[SOLVED] Unable to play ogg video files in VLC and Smplayer

michalng · 01-30-2012, 05:49 AM

Installed Debian AMD64, Squeeze, KDE4 using the netinst CD.

Downloaded an ogg video file and noticed that the video is very distorted when played in VLC and smplayer.

Other file formats like mp3/mp4/mpg/avi etc works fine.

Any idea what packages/video-codec needs to be installed to solve this problem?

corp769 · 01-30-2012, 07:26 AM

VLC contains the needed codecs required to play ogg formats, so most likely, I am guessing that it may be the video itself. Have you tried using any other programs?

michalng · 01-30-2012, 07:35 AM

Installed xp in a virtualbox and installed smplayer and vlc,

the same video file plays normally there.

So, am guessing that I may be missing some codecs?

corp769 · 01-30-2012, 07:48 AM

Most likely then. Do you have w32codecs installed?

michalng · 01-30-2012, 07:49 AM

Updates, removed both VLC and Smplayer in Debian and reinstalled them.

VLC is able to play the ogg file, but skipping ahead while playing the video still cause some distortion, but acceptable.

However, Smplayer still has this distortion throughout (video is perfect in virtualbox with smplayer under xp), is there any codec that should be added for smplayer to enable ogg video?

Yes, w64codecs is installed.

corp769 · 01-30-2012, 07:52 AM

w64codecs it is then

But besides that, make sure you have libvorbis installed, along with the needed dependencies.

michalng · 01-30-2012, 08:00 AM

Yup, these are also installed

libvorbis0a
libvorbisenc2
libogg0
libtheora0

still no smooth video

corp769 · 01-30-2012, 08:06 AM

What graphics card and drivers are you using? It may have something to do with it also.

michalng · 01-30-2012, 08:12 AM

One laptop using nVidia Corporation GT218 [NVS 3100M]

and one desktop using an old nVidia Card (can't remember the exact model)

Both having same "problem".

You may be right, but I will not be able to confirm.

Both using nvidia drivers installed the Debian way.

michalng · 01-30-2012, 08:19 AM

Another update,

tried playing the file in Iceweasel and it plays pretty well.
so the video drivers should be okay.

In case you are wondering why I am stubbornly trying to play the file in smplayer -
because the file has a slight timing problem between the audio and video (mouth action is out of sync with audio)

Smplayer allows me to increase/decrease the audio speed to cater to such conditions.

michalng · 01-30-2012, 08:34 AM

Solution

corp769, thanks for helping.

finally sort it out, the distortion can be solved by changing the setting as follows:

Options -> Preferences -> General -> Video -> Output Driver -> vdpau (instead of X11)

corp769 · 01-30-2012, 08:39 AM

Ahh, I knew it would have to do something with the drivers. I didn't even think to ask what default driver it was using. Cheers on solving it though!

Josh

Edit - I never used that program, and I just got done installing it to have a look at everything. I guess you beat me to it...