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[Feature Request] .ts file is not HW-accelerated but repacked to MKV is

Hello,
When I try to play .ts file (e.g. HBO HD movie) recorded using DVB-C set-top box, MXPlayer uses SW mode and playback looks like a slideshow.
So I have repacked the same movie to MKV container using mkvmerge and followed the advice from this forum to configure MXPlayer to use HW acceleration for video and SW mode using custom codec for audio (for AC3 decoding). Playback is perfectly smooth in this case, because MXPlayer uses HW acceleration.
The original TS file contains:
- H264 1080i PAL 50fps track
- 1st AC3 audio track
- 2nd AC3 audio track
- 1st DVB subtitle track
- 2nd DVB subtitle track
The repacked MKV file contains:
- the same H264 track (w/o recoding)
- the same 1st AC3 audio track (w/o recoding)
(mkvmerge cannot convert DVB subtitles, so in MKV file the subtitle track is missing)
I have the Acer Iconia A1 810 tablet.
Repacking to MKV is an option to play my recordings smoothly, but I'd like to play the original TS files from SMB share, because my archive is full of such TS files. Repacking is hard and slow and additionally it'd throwed the subtitles away.
Please, is it possible to modify MXPlayer so it can play also the TS files in HW accelerated mode?
Thank you in advance!

I doubt it, because the ts container can contain so much more incompatible formats and as you probably know, AC3 for instance is not hardware supported on most devices. You cant go and force hardware decoding for something that might-half-work, but you always have the option to select your decoder and try. I'm afraid you'll just have to accept that there's some things your hardware can't decode.

Note that the smooth playback is not a problem in my case. Repacked in MKV container, my hardware plays both the mentioned tracks (H264+AC3) smoothly.
What I ask the MXPlayer team for, is to enable the same MXPlayer behavior for the original TS container file containing the same tracks (H264/AC3).
In my opinion, the MKV container is the same case as the TS container. MKV file can also contain almost anything.
I've thought that the decision to use (or not to use) HW acceleration for a video track should come after a splitter, on the basis of the video format and should not be derived from a container file format.

Hmm, that is odd. Sorry I assumed the AC3 track would've been incompatible, as it is with many androids. I always thought MX Player did decide on HW acceleration independent of containers. I can only guess some track contained in the .ts is incompatible.
But have your tried forcing HW playback (or HW+) on the .ts file yet? You can select this in the top right while a video is playing.

I thought that HW support of different containers depended on the device. Not sure.
I would think that when you select HW, it not only passes the decoding, but also the container splitting, to the hardware, which is my guess at why HW won't support different containers since the hardware doesn't know how to split the container.
@bleu8888 could you provide some insight into this?

CDB-Man said:
I thought that HW support of different containers depended on the device. Not sure.
I would think that when you select HW, it not only passes the decoding, but also the container splitting, to the hardware, which is my guess at why HW won't support different containers since the hardware doesn't know how to split the container.
@bleu8888 could you provide some insight into this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you CDB-Man and Logic_ for your thoughts.
In MX Player, it is possible to use HW decoder for a video track in parallel (and in sync) with SW decoder for an audio track. That is why I hope, that a container-splitting can be done independently on choice which decoder will be used for the given track.

My understnading is that splitting is done by whatever is set as the video decoder in MX. Audio decoder just receives the audio stream from whatever splitter is used. It's not that SW audio runs "in parallel" with HW video per se; SW or HW audio just receives an audio stream from whatever is used as the container splitter.

Sorry, my previous post was probably somewhat misleading.
It was reaction to your post:
CDB-Man said:
I thought that HW support of different containers depended on the device. Not sure.
I would think that when you select HW, it not only passes the decoding, but also the container splitting, to the hardware, which is my guess at why HW won't support different containers since the hardware doesn't know how to split the container.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted to say, that from the fact, that video can be independently decoded by HW and audio by SW, I presume, that splitting can also be done independently - by SW - while maintaining the players ability to pass video track decoding to HW.

Hi KodloN,
Did you try hw+ decoder? hw decoder is just stock decoder which has no chance to be improved at all.
If you it still does not work with hw+ decoder, please send me (to [email protected]) a sample .ts file that cannot be played with hw+ decoder.
Thanks

bleu8888 said:
Hi KodloN,
Did you try hw+ decoder? hw decoder is just stock decoder which has no chance to be improved at all.
If you it still does not work with hw+ decoder, please send me (to [email protected]) a sample .ts file that cannot be played with hw+ decoder.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi bleu8888,
Yes, I've tried hw+ decoder, below are results:
1) The original TS file (HBO_HD recording)
SW decoder only. Trying to switch to HW or HW+ decoder falls back to SW with error message "Cannot play this video with H/W(+) decoder".
2) TS file in which the DVB subtitle track and the Czech audio track were removed (repacked by DVBViewer-TSPlayer)
HW+ decoder is functional, but playback is sluggish on my Acer Iconia Tab A1-810 (similar performance as SW decoder playback)
HW decoder cannot play this video.
3) MKV file created from the original TS file using mkvmerge
HW decoder is functional, perfect smooth playback
HW+ decoder cannot play this video
I will send you a link to all three files to the specified email.
Thank you in advance!

Hi,
Would you try latest test build from following link?
.ts hw+ playback is improved in this test build but I'm not sure your issue is fixed because this issue looks like happening only on MediaTek platforms and I do not have device having MediaTek playform.
(Please note that hw playback is not changed though)
https://sites.google.com/site/mxvpen/translation/test-build
BTW, DVB subtitle positioning issue is also fixed.
Feedback will be appreacited !
Thanks
KodloN said:
Hi bleu8888,
Yes, I've tried hw+ decoder, below are results:
1) The original TS file (HBO_HD recording)
SW decoder only. Trying to switch to HW or HW+ decoder falls back to SW with error message "Cannot play this video with H/W(+) decoder".
2) TS file in which the DVB subtitle track and the Czech audio track were removed (repacked by DVBViewer-TSPlayer)
HW+ decoder is functional, but playback is sluggish on my Acer Iconia Tab A1-810 (similar performance as SW decoder playback)
HW decoder cannot play this video.
3) MKV file created from the original TS file using mkvmerge
HW decoder is functional, perfect smooth playback
HW+ decoder cannot play this video
I will send you a link to all three files to the specified email.
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[BUG] Hw decoder works on http stream but not if played locally, same file

I am experiencing a weird bug, If I stream a avi file the MXplayer can decode it with HW decoder, however if I download the file and play it locally, only the SW decoder works.
This is the same on all my devices (Xiaomi mi3, galaxy S1, allwinner a10).

whise1 said:
I am experiencing a weird bug, If I stream a avi file the MXplayer can decode it with HW decoder, however if I download the file and play it locally, only the SW decoder works.
This is the same on all my devices (Xiaomi mi3, galaxy S1, allwinner a10).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically H/W decoder uses android's mediaplayer API.
In simple words, It will just call the mediaplayer to play the video. If any issue araises in H/W it's probably be from the ROM.
What about H/W+?
Can you post the logs?
Without proper logs we can't know exactly what's went wrong...!
Sent from my SM-G900H

ktsamy said:
Basically H/W decoder uses android's mediaplayer API.
In simple words, It will just call the mediaplayer to play the video. If any issue araises in H/W it's probably be from the ROM.
What about H/W+?
Can you post the logs?
Without proper logs we can't know exactly what's went wrong...!
Sent from my SM-G900H
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here they are, I played the stream first (HW was available). Then I played the same file locally (only played using SW).
Another weird thing is that if I check the properties (in mx properties), I can't see codec info on the stream, whereas in the local file all codec properties are visible.
Hope it helps you help me .
Some thoughts on this...
HW log when the video is loading
05-16 14:28:39.023 2373 2373 W MX.Player.Player: Skipping 2ndary player due to host is not local - /162.210.195.27
05-16 14:28:39.023 2373 2373 V MX.Player.Joint: Creating a joint player. [email protected] 2nd=null mix=0
05-16 14:28:39.033 2373 2373 D MediaPlayer: Couldn't open file on client side, trying server side
05-16 14:28:39.183 109 1327 D CDX_Player: >>>>>>>> CedarX Player Version: 00010800
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SW log when the video is loading
05-16 14:29:45.863 2373 2373 V MX.Player.Joint: Creating a joint player. [email protected] [email protected] mix=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im thinking the MX player doesn't ask to start the system player if the file is local
EDIT: also i just found out that if i use bubbleupnp to http render the local file, mx player can HW decode it, so it must be a local/stream issue

whise1 said:
Here they are, I played the stream first (HW was available). Then I played the same file locally (only played using SW).
Another weird thing is that if I check the properties (in mx properties), I can't see codec info on the stream, whereas in the local file all codec properties are visible.
Hope it helps you help me .
Some thoughts on this...
HW log when the video is loading
SW log when the video is loading
Im thinking the MX player doesn't ask to start the system player if the file is local
EDIT: also i just found out that if i use bubbleupnp to http render the local file, mx player can HW decode it, so it must be a local/stream issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can force MX Player use HW decoder on local playback under Settings > Decoder.

bleu8888 said:
You can force MX Player use HW decoder on local playback under Settings > Decoder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but although it says its using the HW decoder i dont think it is because i can adjust the volume to over 15.
It says it is using the HW but i bet its using the SW decoder (only the sw decoder can i set the volume to over 15)

whise1 said:
Yes but although it says its using the HW decoder i dont think it is because i can adjust the volume to over 15.
It says it is using the HW but i bet its using the SW decoder (only the sw decoder can i set the volume to over 15)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HW decoder means video is being playing with HW decoder but audio still can be played with SW or HW+ decoder. Check if "Use SW decoder" is checked on audio track selection window.

MX player stopped working on Nexus 9

Since the last update MX player is no longer working properly on my Nexus 9 tablet.
Strangely enough the option of using HW+ decoding has completely disappeared from the settings/decoder menu.
I use MX player mainly to play HD streams from my satellite receivers via DVBLink TV server.
SD channels still play with SW decoding.
HD/FHD channels so far have always played with HW+ decoding but that option has now disappeared, and these channels will not play properly with SW or HW decoding.
I'm using licenced MX player PRO.
Is it possible to go back to the previous version of MX player?
Is there a versions history somewhere that lets you download?

Would you check if HW+ is sitll not working on 1.8.6?

bleu8888 said:
Would you check if HW+ is sitll not working on 1.8.6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure.
Just updated to 1.8.6 and HW+ is now present again on Nexus 9. :good:
Playback with HW+ seems to work fine too.

h.264 10-bit video Support

hello,
I might buy the Galaxy S8 Plus ( Snapdragon Model ) soon but need to make sure it can play an h.264 10-bit video using hardware decoding.
name of the video: [1080p][16_REF_L5.1][FLAC_5.1]Suzumiya Haruhi no Shou****su BD OP.mkv
this is a link for the sample video:
https://www.koi-sama.net/files/hi10/
I really appreciate the help, thank you.

I tried them on my Verizon 8+ and get "unsupported video codec" using the default video player.
I have not tried d/l VLC or an alternative to see if that works, it may.

could you please check using mx player h/w+ or h/w

MX Player hw+ doesn't seem to have a problem with any of the sample video decoding, got a complaint about unsupported audio (AC3) on one of the files though.

thank you for your help, I just purchased the phone ( G955U ) and it isn't working on hw+, is there a Rom or kernel you are using?

I'm using bone-stock as provided by Verizon, with all current system updates.
Videos d/l to local SD card and played off that from within MX Player. I noticed some traffic where spawning video playback via file explorer may not work in some cases so I opened the file directly in MX.
The MX Player I used was the free edition, freshly installed.
I have since bought MX Player Pro, and of course it works on my device.
System performance settings are at the default, no tweaking so far (phone is 4 days old).
Good luck, sorry I don't have more help to offer, still new with the device.

thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

If you haven't installed their codec pack, get it. I think it will fix your problems: MX Player Codec (ARMv7 NEON)

hello, tried it and didnt work, it does run 4k hevc 10-bit using hw but cant run h.264 10-bit unless I use sw (works well but fast battery drain).
thank you

Runs smooth and without problems or lags with the mx Player pro with the sw decoder. The hw decoder doesn't Work.

i use hw+
along with a custom codec for ac3

Yep custom MX codec canm be found here on XDA forum - use search.
It's up to 1.9.0... Anything older will get an "update codec" message....

I tried but no luck, it works on sw only, what is your phone's model?
mine is G955U Sprint Unlocked. all other codecs work ( even hevc 10-bit 4k ) but h.264 10-bit is only working on sw.

How do you setup the custom codec for AC3 (I recognize I'm being lazy by just asking...but I have a headache...)?

For C0derbear
Put on root directory of phoner or sd card and start MX player. Go to settings, and select "custom codec at bottom of list in decoder settings. Select codec with browser it opens.
That's if it doesn't detect the custom codec and ask to use it.
It will restart to apply codec...

Low video quality unsing HW+ decoder

hi,
I have an Minix U9-H box (android 6.0) and when I play full HD streaming files from my ip tv provider using HW+ decoder, the video quality is poor. It's working fine with HW or SW decoder (The codec used by mx player is ARM V7 NEON).
I checked also in perfect player and when using HW+, it seems the player downgrade the video resolution to SD format.
Any clue ?
Chris

rusukof36 said:
hi,
I have an Minix U9-H box (android 6.0) and when I play full HD streaming files from my ip tv provider using HW+ decoder, the video quality is poor. It's working fine with HW or SW decoder (The codec used by mx player is ARM V7 NEON).
I checked also in perfect player and when using HW+, it seems the player downgrade the video resolution to SD format.
Any clue ?
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be a bug in the system decoder. In HW+, MX Player passes the frames to the system decoders to directly decode. Probably, the resolution of the decoded frame might be low. We have encountered a similar issue in the past especially when the stream is interlaced. If it's the root cause, then it has to be fixed on the firmware. You will notice similar issues with all major video player apps which makes use of similar technology.

rusukof36 said:
hi,
I have an Minix U9-H box (android 6.0) and when I play full HD streaming files from my ip tv provider using HW+ decoder, the video quality is poor. It's working fine with HW or SW decoder (The codec used by mx player is ARM V7 NEON).
I checked also in perfect player and when using HW+, it seems the player downgrade the video resolution to SD format.
Any clue ?
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HW and HW+ uses GPU for H.264 decoding. They performance much better from SW which uses CPU for decoding. HW can perform better than HW+ in most of the Cases, but there is a chance it does not work smoothly on many devices.

Same
Same problem. SW is better than HW and HW+. (Android tv 8.1 - Mibox 3s)

lighthousehn said:
Same problem. SW is better than HW and HW+. (Android tv 8.1 - Mibox 3s)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may happen when the Hardware Accelerated Decoders implemented on the device itself is buggy. Can you please contact us with screenshots of the playback on HW/HW+ and SW along with a bug reported collected from MX right after playing the file? It will help us to confirm the same.

There is no error, just low quality. HW and HW+ is same. SW is good.
The problem only occurs when viewing iptv (multicast - udp), watching the file on the hard disk is ok

lighthousehn said:
There is no error, just low quality. HW and HW+ is same. SW is good.
The problem only occurs when viewing iptv (multicast - udp), watching the file on the hard disk is ok
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is one of the known issues on Xiaomi's TV boxes with Oreo and Nougat firmware. Based on our past investigation, it has been found that the hardware accelerated decoder's output resolution of the video frames is much lower than the actual frame size. As both HW and HW+ relies on the decoders shipped with the device, you can notice the issues on both. Request you to contact the device manufacturer so that they can fix the same on their firmware.
If it is possible, kindly share a link with us on PM or at [email protected] so that we can also escalate the same from our end.

I also tried on my phone (Mi Mix 2s - Android 9, MIUI 10) and it gave same results.
multicast links on private network, so you can not access it: https://textuploader.com/dlohs/raw

lighthousehn said:
I also tried on my phone (Mi Mix 2s - Android 9, MIUI 10) and it gave same results.
multicast links on private network, so you can not access it: https://textuploader.com/dlohs/raw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please try any non-xiaomi device and check again? Can you also check whether it happens if you copy the stream to a file using FFmpeg? Without a sample clip or a link, we may not be able to seek the assistance of the Xiaomi team.

MXPlayer said:
Can you please try any non-xiaomi device and check again? Can you also check whether it happens if you copy the stream to a file using FFmpeg? Without a sample clip or a link, we may not be able to seek the assistance of the Xiaomi team.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a non-xiaomi device. These are sample files. I saved them with VLC
http://www.mediafire.com/file/71cnwgwzsgw674b/test.ts/file
https://www.mediafire.com/file/wjhcmec367uhwxr/test1.ts/file
Let me guess a bit: The format of the service provider is 1080i, this issue relates to the deinterlacing algorithm. With HW decoder, resolution halved.

maybe recode your video?