Serviio Pro v.1.3.1 breaks mkv on PS3?

I am having the same issue, is there any way that I can help sort this as it is really annoying Only difference between me and op is it was working fine in 1.3.0!

I am having the same issue, is there any way that I can help sort this as it is really annoying Only difference between me and op is it was working fine in 1.3.0!

While that sucks that you are experiencing this issue too, it is kind of reassuring that I'm not alone/going crazy!

Are you running the same setup? Streaming from a Mac to a PS3?

[zip]

I am having the same issue, is there any way that I can help sort this as it is really annoying Only difference between me and op is it was working fine in 1.3.0!

There was no difference regarding playback between 1.3.0 and 1.3.1. Hasn't there been a PS3 firmware update around that time, that might break stuff?

There have been some firmware updates (the latest was back in June), but nothing in the changelog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStatio ... m_software) would suggest it would break the media server...

Ahh another difference, I am streaming from a Windows 2012 Server box running on a HP Micro Server not a mac. I am a technical person, but don't know anything about what is going on with servio but am perfectly capable of following instructions to try and help narrow down the issue. Is there anything you would like me to try?

Oh and for pete sake make sure you turn debug logging off when you've finished. I only left the thing on for four hours and I've come back to a 450mb file

  Code:

2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] Serviio DLNA media streaming server v 1.3.1 (rev. f1fc8bc55657)
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] Petr Nejedly 2009-2013
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] http://www.serviio.org
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer]
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] Java 1.7.0_25-Oracle Corporation
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] OS Windows Server 2012 amd64 6.2
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] File encoding: windows-1252
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] Headless mode enabled: true
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] User: SERVER-01$
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] User home dir: C:\
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] Temp dir: C:\Windows\TEMP\
2013-09-08 18:38:31,367 INFO  [MediaServer] ------------------------------------------------------------------------


I took it upon myself to download the latest version of ffmpeg as of today but that made no difference...

Would the 4 Ref Frames vs 5 Ref Frames have anything to do with it?

Freedom86's post made me want to look into this again further. Here are some details that might actually prove useful:

1) As I previously mentioned, the files played OK before on the PS3 but fail to do so now.
2) While the primary devices I stream to are both PS3s (the symptom occurs on both), I realized I have another device to test to: my Nexus 4 via ServiiGo.
3) When I launch ServiiGo and ask to stream one of the MKVs that the PS3 is having problems with, it does stream (via MX Player) *however* there is NO AUDIO.
4) If I switch the ServiiGo decoder from H/W decoder to S/W decoder, the audio streams fine.

So, in summary, ServiiGo + S/W decoder = win; ServiiGo + H/W decoder = fail.

Does this help?

A few more notes:
-I replaced ffmpeg with a fresh copy of the latest version (2013-08-15); no change.
-I switched the profile from Playstation 3 to Generic DLNA device; now MKV files all appear in the list as "unsupported data" (rather than being able to see their filename and getting the error upon trying to view them).

So you're thinking it is some kind of audio issue?

[DenyAll]

I switched the profile from Playstation 3 to Generic DLNA device; now MKV files all appear in the list as "unsupported data"

Yep, MKV must be remuxed or transcoded for the PS3 (ie. the PS3 does not support MKV's natively). The remuxing/transcoding is done by ffmpeg, which did change from 1.2.1 to 1.3 (but not I believe from 1.3 to 1.3.1).

I replaced ffmpeg with a fresh copy of the latest version (2013-08-15); no change.

Just an idea - did you try reverting back to the old version that went out with 1.2.1? Download a 1.2.1 installation file version and extract the ffmpeg.exe file from it. Temporarily replace the ffmpeg in your 1.3.1 installation and try it (I suspect its not a good idea to keep this file there as there are likely things that the new version has that Serviio 1.3.1 now uses - but this test may help find where the issue is).

btw, I have a PS3 and haven't yet seen any failure of MKV's. Just lucky maybe.

Hi DenyAll,

I'll test that right now. I have downgraded ffmpeg to the version that comes packaged with Serviio 1.2.1 (modified March 22, 2013). I've restarted the server - but when I try to stream any of the files I get the same error.

Freedom86, I'm not entirely sure what the problem is - but if other devices are stumbling a bit on the file, it does give evidence to the idea that the problem is not purely localized in the PS3 profile, or (hopefully) it might give us a hint on what we need to modify in the PS3 profile to fix it.

[Illico]

You can try to create a new mpegts file from your mkv with TsMuxer tools (in both ts or m2ts output file). Keep the same video and audio track, only container should be changed.


EDIT:
Could you try in a local windows terminal the command line, then copy and add the output file to the serviio libary and check playback :

(audio transcoded to mp3)

ffmpeg -fflags +genpts -threads auto -i /Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY SHOWS/Adventure Time/Season 5/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv -y -c:v copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -sn -f mpegts /var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg

(audio transcoded to ac3)

ffmpeg -fflags +genpts -threads auto -i /Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY SHOWS/Adventure Time/Season 5/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv -y -c:v copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -c:a ac3 -b:a 192k -ac 2 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -sn -f mpegts /var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg

Illico, I have left that conversion running and will try the outputs when finished...

UPDATE: Neither of the two new files will play. They do error out faster than the original file though if that helps at all?

[Illico]

Illico, I have left that conversion running and will try the outputs when finished...

UPDATE: Neither of the two new files will play. They do error out faster than the original file though if that helps at all?

So problem comes from h264 video encoding settings, you have to re-encode the file.
Your file previously played fine ?! probably because with the previous PS3 profile,this file was transcoded to mpeg2video ...

Can we re-enable this somehow?

[DenyAll]

I have looked at the PS3 profile in 1.2.1 and in 1.3.1 and cannot see any significant differences (only difference is to support some new audio file types)?? Are you certain these played in the previous version and in both cases, you're using the PS3 profile?

ps. If its only one file, why not simply remux it to an MP4 file (MP4's are much better supported on the PS3). You can do so by using the ffmpeg command (you may have to change the location of your ffmpeg file):

"C:\Program Files\Serviio\lib\ffmpeg.exe" -i "filename.mkv" -vcodec copy -acodec copy "filename.mp4"

include all double quotes. This will not affect the quality.

I ran Illico's code:

  Code:

cd /Applications/Serviio.app/Contents/MacOS
Mumbles-iMac:MacOS Mumbles$ ./ffmpeg -fflags +genpts -threads auto -i /Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY\ SHOWS/Adventure\ Time/Season\ 5/SceneReleases/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv -y -c:v copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 192k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -sn -f mpegts /var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg
ffmpeg version 2.0.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Aug 15 2013 10:56:46 with llvm-gcc 4.2.1 (LLVM build 2336.11.00)
  configuration: --prefix=/Volumes/Ramdisk/sw --enable-gpl --enable-pthreads --enable-version3 --enable-libspeex --enable-libvpx --disable-decoder=libvpx --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libx264 --enable-avfilter --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-libopencore_amrnb --enable-filters --enable-libgsm --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect
  libavutil      52. 38.100 / 52. 38.100
  libavcodec     55. 18.102 / 55. 18.102
  libavformat    55. 12.100 / 55. 12.100
  libavdevice    55.  3.100 / 55.  3.100
  libavfilter     3. 79.101 /  3. 79.101
  libswscale      2.  3.100 /  2.  3.100
  libswresample   0. 17.102 /  0. 17.102
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from '/Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY SHOWS/Adventure Time/Season 5/SceneReleases/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv':
  Metadata:
    creation_time   : 2012-11-20 00:51:13
  Duration: 00:11:10.91, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2411 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 448 kb/s (default)
Output #0, mpegts, to '/var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf55.12.100
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 90k tbn, 23.98 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: mp3 (libmp3lame), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 192 kb/s (default)
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (ac3 -> libmp3lame)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame=16085 fps=463 q=-1.0 Lsize=  192575kB time=00:11:10.93 bitrate=2351.3kbits/s   
video:160625kB audio:15726kB subtitle:0 global headers:0kB muxing overhead 9.200020%


And with the audio transcoded to ac3:

  Code:

Mumbles-iMac:MacOS Mumbles$ ./ffmpeg -fflags +genpts -threads auto -i /Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY\ SHOWS/Adventure\ Time/Season\ 5/SceneReleases/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv -y -c:v copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -c:a ac3 -b:a 192k -ac 2 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -sn -f mpegts /var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg
ffmpeg version 2.0.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Aug 15 2013 10:56:46 with llvm-gcc 4.2.1 (LLVM build 2336.11.00)
  configuration: --prefix=/Volumes/Ramdisk/sw --enable-gpl --enable-pthreads --enable-version3 --enable-libspeex --enable-libvpx --disable-decoder=libvpx --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libx264 --enable-avfilter --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-libopencore_amrnb --enable-filters --enable-libgsm --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect
  libavutil      52. 38.100 / 52. 38.100
  libavcodec     55. 18.102 / 55. 18.102
  libavformat    55. 12.100 / 55. 12.100
  libavdevice    55.  3.100 / 55.  3.100
  libavfilter     3. 79.101 /  3. 79.101
  libswscale      2.  3.100 /  2.  3.100
  libswresample   0. 17.102 /  0. 17.102
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from '/Volumes/TheVault/HUXLEY SHOWS/Adventure Time/Season 5/SceneReleases/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv':
  Metadata:
    creation_time   : 2012-11-20 00:51:13
  Duration: 00:11:10.91, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2411 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 448 kb/s (default)
Output #0, mpegts, to '/var/folders/zn/38pkg9p56md4kdc0_spgvk5w0000gn/T/Serviio/transcoding-temp-2-4-ORIGINAL.mpg':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf55.12.100
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 90k tbn, 23.98 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 192 kb/s (default)
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (ac3 -> ac3)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame=16085 fps=1551 q=-1.0 Lsize=  192759kB time=00:11:10.90 bitrate=2353.7kbits/s   
video:160625kB audio:15724kB subtitle:0 global headers:0kB muxing overhead 9.305169%


However, my experience is the same as Freedom86's - the new files don't play, and they do seem to error out faster than the originals.

I have looked at the PS3 profile in 1.2.1 and in 1.3.1 and cannot see any significant differences (only difference is to support some new audio file types)?? Are you certain these played in the previous version and in both cases, you're using the PS3 profile?

I am positive.

ps. If its only one file, why not simply remux it to an MP4 file (MP4's are much better supported on the PS3). You can do so by using the ffmpeg command (you may have to change the location of your ffmpeg file):

"C:\Program Files\Serviio\lib\ffmpeg.exe" -i "filename.mkv" -vcodec copy -acodec copy "filename.mp4"

include all double quotes. This will not affect the quality.

It isn't just one file - it is almost every MKV file I have that is giving this problem. As I reported previously, if I throw the files to MKV2VOB and output MP4s, they play fine. Further, I ran your code:

  Code:

Mumbles-iMac:Downloads Mumbles$ "/Applications/Serviio.app/Contents/MacOS/ffmpeg" -i "/Users/Mumbles/Downloads/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv" -vcodec copy -acodec copy "/Users/Mumbles/Downloads/tcode.mp4"
ffmpeg version 2.0.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2013 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Aug 15 2013 10:56:46 with llvm-gcc 4.2.1 (LLVM build 2336.11.00)
  configuration: --prefix=/Volumes/Ramdisk/sw --enable-gpl --enable-pthreads --enable-version3 --enable-libspeex --enable-libvpx --disable-decoder=libvpx --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libx264 --enable-avfilter --enable-libopencore_amrwb --enable-libopencore_amrnb --enable-filters --enable-libgsm --arch=x86_64 --enable-runtime-cpudetect
  libavutil      52. 38.100 / 52. 38.100
  libavcodec     55. 18.102 / 55. 18.102
  libavformat    55. 12.100 / 55. 12.100
  libavdevice    55.  3.100 / 55.  3.100
  libavfilter     3. 79.101 /  3. 79.101
  libswscale      2.  3.100 /  2.  3.100
  libswresample   0. 17.102 /  0. 17.102
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, matroska,webm, from '/Users/Mumbles/Downloads/Adventure.Time.S05E03.720p.hdtv.x264-2hd.mkv':
  Metadata:
    creation_time   : 2012-11-20 00:51:13
  Duration: 00:11:10.91, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2411 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (High), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 448 kb/s (default)
[mp4 @ 0x7f9c0881ac00] track 1: codec frame size is not set
Output #0, mp4, to '/Users/Mumbles/Downloads/tcode.mp4':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf55.12.100
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 ([33][0][0][0] / 0x0021), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 23.98 fps, 16k tbn, 1k tbc (default)
    Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3 ([165][0][0][0] / 0x00A5), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), 448 kb/s (default)
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (copy)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame=  371 fps=0.0 q=-1.0 size=   15698kB time=00:00:15.61 bitrate=8235.1kbits/frame=  977 fps=958 q=-1.0 size=   31128kB time=00:00:40.76 bitrate=6254.9kbits/frame= 1568 fps=1017 q=-1.0 size=   37890kB time=00:01:05.50 bitrate=4738.5kbitsframe= 2328 fps=1116 q=-1.0 size=   49606kB time=00:01:37.12 bitrate=4184.3kbitsframe= 3526 fps=1316 q=-1.0 size=   64517kB time=00:02:27.10 bitrate=3592.9kbitsframe= 4810 fps=1499 q=-1.0 size=   80357kB time=00:03:20.76 bitrate=3278.8kbitsframe= 5640 fps=1507 q=-1.0 size=   95620kB time=00:03:55.26 bitrate=3329.5kbitsframe= 7718 fps=1819 q=-1.0 size=  110243kB time=00:05:21.95 bitrate=2805.1kbitsframe= 8976 fps=1891 q=-1.0 size=  122216kB time=00:06:14.49 bitrate=2673.4kbitsframe=10024 fps=1905 q=-1.0 size=  132412kB time=00:06:58.14 bitrate=2594.1kbitsframe=11754 fps=2039 q=-1.0 size=  148482kB time=00:08:10.36 bitrate=2480.5kbitsframe=12976 fps=2064 q=-1.0 size=  160049kB time=00:09:01.50 bitrate=2421.3kbitsframe=14052 fps=2068 q=-1.0 size=  175382kB time=00:09:46.11 bitrate=2451.3kbitsframe=15481 fps=2111 q=-1.0 size=  187692kB time=00:10:45.79 bitrate=2380.9kbitsframe=16085 fps=2122 q=-1.0 Lsize=  197819kB time=00:11:10.91 bitrate=2415.4kbits/s   
video:160625kB audio:36690kB subtitle:0 global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.254847%


And the resulting file plays perfectly fine on the PS3! So, why isn't Serviio doing this automatically?

[DenyAll]

So, why isn't Serviio doing this automatically?

Serviio, or any other system, cannot transcode to MP4 on the fly. As I understand it MP4 stores critical info at the end of the file - so streaming software such as Serviio would have to wait for the whole file to be transcoded before being starting the stream... which clearly wouldn't work (the PS3 would time out). Interesting that ffmpeg shows no warning or error messages when transcoding the file to MP4.

I'm struggling to see what has changed in Serviio (given we ruled out ffmpeg by using the version from 1.2.1) that would affect PS3 playback of MKV files. Is there any way to store a file somewhere that I can have access to - as I stated above, I haven't had a problem with any of my MKV files - everything that did play in 1.2.1 plays in 1.3.1.

it is almost every MKV file I have that is giving this problem

using MediaInfo have you noticed anything common for the ones that work, vs the ones that don't?

ps. I have a .bat file that will batch remux everything in a folder to MP4 if you want to go down that path.

Here is the link to one of the episodes giving me problems: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7wsyt0rkvx8lh ... 64-2hd.mkv (the latest episode just aired, and that is also producing the same behaviour)

Thanks for the suggestion about the batch file; however, I really would like to get Serviio to be able to play MKVs again (in the meantime, I have run a lot of things through MKV2VOB to make them playable).

[DenyAll]

I played the file you provided via Serviio 1.3.1, 1.2.1 and Serviio 1.2 and in all cases the same result - "This data type not supported". I checked the ffmpeg invocation commands in all cases and they were the same.

I then went on to find one of my other mkv files with similar characteristics (ie. H264 High@L4.1, AC3 Audio) - it plays fine. This leads me to think that its a bad encode (and by bad, all I mean is its something the PS3 doesn't like in the video or audio stream - its a weird one though, the PS3 handles the video and audio in this file when in an MP4 container, but not in an MPEG2 container).

I started playing around a bit:

• Converted file to MP4 - noticed there is a warning about "[mp4 @ 0332A520] Track 1: codec frame size not set" - file plays fine after conversion;
• Remuxed to an MKV file, video and audio untouched - fails;
• Remuxed to an MKV file, audio converted to MP3, video untouched - fails.
• Remuxed to an MKV file, video converted to mpeg2, audio untouched - plays fine.

I suspect the process of remuxing it to MP4 fixes the issue (ie. the warning); and given converting the video to mpeg2 works this confirms the thinking its a bad encode (video in this case). My thinking is that the only way it could have played in previous versions is if the video was being transcoded.

You can either:

1. Convert all these files to MP4 as already discussed; or
2. Force Serviio to transcode these files - add the following in the PS3 profile (presumes all these troublesome files are High@L4.1 or above):
   
   <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" profile="high" levelGreaterThan="4.0" />
   above the existing line that reads
   <Matches container="*" vCodec="h264" profile="high" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />

This will transcode the video for all high@L4.1 and above (MKV files only). I have attached the batch file I mentioned in an earlier post to convert all in a folder files to MP4 if you want to go down option 1 (which is what I'd do - PS3 plays nicely with MP4 files, transcoded files, not so well at times). Save the attached file (renaming as a .bat file) in the folder with your faulty mkv's, and run.

Are all files that are not playing from the same source (and likely therefore using the same encoding parameters). I note that they have used an early version of mkvmerge for example.

Hey DenyAll!

Thanks for the extensive investigation. I really appreciate it (and knowing that it isn't just my Serviio that is experiencing this issue). I added that line to the profile settings, and the file plays! I am OK with Serviio being forced to transcode it on the fly - I just want the files to be playable without having to remember to convert them (for instance, every episode of Adventure Time this season, barring two episodes, has had this problem). So, thank you!

If I have problems with the transcoding, I'll just throw the files at MKV2VOB as necessary.

I'll post back if I encounter other files that this fix doesn't address. Thanks again!