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grinchy · 06-13-2012, 11:03 PM

Hi all--

I'm running Shark 3.0.8 and currently have everything "working" in terms of I can play mkv over xbox no problem and I can bitstream fine on the main HTPC through my AVR, etc. Good.

However, I've noticed that when playing the same mkv's on the main HTPC through WMC, it takes almost 20-30 seconds before the MKV actually starts playing. Being that I'm on 64bit, WMC is using the 64bit WMP player which is configured via the x64bit components. As mentioned, I can playback mkv's on my xbox and they load instantly - I assume this is controlled via the 64bit wmp as well.

So I only experience this huge lag when playing directly from the HTPC via WMC. Manually playing the exact same file in the 32bit WMP player loads instantly. When I load the file using the 64bit player (not through WMC), I see the same lag which I suppose is what I would expect to see since I see it in WMC.

Any ideas why I would see lag with the 64bit player and not the 32bit with the exact same file? As far as I can tell, I have both Settings app configured the same (using Haali, using MS H264 MS codec, MPC-HC DXVA codec disabled, FFDshow w/multi-threading enabled).

Shark007 · 06-14-2012, 08:00 AM

Install a current version of my codecs.
MajorGeeks is the only authorized source for my distributions.

grinchy · (This post was last modified: 06-14-2012 02:42 PM by grinchy.)

I gave 3.6.7 another whirl today and still have the same bizarre lag in 64bit WMP... when it loads, I can see the haali splitter icon and mouse pointer just spins for about 20ish seconds or so before it starts playing.

I verified WMVs load quickly, so it appears to be strictly with MKVs. Tried LAV and Gabest splitter and same slowness...

grinchy · 06-16-2012, 01:32 PM

Could this be a codec issue somewhere between the 32 vs. 64bit components?

For troubleshooting, it is possible to try the 32bit codecs somehow with the 64bit player? Or is that taboo/crazy?

Shark007 · 06-16-2012, 01:34 PM

(06-16-2012 01:32 PM)grinchy Wrote: Could this be a codec issue somewhere between the 32 vs. 64bit components?

My opinion: this is a graphics driver issue.

(06-16-2012 01:32 PM)grinchy Wrote: For troubleshooting, it is possible to try the 32bit codecs somehow with the 64bit player? Or is that taboo/crazy?

crazy. (and not possible)

grinchy · (This post was last modified: 06-16-2012 09:49 PM by grinchy.)

I updated the intel graphics driver for the heck of it - no change.

While it's lagging, the status is "opening media..." very strange (and annoying).

More info... apparently the extenders load a 32bit instance of WMP when playing an mkv so that explains why the extenders are fast. This surprised me as I thought WMC used the 64bit version of wmp in Win764bit... at least I thought it would be in ALL cases.

More strangeness - if I'm watching live TV on an extender and then try and load up a mkv manually in the 64bit player, it causes LiveTV to stop on the extender (forces a no tv signal... message) which is completely strange. I did not have WMC loaded on the main htpc; just WMP.

grinchy · 06-17-2012, 04:17 PM

New info... I notice that everytime I run the file via WMP x64, a "PRDMOWrapper.log" file gets created. The contents of the log simply state:
-------------------------------------------------------
Filename: C:\PROGRA~1\PLAYRE~1\PRDMOW~1.DLL
Date: 6-17-2012
Time: 16:12:50
-------------------------------------------------------

This is a "PlayReady DirectShow DMO Wrapper Filter". This log does NOT get generated when using the normal x32 WMP player. Obviously this is a PlayReady related thing... and I guess would kind of explain the lag I'm experiencing (perhaps looking up keys, etc?).

I guess the bigger quesiton is why would Playready interfere when simply playing my mkv files... I DO have a Ceton InfiniTV and have copy-protected content so it's not completely out of left field I suppose. Any thoughts?

grinchy · 06-17-2012, 06:35 PM

OK - success! So the Playready filter must be built-in to the MS codec whenever playready is installed. I switched to the LAV codec and my mkvs load fast again.

So to sum - it appears that that Playready will latch itself to the appropriate MS direct show codec used for h264. Using a different one bypasses the Playready filter and no lag.

I'm kind of surprised I had seen this pop up before with other folks.