[AUDIO] Sound dropouts, anyone with a solution pls?

[cheaper_popcorn]

Although the picture remains ok, I get frequent sound dropouts from this file:

Code:

[ About file ]

Name: The.Matrix.Reloaded.2003.1080p.HDDVD.x264-xX.mkv
Date: 5/07/2008 18:23:13
Size: 8,532,412,886 bytes (8137.143 MB)

[ Generic infos ]

Play duration: 02:18:16 (8295.52 s)
Container type: matroska
Creation time: 27/06/2007 17:52:15 UTC
Number of streams: 4
Type of stream nr. 1: video (V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC)
Type of stream nr. 2: audio (A_AC3)
Type of stream nr. 3: subtitle (S_TEXT/UTF8)
Type of stream nr. 4: subtitle (S_TEXT/UTF8)
Audio streams: 1
Muxing Application: libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1
Writing Application: mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55

[ Relevant data ]

Resolution: 1920 x 800
Width: multiple of 32
Height: multiple of 32

[ Video track ]

Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Resolution: 1920 x 800
Frame aspect ratio: 12:5 = 2.4
Pixel aspect ratio: 1:1 = 1
Display aspect ratio: 12:5 = 2.4
Framerate: 23.975986 fps

[ Audio track ]

Codec ID: A_AC3
Channels (container): 6
Sample rate: 48000 Hz
Mode: 3 front, 2 rear, 1 LFE

[ About H.264 encoding ]

User data: x264
User data: core 54 svn-635M
User data: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec
User data: Copyleft 2005
User data: http://www.videolan.org/x264.html
User data: cabac=1
User data: ref=5
User data: deblock=1:-4:-4
User data: analyse=0x3:0x133
User data: me=umh
User data: subme=6
User data: brdo=1
User data: mixed_ref=1
User data: me_range=16
User data: chroma_me=1
User data: trellis=1
User data: 8x8dct=1
User data: cqm=2
User data: deadzone=4,6
User data: chroma_qp_offset=0
User data: threads=2
User data: nr=0
User data: decimate=1
User data: mbaff=0
User data: bframes=3
User data: b_pyramid=1
User data: b_adapt=1
User data: b_bias=0
User data: direct=3
User data: wpredb=1
User data: bime=1
User data: keyint=250
User data: keyint_min=25
User data: scenecut=40(pre)
User data: rc=2pass
User data: bitrate=7585
User data: ratetol=1.0
User data: rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)'
User data: qcomp=0.60
User data: qpmin=10
User data: qpmax=51
User data: qpstep=4
User data: cplxblur=20.0
User data: qblur=0.5
User data: ip_ratio=1.40
User data: pb_ratio=1.30
User data: zones
User data: aq=1:0.3:15.0
SPS id: 0
  Profile: High@L5.1
  Num ref frames: 8
  Chroma format idc: YUV 4:2:0
PPS id: 0 (SPS: 0)
  Entropy coding type: CABAC
  Weighted prediction: No
  Weighted bipred idc: B slices - implicit weighted prediction
  8x8dct: Yes
  Custom intra4X4 luma:
     15   6  15  22
      6   7  25  30
     15  25  38  48
     22  30  48  96
  Custom intra4X4 chromau:
     16   6  24  72
      6   8  41 144
     24  41  96 200
     72 144 200 255
  Custom inter4X4 luma:
      4  11  15  22
     11  11  25  30
     15  25  38  48
     22  30  48  96
  Custom inter4X4 chromau:
      5  16  16  16
     16  16  16  56
     16  16  72  96
     16  56  96 128
  Custom intra8X8 luma:
     24   7   7  12  15  20  21  23
      8   9  14  15  18  21  23  21
     10  12  15  17  17  21  26  20
     14  15  17  17  18  33  30  23
     15  17  17  21  26  39  39  29
     18  18  20  24  33  39  41  35
     21  24  29  34  39  45  45  38
     27  35  36  39  38  38  38  38
  Custom inter8X8 luma:
      6  10  13  13  15  16  18  22
     10  10  12  15  15  16  21  24
     13  12  15  16  19  21  25  27
     13  15  16  21  24  28  30  34
     15  15  19  24  30  36  37  40
     16  16  21  28  36  42  45  52
     18  21  25  30  37  45  55  72
     22  24  27  34  40  52  72  96

[ Profile compliancy ]

Profile to check: MTK PAL 6000
Resolution: 1920 x 800 > 720 x 576
Framerate: 23.975986 <> 25

This report was created by AVInaptic (18-11-2007) on 16 lug 2008, h 12:04:06

I notice the light on the LCD panel of my Logitech Z-5500 flickering at times, too. This is the only file so far I have experienced this problem with.

Any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of the sound dropouts from this file?

If it is any use, I noticed that if I press pause and wait for a few seconds and then press play again, the sound returns.

The file is located on my internal hard drive (2.5 inch BEVE WD).

Six other 1080p mkv files on the hard drive play fine with no dropouts.

[Mephistophelian]

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/viewtopic.php?t=4817

Delaycut or Heartware's Audio Converter.

In my experience about 5 out of 10 scene encoded MKVs have DTS audio dropouts when played on the PCH. It is the number one thing annoying me about the unit and the PCH needs more tolerance for whatever is causing the problem.

Edit: Ok so the file you gave info on has AC3 sound and not DTS so the apps above probably won't help at all. I jumped to conclusions thinking this was going to be another DTS sound problem.

[spawn]

The problem is propably caused by the

Profile: High@L5.1
Num ref frames: 8

This is pushing the capabilities of the PCH which officially only support

Profile: High@L4.1
Num ref frames: 4

I would suggest remuxing the .mkv to .ts using tsmuxer - .ts is less demanding than .mkv

[cheaper_popcorn]

Thank you spawn, I will give that a whirl.

[chris57]

Audio dropouts are the first sign of network speeds not being quick enough.

I have that file so if you get a dropout jot down the time and i'll try it also to see if its consistent.

[cheaper_popcorn]

I tried remuxing with tsmuxer using the default settings. Unfortunately, this didnt help, but resulted in a file that would freeze after 1-2 seconds irrespective of the point I skipped to.

Should I change the default settings in tsmuxer, and if so, how? Any other ideas?

Chris57: Would network speeds be an issue given the file is on my internal hard disk? No LAN cables involved.

Anyways, I will check dropout times and post again.

[chris57]

No if its from int HDD then obviously not network related it may simply be that at the audio dropout point the file peaks at high bitrates. You can check that with haali. Let me know if you want me to check any timestamp.

[cheaper_popcorn]

I have tried to run the initial mkv file from both the internal hard disk and via http streaming (latest myihome). The sound disappears at the following places:

Internal:

Code:

00.00.54
00.02.07
00.02.45
00.05.48
00.07.01
00.08.17
00.09.25
00.10.58

Myihome:

Code:

00.00.53
00.02.25
00.04.23
00.06.40
00.07.34
00.08.38
00.10.00
00.11.32

As you can see, these sound dropouts do not occur at the exact same spots with the two streaming methods. Then again, when I use time seek to one of the locations where the sound disappeared last time, it will usually not drop out in the same place, but some time later. Pressing Pause and waiting for 1-2 seconds and then pressing play again, enables the sound to come back. But it will then disappear at some later point again.

I have tried remuxing with Tsmuxer three times now, just in case something went wrong in the process. I have also tried to run the remuxed files both from internal HDD, USB HDD and via myihome, but in all cases they freeze after 2-3 seconds.

Weird, since the video in the initial mkv is completely smooth with no visible artifacts. It is only the sound that disappears, the video remains clear and smooth throughout.

[cdx47]

I have exactly the same file with the same issues.

[cheaper_popcorn]

Cheers for posting cdx47, at least some comfort to know I am not the only one.

I ended up watching it, using the pause trick to get audio back as quick as possible, extremely irritating though, especially when the sound drops out in the middle of a dialogue.

I still wonder why the remuxed file won't play properly and whether it would be possible to tweak any settings somewhere, since the initial file is so close to working properly.

[chris57]

I searched for the timestamps the other day so glad ive found them. I'll test and report back aswell.

[chris57]

I couldnt remember which Matrix film it was so I tried the first 4 mins of all three of them.

I have HDMI audio only to my TV and did not notice any audio dropouts. I had one slight stutter but as im streaming via http and using latest beta which needs http tweaking I put it down to that.

Try it yourself without coaxial to see if you still have the same dropouts.

[cdx47]

(Film is Matrix Reloaded or Matrix 2)

I played this file before I bought my receiver (got fed up of converting DTS which sounds better anyway). Im sure I never had any drop outs using the RCA stereo cables.

[cheaper_popcorn]

In my case we are not really talking stutter, we are talking long dropouts, several seconds.

I have stutter on some other files, and in those cases it looks like the stuttering occurs when there is too much info to process (the stuttering is accompanied by video choppiness) but with this particular file the video plays smoothly throughout even when the sound disappears - it is only the audio that goes on strike at the intervals I described above.

[cdx47]

Agreed

cheaper_popcorn Wrote:In my case we are not really talking stutter, we are talking long dropouts, several seconds.

.....with this particular file the video plays smoothly throughout even when the sound disappears - it is only the audio that goes on strike at the intervals I described above.