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synchronized HD210 video freezing

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Gerry Lawson
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Hi all,

We have a setup with 4 HD210 units setup for synchronized playback of 4 long videos that are the exact same duration. We have managed to initiate synchronized playback but the video either stops or freezes at about the 40 minute mark. The full duration is 46 minutes.

For context:

We have 4 HD 210s connected via ethernet (manual assigned static IPs) with a switch. Nothing else on that network.
We are playing 4 different videos of exactly the same duration (46 minutes, 8 seconds, 2 frames)
Videos are encoded to a 21.1 Mbs, vbr, MPEG-2 transport stream with Apple Compressor.
3 of those videos show a seamless image (ie: make up one very wide frame video)
We are using a modified script downloaded from brightsign to initiate synched playback.
We have had the videos play entirely through before but the 2nd and 3rd videos were playing too fast (slave 1 and 2.) These two videos were delivered without an audio track and by adding the audio from video 1 the clips played back at the same rate as the 1st and 4th - until they all freeze. the freeze issue started after re-encoding these two videos.
The playback units are already installed 30 feet up in the ceiling so testing isn't as easy as it used to be.
I have not yet tried to play each video independently to see if one of them freezes (I know this is the first thing we should do.)

I am thinking that either a glitch in one video is freezing a playback unit and the other videos are stopping in response or there is an issue with the script that is responsible for the videos stopping.

I was really hoping that somebody had run into this sort of issue previously and had worked it out.

I will post back when i get a fix or more info.

thanks for reading,
gerry
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8 comments

  • 0
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    RokuLyndon


    If your videos were playing too fast, then they were mpeg1 elementary streams. Those aren't supported because they playback too fast. I agree that the locking up seems most likely related to encoding problems with the content.



    It's possible there's improper termination of the video.



    is it only the two units that were fast that are freezing? The synchronization commands are sent before the start of the video. So, nothing in the script would cause the video to stop at 40 minutes.



    We could try updating the firmware on the units. We have made some updates to better handle "problem" videos. The best solution is to get the files encoded properly.



    Please try this release first:

    Firmware 3.1.83
  • 0
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    Gerry Lawson


    Hi Lyndon



    thanks for the quick reply,



    The videos were definitely encoded as transport streams - they just didn't have any audio stream. All of the videos were encoded in exactly the same way. The two that had an audio stream played at the same rate and the two without audio played at a faster rate.



    I haven't been there for all of the tests but from what i understand the video would start and play properly but the two middle videos played at a faster rate. I re-encoded the middle two videos with the audio from video1 and then the videos would play synchronized but freeze at 40 minutes (all of the videos.) i am not positive that the videos played through fully and looped at different speeds as I wasn't there.



    I then re-encoded the 1st and 4th videos ( because parts needed de-interlacing) and the freezing is still happening (I didn't really expect it to be fixed by this.)



    Another current issue is that there is no sound coming from the HD210s when playing back. We are playing back via HDMI to DVI adapter. I thought that the problem might be the HD210 playing audio through HDMI and not through the minijack out but I figured that I would test this later. I am currently testing playback f the same videos on a HD1010 and it does have sound when playing through the VGA output.



    I will look at the firmware update after some more testing but I expect that the issues can be solved with some decent detective work and re-encoding etc...



    Anyway, if you have any other ideas please pass them on (and I will try the new firmware soon.)



    thanks,



    gerry
  • 0
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    Gerry Lawson


    Quick update,



    video 2 plays back fully (with audio) on the HD1010.



    I've got access to the script now and in looking I think it might be an issue with the script. The script is designed for 4 videos to be played in succession.  Is it possible that the unit will try to preload a nonexistent video2 and freeze playback?



    I don't write scripts myself but this looks fairly straightforward. When I have time I'll try to cut out the parts that don't apply to our setup. In this regard should the EnableZoneSupport() parameter be false if we are just playing fullscreen video?



    thanks again
  • 0
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    Gerry Lawson


    OK, last update.



    After amending the script to reflect our setup more accurately (ie: only 1 video not 4, no zones, and reflect the proper resolution/framerate) we now have a working setup.



    The audio problem I mentioned seems to be a combination of a faulty master playback unit and no audio stream in the first slave (only those two were tested.) There still is no audio playback on the master unit but the slave seems fine.



    gerry
  • 0
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    RokuLyndon


    Ok,



    So, what issues are still open, just the problem master unit?
  • 0
    Avatar
    Gerry Lawson


    The only issue still open is the lack of audio playback from the master unit - other units are outputting audio (encoded the same way.)



    I haven't tested the unit myself but once tested we will contact about a replacement.



    thanks,

    gerry
  • 0
    Avatar
    RokuLyndon


    Can you test that same flash card in another unit to make sure it's the unit and not the content? Just move the card to another box, and see if you get audio.
  • 0
    Avatar
    Gerry Lawson


    Hi Lyndon,



    I intend to do just that.



    gerry
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