Raspberry Pi 4: Audio problems playing TS streams

vbs · November 29, 2019 at 11:45 AM

I recently switched from an Intel NUC to a Raspberry Pi 4. In general it is working fine but with videos recorded with my Vu+ Cable Receiver I get distorted/broken sound.

I recorded a video here (best to hear end the end of the video):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9ehjhl69n16fzz/20191129_120257.mp4?dl=0

The videos in question are TS-files using H.264 video with AC-3 sound. This is a short clip that shows the problem on my RPi 4:

Dropbox - test_copy.ts - Simplify your life

I fiddled around with ffmpeg to find out what the problem is and found out that the problem disappears when reencoding video (also with H.264 (!)). When I reencode to H.264 video using this command:

Code

ffmpeg -i "recorded_video.ts" -acodec copy -vcodec h264 -ss 00:00:00 -t 00:00:40 test_h264.ts

This is the result:

Dropbox - test_h264.ts - Simplify your life

Then that video play fine. So maybe it is somehow related to the encoded video that also affects audio playback?

Here is a Kodi debug log file from playing the problem video:

http://ix.io/236g

Can anyone help? Thanks!

**Da Flex** · November 29, 2019 at 8:58 PM Official Post

Code

2019-11-29 12:31:15.857 T:2858812272   ERROR: ffmpeg[AA660370]: [matroska,webm] EBML header parsing failed
2019-11-29 12:31:15.857 T:2858812272   ERROR: Open - Error, could not open file smb://ben/mass2/Video/jaun.mkv
2019-11-29 12:31:15.857 T:2858812272   ERROR: ExtractThumb - Error creating demuxer

Maybe the source file has errors, and re-encoding it by ffmpeg fixes it. Go into analysis of the source file.

vbs · December 2, 2019 at 11:00 AM

Ahh, sorry "jaun.mkv" actually is not the file in question. That was just a misclick of mine. The file in question is "test_copy.ts".

Code

2019-11-29 12:31:20.094 T:3011220064   DEBUG: CMMALPool::CMMALPool Created pool 0x2d1e2b0 of size 26 x 0 for port vc.ril.video_decode:out:0(I420)
2019-11-29 12:31:20.107 T:3011220064   DEBUG: Radio UECP (RDS) Processor - new CDVDRadioRDSData
2019-11-29 12:31:20.107 T:3011220064  NOTICE: VideoPlayer::OpenFile: smb://ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts
2019-11-29 12:31:20.108 T:3011220064   DEBUG: CMMALRenderer::CMMALRenderer
2019-11-29 12:31:20.108 T:2561749872   DEBUG: Thread MMALProcess start, auto delete: false
2019-11-29 12:31:20.108 T:3011220064   DEBUG: OnPlayBackStarted: CApplication::OnPlayBackStarted
2019-11-29 12:31:20.108 T:2595320688   DEBUG: Thread VideoPlayer start, auto delete: false
2019-11-29 12:31:20.108 T:2561749872   DEBUG: CMMALRenderer::Run - starting
2019-11-29 12:31:20.109 T:2585690992   DEBUG: Thread BackgroundLoader start, auto delete: false
2019-11-29 12:31:20.110 T:2595320688  NOTICE: Creating InputStream
2019-11-29 12:31:20.115 T:2771370864   DEBUG: Skin Helper Service --> Kodi_Monitor: sender xbmc - method: Playlist.OnAdd  - data: {"item":{"title":"test_copy.ts","type":"movie"},"playlistid":1,"position":0}
2019-11-29 12:31:20.119 T:2867204976   DEBUG: Loading settings for smb://ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts
2019-11-29 12:31:20.136 T:2595320688   DEBUG: CSMBFile::Open - opened smb://USERNAME:PASSWORD@ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts, fd=10000
2019-11-29 12:31:20.139 T:2595320688   DEBUG: ScanForExternalSubtitles: Searching for subtitles...
2019-11-29 12:31:20.149 T:2595320688   DEBUG: ScanForExternalSubtitles: END (total time: 10 ms)
2019-11-29 12:31:20.149 T:2595320688  NOTICE: Creating Demuxer
2019-11-29 12:31:20.154 T:2595320688   DEBUG: Open - avformat_find_stream_info starting
2019-11-29 12:31:20.155 T:3011220064   DEBUG: CVideoGUIInfo::InitCurrentItem(smb://ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts)
2019-11-29 12:31:20.155 T:3011220064   DEBUG: CPlayerGUIInfo::InitCurrentItem(smb://ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts)
2019-11-29 12:31:20.178 T:2595320688   DEBUG: ffmpeg[9AB17370]: [mpegts] start time for stream 0 is not set in estimate_timings_from_pts
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688   DEBUG: ffmpeg[9AB17370]: [mpegts] Could not find codec parameters for stream 0 (Video: h264 ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), none): unspecified size
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688   DEBUG: ffmpeg[9AB17370]: [mpegts] Consider increasing the value for the 'analyzeduration' and 'probesize' options
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688   DEBUG: Open - av_find_stream_info finished
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]: Input #0, mpegts, from 'smb://ben/mass2/Video/test_copy.ts':
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:   Duration: 00:00:40.03, start: 1.400000, bitrate: 9381 kb/s
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:   Program 1
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:     Metadata:
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:       service_name    : Service01
2019-11-29 12:31:20.200 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:       service_provider: FFmpeg
2019-11-29 12:31:20.201 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:     Stream #0:0[0x100]: Video: h264 ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), none, 90k tbr, 90k tbn, 180k tbc
2019-11-29 12:31:20.201 T:2595320688    INFO: ffmpeg[9AB17370]:     Stream #0:1[0x101](ger): Audio: ac3 ([129][0][0][0] / 0x0081), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 384 kb/s
2019-11-29 12:31:20.201 T:2595320688   DEBUG: CDVDDemuxFFmpeg::AddStream ID: 0
2019-11-29 12:31:20.201 T:2595320688   DEBUG: CDVDDemuxFFmpeg::AddStream ID: 1
2019-11-29 12:31:20.202 T:2595320688   DEBUG: CDVDDemuxFFmpeg::AddStream ID: 0
2019-11-29 12:31:20.203 T:2595320688   DEBUG: CDVDDemuxFFmpeg::AddStream ID: 1

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Also some more points to add:

* it also happens when watching live TV from my Vu+ (not only limited to recorded files)

* the problem did not occur when I was using an Intel Atom based machine. It popped up after switching to RPi4. So I assume the problem is specific to RPi4

* the problem goes away when deactivating hardware accleration "MMAL" in Kodi options. But since I assume decoding is done by the CPU then I would like to avoid that

**Da Flex** · December 4, 2019 at 5:35 PM Official Post

I played test_copy.ts from your first link on my RPi 3B+.

Sound works fine, but I had to disable audio passthrough at settings -> system -> audio. Give it a try.

vbs · December 5, 2019 at 1:12 PM

Sorry for not mentioning that I am using analog output. I thought it doesn't matter cause some days ago I thought to also have the problem via HDMI. But yesterday I could not reproduce it on HDMI audio output anymore.

Anyway, the passthrough setting does not make a difference for me on the analog output. I think that is expected though. Thanks anyway!

Laurent · November 26, 2020 at 8:20 PM

Hi,

I've the same problem with my RPi4. When I play TS Stream/file with VLC (or KODI on the TV-Hat stream), the audio is distorded.

The audio with the same stream/file on my PC is fine.

If I convert the file in mp4, the sound is fine.

Do you find a solution ?

Thanks.

**Da Flex** · November 26, 2020 at 8:29 PM Official Post

Quote from Laurent

Do you find a solution ?

Please try this advancedsettings.xml:

Code

<advancedsettings version="1.0">
    <cache>
        <buffermode>4</buffermode>
        <memorysize>7000000</memorysize>
        <readfactor>4</readfactor>
    </cache>
</advancedsettings>

vbs · November 26, 2020 at 8:36 PM

I ended up buying a USB sound card which fixed the problem (besides one quite loud crackling sound at boot). But I will also try the fix Da Flex just posted. Thanks.

Laurent · November 26, 2020 at 9:05 PM

Quote from Da Flex

Please try this advancedsettings.xml:

Code

<advancedsettings version="1.0">
    <cache>
        <buffermode>4</buffermode>
        <memorysize>7000000</memorysize>
        <readfactor>4</readfactor>
    </cache>
</advancedsettings>

Always the same problem. The problem exist also with VLC, then is it more a system/hardware problem ?

**Da Flex** · November 26, 2020 at 9:18 PM Official Post

Quote from Laurent

Always the same problem. The problem exist also with VLC, then is it more a system/hardware problem ?

Maybe your TS file has errors, and some players auto-fix those errors.

Laurent · November 27, 2020 at 8:10 PM

Quote from Da Flex

Maybe your TS file has errors, and some players auto-fix those errors.

I don't think.

The solution :

In kodi: Settings/video settings/Deinterlace method Off

**Da Flex** · November 27, 2020 at 8:45 PM Official Post

Quote from Laurent

In kodi: Settings/video settings/Deinterlace method Off

Interesting solution, thanks!

vbs · November 28, 2020 at 11:07 AM

Wow, that fixed it for me, thanks.

NJPUSA · January 10, 2021 at 5:11 AM

Quote from Laurent

I don't think.
The solution :

In kodi: Settings/video settings/Deinterlace method Off

Yep, fixed it for me, TV was unwatchable with interlacing enabled - juddering and out of sync mess. Rpi4 + TVHeadend. Switched to a totally different system (Xbian) because it was driving me nuts. Didn't make any sense at all that it could play a 160GB 4k video but not 1080i/480i TV. Tried three different PVR backends/frontend over the last few days!

noggin · January 10, 2021 at 11:08 AM

Quote from NJPUSA

Yep, fixed it for me, TV was unwatchable with interlacing enabled - juddering and out of sync mess. Rpi4 + TVHeadend. Switched to a totally different system (Xbian) because it was driving me nuts. Didn't make any sense at all that it could play a 160GB 4k video but not 1080i/480i TV. Tried three different PVR backends/frontend over the last few days!

Worth remembering that h.264 and interlaced content are handled by totally separate parts of the Pi4B SoC to h.265/hevc. The h.264/interlaced stuff is decoded and deinterlaced by the legacy VPU that remains the same as the Pi 3B+ and before, whereas the hevc/h.265 decoder is a separate unit and handled separately. I believe some builds at the moment are not handling stuff particularly effectively using the old decoder?