"ES_OUT_RESET_PCR" errors and direct rendering issues

[andy_blah]

This has started happening since I got a new PC, after reinstalling the OS and everything, and it seems to happen only on certain DVDs and BDs, and they're all stored on HDD (can't check with physical/optical media, since I haven't installed one on this machine, but I'm guessing it woudl be the same with those mediums too). Most of my anime DVDs work fine without a problem, but it happens to most show DVDs that I have (live actions, with real actors), so I'm guessing it has something to do with bitrate and read/access times or something in VLC/OS is not handling the hardware properly.
The error is at follows, with a few modification at each of it's iterations, which happen about every second or so while playing the DVDs:

Code: Select all

core error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called core warning: playback way too early (-196590): playing silence core error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 503 ms)

I've searched around for that error, and I didn't find anything helpful, but I stumbled on a forum post (might have been on these very forums) where somebody said it could be something about the PC being too old/slow, which is not the case here, as this machine is supposed to be able to play 4k videos. So here are the specs just in case:

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 - 3.2GHz, Haswell
MOBO: MSI B85-G41
Chipset: Intel B85 Express
RAM: 2x Kingston HyperX Savage 4GB, DDR3, 1600MHz, CL9
GPU: Integrated/APU
HDD: WD Green AV-GP 1TB, 5400rpm, 64MB, SATA 3
OS: Crunchbang++ v1.0 (Debian-based, using the unstable repos)
Kernels: 4.3.0-1-amd64, 3.16.0-4-amd64, 4.3-0.dmz.2-liquorix-amd64, 4.3-3.dmz.5-liquorix-amd64
VLC version: 2.2.1 (2.2.1-5+b1 in the repos)

I've previously played the same DVDs on an much older dual core PC (2006, high-end business PC), which didn't have those problems, with the same HDD, and had no problems with them, but granted, I couldn't play some of the BDs properly, which is kinda understandable, considering that machine also had integrated graphics.
I've also tried using older kernels, custom-built ones like Liquorix, but it's the same on each and every one of those.

Here's the log for when opening the DVDs in question:

Code: Select all

core debug: looking for access_demux module matching "file": 20 candidates core debug: looking for meta fetcher module matching "any": 1 candidates qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/andoru/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher/tvrage.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher/tvrage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/fetcher core debug: no meta fetcher modules matched core debug: searching art for .. core debug: looking for art finder module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/andoru/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/00_musicbrainz.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/01_googleimage.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/02_frenchtv.luac lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug: skipping script (unmatched scope) /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/art/03_lastfm.luac lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/art core debug: no art finder modules matched core debug: art not found for .. dvdnav debug: trying to go to dvd menu core debug: using access_demux module "dvdnav" core debug: looking for a subtitle file in .. core debug: looking for meta reader module matching "any": 2 candidates lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /home/andoru/.local/share/vlc/lua/meta/reader lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/reader lua debug: Trying Lua playlist script /usr/lib/vlc/lua/meta/reader/filename.luac lua debug: Trying Lua scripts in /usr/share/vlc/lua/meta/reader core debug: no meta reader modules matched core debug: `file://..' successfully opened dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_HOP_CHANNEL core error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_HIGHLIGHT dvdnav debug: - display=1 dvdnav debug: - buttonN=2 dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate not done b=2 t=0 dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_VTS_CHANGE dvdnav debug: - vtsN=1 dvdnav debug: - domain=8 core error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_CELL_CHANGE dvdnav debug: - cellN=2 dvdnav debug: - pgN=2 dvdnav debug: - cell_length=30236 dvdnav debug: - pg_length=30236 dvdnav debug: - pgc_length=7041000 dvdnav debug: - cell_start=15467 dvdnav debug: - pg_start=15467 dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_CLUT_CHANGE dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_STREAM_CHANGE dvdnav debug: - physical_wide=0 dvdnav debug: - physical_letterbox=0 dvdnav debug: - physical_pan_scan=0 dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate not done b=2 t=0 core debug: selecting program id=0 core debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 42 candidates core debug: using decoder module "spudec" spudec debug: invalid starting packet (size spudec debug: spu size: 0, i_pts: 0 i_buffer: 128 dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_AUDIO_STREAM_CHANGE dvdnav debug: - physical=0 core debug: Buffering 0% dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 2 core debug: Buffering 0% core debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 42 candidates avcodec debug: CPU flags: 0x0107d3db avcodec debug: trying to use direct rendering avcodec debug: allowing 4 thread(s) for decoding avcodec debug: avcodec codec (MPEG-1/2 Video) started core debug: using decoder module "avcodec" core debug: looking for packetizer module matching "any": 23 candidates core debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_mpegvideo" dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 2 packetizer_mpegvideo debug: size 720x480 fps=29.970 core debug: Buffering 1% core debug: Buffering 1% core debug: Buffering 2% core debug: Buffering 2% core debug: Buffering 3% core debug: Buffering 3% core debug: Buffering 4% core debug: Buffering 4% core debug: Buffering 5% core debug: Buffering 5% core debug: Buffering 6% core debug: Buffering 7% core debug: Buffering 7% core debug: Buffering 8% core debug: Buffering 8% core debug: Buffering 9% core debug: Buffering 9% core debug: Buffering 10% core debug: Buffering 10% core debug: Buffering 11% core debug: Buffering 11% core debug: Buffering 12% core debug: Buffering 13% core debug: Buffering 13% core debug: Buffering 14% core debug: Buffering 14% core debug: Buffering 15% core debug: Buffering 15% core debug: Buffering 16% core debug: Buffering 16% core debug: Buffering 17% core debug: Buffering 17% core debug: Buffering 18% core debug: Buffering 18% core debug: Buffering 19% core debug: Buffering 20% core debug: Buffering 20% core debug: Buffering 21% core debug: Buffering 21% core debug: Buffering 22% core debug: Buffering 22% core debug: Buffering 23% core debug: Buffering 23% core debug: Buffering 24% core debug: Buffering 24% core debug: Buffering 25% core debug: Buffering 26% core debug: Buffering 26% core debug: Buffering 27% core debug: Buffering 27% core debug: Buffering 28% core debug: Buffering 28% core debug: Buffering 29% core debug: Buffering 29% core debug: Buffering 30% core debug: Buffering 30% core debug: Buffering 31% core debug: Buffering 31% core debug: Buffering 32% core debug: Buffering 33% core debug: Buffering 33% core debug: Buffering 34% core debug: Buffering 34% core debug: Buffering 35% core debug: Buffering 35% core debug: Buffering 36% core debug: Buffering 36% core debug: Buffering 37% core debug: Buffering 37% core debug: Buffering 38% core debug: Buffering 39% core debug: Buffering 39% core debug: Buffering 40% core debug: Buffering 40% core debug: Buffering 41% core debug: Buffering 41% core debug: Buffering 42% core debug: Buffering 42% core debug: Buffering 43% core debug: Buffering 43% avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 16 (xvmcidct) avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 38 (vdpau_mpeg2) avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 109 (vdpau) core debug: Buffering 44% avcodec debug: available hardware decoder output format 53 (vaapi_vld) avcodec debug: available software decoder output format 0 (yuv420p) core debug: Buffering 44% core debug: Buffering 45% core debug: Buffering 46% core debug: Buffering 46% core debug: Buffering 47% core debug: Buffering 47% core debug: looking for hw decoder module matching "any": 4 candidates core debug: Buffering 48% core debug: Buffering 48% core debug: Buffering 49% core debug: Buffering 49% core debug: Buffering 50% core debug: Buffering 50% core debug: Buffering 51% core debug: Buffering 52% core debug: Buffering 52% core debug: Buffering 53% core debug: Buffering 53% core debug: Buffering 54% core debug: Buffering 54% core debug: Buffering 55% core debug: Buffering 55% core debug: Buffering 56% core debug: Buffering 56% core debug: Buffering 57% core debug: Buffering 57% core debug: Buffering 58% core debug: Buffering 59% core debug: Buffering 59% core debug: Buffering 60% core debug: Buffering 60% core debug: Buffering 61% core debug: Buffering 61% core debug: Buffering 62% core debug: Buffering 62% core debug: Buffering 63% core debug: Buffering 63% core debug: Buffering 64% core debug: Buffering 65% core debug: Buffering 72% core debug: looking for decoder module matching "any": 42 candidates core debug: using decoder module "a52" core debug: Buffering 82% core debug: Buffering 83% a52 debug: A/52 channels:2 samplerate:48000 bitrate:192000 core debug: Buffering 83% core debug: reusing audio output core debug: Buffering 84% core debug: Buffering 84% core debug: Buffering 85% core debug: Buffering 85% core debug: Buffering 86% core debug: Buffering 86% core debug: Buffering 87% core debug: Buffering 88% core debug: Buffering 88% core debug: Buffering 89% core debug: Buffering 89% core debug: Buffering 90% core debug: Buffering 90% core debug: Buffering 91% alsa debug: using ALSA device: hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0 core debug: Buffering 91% alsa debug: Hardware PCM card 1 'HDA Intel PCH' device 0 subdevice 0 alsa debug: device name : ALC887-VD Analog alsa debug: device ID : ALC887-VD Analog alsa debug: subdevice name: subdevice #0 core debug: Buffering 92% core debug: Buffering 92% core debug: Buffering 93% alsa debug: initial hardware setup: ACCESS: MMAP_INTERLEAVED RW_INTERLEAVED FORMAT: S16_LE S32_LE SUBFORMAT: STD SAMPLE_BITS: [16 32] FRAME_BITS: [32 64] CHANNELS: 2 RATE: [44100 192000] PERIOD_TIME: (83 185760) PERIOD_SIZE: [16 8192] PERIOD_BYTES: [128 65536] PERIODS: [2 32] BUFFER_TIME: (166 371520) BUFFER_SIZE: [32 16384] BUFFER_BYTES: [128 65536] TICK_TIME: ALL core debug: Buffering 94% alsa debug: using channels map 0, type 1, 2 channel(s) core debug: Buffering 94% core debug: Buffering 95% core debug: Buffering 95% core debug: Buffering 96% core debug: Buffering 96% core debug: Buffering 97% core debug: Buffering 97% alsa debug: final HW setup: ACCESS: RW_INTERLEAVED FORMAT: S32_LE SUBFORMAT: STD SAMPLE_BITS: 32 FRAME_BITS: 64 CHANNELS: 2 RATE: 48000 PERIOD_TIME: (42666 42667) PERIOD_SIZE: 2048 PERIOD_BYTES: 16384 PERIODS: 4 BUFFER_TIME: (170666 170667) BUFFER_SIZE: 8192 BUFFER_BYTES: 65536 TICK_TIME: 0 alsa debug: initial software parameters: tstamp_mode: NONE tstamp_type: MONOTONIC period_step: 1 avail_min: 2048 start_threshold: 1 stop_threshold: 8192 silence_threshold: 0 silence_size: 0 boundary: 4611686018427387904 core debug: Stream buffering done (344 ms in 4 ms) alsa debug: final software parameters: tstamp_mode: NONE tstamp_type: MONOTONIC period_step: 1 avail_min: 2048 start_threshold: 1 stop_threshold: 8192 silence_threshold: 0 silence_size: 0 boundary: 4611686018427387904 core debug: output 's32l' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes core debug: looking for audio volume module matching "any": 2 candidates core debug: using audio volume module "integer_mixer" core debug: input 'a52 ' 48000 Hz Stereo frame=1536 samples/768 bytes core debug: looking for audio filter module matching "scaletempo": 14 candidates scaletempo debug: format: 48000 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32 scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1440.000 stride_in, 1440 stride_out, 1152 standing, 288 overlap, 672 search, 2400 queue, fl32 mode core debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo" core debug: conversion: 'a52 '->'f32l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo core debug: looking for audio converter module matching "any": 12 candidates core debug: no audio converter modules matched core debug: looking for audio converter module matching "any": 12 candidates core debug: no hw decoder modules matched core debug: looking for text renderer module matching "any": 2 candidates freetype debug: Building font databases. freetype debug: Took 0 microseconds core debug: using audio converter module "a52tofloat32" core debug: conversion pipeline complete core debug: conversion: 'f32l'->'s32l' 48000 Hz->48000 Hz Stereo->Stereo core debug: looking for audio converter module matching "any": 12 candidates audio_format debug: f32l->s32l, bits per sample: 0->32 core debug: using audio converter module "audio_format" core debug: conversion pipeline complete core debug: looking for audio resampler module matching "speex_resampler": 3 candidates core debug: using audio resampler module "ugly_resampler" core debug: End of audio preroll freetype debug: Using Serif Bold as font from file /usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf freetype debug: Using Monospace as mono-font from file /usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSansMono.ttf freetype debug: using fontsize: 2 core debug: using text renderer module "freetype" core debug: looking for video filter2 module matching "any": 63 candidates swscale debug: 32x32 (32x32) chroma: YUVA -> 16x16 (16x16) chroma: RGBA with scaling using Bicubic (good quality) core debug: using video filter2 module "swscale" core debug: looking for video filter2 module matching "any": 63 candidates yuvp debug: YUVP to YUVA converter core debug: using video filter2 module "yuvp" core debug: Deinterlacing available core debug: deinterlace 0, mode bob, is_needed 0 core debug: Opening vout display wrapper core debug: looking for vout display module matching "xcb_glx": 15 candidates core debug: looking for vout window xid module matching "qt4,any": 4 candidates qt4 debug: requesting video window... qt4 debug: Video was requested 0, 0 core debug: using vout window xid module "qt4" core debug: looking for inhibit module matching "any": 2 candidates dbus_screensaver debug: cannot find service org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver dbus_screensaver debug: cannot find service org.freedesktop.PowerManagement.Inhibit dbus_screensaver debug: cannot find service org.mate.SessionManager dbus_screensaver debug: cannot find service org.gnome.SessionManager core debug: using inhibit module "xdg" xcb debug: connected to X11.0 server xcb debug: vendor : The X.Org Foundation xcb debug: version: 11703000 xcb debug: using screen 0xd4 core debug: looking for opengl module matching "glx": 2 candidates glx debug: using GLX extension version 1.4 core debug: using opengl module "glx" core debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'fullscreen' 0 core debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 720x540 window core debug: using vout display module "xcb_glx" core debug: original format sz 720x480, of (0,0), vsz 720x480, 4cc I420, sar 8:9, msk r0x0 g0x0 b0x0 core debug: crop: 60,268,303,44, palette forced: 1 core debug: removing module "freetype" core debug: looking for text renderer module matching "any": 2 candidates freetype debug: Building font databases. freetype debug: Took 0 microseconds freetype debug: Using Serif Bold as font from file /usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSans.ttf freetype debug: Using Monospace as mono-font from file /usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSansMono.ttf freetype debug: using fontsize: 2 core debug: using text renderer module "freetype" avcodec debug: plane 1: pitch not aligned (368%32) avcodec warning: disabling direct rendering core debug: End of video preroll core debug: Received first picture core debug: Detected interlaced video core debug: deinterlace 0, mode bob, is_needed 1 core debug: Decoder wait done in 71 ms core debug: inserting 13944 zeroes core warning: original picture size is undefined core error: ES_OUT_SET_(GROUP_)PCR is called too late (pts_delay increased to 300 ms) core error: ES_OUT_RESET_PCR called spudec debug: invalid starting packet (size spudec debug: spu size: 0, i_pts: 0 i_buffer: 128

Another Issue I'm having is that when I switch to another window, I can see some flickering which can be quite jarring to look at when trying to multitask. Here's what I get when I switch to another window while a video is playing:

Code: Select all

avcodec debug: plane 1: pitch not aligned (368%32) avcodec warning: disabling direct rendering

On certain videos, like 1080p ones, I get flooded with such messages in the log output window...

[NeedMoreCoffee]

I experienced a similar problem. My search lead me to this thread in the old mailing list: https://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/ ... 21372.html (and the following messages).

It described my problem perfectly (it only occured in VLC while smplayer showed the video just fine). I also did not use PulseAudio. While it offered no direct solution, it kind of pointed me in the right direction because they mentioned that the problem disappears if you disable audio. I tried that and suddenly my video was smooth as well! So it seemed to be a synchronisation issue.

And then I noticed that the file had DTS surround sound (and I just have stereo speakers). So I changed the ALSA audio device in VLC from the original "Xonar D2X Multichannel Default Audio Device" to "Xonar D2X Multichannel Front Speakers". And then the problem was gone!

I'm guessing it had something to do with the surround DTS decoding and/or my setup. So if you have the option and your sound chip offers multiple virtual devices, try going for a simple stereo device.

Not sure if it'll help you but I thought maybe you'd like to know. In case of questions: I just registered for this, so I don't know if I'll stick around and for how long.

[andy_blah]

Thanks for the reply, and thanks for registering to let me know!
Unfortunately I tried all the available virtual devices I have in VLC's settings, but none of them change anything. With some I even get some disturbingly loud clicks/pops when playing the DVDs... I also tried to change some settings regarding surround sound and DTS decoding under the Audio section in the VLC settings (advanced view), but still no luck.

I wonder if there's something wrong with the ALSA config I currently have...

[andy_blah]

EDIT: I just noticed that when pausing something (either an audio file or a video that otherwise works fine, with no pauses or stuttering like with the DVD/BDs) a couple of times, and resuming it afterwards, I get the same error messages (ES_OUT_RESET_PCR), while VLC seems to hang, not resuming the audio. After a few seconds 10-20, the audio is back and playback resumes... weird.

[NeedMoreCoffee]

But does the problem disappear if you disable audio completely? And can you try several different files to check if the common factor is indeed DTS (or maybe all surround formats)? Maybe your problem is not related to what I had, so perhaps you should check that first.

And then... well, once you can narrow it down to a certain type of audio, for example, you might have enough information to submit a bug report. I don't think this is the intended behaviour. Whatever it is.

[andy_blah]

Yes, the problem disappears when I disable the audio while playing the DVDs/BDs.
Also the thing happens on DVDs with raw PCM audio tracks, and those were also only stereo, so in my case I don't think it's related to either DTS or surround audio. Other codecs for audio files (pausing multiple times to get the error and to cause the audio to hang) I've tried: lame, aac and FLAC, and all of them threw in the error.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

This is a known issue with ALSA output. It is fixed in VLC 3.0, but in the mean time, you can switch to PulseAudio.

[andy_blah]

Is VLC 3.0 next on the roadmap? I would rather steer away clear from PA, if possible.

[NeedMoreCoffee]

According to this it's already overdue because it still has bugs open.

You could try a nightly build or building it yourself from source. If it's already fixed in there...

[andy_blah]

Great idea! Thanks again for helping out