Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.

[Stormcrow]

Binary package hint: totem-gstreamer

While playing AVI, mpeg1, xvid/divx, video files with audio, totem has severe audio stuttering problems. Video plays fine without obvious issues, but the audio output stutters plays in a broken as if it were skipping every few frames. Mplayer using the same file, default options playback without broken/stuttering audio.

Hardware is a Dell B130 laptop.

package is totem-gstreamer version 2.26.1-0ubuntu5

lspci output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev d3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) IDE Controller (rev 03)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/totem-gstreamer
Package: totem-gstreamer 2.26.1-0ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: totem
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic i686

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

thank you for your bug report. Do you have the same issue using gst-launch playbin uri=file:///directory/to/video? Do you get the issue on any format or just some specific?

[Stormcrow (wolffire-fl)]

I've run a few more tests since I wrote the e'mail and I appears that there is something odd with these encoded southpark episodes.  They peg the CPU at 100% while playback under totem, but barely touch the CPU with mplayer.  However, play back of other files similarly encoded (640x480) avi/xvid/mp3 barely touch the cpu and do not display the stuttering problem with totem.  The only thing I can determine that's actually different is the frame rate.  "file" says the avis i've encoded are 30fps while the SouthPark episode is 23.98 fps (I didn't encode that one, I think it's in PAL format).  I have one high resolution video saved on a dvd around here somewhere, if you think it's necessary I can track that one down and try it as well.  If I can help further, please let me know.

--- On Thu, 4/30/09, Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden> wrote:
From: Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 369587] Re: Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
To: <email address hidden>
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 3:26 AM

thank you for your bug report. Do you have the same issue using gst-
launch playbin uri=file:///directory/to/video? Do you get the issue on
any format or just some specific?

** Changed in: totem (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => Low

** Changed in: totem (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Incomplete

--
Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/369587
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the bug.

Status in “totem” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete

Bug description:
Binary package hint: totem-gstreamer

While playing AVI, mpeg1, xvid/divx, video files with audio, totem has severe
audio stuttering problems. Video plays fine without obvious issues, but the
audio output stutters plays in a broken as if it were skipping every few frames.
 Mplayer using the same file, default options playback without broken/stuttering
audio.

Hardware is a Dell B130 laptop.

package is totem-gstreamer version 2.26.1-0ubuntu5

lspci output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express
Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML
Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express
Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family)
High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI
Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI
Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family)
USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family)
USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family)
USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family)
USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR...

[guymac (guymac-gmail)]

I also have a Dell B130 laptop and MP3's skip occasionally with Totem. It is much worse with VLC. It happens when there is some other heavy i/o, e.g. the 'deferred triggers' stage of a package install.

[manzur (sl-solaris)]

i have the same problem in my amd64 desktop pc

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

do you still get the issue? could you add an example to the bug?

[Stormcrow (wolffire-fl)]

I will check later today.  I will do a couple of tests to see if this is an artifact that only happens with encrypted harddrives or if it happens with a plain jane drive as well.  For now i need sleeeeeeepsssss.....  (sorry, long bad night).

--- On Fri, 9/4/09, Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden> wrote:

From: Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 369587] Re: Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
To: <email address hidden>
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 8:31 AM

do you still get the issue? could you add an example to the bug?

--
Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/369587
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the bug.

Status in “totem” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete

Bug description:
Binary package hint: totem-gstreamer

While playing AVI, mpeg1, xvid/divx, video files with audio, totem has severe audio stuttering problems.  Video plays fine without obvious issues, but the audio output stutters plays in a broken as if it were skipping every few frames.  Mplayer using the same file, default options playback without broken/stuttering audio.

Hardware is a Dell B130 laptop.

package is totem-gstreamer version 2.26.1-0ubuntu5

lspci output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev d3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) IDE Controller (rev 03)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/totem-gstreamer
Package: totem-gstreamer 2.26.1-0ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: totem
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic i686

[Stormcrow (wolffire-fl)]

I still get a similar issue but this time it's a strange popping sound with audio, same hardware.  It's absent while using the same laptop without harddrive encryption (using the default options from the Ubuntu alternative install).  I've noticed that every 7 seconds or so cpu useage jumps about 35% (while idle & while running the videos that cause the earlier problems so I'm assuming that it's the filesystem encryption/decryption that has an impact on audio quality in this case as the CPU is busy with filesystem/disk rather than audio?).
However, these same files that once caused the same laptop a few months ago to peg 100% cpu useage consistently are now down to only 35% to 40% total CPU useage (with the +35% spikes every 7 or so seconds as when idle) and video playback is stable in a window and full screen at 1280x960 resolution.  These are avi files encoded in "RIFF (little-endian) data, AVI, 640x480, 23.98 fps, video:  xvid, audio mpeg-1 layer 3 (stereo, 48000 Hz)".  If you need i can upload a file for you to play with to some repository.  However, they are about 140MB each which means i can't e'mail them.

Likewise, the odd thing is when I use a hi-def avi that I encoded myself from the local cable company (using MythTV and converted to avi) with a native resolution of 1280x720 xvid, 30fps, and mp3 audio, i don't hear any pops.  I'm wondering if now it's nothing but a poor encoding to the files totem is having issues with.

Let me know if you need the files themselves, i'd be happy to provide.  I'm reluctant to cut or reencode the actual files for smaller size in case any artifacts that would differences in playback would appear and invalidate any tests.

--- On Fri, 9/4/09, Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden> wrote:

From: Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 369587] Re: Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
To: <email address hidden>
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 8:31 AM

do you still get the issue? could you add an example to the bug?

--
Totem (Ubuntu 9.04 i386) has poor audio playback while playing video.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/369587
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the bug.

Status in “totem” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete

Bug description:
Binary package hint: totem-gstreamer

While playing AVI, mpeg1, xvid/divx, video files with audio, totem has severe audio stuttering problems.  Video plays fine without obvious issues, but the audio output stutters plays in a broken as if it were skipping every few frames.  Mplayer using the same file, default options playback without broken/stuttering audio.

Hardware is a Dell B130 laptop.

package is totem-gstreamer version 2.26.1-0ubuntu5

lspci output:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) High Definition Audio Control...

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

The issue is an upstream one and it would be nice if somebody having it could send the bug the to the people writting the software (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME)

[Vanessa Lee (vanessax)]

Just wanted to add that this happens on Karmic 9.10 AMD 64.

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue that you reported is one that should be reproducible with the live environment of the Desktop CD of the development release - Oneiric Ocelot. It would help us greatly if you could test with it so we can work on getting it fixed in the next release of Ubuntu. You can find out more about the development release at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/ . Thanks again and we appreciate your help.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for totem (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]