video lags when playing .mkv files

[fatalicus]

when i play .mkv files (and some other files but i don't remember wich ones atm.) the video "lags", it freezes while the audio keeps playing.
if i pause the video and start it again, it runs fine, but freezes again after a few seconds.
also, if i wait for it to fix itself, usally the pic that froze kinda mixes with the moving picture for a few seconds...

anyway to fix this?
i know that some of the files that this happens with in VLC, works just fine in WMP9 but i get green lines diagonaly over the video there so i don't want to use it..

[DJ]

Given you are having problems with video under ? windows version, when was the last time you updated your video drivers? When was the last time you updated DirectX?

Then there is also the issue of HD resolutions possible in the Matroska container. So it will be necessary for you to post the format for audio and video along with the resolution of the file. Please also post the Windows, and VLC versions you are using along with your machine information (CPU & GPU).

Media information within VLC will offer format info and Version info can be gained by using the Help tab.

If you are using Windows XP open your Task Manager and look at CPU usage and Memory utilization.

[fatalicus]

CPU usage: 02% (same when playing normaly and when the "lag" happens)
Memory usage: 33 200kB (same as above)

Media info:

Stream 0:
codec: DX50
resolution: 700*376
framerate: 29.970629

Stream 1:
codec: mp4a
language: english
channels: 6
samplerate: 44100 Hz

Stream 2:
codec: mp4a
language: japanese
channels: 6
samplerate: 44100 Hz

Meta-information:
muxing application: libebml V0.7.0 + libmatroska V0.7.0
writing application: mkvmerge V0.8.9

VLC info:
version: 0.8.4a

systeminfo:
CPU: Intel Pentium D 2.8GHz
GPU: Nvidia 6600 (Gainward 6600GT 256MB)
DirectX: version 9.0c (updated 3 days ago)
all drivers on the computer updated 3 days ago when i reinstalled everything on my comp (problem happened long before that too)
Windows version: Windows XP Pro

ps. i mentioned the green stripes in my first post. that hasn't to do with the file being damaged, as i know others have this problem in WMP9 with the codec pack i use. they file wouldn't even play in WMP9 without the codec pack (Combined Community Codec Pack) since it sucks.
the problem in VLC was there before i installed the codec pack (it is the reason i installed the pack)

i think that was all.. just tell me if you need more info!

[DJ]

Hmm! The only things I see that are rather unusual is the use of AAC audio with DivX in this container (Matroska). I do note that it is Divx 5 which it is possible that it's a DivX 6 file that is not fully supported in VLC. While I have run across a few of these, the only problems thus far has been with their Subtitles that are not supported at all. But I have not run across one with MP4a (AAC) audio. I also notice that it is 6 channel MP4a of which there is a ticket on channel mapping that I don't think has been resolved yet. While the mix to 2 channels works, the volume is a bit loud causing distortion for some systems or in some places within the presentation.

While your machine should pose no problem for the file type or the resolution of the file, I did notice that you have the CCCP codec pack installed. VLC is not a Direct Show player and uses its own libraries to decode media files, however I have run across a conflict with the Haali splitter that the CCCP codec pack uses. This almost drove me crazy in finding the problem. What's worse is that uninstalling the Haali splitter does NOT put things back the way it was. But it will allow you to see if this is the issue. Personally, I hate codec packs, as it is the best way to guarantee conflicts in a system. But this one did come up and bite me too.

Another thing you might try is changing the "Skip frames" option in Preferences, Video. Generally this in more MPEG oriented but there have been reports from other users being helped with other formats.

All Digital video is follow audio for sync and most of the time jittery or skipping problems occur, is an audio card or driver problem. In that it is not taking control of the video properly.

So you could also try shutting down DirectX for the audio. Preferences, Audio, Output modules form the pull down select "Win32 waveOut extension output" then press Save and close the player.

If this helps you should consider updating your audio drivers.

Finally there is also the possibility that the file itself is not encoded correctly or the header is damaged. If you are not having problems with other file formats and or containers this is most probable.

There are a few files I have run across where the frame rate changes shortly after the beginning of the file and the audio doesn't sync, but I have found that moving the slider forward until it has sync and then back to a point after the frame rate change seems to correct the problem. This is out of the specifications for most formats, DivX included. IE the frame rate should not change, however this is fairly common practice for commercial DVDs that change frame rate form the intro company trailer to the body of the film. Can you say copy protection??

[guest1234]

Just for the record I am having this EXACT same problem this second and came to forums to see how to fix it. Same damn MKV files (it is ghost in the shell-stand alone complex episodes if you have the same ones). Anyway, yeah I need help here too

[DJ]

While I continue to get Matroska files in some rather strange combinations of formats and subtitles I have not witnessed any problems since 0.8.2, while a few people did report some continuing problems with 0.8.4 & 0.8.4a the reported problems have diminished in 0.8.5

Considering that 0.8.5 Test 3 is available it would be nice if everyone were on the same page so to speak. If there really is a problem it can be corrected before the next major release.

http://downloads.videolan.org/pub/video ... 8.5-test3/

Please keep in mind the it is always possible that the file is corrupted or not as claimed assuming a peer to peer network is the source. As this seems to be infamous of these sources.

[fatalicus]

yupp.. that's the files..

DJ:
i tried removeing the "skip frames" option, but it didn't help.

also tried to select "Win32 waveOut extension output", but that didn't help with the video, but it --please stay polite-- up my sound (right became left and some --please stay polite--. it was fixed when i switched back to default)

About the "0.8.5 Test 3" i would have tried it, had it not been for the fact that i have noe idea how to compile it (i guess that's what i have to do right?) since i'm on a windows machine.. (if i was at one of the linux computers at schools i might, might have been able to do it, but none of them are available to me now..)

i don't think it has anything to do with the CCCP pack since like i said, the problems occured before i installed it, and i have had the problem for a long time before to.
btw. the other file format that i experience this problem with is .wmv

and DJ, thanks for helping!

[DJ]

If shutting down DirectX for sound really messed things up it is a very good bet that the sound card or drivers are also messed up, as this is the older method of addressing the audio card and in no way should it be messed up. You could try updating the sound drivers and see if there is improvement. The drivers should carry a date later than Oct 04 for compatibility with DirectX 9c.

All digital video is follow audio for sync if the sound card is not taking control of the video properly nothing can work right.

See ReClock on the web for further info.

[Drak Swordsman]

I have the same problem... I have a series of MKV files that switch from DivX 5.1.1 to 5.2 halfway through, the 5.1.1 ones work perfectly, the 5.2 ones skip, but work fine on Media Player Classic.

*EDIT I'm using vlc-0.8.4a-win32.zip release, I'm getting ready to try the vlc-0.8.5-test3-win32.7z release.

*Nope still pauses while the audio plays

[DJ]

The .zip or .7z does not have the installer and the setup is a bit different.
But assuming that you did not dump it over the old version it should work if you call the app directly.

As I said earlier, I have not experienced problems even with DivX 6 assuming no DivX type subtitles. However the developers say that there is not complete support for DivX 6. Media info.. does show a DixX 6 file as DixX 5

As for the rest of this, I suppose it could be an encoding problem or damaged files as this is fairly common for peer to peer networks. Have you tried another player?

[OVERLOAD]

just wanted to add that i have just the same problem (also MKV. High Q videos of animas ^_^ [ghost in the shell & ergo proxy] )

and i wasnt able to fix it but i noticed that "NERO SHOW TIME" is playing the MKV. files just perfect for me...unfortently i need to add a SRT. sub's streem to the video so i cant use the nero show time.

):

but it might just help you.

[DJ]

I would like to remind everyone that h.264 keeps changing and Matroska is not much different. Therefore it is always best to stay current with VLC. I have encountered a couple of h.264 files that VLC would play and Nero wouldn't. The point here is one of a settling compatibility. As this format is still considered experimental.

http://downloads.videolan.org/pub/video ... 8.5-test4/

Because it is possible to encode HD resolution, your machine may have problems with this that generally show up in CPU usage. The original post seemed to indicate 3% CPU usage, this seems unrealistically low for a h.264 format in an MKV container. But perhaps not for a low res XviD in the same container.

Yesterday, a user reported that the problems encountered seemed to revolved around a version of mkvmerge 1.6.5 I think!

Also remember that when a user has problems with one a type it is always possible that the problem is not the file type but instead driver or DirecX related. This makes it difficult to realize the the problem or solution because of the description.

[DJ]

Obviously someone wanted a review of this post!

I noticed the 2 things seemed to be overlooked.

1. Green stripes. This could be a video memory problem. Try reducing the resolution of your video card and or color depth. It could also be video acceleration. Try shutting off the video acceleration inside VLC. Settings, Preferences, Video, untick the "Overlay video output" box and save. Now close VLC and restart. Then try to call a file, within VLC.

2. DivX is handled by ffmpeg for VLC and is constantly being updated. VLC 0.8.5 has been released and updating is recommended.

[Ratrap]

Hello,

i have got the same problem and couldn't fix it so far

It is a .mkv(With a Divx 5.2.1 Tag) and GSpot is saying 1xx Codecs loaded. When i play the File with Windows Media Player it is not lagging, but i have green stripes over the screen.

Could you help me?

Win XP
ATI Radeon x1900 XTX (2 times, but not running Crossfire at the time)
P4, 3,46GHZ Dual Core
2GB DDR2-1000(Yes 1000 mhz, PC8000) Dual-Channel RAM


Hope this helps.

Ah and i have only a few codecs installed, since my last pc was screwed after installing 50 Codec Packs :-/

Please help ;.;

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

VLC does not need other codecs.
Try with a newer version or test in a few days/weeks next version of vlc.

[Ratrap]

I am using the latest i think. 0.8.5

I needed the codecs for the WMP cauz VLC didn't play a few files.

Guess i need to wait and hope then Thanks anyways.

[DJ]

There is another issue here and I just haven't been able to pinpoint the problem. It seems as though there is some kind of problem between MKVMerge 1.6.5 that should be resolved in the latest version 1.7.0 and I'm not quite sure it is. I guess I need to go back to 1.6.5 to try to make some sense of this. In the mean time I have discovered that VLC does not respond well to MKV encodes that have had audio and or subs time corrected much beyond 200ns and improper rips can show time errors on the order of 700ns or more. Correcting these files with MKVMerge yields a file that VLC either won't play or won't play well in VLC. But there have been a few instances where VLC will play the finished encode and MPC using CoreAVC wouldn't play the file (correctly). MPlayer on the other hand doesn't seem to care one way or the other but its sync enforcement sucks so you better be right. Also subs are always early using this player and that drives me just a little crazy.

I have kinda been trying to sort this out by trying MP4 using MP4Box, but somewhere along the line I have lost compatibility with QuickTime. Last night I discovered that I had 3 versions of MP4Box on my machine. So now I need to sort this out too.

It has been noted that h264 is experimental and it has yet to be proved how compatible it is. I get updates constantly on x264, sometimes 2 a week. I would think that VideoLAN and VLC would always work, But VLC in 0.8.5 while being an improvement over 0.8.4, x264 is one of the worst implementations I have seen in the last year and oddly enough with all of the supporters MPlayer/Mencoder has given some of the best encodes.

Another thing is that the doom9 forum in general is recommending against h264 in an AVI container and yet this also has shown to be some of the best encodes I have seen. I do know that raw h264 (.264 or .h264) can only be accepted in a MKV container if it has been muxed into either an mp4 or avi container first and this seems incorrect to me. Early versions did not require this, but I'm not quite sure when the change was or why.

I'm getting near to the point to try Main Concepts set of tools and rely on the MPEG container. CoreAVC will support this and I believe that shortly Haali will provide both MPEG TS and PS support. Early tests with samples provided has shown some very nice results. By doing this I will not care if it takes lots of people to catch up in support as ultimately I get the feeling this is what the blueray will accept natively. No need to reinvent the wheel for menus, subtitles or sound formats.

Now I have gotten off topic and am rambling out of frustration here, so I will stop at this point.