--build=x86_64-linux-gnu' 'CFLAGS=-g -O2 -fstack-protector --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -Wformat -Werror=format-security -march=native -mfpmath=both' 'CPPFLAGS=-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2' 'CXXFLAGS=-g -O2 -fstack-protector --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -Wformat -Werror=format-security -march=native -mfpmath=both' 'LDFLAGS=-Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions -Wl,-z,relro' '--config-cache' '--disable-maintainer-mode' '--disable-silent-rules' '--disable-update-check' '--enable-fast-install' '--prefix=/usr' '--docdir=/usr/share/doc/vlc-nox' '--sysconfdir=/etc' '--with-binary-version=1' '--enable-a52' '--enable-aa' '--enable-bluray' '--enable-bonjour' '--enable-caca' '--enable-dbus' '--enable-dca' '--enable-dirac' '--enable-directfb' '--enable-dvbpsi' '--enable-dvdnav' '--enable-faad' '--enable-flac' '--enable-fluidsynth' '--enable-freetype' '--enable-fribidi' '--enable-gnutls' '--enable-jack' '--enable-kate' '--enable-libass' '--enable-libmpeg2' '--enable-libxml2' '--enable-lirc' '--enable-live555' '--enable-mad' '--enable-mkv' '--enable-mod' '--enable-mpc' '--enable-mtp' '--enable-mux_ogg' '--enable-ncurses' '--enable-notify' '--enable-ogg' '--enable-opus' '--enable-oss' '--enable-pulse' '--enable-realrtsp' '--enable-samplerate' '--enable-schroedinger' '--enable-sdl' '--enable-sftp' '--enable-shout' '--enable-skins2' '--enable-speex' '--enable-svg' '--enable-taglib' '--enable-theora' '--enable-twolame' '--enable-upnp' '--enable-vcd' '--enable-vcdx' '--enable-vorbis' '--enable-x264' '--enable-zvbi' '--with-kde-solid=/usr/share/kde4/apps/solid/actions/' '--disable-dxva2' '--disable-gnomevfs' '--disable-goom' '--disable-projectm' '--disable-telx' '--enable-alsa' '--enable-atmo' '--enable-dc1394' '--enable-libva' '--enable-linsys' '--enable-omxil' '--enable-udev' '--enable-vdpau' '--enable-v4l2' '--enable-crystalhd' '--enable-mmx' '--enable-sse' '--disable-neon' '--disable-altivec' 'build_alias=x86_64-linux-gnu'
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: searching plug-in modules
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: loading plugins cache file /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins.dat
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: recursively browsing `/usr/lib/vlc/plugins'
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: saving plugins cache /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins.dat
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: plug-ins loaded: 428 modules
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: opening config file (/home/user/.config/vlc/vlcrc)
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: translation test: code is "C"
[0x6c2058] main libvlc debug: CPU has capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 FPU
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: Creating an input for 'Media Library'
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: Input is a meta file: disabling unneeded options
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB, in path '/tmp'
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: `file/xspf-open:///home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf' gives access `file' demux `xspf-open' path `/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='xspf-open' location='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf' file='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x6de108] main demux debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 20 candidates
[0x6de108] main demux debug: no access_demux modules matched
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: creating access 'file' location='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf', path='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x787108] main access debug: looking for access module matching "file": 24 candidates
[0x787108] filesystem access debug: opening file `/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x787108] main access debug: using access module "filesystem"
[0x787e48] main stream debug: Using stream method for AStream*
[0x787e48] main stream debug: starting pre-buffering
[0x787e48] main stream debug: received first data after 10 ms
[0x787e48] main stream debug: pre-buffering done 296 bytes in 0s - 28 KiB/s
[0x7880a8] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "any": 9 candidates
[0x7880a8] main stream debug: no stream_filter modules matched
[0x7880a8] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module matching "stream_filter_record": 9 candidates
[0x7880a8] main stream debug: no stream_filter modules matched
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='xspf-open' location='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf' file='/home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x7880a8] main demux debug: looking for demux module matching "xspf-open": 63 candidates
[0x7880a8] playlist demux debug: using XSPF playlist reader
[0x7880a8] main demux debug: using demux module "playlist"
[0x78a908] main demux meta debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates
[0x78a908] lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/user/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/reader
[0x78a908] lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/reader
[0x78a908] lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/reader/filename.luac
[0x78a908] lua demux meta debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/reader
[0x78a908] main demux meta debug: no meta reader modules matched
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: `file/xspf-open:///home/user/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf' successfully opened
[0x78a858] main xml reader debug: looking for xml reader module matching "any": 1 candidates
[0x78a858] main xml reader debug: using xml reader module "xml"
[0x7880a8] playlist demux debug: parsed 0 tracks successfully
[0x6eddc8] main input debug: EOF reached
[0x7880a8] main demux debug: removing module "playlist"
[0x787108] main access debug: removing module "filesystem"
[0x6d5b88] main playlist debug: creating audio output
[0x787e48] main audio output debug: looking for audio output module matching "any": 7 candidates
[0x787e48] pulse audio output debug: using library version 4.0.0
[0x787e48] pulse audio output debug: (compiled with version 4.0.0, protocol 28)
[0x787e48] pulse audio output debug: connected locally to unix:/run/user/user/pulse/native as client #177
[0x787e48] pulse audio output debug: using protocol 28, server protocol 28
[0x787e48] main audio output debug: using audio output module "pulse"
[0x6d5b88] main playlist debug: keeping audio output

That is exactly what vlc says. Please check the last lines.

Should I sumit this issue to VLC bug tracker?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

I mean to ask whether the working VLC version and the non-working VLC version are running on top of the same PulseAudio version. If yes, then it is most probably a VLC bug. Patch welcome.

[artbio]

Yes both VLC versions where compiled against the same pulseaudio version. And both are running on top of the same pulseaudio version.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

So it is a VLC bug. File it on VLC Trac. Unfortunately, I am unable to reproduce it with my hardware, so patch welcome.

[artbio]

ticket created here -> https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/9309

Unfortunately no patch yet! What do I need to atempt a fix on this? C programming is all I know. I don't have any experience with C++ nor Lua! With good documentation from both pulseaudio and VLC this should be feasible.

Regards!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

VLC is mostly in C, you know

[artbio]

It seems that pulseaudio developers are giving a high priority for the problem described here. Check this webpage -> https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=68952 We will have to wait for the pulseaudio 5.0 release to try out.

[Ultrapower]

i can confirm !

in windows 7 x64 (not only linux) rincewind RC1 and RC2 spdif-Input not working ...

[artbio]

Do you mean spdif-output?

I haven't tried VLC RC on Windows yet! However I will try it soon.

[Ultrapower]

Do you mean spdif-output?

I haven't tried VLC RC on Windows yet! However I will try it soon.

input (capture) spdif audio no function with 2.1.0

2.0.8a no problem at all ...

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC never supported S/PDIF input. You make no sense there.

[Ultrapower]

VLC never supported S/PDIF input. You make no sense there.

i use for live capture device with external usb 7.1 audio-device with optical input.

in 2.0.x no problem, in 2.1.0 no sound !

[artbio]

Rémi,

I see you changed the flags to "pa_stream_connect_playback" from rc1 to rc2:

Code: Select all

/* FIX flags are only permitted for PCM, and there is no way to pass * different flags for different formats... */ flags &= ~(PA_STREAM_FIX_FORMAT | PA_STREAM_FIX_RATE | PA_STREAM_FIX_CHANNELS);

Unfortunately I still don't get audio. However I get a different error message:

[0x1cf9b88] main playlist debug: reusing audio output
[0x1dbcbb8] pulse audio output debug: using surround-51 channel map
[0x7f2608d23e08] avcodec decoder warning: disabling direct rendering
[0x7f25fc001248] xcb_xv vout display debug: display is visible
[0x7f25fc001248] main vout display error: Failed to resize display
[0x1dbcbb8] pulse audio output error: stream connection failure: Not supported
[0x1dbcbb8] main audio output error: module not functional
[0x1cf9b88] main playlist debug: keeping audio output
[0x7f2608d1c328] main decoder error: failed to create audio output

I also tried different sets of flags but without success!

ALSA does it with success. So my hardware supports it.

There is hope. It appears that Pulseaudio developers are working or going to work on this for the 5.0 release.

[sirdeiu]

Well I don't know what to say really...so here goes:

I have also the Logitech Z-5500 speakers like the OP said, and they are connected with an optical cable to an Asus Xonar DX sound card. Running Archlinux x86_64 with (linux-ck-core2 optimized kernel) on a Q6600 / Asus Maximus 2 formula with an Nvidia GTX570 card and with VLC as:

Code: Select all

[deiu@deiu ~]$ vlc --version VLC media player 2.1.0 Rincewind (revision 2.1.0-0-gedd8835) VLC version 2.1.0 Rincewind (2.1.0-0-gedd8835) Compiled by nobody on (Sep 26 2013 18:16:22) Compiler: gcc version 4.8.1 20130725 (prerelease) (GCC)

and pulseaudio:

Code: Select all

[deiu@deiu ~]$ pulseaudio --version pulseaudio 4.0

So like OP said, I selected pulseaudio in VLC Audio output module and in Advanced Audio also. With pavucontrol I checked the DTS and AC3 options on my Virtuoso 100 Xonar DX (Digital Stereo IEC958) output. Then tried playing any .mkv DTS(-HD) enabled movie and it works. Sound is coming out ok, the Logitech Z-5500 display is showing Input: Optical and DTS Digital effect.

So it is working for me, although I seem to have another problem regarding video which needs further inspection and maybe a bug post.

Edit: Forgot to mention also The "Use S/PDIF when available" checkbox is selected.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

The S/PDIF setting in VLC has no effects if you use PulseAudio. It's only for legacy outputs (well, meaning ALSA) that do not have proper S/PDIF configuration anywhere.

[sirdeiu]

One problem with this setup is that while VLC is playing a movie or something can't get another application to play sound. Vice versa also, if I have for example flash playing a youtube video can't get sound in VLC.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC will automatically revert to PCM if PulseAudio requests it. If PulseAudio fails to do so, that is a PulseAudio problem or a misconfiguration.