Let me start by saying I do appreciate the detailed responses from board members, particularly regarding interlacing that @angry.sardine has provided. Very helpful–thank you.
That said, I’m not sure if I’ve offended Sam, he’s busy with other things or something else but I really am just trying to solve a playback issue and I’m not getting any real support or input here. I’ve provided multiple logs and extensive descriptions of what I’m encountering and the steps I have tried to resolve it. I have also asked a handful of questions. I’ve received a few partial answers and other questions are just skipped or ignored. There doesn’t appear to be any interest in solving my issue and I don’t quite understand why. I have no problem trying to chase it down myself but it would be nice to at least get some feedback so I don’t go chasing dead-ends and waste more of my time.
As I see it, there are 3 reasonable possibilities (please feel free to chime in if you feel I left something out):
- All of the files (hundreds) are corrupted because of bad rips from DVD’s.
I don’t believe this to be the case because these files have been taken straight from the original DVD’s without re-encoding using multiple releases of multiple software packages and in various containers (.vob, .mkv, etc), all exhibiting the same symptoms. These files play fine on other players (Nvidia Shield, for example). However I do not have so much hubris that I would completely rule it out. I just personally rank it as a fairly low probability. It is also the one that is near impossible for me to test or troubleshoot without input from the OSMC team as I can think of no other way to get a “reference” file other than what I have already done. Sam has not responded if the OSMC team uses this particular file spec in there testing or not.
- There is a setting in KODI that is impeding the proper playback of this file type.
I have provided multiple logs and no feedback has been provided about the settings except to turn on HD & Up for Mpeg2 hardware acceleration. This setting was already active as such so I’m not sure the logs were actually looked at. Open to suggestions. To be clear, things I have tried is using hardware accelaration. This helped but introduced problems in other file types so my fear is I’m just trading one problem for another. Now perhaps hardware decoding for SD files isn’t introducing the issues it originally did under the Vero 4K. I will need to chase down those other files to test. Also changing de-interlacing to “half” (or off) also seems to help. I have no idea what the difference between full and half de-interlacing is or why one works and other does not. Possibility that whitelisting could be playing a role here too? Currently have it turned off (empty whitelist). Having it on created other problems with SD content.
- The Vero V cannot properly play 720X480i @29.97 mpeg2 with full de-interlacing in software decoding.
My suspicion is that this is really the issue. Found this post from @AC16161 in 2019: Software decoding of SD Mpeg2 very choppy - #10 by ac16161
Seems very similar to my problem. Looks like the “solution” was to re-encode every file to remove interlacing to make them more palatable for the Vero.
So my intent at this point, barring any other guidance, is to try to take the 3rd possibility off the table. It should be the easiest to eliminate as a possibility but has proven extremely difficult to do so on the board thus far. Of course, if it’s the actual answer, that would explain why it can’t be eliminated.
SO, THE HUGE ASK:
A) I would like to know if the OSMC file test library has a file of this specific type (Mpeg 2, 720X480i @29.97) that they use for testing AND which plays correctly with full-de-interlacing in software decoding. I’m not asking for the file, just if it is part of your test procedures and if it plays correctly. If the answer is “yes”, that is a critical point that would be useful for all to know. Mediainfo for said file would be extremely helpful as well, if available. If the answer is “no”. That’s ok too. It is what it is.
B) As a follow up to anyone else on this board who is so inclined, do any of you have this file type (or something close to it) playing correctly with full de-interlacing in software decoding? If it’s not working for you with those settings, that info is just as valuable. Any clips of working files you are willing to share would be extremely helpful!
Sorry for the bit of a rant but I’m growing a bit frustrated. Appreciate any and all help.
Thanks.