Sound Dropouts on DTS...

[RocKKer]

Sorry my bad this is NOT for DTS but really AC3 5.1 sound dropouts.



I noticed this on my HD200 (HDMI to TV, SPDIF to AVR) since the Olympics started not sure when it creeped in. I've had a new kernel (server is Ubunto 9.04 w/kernel 2.6.28.18), and updated the HD200 firmwares to 20100208 0 over the last few weeks.

The dropouts occur every few minutes, without any pattern. If I backup and play the same few seconds of the recording again, no dropout, so it doesn't seem to be the recording.

No problem with the playback of the same content on the SD HD200's (using analog connectors). No problem with DTS playback from any other files (BRD/DVD rips) on this HD200.

I swapped with one of the HD200's and still got dropouts, I think I can rule out an HD200 hardware failure.

I have downgraded the firmware of the problem HD200 to the 20090903, so we'll see if related. A cursory check (5 minutes of playback seem ok), but will have to test more thorough later.

Anyone else notice DTS dropouts?

[RocKKer]

Firmware 20090903 still has dropouts although fewer and farther between. I tried the second audio stream labeled as spa (but it is still english) no dropouts. But it's 2 channel not 5.1.

Updated back to 20100208 0, dropouts still there and second audio stream (2 channel) is still perfect.

I also checked Silicondust for new firmware for the HDHR - there was one, version 20100213 (was on 20100121). DL it and applied (rebooted the HDHR too), we'll see if that fixes anything.

[valnar]

I've had the same problem for months with DTS. It happened a couple firmwares ago. I never got it resolved.

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by RocKKer

No problem with DTS playback from any other files (BRD/DVD rips) on this HD200.

On my Blu-ray rips that have DTS HD audio, I keep the DTS HD track and make an AC3 track as well for my non-avreceiver rooms.

I get the dropouts when I play the DTSHD track via HDMI from my HD200 thru my AV Receiver. IIRC the HD200 is extracting the DTS core for playback in this setting.

[RocKKer]

According to this it may not be an end user issue. People are reporting NBC dropouts, I've seen a few reports on the AVS Forum also which specifically mention the Olympics, but I noticed it during one of the local news broadcasts too.

I recorded NASCAR from Fox network on Sunday and it was flawless. I will test a few more HD broadcasts from the other affiliates, but I'm almost ready to narrow my testing specifically to NBC.

Thanks HelenWeathers - I guess I haven't completely tested DTSMA or HD, as I replace the DTS with AC3 in my BRD rips that are on my SageTV server, I have a few BRD rips before conversion so I'll test them. BTW My TV doesn't pass DTS thru it's HDMI (IIRC), so that why I use the SPDIF on the HD200.

Valnar - is your issue limited to any specific network or is it system wide?

[valnar]

Originally Posted by RocKKer

Valnar - is your issue limited to any specific network or is it system wide?

System wide. I actually wasn't aware the Olympics were broadcasting DTS. I have no idea that was allowed in the spec. I've seen DD5.1, but not DTS.

The DTS issue happens on my DTS audio encoded.MKV files. It used to be fine 6+ months ago, but not recently. Nothing substantial changed on my end except for Sage upgrades. I only notice it on my extenders.

[RocKKer]

Yes AC3 5.1 as the primary stream on my Olympic recordings. Didn't mean to confuse. Wish I could change the subject line.

I certainly don't profess to know much about the different streams, but how are you encoding the mkv files? I rip, tsmuxer to seperate all the streams then re-encode video with megui, convert DTSHD audio stream first to DTS core, then eac3to to AC3, then finally tsmuxer (vid, audio and sup) into an m2ts file.

Does it make any difference for you if BRD, m2ts, mkv or mp4 file format? I know all should be played without error, just curious.

[valnar]

Originally Posted by RocKKer

Yes AC3 5.1 as the primary stream on my Olympic recordings. Didn't mean to confuse.

I certainly don't profess to know much about the different streams, but how are you encoding the mkv files? I rip, tsmuxer to seperate all the streams then re-encode video with megui, convert DTSHD audio stream first to DTS core, then eac3to to AC3, then finally tsmuxer (vid, audio and sup) into an m2ts file.

Does it make any difference for you if BRD, m2ts, mkv or mp4 file format? I know all should be played without error, just curious.

I use a similar procedure, but different front ends (like Ripbot). It doesn't matter if its a DVD either though, with DTS. All are MKV, and I believe have to, to get all the stuff I put in there (chapters, subs, etc).

[OferL]

Having the same problem with a new HD200 I just got.
I am playing bd rips and tv shows with DTS track. It drops without any method to it. Playing the same files on a pc client give no drops.
So I opened a tech support request. They asked for a log while playing these files but I haven't got around to it.

Looking through this forum I found this thread:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37913
It seems around dec.2008 they had the same problem and it was solved after several people sent tech support requests and sage fixed it through a FW update... so please send your queries to sage support. Lets get this thing fixed!

[RocKKer]

I fixed my sound dropouts.

I replaced my AV Receiver - not only was I getting dropouts from the HD200 but also from my Dishnet VIP722. I tried many things, but ultimately I borrowed a receiver from a friend and didn't have dropouts on either my HD200 or the Dishnet. My AVR was 8 years old, so maybe it was time.

It was interesting, some channels on dish PVR and some on the HD200 were perfect while others had several dropouts. NBC affiliate (OTA) and Comedy channel (among a few other Dish channels) had dropouts, didn't have any issues with Fox, PBS, ABC or CBS OTA.

A side benefit was this new AVR switches HDMI so I was also able to use fewer cables.

[alon24]

I opened a bug report on the DTS issue in mkv file and gave them a sample.
As of 2 weeks ago they have been able to reproduce the problem (according to an email from them).

Now I just wish they came out with a fix for it. even before sagetv 7 is out (its in 7.0.6 closed beta now - I want in!!!)

[valnar]

Originally Posted by alon24

I opened a bug report on the DTS issue in mkv file and gave them a sample.
As of 2 weeks ago they have been able to reproduce the problem (according to an email from them).

Excellent. Thank you! I don't want to move away from MKV.

[OferL]

Originally Posted by alon24

I opened a bug report on the DTS issue in mkv file and gave them a sample.
As of 2 weeks ago they have been able to reproduce the problem (according to an email from them).

Now I just wish they came out with a fix for it. even before sagetv 7 is out (its in 7.0.6 closed beta now - I want in!!!)

Alon I knew I could count on you!

Ofer

[Slack]

Originally Posted by alon24

Now I just wish they came out with a fix for it. even before sagetv 7 is out (its in 7.0.6 closed beta now - I want in!!!)

I noticed some problems on DTS track in an MKV. Then I tried DTS track on a Xvid file (from a DVD that I myself compressed) and it was even worse.

I had been running the latest beta firmware. I flashed the unit this morning to the latest released firnware, And issue with the xvid file is gone. YMMV.

[alon24]

and the problem with MKV DTS????

Originally Posted by Slack

I noticed some problems on DTS track in an MKV. Then I tried DTS track on a Xvid file (from a DVD that I myself compressed) and it was even worse.

I had been running the latest beta firmware. I flashed the unit this morning to the latest released firnware, And issue with the xvid file is gone. YMMV.

[Slack]

Originally Posted by alon24

and the problem with MKV DTS????

Problem is with the source I was watching it sorta came and went. I mean I noticed it after starting playback. After while is went away. Till I paused the playback for a bit - and returned to the movie. The drop outs were back. I shuttled the movie around a bit, and again, the drop outs stopped.


I will play the source with my downgraded firmware when I get home.

[valnar]

The latest beta firmware says it fixes the problem, but it does not for me. I still get DTS dropouts on some MKV files. It's most noticeable during high bitrate or loud scenes.

[derringer]

This has got to be what I am experiencing as well as I detailed on another thread.

I have narrowed it to x264 with DTS core in an MKV. I am able to play Dolby Digital EX (5.1) just fine, and even DTS-ES (matrixed) from a straight BluRay folder rip just fine, but an x264 encoded with a DTS core in an MKV has random drop outs across several different rips, on both the most current BETA firmware and the most current non-beta firmware.

Anyone else seeing this as well?

[MCE-Refugee]

Just to confirm that I am amongst those who are still seeing the DTS audio problem on my HD200 even with the latest beta firmware. The problem has changed subtly as it used to manifest itself as audio distortion but is now dropouts. It is severe enough that it is impossible to watch the video as it's not just the odd dropout that I could live with but happens every few seconds. I too can provide samples although as they are BluRay rips they are pretty enormous in size.

You can find various reports of the same problem in several other threads if you search the forum for postings with DTS in the title (which is how I found this one).

[Sneaks]

Originally Posted by derringer

This has got to be what I am experiencing as well as I detailed on another thread.

I have narrowed it to x264 with DTS core in an MKV. I am able to play Dolby Digital EX (5.1) just fine, and even DTS-ES (matrixed) from a straight BluRay folder rip just fine, but an x264 encoded with a DTS core in an MKV has random drop outs across several different rips, on both the most current BETA firmware and the most current non-beta firmware.

Anyone else seeing this as well?

I have the exact same problem with dropouts. Was happening in latest 6.x, and I'm now on the 7 beta, with same issue Seems pretty random when it happens, but it's generally constant, anywhere from every few seconds to a few minutes, and unfortunately makes things unwatchable. x264 w DTS using HD200, with optical pass through to my Yamaha 595b receiver

I also recently upgraded my server MB/CPU,etc, so issues persisted through that.

Would love it solved for sure! fingers crossed.