Audio problem on v4.0.4 when playing mp4

[rollandburn]

I too am now having a problem with audio on my MED500X with 4.0.4 firmware as described: can hear background, music, etc... but no voices.  As if mixdown didn't occur and only one of 6 channels is audible.

I reverted to 3.0.5 firmware .... problem solved.

Is this a bug or something up with the audio in that mp4 file? What if I run it through a video transcoder (ie. handbrake) with different audio settings? If so, what audio is preferred?

The application 'MediaInfo' gives me the following information about the MP4 file displaying the problem...

General
Complete name                    : /Movies/How_The_Grinch_Stole_Christmas.mp4
Format                           : MPEG-4
Format profile                   : Base Media
Codec ID                         : isom
File size                        : 2.40 GiB
Duration                         : 2h 10mn
Overall bit rate                 : 2 634 Kbps

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                         : 2h 10mn
Bit rate                         : 2 185 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 18.1 Mbps
Width                            : 1 280 pixels
Height                           : 544 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.35:1
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.131
Stream size                      : 1.99 GiB (83%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 80 r1376M 3feaec2
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=8 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2185 / 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
Material_Duration                : 90324
Material_StreamSize              : 2136466160
Material_FrameCount              : 187523

Audio
ID                               : 2
Format                           : AAC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                   : LC
Codec ID                         : 40
Duration                         : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 445 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 644 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 6 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                 : Lossy
Stream size                      : 415 MiB (17%)
Title                            : Imported with GPAC 0.4.6-DEV (build 1)
Encoded date                     : UTC 2011-08-18 09:38:55
Tagged date                      : UTC 2011-08-18 09:39:52




 

[muzu]

Hi

This is certainly a bug as i have the same problem and when i revert to ver 3.05, these type of files play perfectly but on ver 4 they dont.

[sangelis]

Hello,

It is definitely a bug on the firmware. All of you that do not hear the speech from the front channel speaker open the volume up at 80-85% of your amp capability and wait something like 10-20 seconds. Suddenly the speech comes back and everything works as expected until next reboot. The same thing happens to me with some .avi files and .mkv files with DTS sound. The solution came up by accident from my 7 year old son who wanted to play with the remote control since he couldn't hear Rango speaking

[waynecutting]

Hi Guys, Does anyone know if this problem of not having audio with MP4 files has been sorted. All my MP4 movies play the background music but no voice audio. I've tried various audio settings but nothing works. I see this thread has been dead for a while and want to know if V4 has been updated to sort this out?

[jer1956]

Are you saying the center speaker which carries most voices is not in the mix?

[rollandburn]

I've experienced this with mkv's on my home theatre system which has a basic left right 2 channel audio setup... you could hear audio that you'd expect to be in the background of a scene, but never the actors voices.  I think most of these mkv's had 5 or 7 channel audio and wondered if it wasn't being downmixed properly by the mede8er.  I reverted back to the old firmware and it solved the problem.  I have the new firmware now but am downloading top quality vids and haven't experienced the issue again. fyi!

[waynecutting]

Im using the tv speakers via hdmi to the tv as well as the red/white rca output into an aux input through a rotel amp. Ive never had any audio issues before except with mp4 files with acc 6 audio. I've tried reverting back to 3.0.5 and tried all the different audio setting without luck. The background sound comes through but no voice. Does this mean I have to convert the mp4 file with acc 6 audio encoding into another format. If so which tool do you suggest. I'm not very technically clued up so instructions in plain English for dummies will be much appreciated.

[rollandburn]

I would def try running the vid through Handbrake... its a super simple app to use if you pick from the presets.  Maybe that would work.

[jer1956]

You need to convert the audio..and remux with the origonal video. That will save a lot of time.

http://audioconverter.heartware.dk/Tutorial/

[waynecutting]

Thanks everyone. I'll give it a go. Sounds like a lot of effort though

[jer1956]

Where did you  get the file? Torrent posters only keep the audio they want. They will have removed audio tracks the Med would have played quite happily without problems.

[waynecutting]

From extratorrent all the hd movies seem to have 6.1 audio