Stuttering problems when watching Freeview on HTPC

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Stuttering problems when watching Freeview on HTPC

1 | 2 | 3

gzt

18685 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7826

Lifetime subscriber

#578952 8-Feb-2012 21:36

Suggest updating the network and sata drivers also if you have not done that already.

Saw a guy saying he fixed it after updating from this realtek site:

http://218.210.127.131/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

but who knows.

You could give this a run and see if it tells you anything useful:

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

Later on, running a whole different soundcard chipset might be interesting if you have one capable.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#579347 9-Feb-2012 16:30

Further to my previous reply. I used to get the program I use (WinTV v7) freezing all the time until I turned off hardware acceleration. It hasn't frozen since but I still get occasional pixellation and sound problems. I think it's mostly because the HVR2200 is just not as sensitive as other tuners. Also the combination of PC parts (M/B, uPC Video card etc) seems to be a possible factor. I note that your previous system was AMD and the new one is Intel. Maybe that could be a factor. My uPC is Intel i5. Never tried an AMD.

P.S. Never had any problems with scheduled recording. They are always OK. Problems only evident with live viewing..

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#579471 9-Feb-2012 21:35

@gzt
-The Realtek link seems to go around in circles
-The latency test was pretty much perfect
-Also tried the graphics cards HDMI audio out to my TV same result

gzt

18685 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7826

Lifetime subscriber

#579477 9-Feb-2012 21:53

Try the navigation path: Computer Peripheral > PC Audio > High definition audio.

With the latency test, you will need to observe it when the problem is occurring.

B1GGLZ: P.S. Never had any problems with scheduled recording. They are always OK. Problems only evident with live viewing..

This indicates your system is having trouble keeping up in real-time, most likely because something is interrupting it. You might like to try the latency checker also and see if it gives a result when the problem is occurring.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#579986 10-Feb-2012 21:53

Well after not having much luck with Media Center 7, I tried Mediaportal and after a few hours no problems at all!!

After looking in the Mediaportal Live TV AAC audio settings it uses MONOGRAM AAC codec.

I also changed the Live TV video codec to the default Windows 7 codec as it gave smoother playback.

So with that in mind, how do I install and replace the default Windows 7 Live TV audio codec to MONOGRAM AAC?

I read on another thread that the MMAACD.AX doesn't play nice with 64bit.

I installed K-Lite Mega Codec pack (only because it installed MONOGRAM AAC codec) and used Win7DSFilterTweaker and in the preferred decoders on the 32bit side Ive changed it to MONOGRAM AAC option.

Is there any way to confirm that it is using the MONOGRAM AAC codec and that it is working without having to watch TV for hours and hours?

I'm also thinking once this has been all sorted, I may do a clean install in about a week or so to clear out excessive codecs and other random fix programs that may be floating around.

In forward preparation for it, any specific order I should install programs in?

I do like my CoreAVC for my MKVs so I guess that is a must.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#580534 12-Feb-2012 16:35

After watching mindless Sunday afternoon TV mediaportal has not faulted, unfortunately Media Center did.

Would it be worth installing the 32bit version of 7 so that I can integrate the MONOGRAM AAC codec or does the 64bit version of 7 still run a 32bit Media Center?

I just like the fact that 64bit version actually uses my total 4gb ram not this 3.5gb in 32bit

Or I may have to do a clean install and use Mediaportal.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#581064 13-Feb-2012 20:50

This may or may not throw a spanner in the works, but my old system I used a 8gb flash drive for Readyboost, just as an experiment.

Could this have the prevented my old system from having this audio stutter, or maybe I could adjust my page file on my new system?

I know that Readyboost is designed for systems with 2gb or less ram but I had a spare flash drive and USB port so why not give it a shot.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#582955 17-Feb-2012 19:46

Ive found this post on another forum

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpromedia/thread/ddeb7ecf-12b5-43d5-9f7e-342ec42a5c0d/

Does anyone know about this "buffer pool" that is talked about and what I should change it to?

gzt

18685 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7826

Lifetime subscriber

#583060 18-Feb-2012 07:29

I don't know. Check the time-shifting options. Maybe something there will effectively give you what you need anyway.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#583433 19-Feb-2012 15:00

Iv had some success with editing the pre pool buffer reg key, the stutter has stopped.

Unfortunately if I put if put it to s3 sleep and after resuming from sleep, the problem comes back and the only way to make it work again properly is to restart.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#587012 26-Feb-2012 18:03

Hi all

Just an update, I have fixed the stuttering and everything seems almost 100%.

In the registry I increased the Pre Pool Buffer to double the default and followed the instructions posted by "corego" on this forum.

http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/115/t/97152.aspx?PageIndex=1

I know I should put setup another thread, but can some one direct me to instructions on how to enable multi channel audio on MP4 files.

When playing MKV files my amp says "DTS" or "Dolby Digital" etc etc but when playing a MP4 it doesn't say anything, when I use MediaInfo it says under audio "6 channels, AAC(LC)".

Thanks to all the suggestions.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

AllenG

441 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#589493 2-Mar-2012 16:43

watman: Hi all

Just an update, I have fixed the stuttering and everything seems almost 100%.

In the registry I increased the Pre Pool Buffer to double the default and followed the instructions posted by "corego" on this forum.

http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/115/t/97152.aspx?PageIndex=1

I know I should put setup another thread, but can some one direct me to instructions on how to enable multi channel audio on MP4 files.

When playing MKV files my amp says "DTS" or "Dolby Digital" etc etc but when playing a MP4 it doesn't say anything, when I use MediaInfo it says under audio "6 channels, AAC(LC)".

Thanks to all the suggestions.

Hi.

This problem has been plaguing me for ever. I have done a clean install (win7 Pro 64 bit, Asus P7P55D-E mobo, I7 CPU, Hauppauge PCIe tuners). I found that I had less issues with an Nvidia graphics card than I was with an equivilent ATI card.
I will try these two things one at a time and see what happens.
What is the registry key for the pre pool buffer value? searching for pre pool buffer finds nothing?

Regards Allen.

watman

66 posts

Master Geek

#589598 2-Mar-2012 21:53

Hi Allen

Sorry its not pre pool buffer its called BufferPoolSize

The key is in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Video\Tuners\DVR

And the key is:
BufferPoolSize

Just to confirm this was a video of my problem, the original link in the post was deleted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbt-KUxQ_8U&feature=youtu.be

Regards

AllenG

441 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#589610 2-Mar-2012 22:17

watman: Hi Allen

Sorry its not pre pool buffer its called BufferPoolSize

The key is in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Video\Tuners\DVR

And the key is:
BufferPoolSize

Just to confirm this was a video of my problem, the original link in the post was deleted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbt-KUxQ_8U&feature=youtu.be

Regards

Hi Watman

I've tried the bcdedit /set useplatformclock true but it didn't make any difference.

My problem is slightly different to yours. I very rarely have any issues with audio, I get a brief pixelation or stutter of the video aprox 40 seconds after starting playback, changing channels or skipping through a recording and also a few times at random. This happens on freeview DVB-T (Mpeg4 H.264), never happens on satallite ( Mpeg2) The Hauppauge signal monitor always shows zero errors and S/N of between 27 & 30 so I'm pretty sure it's not an antenna problem.
Also when doing multiple 30 second skips through commercials on FOUR the video often pauses for many seconds until the audio catches up, perhaps until a key frame comes up? Only on FOUR.

I'll try the bufferpoolsize change and see if that helps.

I've read many posts on many forums and in a lot of cases the problem is only with the microsoft foundation tv/dvd codec used by WMC and it works ok with other apps that use a different codec. Unfortunately as far as I have read there is no way to use an alternative to this codec in 64 bit media centre.

Regards Allen.

1 | 2 | 3