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Playback issues

Q:I can't play a certain video file
A:

Read the rest of the FAQ. There may be a topic related to the filetype that you are trying to play. Here is a list of general tips:

  • Click on the shortcut called "Reset to recommended settings" in the start menu.
  • Load the file in the MediaInfo or GSpot Codec Information Appliance tools. Those usually can give you some useful information.
  • If it is a RealMedia file (.ra .rm .ram .rmvb) then you need to install Real Alternative or the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.
  • Test the file in Media Player Classic. For two reasons:
    1) It is better able to play certain files than other players.
    2) It shows more helpful error messages.

If all fails, then try the VideoLAN player. This player doesn't use DirectShow filters to play files, but it's own plugins. It should be able to play almost anything.


Q:Many files won't play properly on Windows Vista
A:

The solution is to disable the User Account Control (UAC) functionality of Vista.


Q:I am not able to play AVI files
A:

If the problem only occurs with some AVI files, then those files are probably (partially) broken. Either use a tool that can fix the files, or use a different AVI splitter.

If you use Media Player Classic then enable the internal AVI splitter. You can do that in Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters. If you use another player, then install Gabest AVI splitter, which is a standalone version of the internal splitter in MPC. This splitter is able to handle most broken AVI files.

If you are not able to play any AVI files at all, then the AVI source filter of Windows is probably broken. You can fix it by executing the following command:
Start -> Run -> regsvr32 quartz.dll


Q:I have trouble playing MPEG files (.mpg/.mpeg/.ts/etc)
A:

There are two types of MPEG video, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. The most common one of these two that is used in .mpg/.mpeg files is MPEG-1. Windows should support playback of MPEG-1 video without the need to install any additional codecs or filters. MPEG-2 is the video format that is used on DVDs and SVCD discs. To play MPEG-2 you need to install a MPEG-2 decoder. The K-Lite Codec Pack has several decoders from which you can choose. You can use the GSpot tool to find out which type of MPEG video a file contains.

There are also two different MPEG container formats. A container is simply a wrapper for holding audio and video. The most common one is MPEG Program Stream (PS). Windows contains a filter to read this container format. The other one is MPEG Transport Stream (TS). K-Lite contains a source filter for that format.

A general solution that you can try when having problems with MPEG files is to use Media Player Classic and to enable its internal MPEG filters. You can do that in MPC Options -> Internal Filters. The filters that you should enable are "MPEG PS/TS/PVA" and "MPEG-2 Video".

If an MPEG file fails to play, it is usually related the the source filters (aka splitters) that are installed. You should try enabling or disabling the following items with the Codec Tweak Tool:

  • MPEG TS splitter (Haali)
  • MPEG PS splitter (Haali)
  • MPEG splitter (Gabest)

Q:Some AVI files play without sound on Vista but work fine on XP
A:

The cause for this is currently unknown. The following solves the problem for most people:

If you use Media Player Classic then enable the internal AVI source filter. You can do that in Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters. If you use another player, then install Gabest AVI splitter, which is a standalone version of the internal filter in MPC.


Q:I can't play AVI files anymore after using WinAVI Video Converter
A:

WinAVI sometimes breaks the AVI source filter of Windows. You can fix the filter by executing the following command:

Start -> Run -> regsvr32 quartz.dll


Q:I have trouble playing incomplete AVI files in Media Player Classic
A:

Enable the internal AVI splitter in Media Player Classic. That is better able to handle incomplete files than the default AVI source filter that is part of Windows.

Media Player Classic -> Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters


Q:I can't play .avi files containing H.264 video
A:

Early versions of CoreAVC have trouble decoding H.264 video when the video is stored in a container in VFW mode instead of native mode (which is the best way). In the AVI container, H.264 video is always in VFW mode due to limitations of the container format.

Updating CoreAVC to the latest version should solve this probleml.

Another solution for playing these files is to enable H.264 decoding in ffdshow. Go to ffdshow video decoder configuration. At the 'codecs' page, set H.264 to 'libavcodec'.


Q:I can't play .avi files downloaded from video.google.com
A:

Enable the internal AVI splitter in Media Player Classic. That is better able to handle those files than the default AVI source filter that is part of Windows.

Media Player Classic -> Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters

For other players you need to install Gabest AVI splitter.


Q:AVI files containing H.264 video play upside down in BS.Player and WMP
A:

This problem should only occur in combination with old versions of CoreAVC. So make sure you are using the latest version. Another solution for playing these files correctly is to enable H.264 decoding in ffdshow. Go to ffdshow video decoder configuration. At the 'codecs' page, set H.264 to 'libavcodec'.


Q:Two audio tracks are being played simultaneously
A:

This means that you are using a player that doesn't contain a stream switcher. If you play a file that contains multiple audio/video/subtitle streams, then your player is trying to play them all instead of just one of them.

Solutions:

  • Use a player with a build in stream switcher. For example Media Player Classic.
  • Use a source filter that contains a build in stream switcher. For example Haali Media Splitter contains that functionality. The K-Lite Codec Pack uses Haali by default for .mp4, .mkv and .ogm files. If you also want to use it for .avi files, then you need to manually select it during installation of the codec pack.
  • Use the audio stream switching functionality of ffdshow. Take the following steps to activate it:
    (1) Go to ffdshow audio decoder configuration. Enable the checkbox on the "Stream switcher" page.
    (2) On the "Tray, dialog & paths" page, enable "Add tray icon menu to player's stream/languages menu". This will allow you to select the desired audio stream from within the player.
    (3) The audio stream switching will only work if ffdshow is decoding the audio. So on the "Codecs" page enable those audio format(s) that your file contains.

Q:When playing movies with AC3 sound the video often skips
A:

ReClock might solve your problem.


Q:The CPU usage is very high during video playback, any tips on how I can lower it?
A:

Video playback can require a lot of processing power. Certainly on high resolution videos (720p, 1080p, 1080i). Some video formats, such as H.264, are complex to decode.

Some tips to lower the CPU usage are:

  • Use a more efficient decoder.
  • Disable subtitles.
  • Disable resizing, and also any other postprocessing filters that you might have enabled.
  • Use the Overlay video renderer. This renderer uses a bit less CPU cycles than other renderers.
  • Close other programs that are also running on your computer that use a lot of CPU cycles. For example P2P programs.

If the video that you are playing contains H.264 video, then you could try installing another decoder. The codec pack uses ffdshow for decoding H.264. This is a free and open-source decoder. Another, more efficient decoder exists named CoreAVC. That uses less CPU cycles than ffdshow, specially if you have a dualcore or quadcore processor. Downside is that CoreAVC is not free.


Q:The video stutters
A:

This is sometimes caused by buggy graphics drivers. If you are using Windows Vista, then make sure that you are using recent drivers. You can download the latest drivers on the website of the manufacturer of your graphics card or chip. That is in most cases ATi, NVIDIA, or Intel.

Another cause for stuttering can be high CPU usage. Read the topic with tips on how to lower the CPU usage.


Q:The video is not synchronized with the audio
A:

A typical cause for this problem is high CPU usage. The video can't be decoded fast enough to keep up with the audio. Read the topic with tips on how to lower the CPU usage.


Q:The video plays very slow and parts are skipped. It is like I am watching a slideslow.
A:

A typical cause for this problem is high CPU usage. The video can't be decoded fast enough and as a result frames get dropped. Read the topic with tips on how to lower the CPU usage.


Q:The video stutters a lot when I play it fullscreen
A:

This can be a result of certain graphics card settings. Try changing the following settings in your graphics card control panel:

- Set FSAA to 'Let the application decide'
- Disable anisotopic filtering (AF)
- Disable antialiasing


Q:When I play the video full-screen, the screen goes to black while the audio continues
A:

This problem may occur if you have the WindowBlinds or ObjectDock programs installed. Disable those programs.

If you have a nVidia GeForce graphics card, then you could try to update its drivers.


Q:The audio volume is really low
A:

This is a common problem that is usually caused by playing 5.1 channel audio on stereo speakers. As a result only two channels are send to your speakers. This means that the center channel, which usually contains the dialogs, is not outputted to your speakers.

Solutions:

  • Use the Codec Tweak Tool to configure your speaker settings. This will make sure that the audio decoders that are included in the pack downmix (or upmix) the decoded audio to the appropiate number of speakers.
  • If you are using AC3Filter to decode AC3 or DTS audio, then try the "Boost voice/dialog volume" tweak that is available in the Codec Tweak Tool. You can also manually perform this tweak in AC3Filter settings by adjusting the gain for the Voice audio channel.
  • If you are using ffdshow to decode the audio, then go to "ffdshow audio configuration". Enable 'Volume' in the left panel. On the Volume page you can find a slider to adjust the general volume level. Alternatively you can enable Normalization, which will automatically adjust the volume level.
  • Another method in ffdshow is to enable 'Voice control' on the 'Mixer' page. That gives the center channel a 3dB boost. There you can also find a slider to further increase the volume of the Voice audio channel.

Q:The volume of voices/dialogs is very low compared to the other sounds
A:

See above.


Q:When I try to play an .TS file I get the error: "Cannot render the file"
A:

Enable the internal MPEG PS/TS/PVA source filter in Media Player Classic.

Media Player Classic -> Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters


Q:Vorbis audio in MP4 container does not play
A:

Use Haali MP4 splitter instead of Gabest MP4 splitter.


Q:MP3 files play too fast in Windows Media Player
A:

Go to AC3Filter settings. On the System tab, disable PCM.


Q:Video plays too fast in Windows Media Player
A:

Go to AC3Filter settings. On the System tab, disable PCM.


Q:The player freezes at the beginning of a MPEG-1 video
A:

The MainConcept MPEG decoder may freeze the player when the Overlay Mixer renderer is used.

Solutions:

  • Click on the "Reset to recommended settings" shortcut in the startmenu.
  • Or import this registry script:

    REGEDIT4

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MainConcept\DirectShow\MPEGVideoDecoder]
    "AllowReordering"=dword:00000000
  • Or change the video renderer in Media Player Classic:
    Options -> Playback -> Output -> DirectShow Video

Q:How can I play AVI files from Blizzard Games?
A:

Videos belonging to games from Blizzard contain DivX video, but with a different FourCC, namely "BLZ0".

To play such videos you need to use ffdshow for decoding DivX video. The regular DivX decoder won't work (unless you manually change the FourCC).

Go to ffdshow video decoder configuration. On the Codecs page, set DivX 4/5/6 and Generic MPEG-4 to libavcodec.


Q:Some .mov files give an error in Windows Media Player
A:

Rename the files to .qt

If that doesn't solve the problem, then you should use Media Player Classic or VideoLAN to play the file.


Q:How can I make 6 channel Windows Media audio play properly on stereo speakers?
A:

WMVHD files, typically created for playback on the XBOX360, can contain a 5.1 audio stream. If you play such a file on a computer that only has two speakers then you will only hear the sound from two of the six channels. This causes for example the voices (center channel) to be almost unhearable.

The solution is to downmix the 5.1 channels into 2 channels. There are two ways to do this. You can either use AC3Filter or ffdshow.

In ffdshow audio decoder configuration, go to the 'Codecs' page. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and set 'Uncompressed' to 'All supported'. Now go to the 'Mixer' page and set the speakers to '2/0 Stereo'. Also enable the checkbox in front of 'Mixer' to activate the mixer filter.

In AC3Filter options, go to the 'System' tab and enable 'PCM'. Configure the output setting to stereo speakers.


Q:Seeking within an AVI file has a delay of a few seconds in Winamp
A:

Disable Gabest AVI splitter using the Codec Tweak Tool. Or select the Microsoft AVI splitter during installation of the codec pack.


Q:Seeking within an AVI file is not smooth
A:

This problem only occurs for some people. Symptom is that the video freezes or goes black for a short while.

Disable Gabest AVI splitter using the Codec Tweak Tool. Or select the Microsoft AVI splitter during installation of the codec pack.


Q:When using Vista Media Center the video freezes for a few seconds every few minutes
A:

Updating your graphics driver to a recent version should fix this problem.


Q:I can't play WMV files.
A:

You need to install the Windows Media Format Runtimes. These are also included with Windows Media Player.

Windows XP/2003/Vista:
Windows Media Format Runtimes v11

Windows 98/ME/2000:
Windows Media Format runtimes v9

Additional codecs can be found here:
Windows Media Codecs


Q:I can't open AVI files with WMV3 video in editing applications such as VirtualDub
A:

You need to install WMV9VCM.


Q:I get some message about acquiring a license when I play certain media files
A:

That means that the file is DRM protected. DRM is a copyright protection method. You generally need to get (read: buy) a license to be able to play the file. Our advice: shift+delete.


Q:I have problems playing some RealMedia files
A:

Use Media Player Classic. It can handle RealMedia files better than other players.

Rename your file to .rmvb. If it already is a .rmvb file, then do the opposite, rename it to .rm. Media Player Classic will play .rmvb files using DirectShow and .rm files using the RealMedia engine. That's why renaming can make a difference.


Q:I am having trouble playing .mkv files that contain "720p" or "x264" in their filename.
A:

This are high resolution videos in the H.264 format. Playing such files requires a lot of processing power. High CPU usage can cause various problems. Video will stutter, frames will be dropped, and audio goes out of sync.

Read the topic with tips on how to lower the CPU usage.

The best solution is to install CoreAVC. This is currently the most efficient decoder for H.264 video.

 

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