VLC constant buffering only with MP3 and only over Samba

[UtahJarhead]

VLC 2.1.5 on Windows 7. I'm accessing the network via OpenVPN and then using Windows File and Print sharing to access MP3s over a Samba share from Linux. Despite the good connection (1Gb connection to the internet at work), I get loads of buffering. Copying the same set of files to the local PC over the same connection tops out at 1.2 MB/sec and is very consistent. The same machine buffers constantly in VLC playing these songs. Buffer settings below.



I can't imagine constant buffering being required every 20-30 seconds, seemingly as soon as the caching runs out. Apparently there's some overhead when compared to my non-VPN connection, but whatever. That's still plenty.

if I lower caching to the default 300ms, it buffers about every 2-3 seconds.

Thoughts?

Edited to add that I'm seeing these messages showing up with each pause/buffering:


main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1012 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1177 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1200 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1203 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: Huffman data overrun
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1204 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1204 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1205 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1208 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1208 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1209 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: Huffman data overrun
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1212 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1213 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1225 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1227 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1233 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1234 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1247 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1249 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: Huffman data overrun
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1251 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1256 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1257 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1261 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1277 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1279 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1283 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1285 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called
mpgatofixed32 error: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 1286 ms)
main error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called

[UtahJarhead]

I went to copy another set of files and it does not top out at 1.2 MB/sec any longer. It tops out at 100 KB/sec max. If I use FTP over the same openVPN connection, I get 1.2 MB out of it. Windows file and print sharing appears to be the culprit, somehow.

[UtahJarhead]

I was wrong. It DOES top out at 1.2 MB/sec. The 100 kb/sec crap is because I was copying 6,000 files each of about 4kb in size. Yeah, too much overhead. Copying MP3s still go at 1.2 MB/sec.

[UtahJarhead]

This appears to only happen with MP3. Flac play without issue.

[UtahJarhead]

Files play fine over an http stream as opposed to Samba/Windows file and print sharing.

[UtahJarhead]

Network latency is about 30 ms with no packet loss.

[UtahJarhead]

Playing it via a network stream using a smb:// handler will allow it to play without issue. It's when I open it via Windows FPS and right-click to "Play with VLC Media Player" that things get wonky.

[UtahJarhead]

Other media players are able to play files without issue.