Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC) - DXVA!

[THX-UltraII]

The SVN 1299 build on XvidVideo.RU claims to have the WASAPI renderer added - how do you select this? It does not seem to be under the Audio Renderers dropbox.

cant find it either

[tetsuo55]

that's the theory anyway. in reality, with the same work load, win7 hits the paging file much sooner than XP on my 3GB ram. If I turn off the swap file, win7 will throw up out of memory error and apps will crash much faster than XP. so the memory is not just being reserved or used for caching. it is actually being used.

sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but I keep hearing about how win7 is faster or more memory efficient than XP, and I just don't see it. not to say that it doesn't have other advantages, but those aren't it. it may feel faster due to the app caching and preloading, but benchmarks show win7 is slightly slower on execution of office/game/etc apps. when people say win7 is faster, I think what they mean is "my spanking new install of win7 on my freshly built i7 smokes my 5yo install of XP with a zillion app and device driver installs/uninstalls". well guess what? new install of EVERY MS OS feels fast (excerpt maybe for Vitsta LOL).

so what I'm saying is: don't be so quick to dismiss XP. it's a perfectly good working OS. XP's win explorer is also better than win7. I mean, have you noticed that win7 doesn't even show free disk space on the status bar, despite it taking up 3x the space it used too? or if you choose more than 15 files, you have to click more details to see the total file size? or how about if you want to include/exclude subfolders in search, there's no handy checkbox any more? you actually have to go into search options menu and change it every time. I could go on, but I won't.I guess milage varies, i have the exact opposite experience on my ultra-low memory systems (256 and 512 mb ram)

[Casshern]

I tend to agree. Win 7 is not "faster" than win xp. Boot time has been optimized, but that's about it. But Win 7 has other major advantages for HTPC: DXVA2 works much better. It accelerates both VC-1 and H264 with the evr renderers. Also the aero interface has it's own vsync code, so one has additional options to avoid tearing. EVR gets all the developers attention these days - so i would rather use Win 7 than WinXP for an HTPC - But Win7 is certainly not faster than Win XP, my testing with chess programs even showed a 1-2% performance loss when switching to Win7.

that's the theory anyway. in reality, with the same work load, win7 hits the paging file much sooner than XP on my 3GB ram. If I turn off the swap file, win7 will throw up out of memory error and apps will crash much faster than XP. so the memory is not just being reserved or used for caching. it is actually being used.

sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but I keep hearing about how win7 is faster or more memory efficient than XP, and I just don't see it. not to say that it doesn't have other advantages, but those aren't it. it may feel faster due to the app caching and preloading, but benchmarks show win7 is slightly slower on execution of office/game/etc apps. when people say win7 is faster, I think what they mean is "my spanking new install of win7 on my freshly built i7 smokes my 5yo install of XP with a zillion app and device driver installs/uninstalls". well guess what? new install of EVERY MS OS feels fast (excerpt maybe for Vitsta LOL).

so what I'm saying is: don't be so quick to dismiss XP. it's a perfectly good working OS. XP's win explorer is also better than win7. I mean, have you noticed that win7 doesn't even show free disk space on the status bar, despite it taking up 3x the space it used too? or if you choose more than 15 files, you have to click more details to see the total file size? or how about if you want to include/exclude subfolders in search, there's no handy checkbox any more? you actually have to go into search options menu and change it every time. I could go on, but I won't.

[Matching_Mole]

If anyone wants to consider ASIO, here (http://www.steinberg.net/en/company/3rd_party_developer/sdk_download_portal.html) is the official ASIO SDK. You'll need to create an account to download it, but it's all free.

This would be a great addition to MPC!!

[Spec-Chum]

cant find it either

It's there for dev purposes and not actually part of the user side of mpc-hc yet. Still very buggy, although Albain's doing a cracking job...

[yesgrey]

This would be a great addition to MPC!!
I took a look into the code and I will not be able to do it in a short period of time.:(
I am considering it as my first C++ project, so probably it will take a very long time before it happens...
If any of the developers likes the idea and see that would be easy and fast enough for him to do it, probably it would be a better idea.;)
If you don't want the hassle to register for getting the SDK, feel free to PM me.

[nuhkka]

having problems with this one .wmv file, when i open it it opens but when i seek it freezes.. heres the properties of the file with both mediainfo and mediacoder..

http://i37.tinypic.com/124u91k.jpg

tried svn 1299, 1290, and 1296 and same thing happened, also used ffdshow decoder and had some problem..

[lych_necross]

Where did you get the file?

[hoborg]

Question - i noticed "MpcAudioRendererFilter.ax" file in standalone pack, but when i try to register it i got missing module error - is this normal?

[Brazil2]

Any chance adding Kernel Streaming for XP?
That would be nice indeed :)

[edterbak]

Hi.
MPC-HC devs, if you have time, can you look on this (http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/codecs-external-players-55/haali-not-disposed-after-stopping-video-56153/index11.html#post510587)?

Looks like there is a bug in standalone MPC video decoder (DXVA mode, SW is OK) causing crash when trying to remove filter from graph.

Hi devs,
I have read through the forum after the reply from Hoborg, but I havent seen a response to it. (Maybe I missed it, sorry)

I use the MPC-HC (MPCVidDec.ax) codec together with MediaPortal. Recently I noticed that the Haali icons are staying in the taskbar and not closing down after playback of a mediafile when I have DXVA turned on. If I use SW decoding there is no issue.
The number of tray icons of haali keep building up, untill Mediaportal crashes. When I hover with my mouse over the tray icons, they all dissapear. Ofcourse, this is not possible for me to do when I am operating from within mediaportal.

Is this a known issue with the codec?? If so, what is the status/thought about it?
Or, if you think this is NOT mpc-hc codec related, can you explain why. This can help the devs from MP a lot.

A thread about this can be found on the mediaportal forum.
See this link (http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/codecs-external-players-55/haali-not-disposed-after-stopping-video-56153/). It has become a rather big thread though. A lot of users seem to suffer this issue.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can offer. :thanks:

[tetsuo55]

Hi devs,
I have read through the forum after the reply from Hoborg, but I havent seen a response to it. (Maybe I missed it, sorry)

I use the MPC-HC (MPCVidDec.ax) codec together with MediaPortal. Recently I noticed that the Haali icons are staying in the taskbar and not closing down after playback of a mediafile when I have DXVA turned on. If I use SW decoding there is no issue.
The number of tray icons of haali keep building up, untill Mediaportal crashes. When I hover with my mouse over the tray icons, they all dissapear. Ofcourse, this is not possible for me to do when I am operating from within mediaportal.

Is this a known issue with the codec?? If so, what is the status/thought about it?
Or, if you think this is NOT mpc-hc codec related, can you explain why. This can help the devs from MP a lot.

A thread about this can be found on the mediaportal forum.
See this link (http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/codecs-external-players-55/haali-not-disposed-after-stopping-video-56153/). It has become a rather big thread though. A lot of users seem to suffer this issue.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can offer. :thanks:The problem hoborg mentioned has been seen by the devs, but not been fixed yet.

The haali thing you mentioned is a bug in mediaportal, their staff are aware of it.

[edterbak]

The problem hoborg mentioned has been seen by the devs, but not been fixed yet.

The haali thing you mentioned is a bug in mediaportal, their staff are aware of it.

Thanks for the feedback tetsuo55.
...
[edit] I just ereased a bit of my orignal reply... sorry

Question I have now: Are you saying that there are two separate issues? one with the codec (which the devs are aware of) and one with Haali (which is a bug in MP)? Or am I misreading your reply here.

[hoborg]

The problem hoborg mentioned has been seen by the devs, but not been fixed yet.

So it is MPC video decoder bug after all?

[tetsuo55]

Sorry i though it was a decoding bug.

No matter what the cause is. We are talking with mediaportal dev about this and other issues.

Don't expect any results soon.

[edterbak]

Great!! Reassuring to know. I wasnt aware that there is a direct communication link between MP and MPC-HC devs. Thanks for sharing this information.

Although your last words are a bit unfortunate to me. Thanks anyway!!

[rt87]

Question - i noticed "MpcAudioRendererFilter.ax" file in standalone pack, but when i try to register it i got missing module error - is this normal?

no go for XP.
for Win7, try the x64 build.

[Phaser]

I don't know it this has been discussed before... I would like to see an option to disable the "remember file position" in playlist mode (or at least the possibility to clear the previous records). Because it's frustrating when I play a multi-part video and the movie jumps to a previous position instead of playing continuously.

Another thing that I'd like is a "seamless playback" feature for all supported formats (not just m2ts). This would also resolve the previous issue that I mentioned.

[lamesensei]

this might be a stupid question but mpc decoder for dxva or win7's microsoft dtv-dvd decoder? (microsoft seems to get acceleration for almost every h264file)

8800gt latest drivers.

[paulonet]

I having problems playing certain (bigger) mkv files through my wired network. Buying a new router is impossible at this time. I tried increasing the buffer in haali splitter and renderer and the files play very well about 3 to 5 minutes but then MPC craches. Is there another buffer setting?
Thank you:thanks:

[saint-francis]

this might be a stupid question but mpc decoder for dxva or win7's microsoft dtv-dvd decoder? (microsoft seems to get acceleration for almost every h264file)

8800gt latest drivers.

MPC will get DXVA whenever it is possible for the hardware to provide it.

[mark0077]

Hi all, I have a very strange bug to report. I have been digging to find the cause of it over the past few days, but can't figure out what the cause is.

I have ripped a DVD to mkv (The World Is Not Enough). Now there is areas around the mkv chapters in this mkv file where mpc-hc will give a strange sound, like as if the audio is speeding up / slowing down slightly (the effect the video renderers or reclock often give when speeding up / slowing down) to get back to sync. Its very strange because one time I can play straight through with no problems (confirming the file seems ok?) and another time I can constantly repeat the problem.

I have tried with internal / haali mkv splitter, ffdshow audio decoding vs mpc-hc decoding, reclock on or off, and even using overlay mixer vs evr-cp. I can always seem to reproduce.

Another thing to note, when I play past the area that causes problems, and then seek back and play past it again, I don't think I have ever reproduced the problem. Its like as if some cache / buffer stops the problem happening a second time. I have to reload the file to reproduce.

I used the latest makemkv to create the file, and even removing the chapters from the mkv using mkvmerge, the problem still appears around where the chapters are (maybe its a crazy coincidence).

I have just tried with vlc media player and it gives a noticible blip / skip when going past the chapter.

Can anyone suggest something to try. If the mkv plays fine on second or third passes, doesn't this suggest the problem isn't with the file (or is it possible makemkv didn't do a great job)? Converting this mkv to a .ts file plays perfectly without sound slowdowns / speedups. Very annoying / confusing.

[saint-francis]

@mark0077

Can you upload a sample of a problem area so others can experiment? Due to the inability to consistently reproduce the issues it doesn't sound like it has a chance of being classified as a MPC HC "bug".

Also, what revision of MPC HC does this occur on?

[Andy o]

Hey guys. I'm not sure how this works, but is it possible that the MPC internal subtitle renderer work with madVR? Maybe in a future release? Or would it be impossible?

[hdboy]

win7, svn 1299, nvidia 7600GT, updated to latest directx. I have EVR working fine. I want to get EVR CP working also to get subtitle and shaders. I can get it to play but if I try to seek video freezes for 20-30secs during which time MPC is unresponsive. It sometimes recovers and continues playing; other times it just freezes altogether and I have to end task it. this happens with all different sources from low res AVI to ripped bluray movie.

I've tried different EVR buffer values, from 4 to 20. enable/disable "reinit when display changes". enable/disable desktop composition, frame time correction. none helps.

searching, I see some people mention installing dx9 over dx11. dxdiag shows I'm running dx11. how do I install dx9 over it?

[Keiyakusha]

searching, I see some people mention installing dx9 over dx11. dxdiag shows I'm running dx11. how do I install dx9 over it?
If you talking about DirectX Redistributable - its absolutely required for MPC-HC and should be updated every 3 months. But this is not the same as just DirectX9.

Hey guys. I'm not sure how this works, but is it possible that the MPC internal subtitle renderer work with madVR? Maybe in a future release? Or would it be impossible?
Not possible. In future release of madVR - maybe, but not anytime soon, because developing is stalled.
EDIT: Or maybe I was wrong here: 11th October 2009, 17:58 -> madVR v0.11 released. So ask in madVR's thread about that.

[Mangix]

searching, I see some people mention installing dx9 over dx11. dxdiag shows I'm running dx11. how do I install dx9 over it?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

you don't install DX9 over DX11. These Redistributables are needed so that you can even use DX at all.

[Mercury_22]

this might be a stupid question but mpc decoder for dxva or win7's microsoft dtv-dvd decoder? (microsoft seems to get acceleration for almost every h264file)

8800gt latest drivers.

I'm not sure about quality (although Microsoft's seems better) but for me microsoft dtv-dvd decoder it's much stable and as you've said it's definitely able to play more h264 files !

P.S. All this for windows 7 and DXVA !!!

[Shakey_Jake33]

Without wanting to go off-topic too much, would we be required to update DirectX with the retail version of Windows 7? I have no idea if it already contains the August revision files, and don't know if it's intellegent enough to only update outdated files.

[fastplayer]

Without wanting to go off-topic too much, would we be required to update DirectX with the retail version of Windows 7?
Yes, it is.

[Lincoln Burrows]

New bug spotted on MPC-HC: It can't play the m2ts from "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" which is the movie itself, with 25.5 GB, using MPEG-4 AVC. Don't ask me why, but when I open this m2ts alone (using MPC) it's painfully slow (video and audio), and speeding the video won't do any good. I can't blame the m2ts file because both BSPlayer PRO and TMT from Arcsoft are playing just fine, normal speed for video/audio.

It's the first time EVER that I see a m2ts file with such issue. So far I have tested dozens of different m2ts files from different titles/sources and MPC-HC played all of them, with no problems.

Can you guys guess where the problem is? Or should I assume MPC-HC is not 100% fixed and might have this kind of bug once in a while when playing decrypted Blu-rays?

[hdboy]

I'm not sure about quality (although Microsoft's seems better) but for me microsoft dtv-dvd decoder it's much stable and as you've said it's definitely able to play more h264 files !

P.S. All this for windows 7 and DXVA !!!

interesting, my card doesn't do h264 decoding but using the ms decoder, it uses only slightly a bit more CPU than CoreAVC, like maybe 5 percentage point more on a X2 3800+ @2.5ghz. That is pretty good compared to other decoders. this is with EVR. with haali, cpu usage is very high; with vmr9, very choppy. so it is giving me some acceleration.

hey, MS is good for something :)

[Keiyakusha]

As for me, performance of MS's decoder is worse then CoreAVC, DiAVC, DivX, FFmpeg-mt. It can't be pretty good compared to other decoders. it can be good compared to MPC-HC internal software decoder/ffmpeg-libavcodec. "like maybe 5 percentage" sounds strange to me. If you looking on CPU load whuile playing some video - this is very inaccurate results.

[mark0077]

@mark0077

Can you upload a sample of a problem area so others can experiment? Due to the inability to consistently reproduce the issues it doesn't sound like it has a chance of being classified as a MPC HC "bug".

Also, what revision of MPC HC does this occur on?

Hi Saint-Francis.

It occurs on build 1299 of mpc-hc, but I went back as far as build 1043 and it still happens. Just can't understand it. At least if someone can reproduce this then I might get closer to a solution.

Here is the file (1 minute clip), about 35 seconds into the clip, the james bond intro credits start, and depending on .... well what seems like luck, you might hear the audio slowdown / speedup anywhere between 30 and 37 seconds.

Its very subtle but its definitely audible and can't be heard when the file is reconverted to any other format.

I can reproduce with or without ffdshow audio, with haali and internal mkv splitter.

Most of the time, if I seek backwards in mpc-hc to say the 20 second point, and play over the same 30-40 second region of the clip again, the problem won't be heard..... which to me might indicate some software / cache / buffer problem..... Just guessing of course.

Just hope someone can reproduce and help figure out whats going wrong.

50 MB File
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3GZ9J6TZ

[hoborg]

Is there a way how to call property page of standalone MPC video decoder? "rundll32.exe MPCVideoDec.ax,Configure" doesnot work :(

[THX-UltraII]

Can MPC-HC deal with a BR folder? (folder which contains a BDMV and CERTIFICATE folder). If so, how? I tried to OPEN DVD in MPC and select the complete folder but nothing loads.

[mariner]

Greetings Casimir.

Arcsoft Video Decoder connectivity issue

Arcsoft has added support for media type {31435657-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} in its latest decoder (version 160) for VC-1 contents, but the decoder is not getting loaded in MPC. MPC defaults to WMVideo Decoder DMO even when Arcsoft decoder is set to preferred in the external codec list. If WMVideo Decoder DMO is disabled, MPC complains about not finding a suitable decoder.

The new Arcsoft Video Decoder connects with MPC Source filter as well as other source/splitters in Graphedit and other DS players. For some reason it gets ignored in MPC. Would appreciate if you could kindly look into this issue.

Many thanks and best regards.

PS:
Did you also get a chance to look at my earlier post?


1920x1080x60p H264 mp4 playback problem, build 1290

Greetings Casimir.

1. Thanks for your continuing effort to improve MPC. Playback of 1920x1080x60p

h264 mp4 content no longer gives a back screen with Arcsoft MP4 Splitter/MPC

Decoder, but drops half the frames and plays at 30fps.

Using the internal splitter/MPC Decoder still produces a black screen.

2. The source frame rate reported by the OSD is somewhat suspect, as you can see

from the caps. It reports 59.937 with internal splitter, and 25.00 when MS

decoder is used. Hope you'll look into this.

3. Is there a reason the internal Matroska Splitter shares the same

clsid as Arcsoft Martroska Source filter -
{0A68C3B5-9164-4A54-AFAF-995B2FF0E0D4} ?

4. It seems that internal filters are no longer used when external filters are

set to preferred. Is this the correct behavior? I have always thought that

internals filters are always used when selected, regardless of the external

filters setting. Has this been changed?

Tested on Win 7 using EVR/CP.

Many thanks and best regards.

http://forum.doom9.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10356&stc=1&d=1254592569



1440x1080x60p VC1 WMV playback problem, build 1290.

Greetings Casimir.

Just to let you know the internal MPC Video Decoder had problem with the above in

DXVA mode.

Tested fine with Arcsoft, MS MFT and NV MFT.

Link:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17006927&postcount=63

Best regards.

http://forum.doom9.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10358&stc=1&d=1254735826

[mark0077]

For the audio guys, as I posted this in the ffdshow thread, I also feel it should be posted here.

I notice 3 bugs related to audio in mpc (bugs as far as my current understanding goes).

1) Surround channels in 5.1 are sent to back L and back R, rather than side L and side R. This can be checked in ffdshow in its input section, you can see back R and back L coming in as input.
2) When playing 7.1 files given by Mercury_22, the dolby digital plus, and dts-hd, and true-hd files all show up in "Navigate" -> "audio" as having 6 channels rather than 8. Only the LPCM one shows 8 channels.
3) Also the internal audio filter configuration dialog within mpc-hc doesn't seem to have an option for 7.1. The most I can get is 5.1 ("3 front and 2 rear").

[Mercury_22]

For the audio guys, as I posted this in the ffdshow thread, I also feel it should be posted here.

I notice 3 bugs related to audio in mpc (bugs as far as my current understanding goes).

1) Surround channels in 5.1 are sent to back L and back R, rather than side L and side R. This can be checked in ffdshow in its input section, you can see back R and back L coming in as input.
2) When playing 7.1 files given by Mercury_22, the dolby digital plus, and dts-hd, and true-hd files all show up in "Navigate" -> "audio" as having 6 channels rather than 8. Only the LPCM one shows 8 channels.
3) Also the internal audio filter configuration dialog within mpc-hc doesn't seem to have an option for 7.1. The most I can get is 5.1 ("3 front and 2 rear").

How do you explain then that TMT and PowerDVD have the same mapping ?
P.S. You can use the trial versions to verify

[mark0077]

Why should I need to explain it.... if dolby site suggest that surround == side channels, then I would think software like powerdvd and mpc-hc should respect this, instead of basing mpc-hc's workings on other software?

I don't think we should verify mpc-hc's correctness against something like powerdvd or tmt anyways.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

It clearly distinguishes that there is L and R "Surround" and L and R "Back", meaning as you seem to suggest, that powerdvd, tmt and mpc-hc are all incorrect in sending "surround" also to the "back"...... It should be sent to "Surround" or "Side" as some people call it.

I can use my Xonar to swap Back and Side in a 7.1 config, and this shows that Asus also seem to think "Surround" should mean "Side". I havn't found any reference or site to suggest otherwise... apart from the actual software that in my opinion isn't correct (ie mpc-hc, powerdvd, tmt). Of course I would be happy to be proven incorrect, in which case the likes of Asus should be contacted but Dolby seems...... like a more reliable source when it comes to this?

EDIT: Not that its more trustable, but the wikipedia page also suggests that 7.1 audio, the "surround" channels go to the sides, distinct from the "surround back" which go to the back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound#7.1_Channel_Surround_.28digital_discrete:_Dolby_Digital_Plus.2C_DTS-HD_Master_Audio.2C_Dolby_TrueHD.29

[leeperry]

I having problems playing certain (bigger) mkv files through my wired network. Buying a new router is impossible at this time. I tried increasing the buffer in haali splitter and renderer and the files play very well about 3 to 5 minutes but then MPC craches. Is there another buffer setting?
KMPlayer has an option to add a 50MB buffer for network drives, see if that helps..if it does, maybe it can be implemented in MPC.

[Mercury_22]

Why should I need to explain it.... if dolby site suggest that surround == side channels, then I would think software like powerdvd and mpc-hc should respect this, instead of basing mpc-hc's workings on other software?

I don't think we should verify mpc-hc's correctness against something like powerdvd or tmt anyways.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

It clearly distinguishes that there is L and R "Surround" and L and R "Back", meaning as you seem to suggest, that powerdvd, tmt and mpc-hc are all incorrect in sending "surround" also to the "back"...... It should be sent to "Surround" or "Side" as some people call it.

I can use my Xonar to swap Back and Side in a 7.1 config, and this shows that Asus also seem to think "Surround" should mean "Side". I havn't found any reference or site to suggest otherwise... apart from the actual software that in my opinion isn't correct (ie mpc-hc, powerdvd, tmt). Of course I would be happy to be proven incorrect, in which case the likes of Asus should be contacted but Dolby seems...... like a more reliable source when it comes to this?

EDIT: Not that its more trustable, but the wikipedia page also suggests that 7.1 audio, the "surround" channels go to the sides, distinct from the "surround back" which go to the back.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound#7.1_Channel_Surround_.28digital_discrete:_Dolby_Digital_Plus.2C_DTS-HD_Master_Audio.2C_Dolby_TrueHD.29

Read more in your dolby link and you'll see that the back channels are also called surround

Only in a 7.1 config the surround channels are separated in back and side So you're saying that windows windvd tmt and Powerdvd and FFDshow and MPC are all wrong ?

[mark0077]

No windows isn't incorrect from what I know. It sends "surround" in 5.1 and 7.1 config (for me) to sides when I perform speaker test (but this may be driver dependent of course).

The text below from Dolby doesn't say surround back. Wikipedia says there is "surround" and "surround back". Everything to me suggests sending surround to the side is correct. Where would a developer go for definitions on stuf like this. I can only base my judgement on these links you provide and those references that I find myself

"A 7.1-channel surround system has seven discrete, full-range channels of sound—Left, Right, Center, Left Surround,Right Surround, Left Back, and Right Back—plus a subwoofer that delivers low-frequency information only."

I don't believe it would be just upto developers of software to just decide whether to send 5.1 surround channels to 7.1 side or back. It would be just like flipping a coin then, everyone would choose one or the other with no concensus. If this does turn out to be the case however and this isnt set in stone then each software app shouldn't just choose one or the other, it should be optional within that piece of software.

GTA 4 the game gives this option, now that I think of it, to use side, or back. It also defaults to side. Xonar HDAV Deluxe gives option to swap back/side channels but also defaults to having surround as the sides and its pdf documentation says for 5.1 configs, surround speakers should be connected to sides. tetsuo has told me before that sides is correct but I will clarify with him why he thinks / knows this and get back to you here.

In any case, mpc-hc sends to back without any option at all.

At least if all software had the option then the physical connections could be left as Is. I hope this is clearly defined somewhere though. Better if this was not negotiable and either side or back could be confirmed to be correct for 5.1 on a 7.1 setup.

[saint-francis]

Hi Saint-Francis.

It occurs on build 1299 of mpc-hc, but I went back as far as build 1043 and it still happens. Just can't understand it. At least if someone can reproduce this then I might get closer to a solution.

Here is the file (1 minute clip), about 35 seconds into the clip, the james bond intro credits start, and depending on .... well what seems like luck, you might hear the audio slowdown / speedup anywhere between 30 and 37 seconds.

Its very subtle but its definitely audible and can't be heard when the file is reconverted to any other format.

I can reproduce with or without ffdshow audio, with haali and internal mkv splitter.

Most of the time, if I seek backwards in mpc-hc to say the 20 second point, and play over the same 30-40 second region of the clip again, the problem won't be heard..... which to me might indicate some software / cache / buffer problem..... Just guessing of course.

Just hope someone can reproduce and help figure out whats going wrong.

50 MB File
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3GZ9J6TZ

All is fine with this sample here. Haali, mpc hc video and ffdshow audio.
Sorry

[mark0077]

OK Thanks for testing. Might try a reformat, been a while but strange that no other movies show the problem, and only when in mkv form.. cheers.

[Jong]

I think I get what you are saying. If you are using Reclock that probably makes it more obvious as it has to rebuffer at any discontinuity.

This is what I see consistently at the start of the credits using the Gothsync branch.

http://www.jong.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/jamesbond_141009.jpg

[mark0077]

Oh sweet, cheers for that, I couldn't see anything like that when using the "normal" mpc-hc's graph. Does this suggest a problem with the file?

Thanks alot, I can send to makemkv developers if this turns out to be the case. I assume its what caused the problem with this as it doesn't happen with the original DVD.

[Jong]

I'd say its a file problem yes. As it happens in the same place and certainly isn't normal behaviour.

[leeperry]

I can send to makemkv developers if this turns out to be the case. I assume its what caused the problem with this as it doesn't happen with the original DVD.
some mkvmerge versions are know to give frozen frames I think.

[Mercury_22]

No windows isn't incorrect from what I know. It sends "surround" in 5.1 and 7.1 config (for me) to sides when I perform speaker test (but this may be driver dependent of course).

The text below from Dolby doesn't say surround back. Wikipedia says there is "surround" and "surround back". Everything to me suggests sending surround to the side is correct. Where would a developer go for definitions on stuf like this. I can only base my judgement on these links you provide and those references that I find myself

"A 7.1-channel surround system has seven discrete, full-range channels of sound—Left, Right, Center, Left Surround,Right Surround, Left Back, and Right Back—plus a subwoofer that delivers low-frequency information only."

I don't believe it would be just upto developers of software to just decide whether to send 5.1 surround channels to 7.1 side or back. It would be just like flipping a coin then, everyone would choose one or the other with no concensus. If this does turn out to be the case however and this isnt set in stone then each software app shouldn't just choose one or the other, it should be optional within that piece of software.

GTA 4 the game gives this option, now that I think of it, to use side, or back. It also defaults to side. Xonar HDAV Deluxe gives option to swap back/side channels but also defaults to having surround as the sides and its pdf documentation says for 5.1 configs, surround speakers should be connected to sides. tetsuo has told me before that sides is correct but I will clarify with him why he thinks / knows this and get back to you here.

In any case, mpc-hc sends to back without any option at all.

At least if all software had the option then the physical connections could be left as Is. I hope this is clearly defined somewhere though. Better if this was not negotiable and either side or back could be confirmed to be correct for 5.1 on a 7.1 setup.

How are your speaker labeled ?

e.g. Logitech Z-5500 a 5.1 digital surround sound speaker system:
Digital Satellites:
Left/Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1khz, @ 10% THD)
Center: 69 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)
Rear Left & Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD) (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en)

Or from Creative T6200 also a 5.1 speaker system :

Flexible layout options
Get the perfect speaker system for a place with limited space. The design of the speakers allows you to stack the rear satellite speakers on top of the front satellites and enjoy frontal surround experience. (http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=789&product=17987&listby=usage)

P.S. Previously I was referring to windows's dolby decoder, or better to WMP