Mkv Files Skipping / Studdering

[tony140]

Hi, I'm having some issues with Mkv playback. When I try to watch any Mkv without pre-transcoding, the video starts freezing and skipping within a few seconds. So I've tried pre-transcoding some files, and while it is a great improvement, I'm still getting the skipping every 1 1/2 - 2 minutes (lasts for about 5-10 seconds, then plays smoothly for another minute or two). I'm streaming to a Sony BX-59 Bluray player, using device profile "Sony BDP (compatible)". Anything else you can recommend trying to make it run smooth all the way through? Or are the files just too large for my Bluray player to handle? Thanks

Here's the FFMpeg Info below for two files that I'm trying:

VIDEO 1:

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'C:\Users\Anthony\Videos\The Simpsons\Season 23\The.Simpsons.S23E01.720p.HDTV.X264-DIMENSION.mkv':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2011-09-25 21:36:38
Duration: 00:21:49.72, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2077 kb/s
Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), s16, 448 kb/s (default)
At least one output file must be specified

<MEZZMO>: Child process ended with code: 109, ExitCode=1


---> DB Level Info: 41, 100
---> Frame rate: 23.98
---> Aspect ratio: 16:9



VIDEO 2:

ffmpeg version N-46003-gfa48da1 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
built on Oct 25 2012 12:37:27 with gcc 4.6.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --disable-w32threads --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 0.100 / 52. 0.100
libavcodec 54. 69.100 / 54. 69.100
libavformat 54. 34.100 / 54. 34.100
libavdevice 54. 3.100 / 54. 3.100
libavfilter 3. 20.105 / 3. 20.105
libswscale 2. 1.101 / 2. 1.101
libswresample 0. 16.100 / 0. 16.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'C:\Users\Anthony\Videos\Boardwalk Empire\Season 3\Boardwalk.Empire.S03E01.720p.HDTV.x264-EVOLVE.mkv':
Metadata:
creation_time : 2012-09-17 02:06:28
Duration: 00:59:17.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3263 kb/s
Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720, SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 384 kb/s (default)
At least one output file must be specified

<MEZZMO>: Child process ended with code: 109, ExitCode=1


---> DB Level Info: 41, 100
---> Frame rate: 23.98
---> Aspect ratio: 16:9

[Paul]

Hi tony140,

Are you streaming over a wireless network or wired network? If wireless, then that could be the reason for the occasional stuttering. Regarding wireless: (i) Check that you are using wireless-N and have full signal strength. If possible try running an Ethernet cable and switching over to wired to see if your wireless network bandwidth is the problem. (ii) In the Media Devices dialog in Mezzmo, edit your Sony BDP device and make sure the Connection setting the matches your home network (e.g. wireless N). Try pre-transcoding your MKV again anad see if that improves playback. (iii) If no better, go to the Performance tab in the Device Settings dialog for your device and lower the Video bitrate slider to halfway and then pre-transcode your MKV video again. See if that helps.

[tony140]

Thanks so much, it seems that lowering the bitrate took care of the problem ... I do have a wireless network, so I suppose it just couldn't handle the load.

One other question, is the bitrate being lowered for all files played or only transcoded files? Since all of my non-HD files seem to play fine, I'd rather not lower the bitrate on everything if it's not necessary. Not a big deal, I could also keep it at full quality, and only lower it when I'm going to watch a HD file.

[Paul]

Glad that worked. It seems your wireless network cannot handle the bandwidth of HD videos.

This setting only applies to transcoded files.