HD200 standalone playback problems with MKV and WMV files

[jeremyc78]

I purchased the HD200 couple of days ago. I've had many problems with video playback as well as audio playback of my collection of digital movies in MKV and WMV. The same video and audio problems have shown on both audio outs - HDMI and Digital Optical. My computer plays the video files perfectly, with no video artifacts or audio problems.
The HD200 is connected to my Onkyo TX-SR805 via HDMI. I have tried using the digital optical cable with the same audio playback problems the HDMI exhibits. I connected my external WD hard drive directly to the HD200 via USB to isolate variables from streaming problems. I downloaded the new firmware update on the HD200 - 20081201 0 and the problems continue.

Problems Audio Playback for my MKV and WMV files
Digital Optical Problems...

Digital Optical on WMV:
1. On the settings: "Bitstream" and "PCM" There is no audio at all.

Digital Optical on MKV with DTS 5.1
1. On the settings: "Bitstream" and "PCM" Using Digital Optical watching a DTS MKV my receiver displays the correct DTS and pushes out 5.1 audio. However the audio pauses for a moment every 5-10 seconds.

Digital Optical on MKV with Dolby Digital 5.1
1. On the settings: "Bitstream" and "PCM" Using Digital Optical watching a DD MKV My receiver does show the Dolby Digital logo with 5.1 displayed but does not push any sound at all.

HDMI audio problems...

HDMI on MKV with DTS 5.1
1. On the setting: "Bitstream" Using HDMI Watching a DTS MKV my receiver displays the correct DTS and pushes out 5.1 audio. However the audio pauses for a moment every 5-10 seconds exactly like the problem with the digital optical cable.
2. On the setting: "PCM" Using HDMI watching a DTS MKV my receiver doesn't display DTS and doesn't give me any sound at all.

HDMI on MKV with Dolby Digital 5.1
1. On the setting: "Bitstream" Using HDMI Watching a DD MKV my receiver displays the correct Dolby Digital but does not give me any audio at all.
2. On the setting: "PCM" Using HDMI watching a DD MKV my receiver only gives me 2 channel audio. No 5.1. Strange...

HDMI on WMV 5.1 file
1. On the settings: "Bitstream" and "PCM" There is no audio at all.

Problems with Video playback on my MKV files...
1. Many of my video files show artifacts that distort the image of the movie every one in a while. Again, on my computer, these files play flawlessly in video and audio playback using the VLC player.

Is there going to be another firmware update that will fix these problems? I wanted this device to work, but I will have to return it if I can't use it! Any ideas?

[QueOnda]

See post 5 and 7 regarding WMV playback: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37883

[Narflex]

(I removed all the from your post because they were too distracting when I was trying to read it since you put one on every line almost)

First thing to do is try the beta firmware; that should resolve some of your problems (just enter 2382 on the System Update menu to get the beta firmware)

For the WMV files; what audio format do those files have?

For the DTS files in PCM mode; that's not supported. DTS is only done via pass-through over bitstream (This is indicated in the specs for the HD200 on our website).

For AC3 files in PCM mode; it will only send 2 channels (This is indicated in the specs for the HD200 on our website).

Let us know how it goes after the beta firmware update.

[jeremyc78]

Thanks for the help!

The Beta firmware fixed much of the MKV audio problems. I can now get MKV in DD 5.1 pushed through! There are still some very slight pauses in the DD every couple of min or so, but definately not as bad as the MKV in DTS. Before the beta firmware, DD didn't give me bitstream audio at all.

My WMV files are in WMA format, 5.1. Most of them are around 640kb, some are slightly higher.

Thanks for the info on PCM. I would prefer to bitstream the audio track to allow my receiver to process the info instead of PCM anyway.

Still a couple of issues the beta didn't seem to fix.
1. MKV in DTS is still pausing the audio every few seconds, no change
2. WMV - still no audio
3. The video is displaying some artifacts - mainly on the files encoded in DTS (maybe theres a correlation?)

I am very excited about your product! Any idea how often firmware updates will happen?

Thanks for all your help! Much appreciated!!!

[Narflex]

For the pauses; try putting a file on a USB drive and see how that plays. If that's OK then there may be a network problem. What's the average bitrate of these files? (file size in bits divided by duration in seconds)

For the WMV files that won't play; if you view the Detailed Info for one of those files what does it list as the format? (you can use the Options command during playback to get another menu that has Detailed Info as an option on it; or just hit OK twice)

For the video artifacting issue; can you submit a bug report and then we can give you the upload location to send a file? http://sagetv.com/bugs.html

Thanks....and firmware updates are fairly frequent depending upon what's going on. I think we've done about four in the past 3 weeks.

[jeremyc78]

I am currently using my external hard drive hooked up to the USB port so there are no network issues and there is still a slight pause every 1 to 2 min in MKV DD. Worse in MKV DTS, maybe every 5 to 10 seconds.

On the detailed info for one of my WMV files: ASF[VC1/11.9 Mbps 1080p @ 1000fps WMA pro/768 Kbps @48 kHz 5.1.

[jeremyc78]

I also notice that after trying several different movies I get the following error "There was a playback error in playback. Details: sage.playbackexception"

[Narflex]

We'll be putting out a new firmware today; give that one a try and let us know. And for the WMV files; WMA Pro audio is not currently supported.

[jeremyc78]

Awesome news on the new firmware update! I will let you know what I find out when it comes out.

Any idea on whether the HD200 will ever support WMA Pro?

[jeremyc78]

I installed the new beta firmware. The DD and DTS both seem to be fixed for sound over HDMI with MKV! I don't experience the pauses like before. GREAT JOB!

Problems with the update...
1. I can't get any sound at all bitstreaming with the digital optical cable on DD or DTS with MKV.
2. Do you know when wma pro will be supported?
3. I still see visual artifacts on some of my files.

Thank you!

[valnar]

Originally Posted by jeremyc78

3. I still see visual artifacts on some of my files

1080p files?

[jeremyc78]

These are some of the files that show the video artifacts using SageTV. These same files play flawlessly using Media Center Classic with the Klite codec.

Eagle Eye
Info: Matroska [H.264 1920x800@24fps, AC3@48kHz 5.1]

Dinosaur
Info: Matroska [H.264 1920x1040@24fps, AC3@48kHz 5.1]

Eragon
Info: Matroska [H.264 1920x816@24fps, AC3@48kHz 5.1]

I have a 20 or so files in WMV that I would like to watch in my theater room using the HD 200. Do you know when you will support WMV Pro?

[valnar]

Jeremyc78,

Please see this thread.