mkv issues.

[oldslow]

Audio and video both stutter on 720p 4.5 gig file.
Plays fine on Popcorn A-110.
They stutter very badly over wired 10/100 and less so on local storage drive.

Any way to fix this before I return it?

[Ph8]

Audio and video both stutter on 720p 4.5 gig file.
Plays fine on Popcorn A-110.
They stutter very badly over wired 10/100 and less so on local storage drive.

Any way to fix this before I return it?

Can you post the mediainfo of the file? This would probably help Boxee out and other seeing what is going on.

[oldslow]

Format : Matroska
File size : 4.38 GiB
Duration : 1h 49mn
Overall bit rate : 5 723 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2010-10-30 03:32:53
Writing application : mkvmerge v3.4.0 ('Rapunzel') built on May 15 2010 09:38:20
Writing library : libebml v0.8.0 + libmatroska v0.9.0

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 1h 49mn
Bit rate : 4 213 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.260
Stream size : 3.14 GiB (72%)
Writing library : x264 core 98 r1649 c54c47d
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=9 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=4 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / weightp=2 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=30 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=4213 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=5000 / vbv_bufsize=4200 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00 / nal_hrd=none
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : DTS
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Codec ID : A_DTS
Duration : 1h 49mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 510 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 24 bits
Stream size : 1.15 GiB (26%)
Language : English

[oldslow]

It's all good!

[ingoldsby]

It's all good!

Good to hear, I was going to say I was surprised because along with 720p I can also play 1080p mkv files just fine.

[oldslow]

Turns out it was video settings

[tommyboy5115]

Hi,

I'm experiencing the same problem with mkv files. When you say it was video settings, what exactly did you do/change?

Thanks!

[pcm2a]

I'd be interested to know what to change on the boxee box as well. I have some huge mkv files that play perfectly and others that have stuttery video.

The stuttery videos play on the PC Boxee and on the WDTV Live perfect.

[littleguitars]

I find this strange, why do many have issues and others not?
I have aver 400 720p mkv's and they all play just fine from my ext HDD on my boxee.

I just don't understand how some can have an issue and others not when we are all using the same thing?

[tommyboy5115]

My issues aren't with 720, but rather 1080p, like I think pcm2a is also getting at. I too have some massive MKV files that stutter horribly and are unwatchable. Personally, I think the 10/100 network connection is choking out on BB.

I normally play these files on my HTPC with a gigabit connection and don't have any issues. In fact, I unplugged my HTPC and plugged in the BB in physically the exact same spot with the same wired network connection, etc.

I don't have a WD player, but I know those also have a gigabit connection which would explain why they're working for pcm2a as well. I don't have any iso files though, so I'm going to rip a blu-ray that way and see if it is any different.

[oldslow]

I set the Boxee to output to 1080P/24. My Projector supports it!

[pcm2a]

It's crazy that the bunkest computer or motherboard you get comes with a gigabit nic but the Bbox didn't...

[ingoldsby]

a 10/100 connection shouldn't max out even with an uncompressed blu-ray rip. In fact, I am able to stream an mkv of Avatar just fine with no stuttering.

There is however some weird color banding in a few mkv's that is NOT present when watching them with vlc - so I don't know what's going on there.

I've seen it in Avatar, and also briefly in Toy Story 3. It seems to happen in scenes that have a lot of volumetric lighting effects (the incinerator in TS3 and well.. everywhere in the jungle in Avatar).

[floodland]

I am having issues playing some mkv files, the boxee box starts playing them then suddenly resets. I need to debug some more and see if it's specific to a mkvmerge version.

This is the file I am crashing with:

General / Container Stream #1
Total Video Streams for this File.................1
Total Audio Streams for this File.................1
Total Subtitle Streams for this File..............1
Video Codecs Used.................................AVC
Audio Codecs Used.................................DTS
SubTitle Codecs Used..............................ASS
Available Sutbitle Languages......................English
File Format.......................................Matro ska
Play Time.........................................2h 37mn
Total File Size...................................6.54 GiB
Total Stream BitRate..............................5 964 Kbps
Encoded with......................................mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Encoding Library..................................libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
Video Stream #1
Codec (Human Name)................................AVC
Codec (FourCC)....................................V_MPEG 4/ISO/AVC
Codec Profile.....................................High@L 5.1
Frame Width.......................................1 280 pixels
Frame Height......................................534 pixels
Frame Rate........................................23.976 fps
Total Frames......................................225985
Display Aspect Ratio..............................2.35:1
Scan Type.........................................Progr essive
Color Space.......................................YUV
Codec Settings (Summary)..........................CABAC / 8 Ref Frames
QF (like Gordian Knot)............................0.272
Codec Settings (CABAC)............................Yes
Codec Settings (Reference Frames).................8
Video Stream Length...............................2h 37mn 5s 467ms
Video Stream BitRate..............................4 450 Kbps
Bit Depth.........................................8 bits
Video Stream Size.................................4.76 GiB (73%)
Video Encoder.....................................x264 - core 56 svn-680
Video Encoder (Settings)..........................cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-3:-3 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=6,6 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=4450 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=6 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / aq=1:0.6:15.0
Video Stream Language.............................English
Audio Stream #1
Codec............................................. DTS
Codec (FourCC)....................................A_DTS
Audio Stream Length...............................2h 37mn 5s 450ms
Audio Stream BitRate..............................1 510 Kbps
Audio Stream BitRate Mode.........................CBR
Number of Audio Channels..........................6
Audio Channel's Positions.........................Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling Rate.....................................48.0 KHz
Bit Depth.........................................24 bits
Audio Stream Size.................................1.66 GiB (25%)
Audio Stream Language.............................English

[senergy]

Im having the same issues, plays a little bit then reboots the box. Not running 1.0..
File info

General
Complete name : W:\Documentary\Planet.Earth.EP04.Caves.2006.720p.H DDVD.x264-ESiR.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 2.18 GiB
Duration : 50mn 51s
Overall bit rate : 6 140 Kbps
Movie name : Planet.Earth.EP04.Caves.2006.720p.HDDVD.x264-ESiR
Encoded date : UTC 2007-05-11 19:11:44
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
Cover : Yes / Yes

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 9 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 50mn 51s
Bit rate : 5 690 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.258
Stream size : 1.98 GiB (91%)
Title : Planet Earth - EP04 - Caves
Writing library : x264 core 54 svn-635M
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=6 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=2 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / mbaff=0 / bframes=4 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=5690 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / aq=1:0.5:18.0
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 50mn 51s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 163 MiB (7%)
Title : AC3 5.1
Language : English

Text #1
ID : 3
Format : ASS
Codec ID : S_TEXT/ASS
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Sub Station Alpha
Language : English

Text #2
ID : 4
Format : ASS
Codec ID : S_TEXT/ASS
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Sub Station Alpha
Language : Romanian

[marcel]

@oldslow can you elaborate what you did?

[senergy]

tried another one, but this one works.
mkvmerge v2.7.0 works but
mkvmerge v2.0.2 doesnt.

Is there a way to see the logs on why its rebooting?

General
CompleteName : W:\Documentary\Discovery Channel - Speed Of Life Part 2.mkv
Format : Matroska
FileSize/String : 1.09 GiB
Duration/String : 43mn 25s
OverallBitRate/String : 3 600 Kbps
Encoded_Date : UTC 2010-08-09 12:14:40
Encoded_Application : mkvmerge v2.7.0 ('Do It Again') built on Oct 11 2009 12:34:03
Encoded_Library/String : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
ID/String : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format_Profile : High@L3.1
Format_Settings_CABAC/String : Yes
Format_Settings_RefFrames/String : 4 frames
Format_Settings_GOP : M=4, N=5
CodecID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration/String : 43mn 25s
BitRate/String : 3 214 Kbps
Width/String : 1 280 pixels
Height/String : 720 pixels
DisplayAspectRatio/String : 16:9
FrameRate/String : 29.970 fps
ColorSpace : YUV
ChromaSubsampling : 4:2:0
BitDepth/String : 8 bits
ScanType/String : Progressive
Bits-(Pixel*Frame) : 0.116
StreamSize/String : 976 MiB (87%)
Encoded_Library/String : x264 core 98 r1649 20cbe10
Encoded_Library_Settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=4 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / weightp=2 / keyint=300 / keyint_min=30 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=3214 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language/String : English

Audio
ID/String : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Format_Settings_ModeExtension : CM (complete main)
CodecID : A_AC3
Duration/String : 43mn 25s
BitRate_Mode/String : Constant
BitRate/String : 384 Kbps
Channel(s)/String : 6 channels
ChannelPositions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
SamplingRate/String : 48.0 KHz
BitDepth/String : 16 bits
StreamSize/String : 119 MiB (11%)

[oldslow]

Nothing much really. I went to the settings and changed the video output to 1080P/24 and "checked" the sync frame rate box. I also deselected all the audio stuff cause it wouldn't play m2ts files with audio. Picture only.
Some files play fine but honestly most have some sort of audio/video dropout and shiver which appears to be a sync issue. That's based on previous experience with A-110.

The couple things I really like are the fast HDD load up.
My External Caddy with 2 tb loads quite fast compared to A-110.
The file ID thing is very good.
Subtitle adjustment is nice.

But being I have an A-110 that works very well for what I use it for...I keep asking myself if I want to trouble shoot this Boxee for the "likes" that I mentioned.