Trouble playing MP4 Video Files. Options

[borgie83]

Hi, ok so I am using the latest WDTV SMP.

Having alot of trouble playing MP4 video files. Plays for 20sec and then freezes. Exit out and then every video file including MKV files give an unsupported file error. Have tried factory reset, factory restart, rollback firmware and even customer support over the phone. Checked alot of forums and it seems many users are experiencing my exact same issue with the WDTV SMP. Cant seem to find a fix anywhere though. Guess you would say ive given up on WD providing a firmware that actually works perfectly.

In regards to rolling back the firmware, ive been unable to test firmware 1.03.10 as the download file from these forums is not recognized by the unit. Strange as had no problems rolling back to 1.04 and 1.05 from 1.06 (Latest Firmware) but unable to with 1.03.

Lastly, these files in question work perfectly on 2 of my WDTV LIVE HUB`s and my PC so theres no problem with the files.

If anyone can help me that would be fantastic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Update: Ive tried playing these files via network share and direct USB. Both have unfortunately failed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Again both these methods play the files fine via the LIVE HUB. And before anyone says "just convert to MKV".....When youve got 3TB of Movie files in which most are MP4 files, id have to sadly decline that suggestion.

[WDUser]

If older FW is not recognised, you'll need to edit the .VER file as mentioned in the Tutorials section.

Can you post a text format MediaInfo report of one of these incompatible MP4s?

Also, just as a test (humour us (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ), can you try to 1) remux the MP4 to MP4 using YAMB and 2) remux the MP4 to MKV using mkvmerge GUI (mmg.exe) in the mkvtoolnix package? Play both the remuxed files from a USB drive and note differences, if any, to the source MP4.

[borgie83]

OK, So here is the video information for 1 of the MP4 files currently not working correctly on the WDTV SMP. Take in mind that this file plays fine on my WDTV LIVE HUB and PC.

In regards to the remuxing using YAMB and MKVMERGE. Ive completed your request for the 2 video files but will have to post my results later today when I get home.

CODE

Movie: 127 Hours

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1h 33mn
Bit rate : 2 499 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 20.0 Mbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 688 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.860
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.118
Stream size : 1.63 GiB (86%)
Writing library : x264 core 104 r1677 19df41a
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=4 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=6 / 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=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2499 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2011-02-16 11:08:12
Tagged date : UTC 2011-02-16 23:30:54

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 1h 33mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 401 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 419 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 268 MiB (14%)
Encoded date : UTC 2011-02-16 23:29:40
Tagged date : UTC 2011-02-16 23:30:54

[borgie83]

Oh, and before I forget. The rollback to version 1.03.10 worked fine but sadly does not fix the issue of MP4 video files not playing on the SMP. So to confirm for everyone having the same issue, dont bother rolling back to firmware 1.05.18, 1.04.12 or 1.03.10 as neither of them will fix this issue. Ive heard rolling back to the earlier 1.02 firmware works fine but this firmware is unable to be downloaded anywhere.

If anyone could provide a link to download the original firmware that would be great!

[WDUser]

1.03.10 is the oldest FW versions available for this model.

At first glance nothing major stands out in that report above. Indeed, I believe I have the same release for that movie (or one very similar to it) and it plays fine on my 1st Gen. Live (I don't own the 3rd Gen. SMP so cannot compare).

I await the results of your tests with the two remuxed versions, so let's see how that pans out.

[borgie83]

Ok, so here is the test results as requested.

MP4 File 1: Converted to MKV using MKVMerge.
Movie appears to now be playing exactly as it should.

MP4 File 2: Converted from MP4 to MP4 using YAMB.
Movie plays for 20 Seconds before freezing.

From these results, the SMP appears to be having the same issue as before when trying to play MP4 video files. After playing the second "MP4" file the unit started giving unsupported file errors for all files including the first "MKV" file mentioned above.

Hmmmm.....where to go from here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Spasch]

Last night my wife had exactly the same issue with an MP4 file (but I only got the details when I got home this evening). I'll grab the file details and post them up along with the results of the conversion to MKV.

Edit: Here is the media info:

CODE

General
Complete name                            : D:\Downloads\Movies\Movies G\The Girl Who Played With Fire\The Girl Who Played With Fire.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42
File size                                : 2.72 GiB
Duration                                 : 2h 9mn
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 3 007 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-01-10 20:54:22
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-01-10 20:54:22
Writing application                      : Yamb 2.1.0.0 [http://yamb.unite-video.com]
Copyright                                : TheFalcon007

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 12 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 2h 9mn
Source duration                          : 34s 130ms
Bit rate                                 : 2 500 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 15.3 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
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)                       : 0.113
Stream size                              : 2.27 GiB (83%)
Source stream size                       : 2.27 GiB
Writing library                          : x264 core 98 r1649 20cbe10
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=12 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=2.00:1.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=46 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-4 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=20 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2500 / ratetol=3.8 / qcomp=0.20 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-01-10 08:57:28
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-01-10 20:55:30

Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 2h 9mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 400 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 410 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 370 MiB (13%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-01-10 20:54:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-01-10 20:55:30

Audio #2
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 2h 9mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 96.0 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 105 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 88.9 MiB (3%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-01-10 20:54:28
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-01-10 20:55:30

[Spasch]

The converted MKV hangs too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) I'm going try convert with Handbrake and see what that does

[borgie83]

The converted MKV hangs too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) I'm going try convert with Handbrake and see what that does

Hi, did u try convert the file with MKVMerge? As when I tried converting with MKVMerge the file played fine. That is if u play the file before trying to play an MP4 file. If u play an MP4 file first then even an MKV file will not play correctly unless u restart the SMP.

[WDUser]

@borgie83: So the first one played fine when remuxed to MKV? I thought it might... In my experience these players can generally handle MKVs better than MP4s.

@Spasch: 12 reframes is a lot (makes me think that the encoder didn't know what he was doing). The player cannot handle such a high reference frame count. Converting with Handbrake will obviously get it to play as long as you set things up correctly. The difference between Handbrake and MKVMerge is that the latter remuxes the file in secs. with no quality loss to a different container (MP4 to MKV), whereas the former will re-encode the file taking hours and taxing your CPU, and re-encoding always leads to some amount of quality loss given the lossy codecs used.

In this case however, the reframe count cannot be lowered by remuxing since the encoder got it wrong initially, so you will need to re-encode; there's no other way out.

[Spasch]

Ah, so that's the issue. I did try with MKVMerge first. And yes, the Handbrake conversion has resulted in a playable file (keeps the wife happy). Admittedly, I don't have very many MP4 files and this is the first one with the issue.

[Spasch]

New firmware supposedly fixes the issue with MP4 file playback..

Posted about it in Firmware