What information is needed...

...to resolve playback issues of certain files in mpc-hc?  On the webpage, it says that files that can played in vlc but NOT in mpc-hc can often by solved by a codec update.  I've been running into a lot of files lately that fit this exact scenario.  I have mediainfo installed along with the latest version of k-lite along with the package update.

Interestingly, these files can also be played with mpc-be ( 1.5.8 ).  It's just mpc-hc that seems to fall short.

As a clue, these are Blu-ray m2ts files that seem to've been supplemental material ported from the original dvd release.  As such, they are often of so-so quality.  mpc-hc can play the sound for these files, but the video is black.  Trying to maximize mpc-hc results in what looks like a crash image-wise, but is recoverable (sound continues to work).

Thanks in advance.

First update to latest version:
http://codecguide.com/klcp_beta.htm

Then look at:
player Menu > Play > Filters
If you see LAV Video Decoder there, then problem is likely related to hardware accelerated decoding or an issue in the video renderer.

Press Ctrl+J to display the video renderer debug information. Make a screenshot and put that here.

I updated to the beta package.  Same behavior.

I do see the LAV video decoder when trying to play the example file.  I thought for a moment that I was stuck in a catch-22 wrt the stats, as I kept hitting ctrl-j, but nothing would appear.  Then I realized that, perhaps because mpc-hc wasn't outputting anything video-wise, even the debug info wouldn't appear.

However, I managed to fiddle around enough to get a screenshot.



Let me know if you need anything else. I'm also running into this problem with some dvd-based files. Thanks.

Menu > Play > Filters > Copy filters list to clipboard
Paste that here.

Then click on LAV Video Decoder in that menu. Set hardware decoder to "none". Then test if playback works correctly.

Could you upload one of the failing files for me? You can use Dropbox, Google Drive, or some other hosting site such as http://www.sendspace.com

Did you copy these files directly from a Blu-ray? Because in that case they still contain AACS protection and they are not playable.

You need to rip the disc, or install a tool that removing the AACS protection. For example PasskeyLite or AnyDVD HD.

Here you go:

Filters currently loaded:
 - SaneAR Audio Renderer
 - Enhanced Video Renderer (custom presenter)
 - Audio Switcher
 - LAV Video Decoder (internal)
 - LAV Audio Decoder
 - LAV Splitter Source (internal)

Tried setting the LAV video hardware decoder to none, but that didn't work and the same behavior persists.

Unfortunately, it looks like sendspace is a no-go, as the file is 5.6 gigs and sendspace has a 300 MB limit for free users.  I have a Google account, but never tried to use Drive before (at least, not as an uploader).  Does that mean I have a Drive account, too?

I didn't copy the files myself.  However, doesn't the fact that it can be played in mpc-be and vlc indicate that it's not an AACS problem?

I'm trying to upload the file to my own website (I have a small site), but I don't know if it'll work, as I've had problems ftp'ing especially large files to it in the past. Might take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, as my upload speed is fairly dreadful.

If that doesn't work, is Drive the next-best option?

You can copy a piece from the front of the file with this little tool:
http://rationalqm.us/dgsplit/dgsplit12.zip

A 50MB piece should be enough.

That worked.  I did a 150MB segment starting at the front just to be on the safe side:

https://www.sendspace.com/file/s2me04

https://www.sendspace.com/delete/s2me04/f9182ac0799a5be89966ef6f4ab24099

Please let me know your findings, as I'm intensely curious.  Thanks.

File plays normally here.

I noticed the file contains interlaced video. Maybe that is the common property that the failing files share. You can see these details with the MediaInfo tool from the pack.

I am not sure why the interlaced video causes the problem. Could be a bug in the graphics driver that makes hardware deinterlacing fail in the video renderer.

Try this: In LAV Video Decoder settings, enable Yadif Software Deinterlacing. For hardware decoder use either None or DXVA2 Copyback.

Then LAV will take care of the deinterlacing and the video render will get regular progressive video as input.

If this solves the problem, then I am also curious if it also fails with another video renderer:
MPC options > Playback > output > MPC Video Renderer
(test with software deinterlacing disabled again)

Also test with Sync Renderer.

VERY interesting results.  With everything else at default, hardware decoder set to none, and Yadif on, the file plays successfully.  I could even maximize and minimize at-will with no ill behavior.

When I disable Yadif, but change renderer from my default (Enhanced Video Renderer (custom presenter)) to MPC Video Renderer, the file also plays fine and min/max also works.  However, it does not work with SOME of the other drop-down options.

I'm not sure what the culprit is.  Yadif seems to correct everything, but doesn't seem to be needed for the MPC Video Renderer and Video Mixing Renderer 7 (for example).  Some of the other renderers produced a weird strobing effect or went back to just displaying a black screen (this is with Yadif off).

The sync renderer failed, too, and acts like the EVR.

All this testing was done with the hardware decoder set to none.

So, should I be using the MPC renderer or is it ideal to keep with the EVR and use Yadif as a sort of patch?  What the ideal hardware decoder setting?

MPC Video Renderer is good, so you can keep using that. Use DXVA2 Native for hardware decoding.

Which video renderer is set in MPC-BE? I am curious if their implementation of EVR-CP/Sync does work for you. If they do, then I need to figure out which subtle difference in the implementations fixes it.

Huh, I'll be damned. The renderer in mpc-be was set to MPC. I'm not entirely sure why, as I don't remember futzing around with those options (I'm old, though, so my memory isn't the best).

When I tried the EVR-cp renderer AND the sync renderer, it failed to play the file in the exact same way as mpc-hc.

Sounds like all my problems stemmed from using the EVR-cp renderer. Would it be best to set that as the default in future install packages?

Can you play the file successfully with the EVR-cp and Yadif off?

Yes, no problem here with EVR-CP and Yadif off. But I am using a NVIDIA GPU.

Can you copy this log so I can see which Intel GPU driver version you have?
Codec Tweak Tool > Generate Log

Here you go:

Codec Tweak Tool | Log file | Generated at 2021-12-01 23:25:12

##### System Information #####

OS: Windows 10 Enterprise (10.00.19043) (x64)
CPU name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4690K CPU @ 3.50GHz
CPU details: 3499 MHz | 4 core(s) | Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3
Memory: 32480 MB
Screen size: 3840x2160 (32bits) (30Hz) (250%)
GPU: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
VendorID: 8086, DeviceID: 0412
GPU memory: 1024 MB
GPU driver: igdumdim64.dll (Version 20.19.15.5126) (1-21-2020)
Audio device: Intel(R) Display Audio
VendorID: 8086, DeviceID: 2807, SubSys: 80860101
Audio driver: IntcDAud.sys (Version 6.16.0.3208) (4-26-2018)

##### K-Lite Codec Pack #####

KLCP version: 16.5.9
KLCP type: standard

Speaker conf: 5.1

MPC renderer: MPC VR
MPC subs: ISR
MPC audio: Internal Audio Renderer
MPC decoder: h264=DXVA2N hevc=0 vp9=0 vc1=0 mpeg2=0

##### Decoder Settings #####

LAV Video:
H264=DXVA2CB HEVC=1 VP9=1 VC1=0 MPEG2=1 MPEG4=1 WMV3=0

LAV Audio:
MP3=1 AC3=1 DTS=1 DTSHD=1 EAC3=1 TRUEHD=1 AAC=1 Vorbis=1 LPCM=1 WMA=0

##### DirectShow Filters (32-bit) #####

(A total of 69 filters, 0 shown, 69 hidden)

##### DirectShow Filters (64-bit) #####

(A total of 69 filters, 0 shown, 69 hidden)

##### ICM Class Manager (32-bit) #####

(A total of 2 filters, 0 shown, 2 hidden)

##### ICM Class Manager (64-bit) #####

(A total of 2 filters, 0 shown, 2 hidden)

##### Default source filters (32-bit) #####

(A total of 56 default source filters, 0 shown, 56 hidden)

##### Default source filters (64-bit) #####

(A total of 56 default source filters, 0 shown, 56 hidden)

##### ACM and VFW Codecs (32-bit) #####

(A total of 14 codecs, 0 shown, 14 hidden)

##### ACM and VFW Codecs (64-bit) #####

(A total of 13 codecs, 0 shown, 13 hidden)

I tested on a laptop with Intel HD Graphics 4400. So same generation Intel GPU as yours.

Playback worked good. I do have an older driver installed (v4642). So maybe a bug in your current driver (v5126).

So you could try updating your Intel driver to latest version (v5171):
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18369/intel-graphics-driver-for-windows-15-40.html

Wow, I didn't even know there was a driver update for my config. That's what I get for relying on Windows' automatic update service.

I'll install the 5171 driver, re-test, and report back here. Fingers crossed...

No improvement. Still fails to display an image on my setup with EVR-cp. I'd kill to know what the difference is between your 4400-based laptop and my 4600-based desktop. I don't like having what could be a significant bug in my system that might cause ripple effects in other media applications.

Still, at least I now have an alternate video renderer workaround, so that's progress (of a sort). Thanks for all the testing and feedback.

Screen size: 3840x2160 (32bits) (30Hz) (250%)

This line in your log is also unusual. Do you really have a 30Hz refreshrate? If possible change that to 59Hz (or 60Hz). You may need to lower output to 8-bit if it is currently 10/12-bit, due to HDMI bandwidth limitations.

3840x2160@60hz requires HDMI version 2.0 ports and cable. If your PC/Monitor/Cable is HDMI version 1.4 then 30Hz if the maximum for 4K resolution. In that case use a DisplayPort cable instead of HDMI.

As a test you could temporarily try 1920x1080@60Hz just to see if that exhibits the problem or not.

From what I understand, 30Hz is my max, as the computer is running a modern 4K display.  The system's HDMI revision is 1.3 (or maybe 1.4 - I always forget).  I don't think I can even lower the output to 8-bit in the Intel driver (I just looked and didn't see the option).

My TV doesn't have DP, unfortunately. It's all HDMI.

I'll try the 1920 test. If that works, what does that indicate?

Just useful to know if the problem is related to the resolution/refreshrate.

I am unable to try 30Hz myself. Lowest option here is 48Hz and that worked.

No joy. Even at 1920x1080@60Hz, the problem persists. Anything else worth trying?