mkv not playing audio through vlc player

positivenote

hi all, having an issue playing mkv files through the normally thrustworthy VLC player. The video plays back fine but there is no audio and the volume controller seems to be locked? im thinking that maybe its a codec issue of some sort... any help would be appreciated
Cheers

the_syco

positivenote wrote: »

there is no audio and the volume controller seems to be locked?

It sounds :pac: like acodec problem alright. If you righ-click the video, and check the audio properties out, what info does it give you?

chin_grin

I know this could be a long shot but are you running the latest version of vlc? (1.1.11)

Voodu Child

VLC has every codec it needs internally, external codec packs are not needed and shouldn't have any effect on playback.

First try resetting all the VLC settings to default. Should be a button or option to do it.

maki

Voodu Child wrote: »

VLC has every codec it needs internally, external codec packs are not needed and shouldn't have any effect on playback.

First try resetting all the VLC settings to default. Should be a button or option to do it.

VLC doesn't play absolutely everything, so it's possible the file was created using some sort of crazy obscure audio codec.

You should be able to see the codec from the VLC properties box. Failing that, use something like Mediainfo

yoyo

maki wrote: »

VLC doesn't play absolutely everything, so it's possible the file was created using some sort of crazy obscure audio codec.

You should be able to see the codec from the VLC properties box. Failing that, use something like Mediainfo

Exactly, MKV files are notorious for having some of the strangest most obscure combinations, I avoid those files for that reason :P . MediaInfo is a great tool to help diagnose the culprit

Nick

Voodu Child

maki wrote: »

VLC doesn't play absolutely everything, so it's possible the file was created using some sort of crazy obscure audio codec.

You should be able to see the codec from the VLC properties box. Failing that, use something like Mediainfo

The point was that the OP doesnt need to worry about external codec packs for the time being. Its often the first thing suggested by people who don't understand that VLC doesnt use them.

yoyo wrote: »

Exactly, MKV files are notorious for having some of the strangest most obscure combinations, I avoid those files for that reason :P . MediaInfo is a great tool to help diagnose the culprit

Nick

MKV is a versatile container but I have never heard of any notoriety surrounding its versatility.

Its akin to someone saying they avoid books because they're notorious for having obscure combinations of languages inside. If you don't speak French you avoid French books, you don't avoid all books.

yoyo

Voodu Child wrote: »

MKV is a versatile container but I have never heard of any notoriety surrounding its versatility.

Its akin to someone saying they avoid books because they're notorious for having obscure combinations of languages inside. If you don't speak French you avoid French books, you don't avoid all books.

I have seen strange combinations such as mp4 video and real audio in a MKV container, I do agree its a good format but let down by the fact there are so many different codecs than can be used. The older technologies while alot more limited which shows when it comes to HD video encoding are more versitle imo for SD.
Of course a properly encoded MKV file will be perfect, but with that container you have so many possible combinations/possibilities the chance of stumbling accross a problematic file is much higher. Which is the encoders fault, not the containers but it is something to bear in mind, especially if you want to re-encode afterwards

Nick

Voodu Child

By 'older technologies' you mean AVI presumeably?

The AVI container can hold obscure video and audio codecs also, MJPEG, QPEG, Cinepak.. Even the old reliable MPEG4 II (Xvid/DivX) can be encoded with settings like GOP and QPEL which will break compatibility with most Xvid/DivX 'compatible' hardware players.

Most of the time AVI is used for Xvid with AC3/MP3 just the same as most of the time MKV is used for H.264 with AAC/AC3/DTS.

At the end of the day it is just progress, MPEG4 II was replaced by MPEG4 AVC. And a new container was needed because AVI is obsolete. MKV was chosen because it's open source and very versatile.

yoyo

Voodu Child wrote: »

By 'older technologies' you mean AVI presumeably?

The AVI container can hold obscure video and audio codecs also, MJPEG, QPEG, Cinepak.. Even the old reliable MPEG4 II (Xvid/DivX) can be encoded with settings like GOP and QPEL which will break compatibility with most Xvid/DivX 'compatible' hardware players.

Most of the time AVI is used for Xvid with AC3/MP3 just the same as most of the time MKV is used for H.264 with AAC/AC3/DTS.

At the end of the day it is just progress, MPEG4 II was replaced by MPEG4 AVC. And a new container was needed because AVI is obsolete. MKV was chosen because it's open source and very versatile.

Well mainly AVI yes, especially if were talking certain content. I usually re-encode my downloads, and avis have been traditionally more hassle free than mkvs.
I appreciate there are some strange avi files out there, but for the most part there fairly standard. Obviously op here has come across a strange mkv file in this case, I've had that trouble in the past or video and audio plays but both are out of sync. This can be especially a problem after a re-encode.
If all people encoding mkv files use the h.264/aac/ac3 etc. standards it should be fine, but there are many mkvs out there which are encoded poorly with stupid combinations.
I'm just talking from expierience here, I would use mkv however I would grab an avi over mkv any day of the week.

Nick