[Solved] Too much pixelation after update to 14.3.0

[hego]

Hi all,

After I updated to 14.3.0 I can't watch the videos on full quality anymore, they all get too pixelated, very pixelated. I tried to go back to the previous version but it didn't work, the pixelation continues. The hardware is the same.

Since the log files are too big - I can't make the file debug.0000.log to be smaller than 6.5 MB, I saved it here: *link removed*

I hope it works.

Thank you.

[mik_s]

Could you repost your full logs, they should not be that large that it will fail to upload, especially after following the instructions in the red section with a fresh start of UMS.

I cannot access that dropbox without an account and not going to sign up for one, and the information I will need to help will be in that log file.
I'll remove that link as it is no good and could be picked up as spam.

My guess is that the network speed is too low so UMS has to limit the transcoding quality for it to be able to be playable.
This would make sense if going back to the previous version and the same thing happens.

[hego]

Hi, thank you for your reply.

I followed the instructions, and the log is that big. You don't need a Dropbox account, the link is open: you can just ignore when it asks for a login, even to download. I broke the log in two to attach here.

I don't think it can be a network issue for a few reasons:
1 - Nothing was changed hardware-wise, I was watching fine on 14.2.1 before updating;
2 - The desktop and PS3 are linked using CAT6 cables directly to the router via Gigabit ports;
3 - Full HD videos are playing fine, only SD and HD are pixelating (new info, I tested last night).

Thank you again.

[mik_s]

OK I can see the speed tests and this is not a problem.

I don't know enough about the transcoding command to see if anything is being limited though.

Does it only happen with that one video or does it happen with everything?
It may just be a bad encoding of that video and as the filename says it is 720p it may be more obvious when transcoding it again.

[hego]

Updates:
1 - I did a clean install using V 14.2.0 because this one surely was working fine;
2 - The issue only happens on the PS3. I tested using my phone - Galaxy S22 Ultra, Roku (both WiFi) and my media player (Ethernet);
3 - It seems that there is something wrong loading FFMpeg: the first block (red) was pixelating. Then, I went to the #transcode folder and loaded the same video again using FFmpeg (green) and it showed correctly

2024-08-05_16-08-08.png (23.63 KiB) Viewed 9892 times

4 - I changed the first encoder to MEncoder and the issue was fixed.
5 - I updated to V 14.3.0 and it was still working fine;
6 - I restored my previous configuration and changed the first encoder to MEncoder and it fixed the issue.

I know it's working now. but this is not a good fix because I have problems with MEncoder dealing with 5.1 audio channels, both in Dolby and DTS; that's why my first option was FFMpeg. So, if you guys could help me figure out why suddenly FFMpeg only works under #transcode I'd appreciate it.

Thank you!

[KONTROLMASTER]

Also had it! Strangely happens, when playing the file as usual, as for an ex., mostly the MKV (AVC), but OK with the "Transcode" folder.

[Putzo1234]

Hi folks,

I have the same problem, but have had it for some time (many versions ago, but I'm not sure which, sorry!). I upgraded to 14.3.0 recently thinking the issue might have been solved. Sadly, no. I have reproduced the problem and zipped up the trace logs, which I will attach to this post. Important to note is that the test video also works properly for me when I play it using FFmpeg via the Transcode folder. When played normally, no dice, even though FFmpeg is the default. Pixelation city. Video throughput on the PS3, Transcode versus "normal", is a 10 to 1 ratio. I have many videos that do this, not just the one I chose as a test for the purposes of getting support.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Putzo

*** Trace file removed by poster ***

[mik_s]

I'll have a good look into this again later, but I did see a difference in the transcoding command when that video was played.
I'll have to do a bit of experimentation to see if I can reproduce this on my PS4.

Which one was playing normally and which was from the transcode folder?

There was a similar bug I discovered recently where FFmpeg would give an error so this may be related to that.

[Putzo1234]

The first attempt was normal and the second was from Transcode.

Thanks!

[SubJunk]

Thanks for the logs, I can see the problem and am working on a fix now