Anyone else have problems with Xvid files with AC3 audio?

[otakucode]

I have a very reproducible problem with a lot of Xvid files with AC3 soundtracks. When I play them from the start, they are fine. If I stop the video and then resume it later, Sage displays one frame of video and that's it. Audio continues to play. When I hit Stop, Sage spins its logo and I have to kill it in task manager (I left it for 2 hours, it never comes back and it eats the CPU and causes explorer.exe to eat the CPU (?!) the entire time).

I narrowed it down to a problem with the end of these files. A clip cut off the beginning of the file or from the middle of the file does not have this problem, but even a 1 minute clip from the end has this problem. I have been talking with Sage support and sent them a test clip and they claim it played fine (although they didn't specify whether they had done as I specified and resumed the video after stopping playback... I suspect they may have simply used the "Browse Media Files" option which always plays from the beginning). This problem happens on a lot of different files from different sources.

The clip I have is 23.8MB in size, if anyone knows of a place where I could host it for people to easily grab it (already tried my Google Page Creator account, it won't take it) I'd appreciate anyone trying it out. Or just try out any file encoded with Xvid that has an AC3 soundtrack and let me know your results.

Thanks in advance

[milbarge]

I too am having the exact same issue and it is driving me nuts (especially when sage crashes in FSE mode and there is no way to quit it other than pushing the power button).

The one solution that does solve the problem is to set the config option:
mplayer/use_for_all_mpeg4_playback=true

However, while it fixes the Xvid AC3 issue it causes more problems (no HD playback at all). I have tried replacing both the Xvid and AC3 components to no avail (it appears that sage uses a built in version of the AC3 Filter).

I am running a brand new install of:
XP SP2
Sage 6.2.10
XviD Codec v1.1.3 (Koepi's 28.06.2007 Final Build)
AC3Filter 1.46 stable

On a Core 2 Duo box with a 7800gt and 2 gigs of ram.

Please help...

-Milbarge

[evilpenguin]

When you enable that property mplayer handles playing your imported videos entirely and doesn't even use AC3filter.

Check out this thread for more details...

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...=mplayer+spdif

[Alistair]

I have the same issues with freezing

I have tried ffdshow & xvid. If I use the sage player instead of directshow for mpeg4 playback I do not have this problem

This is the only thing holding me back from purchasing (currently on my 15 day trial). I'm running XP SP2, but don't think its OS depedant. I am using the latest java & not the one bundled.

Would really like to see a solution to this before my trial expires

[evilpenguin]

You already have your solution: SageTVplayer. The reason its there is to play back strange codec/container combinations that Sage's directshow player can't handle on its own.

[Taddeusz]

Just a little side note. If you install AC3Filter separately you must remove the AC3Filter files from the SageTV folders. As you said SageTV does use it's own AC3Filter but it puts it in a non-standard location from the normal AC3Filter install. SageTV will only use the one you install if you remove it's AC3Filter files.

[evilpenguin]

I don't think you need to remove Sage's filter so much as unregister it.

http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/articles/12013.aspx

I'd recommend doing both just to be super safe.