Interesting Bug combo (XviD RC series and TCMP w/ DS)

[gizmotech]

Good Day,

After a few hours of testing I've managed to dig up an interesting bug between TCMP and XviD, koepi RC series builds, which results in stutering playback. This issue is completely isolated to teh DShow playback filter.

At any rate, We were noticing some very strange playback jerking w/ no post processing enabled on a 2500+ system, so we decided to have a look. Our first choice was to try another player, and mpc played back the clip fine. So we decided we'd try to figure out why tcmp was broken. Finding nothing in the application settings set incorrectly (that we're aware of) we proceeded to try different dshow decoder builds. From what we cna gather, 240603-1 exe through beta 3 playback the clip in TCMP through DShow perfectly.

Now when playing back w/ RC1 and RC2 (I'll get to gamr builds in a second) the video stuters, and causes choppy playback. No pp settings are enabled at this point. Now, hearing of some post rc2 fixes, we decide to grab the gamr amd builds to try it out. Low and behold the playback works in TCMP, in VFW mode. Checking to make sure everything was correct, the gamr build didn't contain a working dshow decoder, but the vfw component worked flawlessly.

So we're now at an interesting point, RC1+2 dshow decoders cause jerky playback in TCMP on smooth motion pans. Unfortunately, I don't have anything more scientific then personal observation :(

If any of the devs would like the encode samples (5mb each) I can provide them for testing. PM me on this forum.

Codecs tested:
240602003-01
beta1-3
rc1-2
gamr build. 200402181700.exe (VFW only)

TCMP 4 rc5

GizmoTech.
NOTE: This is being cross posted to the TCMP bug report forum.

[sysKin]

Any chance that this is because TCMP uses "overlay mixer" and mpc doesn't?

There were people reporting that overlay mixer doesn't play back smoothly - but I have no idea why and can't reproduce it.

:(
Radek

[gizmotech]

It could very well be the case.

But atleast now you know that beta3 Dshow doesn't have this issue and might be a new place to start looking?

I hope to hear back a bit from the tcmp team on their forums.

Gizmo.

[sysKin]

Originally posted by gizmotech
But atleast now you know that beta3 Dshow doesn't have this issue and might be a new place to start looking?Actually I did know about it. To help looking, I need someone who can reproduce it. I think I'll volunteer you :D j/k

Anyway, could you please try this older (but identical to current if I'm not mistaken) directshow build:
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~syskin/xvid.ax_compat.zip

It uses a different video-describing structure, just like beta3 and before did. The bad thing is that aspect ratio will not work.

I don't really believe that it will fix anything, but IF it will, I'll make it a decoding option. Please check :)

Radek

[Nicholi]

/me actually did all the testing originally with Gizmo.

I just tried the idea of the problem being Overlay Mixer with MPC. It also reproduces the rather nasty lag effect.

On another note....
I seriously hope the corecoder team blame this "bug" on XviD as I prefer MPC much more.

[ChristianHJW]

Originally posted by Nicholi On another note....
I seriously hope the corecoder team blame this "bug" on XviD as I prefer MPC much more. .. pardon me ?

[mf]

Originally posted by ChristianHJW
.. pardon me ?
He lost me as well.. :confused:

[nanoflower]

Perhaps he wants the bug fixed and feels that if it gets blamed on MPC then it won't be fixed. So if something can be done in XVID he can continue to use MPC.

At least that's my guess.

[Malevolent]

I have no idea what TCMP is,
but stuttering playback on panning scenes with RC2 is familiar.

Whatever XviD material i decode with RC2 plays choppy.

Only cure so far was installing Koepi's Standalone Decoder,
as it solved the playback issue.

[gizmotech]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this.

The updated .ax file you posted still does not provide smooth play back.

I'm sending you a pm w/ a sample file which w/ your provided ax and the rc2 are jerky, however w/ the beta 3 it isn't.

At this point I should be a bit more active (as somewhat preoccupied last week w/ various matters, and then the mircx situation)

Gizmo.

[Nicholi]

So far with all the XviD files I've played with RC2, they run fine with no lag on MPC (Media Player Classic, aka NOT TCMP for anyone who is confused). However when using TCMP you can quite clearly see during any pan there is considerable lag in playback.

I just did a quick test of what sysKin mentioned about Overlay Mixer, and turned on Overlay Mixer in MPC (not TCMP) and it basically replicated the horrible playback in TCMP.

I have a rather slow machine (only 1.5 ghz as gizmo constantly laughs at) so I can only assume people who are also getting lagged playback with RC2 is because they are using TCMP or Overlay Mixer.

[sysKin]

Originally posted by gizmotech
I'm sending you a pm w/ a sample file which w/ your provided ax and the rc2 are jerky, however w/ the beta 3 it isn't.Okay, I finally got the sample :)

When I saw it the first time, I was sure that I don't see any problems. Just to be sure, I played it with mpc/vmr9 and gee, I *finally* know what you mean ;).

Some more tests showed that newest ffdshow has exactly the same problem (smooth with vmr9, b0rked with overlay mixer) while 3vix and Divx5 decoders play it fine, whatever renderer is used.

I will now download beta3 and work from there. Wish me luck~

Radek

[edit1]: I confirmed that it's fine with beta3. I also checked that beta3 filter linked to completely new core is also fine.

[edit2]: Still works well after dynamic linking to xvidcore.dll

[edit3]: problem pinpointed. Will remove the problematic thingy from current dshow, compile and give it to you for testing. Will also tell ffdshow devels.

[edit4] http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~syskin/xvid_ax9.zip . Waiting for results.