Choppy Playback Over WiFi on Raspberry Pi 4

rickylovespi · October 29, 2024 at 9:18 PM

Hi there!

I just setup my raspberry pi 4 with libreelec to stream movies over WiFi from my Odroid HC4 via SAMBA.

I watched one movie all the way through with zero issues. Afterward, I tried watching couple other movies in my collection, and they both had major issues with playback. Both of them would suddenly pause, then run at very low fps, then speed up, then pause again.

Freaked (1993) worked without issues. The Aristocrats (2005) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) both had problems. The log should only include the issues with Tokyo Drift as I enabled debug logging after the fact.

I could imagine several different things could cause these problems, but I need your help to figure it out.

Where should I begin?

Thanks

Hardware:
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (libreelec)
Odroid HC4 (file host)

Version:
Kodi Media Center 21.1 (21.1.0) Git:21.1-Omega

Debug log:
https://paste.libreelec.tv/primary-jackal.log

VLouis · October 30, 2024 at 1:40 PM

Quote from rickylovespi

Where should I begin?

Check the Wifi first. Possible you have a weak connection and not enough for the video files with higher bitrate.Try it with a USB-wifi adapter (one with a "real" antenna). Better if it's possible to switch to cable connection. I recommand to avoid the onboard wifi on the RPi with that tiny antenna (this is when the size it's matter ).

**Da Flex** · October 30, 2024 at 5:13 PM

The WiFi data rate seems to be the problem (A/V goes out-of-sync):

Code

2024-10-29 20:48:30.709 T:1060    debug <general>: ActiveAE::SyncStream - average error of 29.588072, start adjusting
2024-10-29 20:48:30.709 T:1060    debug <general>: ActiveAE::SyncStream - average error 0.588072 below threshold of 30.000000
2024-10-29 20:48:31.815 T:1060    debug <general>: ActiveAE::SyncStream - average error -220.747135 above threshold of 100.000000
2024-10-29 20:48:32.303 T:1060    debug <general>: ActiveAE::SyncStream - average error -20.747135 below threshold of 30.000000
2024-10-29 20:48:33.063 T:1060  warning <general>: ActiveAE - large audio sync error: -1485.769446
2024-10-29 20:48:33.065 T:1060  warning <general>: ActiveAE - large audio sync error: -1485.769279
2024-10-29 20:48:33.356 T:1060  warning <general>: ActiveAE - large audio sync error: -1685.723723
2024-10-29 20:48:33.356 T:1060    debug <general>: ActiveAE::SyncStream - average error -963.297485 above threshold of 100.000000
2024-10-29 20:48:33.398 T:1394     info <general>: CVideoPlayerAudio::Process - stream stalled

I agree with VLouis . The RPi WiFi is known to be weak. You could buy a USB-to-WiFi, or Ethernet-to-WiFi adapter.

Before buying anything, I would try an Ethernet connection to the Odroid server. Maybe the WiFi is fine, but Odroid can't deliver higher data rates.

rickylovespi · October 30, 2024 at 7:54 PM

Sounds good! I'll try that shortly. In the mean time, I'll post the mediainfo for the three movies just to see if anything stands out that might also be responsible.

Freaked:

Code

Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 2
File size                                : 3.27 GiB
Duration                                 : 1 h 19 min
Overall bit rate                         : 5 887 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 24.000 FPS
Encoded date                             : 2013-08-01 00:02:34 UTC
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v4.9.1 ('Ich will') built on Jul 17 2011 09:47:39
Writing library                          : libebml v1.2.1 + libmatroska v1.1.1
Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : [email protected]
Format settings                          : CABAC / 5 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                                 : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate                                 : 5 247 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 688 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 1.85:1
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 24.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.248
Stream size                              : 2.85 GiB (87%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 135 r2345 f0c1c53
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=5247 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 1 h 19 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 640 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 27 ms
Stream size                              : 365 MiB (11%)
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Dialog Normalization                     : -31 dB
cmixlev                                  : -3.0 dB
surmixlev                                : -3 dB
dialnorm_Average                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum                         : -31 dB

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Code

Tokyo Drift:
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4
File size                                : 11.7 GiB
Duration                                 : 1 h 44 min
Overall bit rate                         : 16.2 Mb/s
Frame rate                               : 23.976 FPS
Encoded date                             : 2021-01-22 17:15:16 UTC
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v52.0.0 ('Secret For The Mad') 64-bit
Writing library                          : libebml v1.4.1 + libmatroska v1.6.2
Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : [email protected]
Format settings                          : CABAC / 5 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                                 : 1 h 44 min
Bit rate                                 : 14.4 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 804 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 2.39:1
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.390
Stream size                              : 10.5 GiB (89%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 161 r3033 ~ LoRD 
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-3:-3 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=0 / crf=16.5 / qcomp=0.66 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=62500 / vbv_bufsize=78125 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.20 / pb_ratio=1.20 / aq=3:0.90
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : E-AC-3
Format/Info                              : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital Plus
Format profile                           : Blu-ray Disc
Codec ID                                 : A_EAC3
Duration                                 : 1 h 44 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 1 536 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 8 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 1.12 GiB (10%)
Title                                    : DD+Plus
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Dialog Normalization                     : -31 dB
compr                                    : -0.28 dB
cmixlev                                  : -3.0 dB
surmixlev                                : -3 dB
mixlevel                                 : 285 dB
roomtyp                                  : 3
ltrtcmixlev                              : -3.0 dB
ltrtsurmixlev                            : -3.0 dB
lorocmixlev                              : -3.0 dB
lorosurmixlev                            : -3.0 dB
dialnorm_Average                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum                         : -31 dB

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Code

Aristocrats:
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 4
File size                                : 6.34 GiB
Duration                                 : 1 h 28 min
Overall bit rate                         : 10.3 Mb/s
Frame rate                               : 23.976 FPS
Encoded date                             : 2020-08-02 03:03:20 UTC
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v41.0.0 ('Smarra') 64-bit
Writing library                          : libebml v1.3.9 + libmatroska v1.5.2
Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                                 : 1 h 28 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 10 000 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.201
Stream size                              : 5.94 GiB (94%)
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : E-AC-3
Format/Info                              : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital Plus
Codec ID                                 : A_EAC3
Duration                                 : 1 h 28 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 640 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 404 MiB (6%)
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Dialog Normalization                     : -31 dB
compr                                    : -0.28 dB
dialnorm_Average                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum                         : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum                         : -31 dB

Display More

It looks like they all have pretty similar formats, though the two with issues have close to double and triple the bitrates. Seems like wifi issues are quite likely.

rickylovespi · October 31, 2024 at 4:36 AM

I moved my raspberry pi right next to my router. It turns out that it can playback these movies no problem, regardless if it is on WiFi or ethernet, but if it's on WiFi it needs to have a very strong signal. I was on 70-80% in the basement and that wasn't good enough.

Solved!