Hi,
sorry if this is answered somewhere. I searched for information but did not find anything.
Today I got my WD TV Live. It’s a nice product but I have a serious problem.
I share my media via Samba Filesharing from a MacMini. I have some of my TV Series ripped from DVD as MP4 with two audio tracks. The first one is english and the second one is german.
I can select such file on the WDTV but it’s not possible to select the audio track. It’s not even selects the first audio track (what would be okay for now) but the second one. All components are set to english and I really wonder why I got the german audio.
Is there a chance that this feature is implemented anytime soon? Or if not is there a way to select a default audio language as in any cheap DVD player?
Unfortunately this renders the device completely unusable for me. :-/
Thanks in advance and best wishes,
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
What version firmware are you currently using?
Regarding .MP4 files and multiple audio tracks, as far as I’m aware this DOES work and has worked since 1.01.11 (and possibly before; I updated my unit the day I bought it, so I never tried 1.01.01).
If there are multiple audio tracks in a file, I believe the WD TV defaults to the first track regardless of language. It is therefore important to prioritise the English track when ripping / encoding (make sure it is muxed into the file before the German track, i.e. that it has a lower ID number with video ID:1, English ID:2, German ID:3). Some encoding programs also let you flag certain audio tracks as default.
To select an audio track, simply hit the option button during playback and press enter whilst ‘Audio channel’ is highlighted (far left icon). That will cycle between the tracks. If it can’t see multiple tracks within an MP4, I suspect there are issues with the file / encoding.
Can you post the MediaInfo output for that file?
There is a known issue with .M4V files and multiple audio tracks (and FF/RW) but I believe that was fixed in 1.02.14 (first beta). Should be working in the next official release. If you have any files with M4V extensions, rename the extension to MP4 to gain full functionality.
I use Firmware 1.01.24 which is the most recent one AFAIK.
Renaming the files from .m4v to .mp4 did something and “enabled” the possibility to switch the audio track.
BUT than it becomes totally weird. Here is what happens than
-
I start a video from a samba share (.mp4)
-
I open the option bar → video freezes (sometimes) / audio continues
-
I select another audio track → audio changes and plays normally / video comes back but plays with a playback speed around estimated 50% of the normal speed
-
Changing the audio track again works but video is still at 50% speed
Than I tried to stop and restart playback but that doesn’t helped at all. When I cancel playback and restart it, the WDTV asks me to resume playback from the last position. That works but it does not start with the last selected language what leads me directly to the same problem.
Here is the MediaInfo output for the file:
Seems like german is the primary language but anyway. Changing the audio track should not crash the playback. 
General
Complete name : /Volumes/Video/Series/How I met your mother/How I Met You Mother - Season 3/How I met your mother - S03E01.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 252 MiB
Duration : 20mn 1s
Overall bit rate : 1 761 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2009-12-02 03:50:48
Tagged date : UTC 2009-12-02 04:04:03
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.4 2009112300
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 20mn 1s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 1 500 Kbps
Width : 704 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 12.498 fps
Maximum frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.213
Stream size : 215 MiB (85%)
Writing library : x264 core 79 r1347 5ddd61b
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=0 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1500 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2009-12-02 03:50:48
Tagged date : UTC 2009-12-02 04:04:03
Color primaries : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 20mn 1s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 213 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 18.3 MiB (7%)
Language : German
Encoded date : UTC 2009-12-02 03:50:48
Tagged date : UTC 2009-12-02 04:04:03
Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 20mn 1s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 226 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 18.3 MiB (7%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2009-12-02 03:50:48
Tagged date : UTC 2009-12-02 04:04:03
Text
ID : 4
Format : Apple text
Codec ID : text
Duration : 20mn 1s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 bps
Stream size : 120 Bytes (0%)
Encoded date : UTC 2009-12-02 03:50:48
Tagged date : UTC 2009-12-02 04:04:03
Greets,
Thomas
Thanks for the info dump. :)
Ok, one thing jumping out at me is the following:
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 12.498 fps
Maximum frame rate : 25.000 fps
Why is it using a variable frame rate?
It’s interesting that you mention the video slowing to 50% occasionally and that the minimum FR is also 50% of what it should be…
My suggestions would be to try encoding an episode and instead of using VFR (I believe this is activated when you select “same as source” for Frame Rate), manually select 25fps.
The problem could well be that the WD TV Live (with firmware 1.01.24) has issues with VFR.
I’ve got 2 films where I left the FPS as “Same as Source” and they also use VFR. Lemme check those out, I’ll see whether they exhibit the issues you describe. ;)
1 Like
PixelPower wrote:
Why is it using a variable frame rate?
It’s interesting that you mention the video slowing to 50% occasionally and that the minimum FR is also 50% of what it should be…
Strange. You’re right. I have not the slightest idea why or how this happened. Usually I rip the DVD and throw it into Handbreak (On OS X). I select VBR for video encoding with 2-pass encoding and select the two audio tracks. That’s it.
I never payed much attention to the audio settings.
I never had such problems in any other player. (Before the WDTV I streamed the videos via Rivet to a PS3). So in my eyes it’s a bug in the player software. Maybe I will try to rencode the file and see what happens than.
[UPDATE]
I started a test encode with a static frame rate now. Maybe that helps but I’m not sure if I want to re-encode all my stuff. ^^
The Variable Frame Rate is in the Video settings: Frame Rate (FPS).
Your audio settings seem fine.
Results from my test:
Movie 1 with VFR and multiple audio (AAC + AC3) exhibits playback issues (audio sync out) when switching audio tracks. FF/RW pulls it back in but then it seems to drift off again.
Movie 2 with VFR but only one audio track (AC3) has no sync issues.
Pretty sure it’s a problem with the WD TV Live. If you can encode / re-encode to a fixed frame rate and see if that stabilises the audio sync. If it does fix it, at least we can pass that info on to others and hopefully WD can work a fix into a future firmware.
Here we go. I re-encoded a file which had the same problem and it works! I can now change the audio track without a sync problem.
All I did was to set a fixed framerate. I think my MacMini has a lot of encoding to do now. ^^
Here is the media info dump:
General
Complete name : /Volumes/Video/Series/Dharma & Greg/Season 1/DHARMA_AND_GREG_S1_DISC_1.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 278 MiB
Duration : 21mn 57s
Overall bit rate : 1 771 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:24:02
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:45:13
Writing application : HandBrake 0.9.4 2009112300
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 21mn 57s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 1 500 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.145
Stream size : 237 MiB (85%)
Writing library : x264 core 79 r1347 5ddd61b
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=0 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=abr / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1500 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:24:02
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:45:13
Color primaries : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 21mn 57s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 132.3 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 202 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 20.7 MiB (7%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:24:02
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:45:13
Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 21mn 57s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 180 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 20.1 MiB (7%)
Language : German
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:24:02
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:45:13
Text
ID : 4
Format : Apple text
Codec ID : text
Duration : 21mn 57s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 bps
Stream size : 120 Bytes (0%)
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:24:02
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-31 18:45:13
Greets,
Thomas
