A3 Owners: Video Compatibility Reports

[austinv]

I'm starting this thread for A3 Owners to report test results for video playback. What works, what doesn't. This will help us get a better understanding of the A3's capabilities and it may help the developers improve performance in future firmware patches.

Some details would be good:

Filename, file size
Source - homebrew (like DVD rip, using AutoMKV) or downloaded from web
Link to the file, if possible (excluding anything that might not be legal for distribution!)
Video codec, resolution, fps, bitrate, encode options (if known, like GMC/QPEL)
Audio codec, bitrate, # channels, # streams
Media Container (MP4, AVI, MKV, etc)
Subtitles?
Describe playback results (go/no go, smoothness, any artifacts, sync issues, etc)

EDIT: I forgot but this is important - make sure to note what firmware load you are using.

[siilverrr]

First, what doesn't work. I'm naming the files now since I'm not providing a link of where to obtain them. Suffice to say, I didn't encode these myself. All results from GSpot v2.70a.

TestSample1 has sync issues with the audio and video when played on the A3. There is only a slight delay.

1) --- File Information ---
File Name: TestSample1.avi -- This is Death Note, episode 25 (scene release)
File Size (in bytes): 183,321,858

--- Container Information ---
Base Type (e.g "AVI"): AVI(.AVI)
Subtype (e.g "OpenDML"): Multipart OpenDML AVI (2 parts),
Interleave (in ms): 318
Preload (in ms): 192
Audio alignment("split across interleaves"): Aligned
Total System Bitrate (kbps): 0
Bytes Missing (if any): 0
Number of Audio Streams: 1

--- Video Information ---
Video Codec Type(e.g. "DIV3"): XVID
Video Codec Name(e.g. "DivX 3, Low-Motion"): XviD 1.1.2 Final
Video Codec Status(e.g. "Codec Is Installed"): Codec(s) are Installed
Duration (hh:mm:ss): 22:44.519
Frame Count: 32716
Frame Width (pixels): 704
Frame Height (pixels): 400
Storage Aspect Ratio("SAR")" 1.760
Pixel Aspect Ratio ("PAR"): 1.000
Display Aspect Ratio ("DAR"): 1.760
Fields Per Second:
Frames Per Second: 23.976
Pics Per Second: 23.976
Video Bitrate (kbps): 961
MPEG-4 ("MPEG-4" or ""): MPEG-4
B-VOP ("B-VOP" or ""): B-VOP
QPel ("QPel" or ""): QPel
GMC ("GMC" or ""):
NVOP ("NVOP" or ""):
H264 ("H264" or ""):
Quality Factor (bits/pixel)/frame: 0.142"

--- Audio Information ---
MPEG Stream ID (e.g. "0xbd"):
MPEG VOB file Substream(e.g. "0x80"):
Audio Codec (e.g. "AC3"): 0x0055 MPEG-1 Layer 3
Audio Codec Status (e.g. "Codec Is Installed"): Codec(s) are Installed
Audio Sample Rate (Hz): 48000
Audio Bitrate(kbps): 130
Audio Bitrate Type ("CBR" or "VBR"): VBR
Audio Channel Count (e.g. "2" for stereo): 2

I was able to determine that QPel was responsible for the sync issue, by re-encoding the file myself - still as XviD - and using AutoGK to remove the QPEL. The resulting file has no sync issues on the A3.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TestSample2 has no issues whatsoever, until it freezes at approximately 1:34 during playback. I can navigate back through the menus and start another file, so it's not the whole unit that's being frozen. Attempts to fast-forward past this mark result in a blank screen. I'm at a loss to explain why this occurs.

2) --- File Information ---
File Name: TestSample2.avi -- Naruto Shippuuden 001-002 (don't laugh)
File Size (in bytes): 288,423,952

--- Container Information ---
Base Type (e.g "AVI"): AVI(.AVI)
Subtype (e.g "OpenDML"): Multipart OpenDML AVI (2 parts),
Interleave (in ms): 607
Preload (in ms): 216
Audio alignment("split across interleaves"): Aligned
Total System Bitrate (kbps): 0
Bytes Missing (if any): 0
Number of Audio Streams: 1

--- Video Information ---
Video Codec Type(e.g. "DIV3"): XVID
Video Codec Name(e.g. "DivX 3, Low-Motion"): XviD 1.1.2 Final
Video Codec Status(e.g. "Codec Is Installed"): Codec(s) are Installed
Duration (hh:mm:ss): 46:39.650
Frame Count: 67125
Frame Width (pixels): 640
Frame Height (pixels): 480
Storage Aspect Ratio("SAR")" 1.333
Pixel Aspect Ratio ("PAR"): 1.000
Display Aspect Ratio ("DAR"): 1.333
Fields Per Second:
Frames Per Second: 23.976
Pics Per Second: 23.976
Video Bitrate (kbps): 695
MPEG-4 ("MPEG-4" or ""): MPEG-4
B-VOP ("B-VOP" or ""): B-VOP
QPel ("QPel" or ""):
GMC ("GMC" or ""):
NVOP ("NVOP" or ""):
H264 ("H264" or ""):
Quality Factor (bits/pixel)/frame: 0.094"

--- Audio Information ---
MPEG Stream ID (e.g. "0xbd"):
MPEG VOB file Substream(e.g. "0x80"):
Audio Codec (e.g. "AC3"): 0x0055 MPEG-1 Layer 3
Audio Codec Status (e.g. "Codec Is Installed"): Codec(s) are Installed
Audio Sample Rate (Hz): 48000
Audio Bitrate(kbps): 128
Audio Bitrate Type ("CBR" or "VBR"): CBR
Audio Channel Count (e.g. "2" for stereo): 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, MKV and OGM files. There is no way to select the subtitle tracks held within these containers, unlike when you're using VLC Media Player/Media Player Classic, etc.
Since selecting different audio streams for a particular file is an option on the A3, it would be nice to select subtitle tracks as well, if they are stored within the container.
Otherwise, you have to extract them first, which feels like an unnecessary chore.

[austinv]

Thanks for the input. I'm testing now and working on a spreadsheet.

[Starchild]

How do you get that much info about a video file? Is there some kind of software that does that?
Everything that windows shows me is the file extension, size and resolution.

[Evilone]

You need to view the file properties from with in the media player it self.

[austinv]

Here's a good app to find video properties:

SUPER
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

Its main function is for conversion, and it's basically just a front-end, but if you drag a video file over to and then click on the file name a detailed list of the file's specs will pop up. And that works for a much wider range of video formats than the Gspot app.

[austinv]

So far the only videos that I've been able to play successfully at 720p are encoded with MPEG-4 (Xvid). Anything at 720p or near it in WMV9 or AVC/h.264 doesn't work. And more than half of the files I've tested between SD and HD have trouble or fail.

I'm testing videos from around the web, plus "scene" TV/movie releases, and my own DVD rips.

[Starchild]

Yay!!! my dad is buying the A3 today for me so tomorrow I'll make some tests and maybe a short review too :)

[MCSmarties]

Starchild: read siilverr's report carefully, he mentions that he obtained the result with GSpot 2.70a (http://www.headbands.com/gspot/)...

[austinv]

Anyone having luck with H264 Main Profile..?

I've tried several DVD rips using AutoMKV (H264 MP, AAC stereo, MKV) and when I play them on the A3 it crashes and shuts off.

[kleox64]

Ive come to the conclusion that its not supported regardless of what the spec says, I'm guesing it was a mistake somewhere.

[rcr0412]

Boy, This is disappointing information no mkv,h264

[kleox64]

Boy, This is disappointing information no mkv,h264

I suggest sticking to .mp4 for the time being, no point in complicating the problem by using a different container. Its H264 that is the problem. MKV with H264(baseline)+AAC(LC) will actually work.

[guenthar]

If it wasn't compatible then it would have said it wasn't compatible. It is probably just firmware problems that need to be fixed and they will probably be fixed pretty quickly.

[kleox64]

mkv with H264 baseline and ac3 audio does work, file is recognised and plays correctly.

H264 MP does not work regardless of container, unless you consider very very blocky & corrupted video and out of sync audio to be OK.

[pika2000]

Firmware 1.15A. Info taken with Super.

1. Video1. Extension .AVI. Resolution 720p. Playback result: choppy and skipping video, audio is way out of sync. The video quality itself is great (no artifacts/blockiness), but unwatchable with the super out of sync audio.
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
Format/Family : RIFF
File size : 234 MiB
PlayTime : 23mn 46s
Bit rate : 1372 Kbps
Writing application : VirtualDubMod 1.5.10.2 (build 2542/release)
Writing library : VirtualDubMod build 2542/release

Codec : XviD
Codec/Family : MPEG-4
Codec/Info : XviD project
Codec settings/PacketBitStream : Yes
Codec settings/BVOP : Yes
Codec settings/QPel : No
Codec settings/GMC : 0
Codec settings/Matrix : Default
PlayTime : 23mn 46s
Bit rate : 1199 Kbps
Width : 1280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Chroma : 4:2:0
Interlacement : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.054
Writing library : XviD0046C

Audio #0
Codec : MPEG-1 Audio layer 3
Codec profile : Joint stereo
PlayTime : 23mn 46s
Bit rate : 160 Kbps
Bit rate mode : CBR
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Writing library : Xing (new)

2. Video2. Extension .mkv. Resolution 640x480. Playback is great! :)
Format : Matroska
File size : 231 MiB
PlayTime : 24mn 12s
Bit rate : 1331 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2007-08-02 20:19:28
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video #0
Codec : MPEG-4 AVC
Codec/Info : MPEG4 ISO advanced profile
PlayTime : 24mn 11s
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Title : Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Episode 05
Language : Japanese

Audio #0
Codec : MPEG1/2 L3
Codec/Info : MPEG1 or 2 Audio Layer 3
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48 KHz
Title : Japanese Audio
Language : Japanese

I made a quick youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkZ0ngQjTJY
Those videos are the second and third video played in the youtube video. The firmware used on the youtube video is 1.11, but after updating to 1.15A, the results are the same.

[cjcox]

One thing that might be nice.. it might be nice (not directed at you pika2000) to have a set of reference videos in native format. Then some parameters for the tests and encoding.... all I'm saying is that we could then try the exact same files, tests on different players and such. Just an idea. Right now, it's hard to drawn any conclusion and we certainly can't do any comparisons.

[bigchief]

can these prroblems with 720p be fixed with firmware updates or is it a problem with the chipset? coz if it is then cowen should not have advertised it being able to play 720 videos if it cant do it properly?

[pmrdij]

just converted an extra from Balls of Fury to 720p LC-AAC(100% Quality)/H.264/MP4 and experienced both out of sync audio and choppy video playback on my A3.. reconverting the same file to 480p to see if i experience either issue at the lower resolution with all other settings untouched.

edit: 480p was doing great up to 60 seconds from the end of the file. at that point a couple of chops occurred in the video playback and the audio lost sync as well.

- Robert (PmR)DeathInJune

[Nodnol]

I have a number of 720p XviD AVI films. Some with audio converted to MP3 others with the AC3 (both stereo and 5.1) passed straight through.

I am not seeing any choppyness or synching issues with firmware 1.15 - but I did get it with 1.18Beta if audio was MP3 VBR (never tried AC3).

[pmrdij]

I have a number of 720p XviD AVI films. Some with audio converted to MP3 others with the AC3 (both stereo and 5.1) passed straight through.

I am not seeing any choppyness or synching issues with firmware 1.15 - but I did get it with 1.18Beta if audio was MP3 VBR (never tried AC3).
this is my first outing with anything in the world of H.264/MP4/AAC so perhaps my using 100% quality (320kbps) on the audio is part of the problem. honestly don't know but try and try again i shall until i find the right setting(s).

edit: lowering the audio to 192kbps did the trick with the file at 480p. recoding using the same settings at 720p to see how that goes.

[Loba]

Dragging this thread out from the archives, I have an avi file that has the video lagging the sound as the file plays. My suspicion is that the BVOP and/or the VBR mp3 audio stream is causing it. Ideas?

Edit : Problem solved by converting the VBR stream to CBR stream using mediacoder.

This is the file

Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Streaming Video@L1
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Muxing mode : Packet Bitstream
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 21mn 48s
Bit rate : 794 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.971 fps
Original frame rate : 29.970 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.086
Stream size : 124 MiB (85%)
Writing library : XviD 1.0.1 (UTC 2004-06-05)

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Codec ID : 55
Codec ID/Hint : MP3
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 121 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 18.9 MiB (13%)
Alignment : Split accross interleaves
Interleave, duration : 24 ms (0.72 video frame)