mkv/h264 files black screen in directshow

[JonTom]

hi,

i have several mkv files containing h264 video. when i try to watch them in sage using a directshow codec (coreavc, cyberlink7, cyberlink8) all i get is a black screen with audio. if i use windows media player, they work fine.

if i use the built in sage player, they play, but choppily.

how do i get the dshow method to work?

[babgvant]

do they play in graphstudio? did you set the h264 decoder in the sage properties file, if so did you confirm that it loads properly (via the debug log)?

[JonTom]

i don't know what graphstudio is, but i'm off to find out.

i have set each of the decoders in the properties file (i used the string/name that shows in WMP/Radlight Filter Manager).

i haven't checked the log file yet, will do so tonight when i get home.

[JonTom]

graphstudio: yes, it appears to. video goes from the video box to cyberlink to renderer, no errors or anything. i'm on RDP right now so i can't actually play it reliably, but it seemed to start ok.

[Flips]

You need to add the following line to sage.properties AND sageclient.properties

always_use_dshow_player=true

this will break your youtube videos unless you are in the beta, then you can add:

mplayer/use_for_online_content=true

flips

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by JonTom

graphstudio: yes, it appears to.

double check that (after checking the dshow config posted earlier)

videoframe/h264_video_decoder_filter=Cyberlink H.264/AVC Decoder(PDVD7.x)

or similar, is in the client's property file.

[JonTom]

yeah, i know about the =true setting (that's how i know it works with sageplayer), and i know about specifying the decoder (i used the text that appeared in Radlight/WMP as the codec name, correct?). =false works, but stutters like crazy. =true is black.

[JonTom]

ok, confirmed it works in graphstudio, using the cyberlink8 decoder.
also retested using debug logging. no error is evident. the file i tried to play was The Bourne Ultimatum. you can search for it to see it at the end of the file.
sage.properties, sageclient.prop, and debug log are attached.

this is going to make me crazy. why will it work everywhere but sage?

[babgvant]

I use the name that is displayed in GraphStudio (could be the same thing); it has to be perfect and case is important.

do you have the log from the client?

[JonTom]

i'll check that the graphstudio name matches exactly.

i didn't realize the client would have a separate log (I didn't see one). i'm running my server in service/client mode, will it still generate a separate one?

[babgvant]

yes, it is enabled the same way as the server but in the client's properties file.

[JonTom]

yeah i added that line to both .properties files yesterday. only got one log though. what would the other be called? maybe i missed it.

[babgvant]

sagetvclient_#.txt i think

[JonTom]

Originally Posted by babgvant

sagetvclient_#.txt i think

ok i think i found some problems

Wed 12/17 0:50:21.656 DShowPlayer setVideoRendererFilter0({51B4ABF3-748F-4E3B-A276-C828330E926A}) called
this is not the CLSID of cyberlink pdvd9. registry says it's the "video mixing renderer 9"

Wed 12/17 0:50:22.050 DShowGraphFilters=Default DirectSound Device,VidRend,AC3Filter,Nero Splitter,\\SAGE\Sage320 (F)\My Videos\The Bourne Ultimatum 720P\The Bourne Ultimatum.mkv,
why Nero Splitter? i have haali installed and WMP is using that.

[babgvant]

use graphstudio to change the merit of Nero Splitter to do not use. Then try again.

[JonTom]

Originally Posted by babgvant

use graphstudio to change the merit of Nero Splitter to do not use. Then try again.

how? i don't see anywhere in graphstudio to change merits

also, i noticed that AC3filter is being called too. while audio is working, i'm pretty sure that i've specified nvidia for audio.

[babgvant]

http://babgvant.com/blogs/andyvt/arc...-playback.aspx

[JonTom]

ok, well i tried again, but i'm at work and it's over RDP, so no results yet.

the log this time does show cyberlink being called though, maybe it's working. i didn't see haali in there though (nero splitter is still called), nor did the haali icon show up in the system tray.

will see what happens tonight when i get home.

[Motofreak75]

if your playing this through sagetv and or the client software, H.264 playback will required you to increase the "numbuffer" setting in the sagetv from 40 to 110, some people like 100 but I like to add a bit more. this will clear out h.264 playback skipping every other second. Dont forget to use a Hardware acceleration for your video card.


32bit XP/vista

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Frey Technologies\Common\DSFilters\MpegDeMux]
"NumBuffers"=dword:00000110

[lparkin]

Originally Posted by babgvant

use graphstudio to change the merit of Nero Splitter to do not use. Then try again.

I am having an issue where the filter is specified but not being called. I am trying to use mpc - video decoder but it is not being used.

Fri 2/19 19:54:54.559 [AWT-EventQueue-0@618d26] WIN32 FAILURE HR=0xc0000094 FILE=.\CPlayerData.cpp LINE=1567
Fri 2/19 19:54:54.666 [AWT-EventQueue-0@618d26] DShowGraphFilters=AudRend,VidRend,AC3Filter,\\asusw7\VideoArchive1\BigLoveS4\Big.Love.S04E01.720p.HDTV.X264-DIMENSION.mkv,

I have set the merit and it still isn't working. I have the haali splitter installed also, but not working in sagetv. I can playback files in media center classic with no issues.

Thanks for your help.

Lynn