4.1.2 creates unreadable videos in Samsung TV

[mucikiki]

Summary of the bug: version 4.1.2 introduces some changes, now Samsung TVs cannot play video. Appears error "Video data not supported"

How to reproduce:

% ffmpeg  -i input -c:v libx264 -profile:v main -level:v 3.1 -crf 24 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -y output
ffmpeg version 4.1.2
built with Apple LLVM version 10.0.0 (clang-1000.11.45.5)

I tried with Mac version, but also Linux version. 4.1.1 works fine, but 4.1.2 change something (maybe some deprecated command, or a difference). FFPROBE shows no differences, and I have no error in log.

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

Please test current FFmpeg git head and provide the command line you tested together with the complete, uncut console output to make this a valid ticket.

[mucikiki]

Ok, I tested the current snapshot build (ffmpeg-94144-g034b72fc0b), the problem is the same.

My commando is:

ffmpeg -i input -c:v libx264 -profile:v main -level:v 3.1 -crf 24 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -y output

console output:

ffmpeg version N-94144-g034b72fc0b-tessus  https://evermeet.cx/ffmpeg/  Copyright (c) 2000-2019 the FFmpeg developers
  built with Apple LLVM version 10.0.1 (clang-1001.0.46.4)
  configuration: --cc=/usr/bin/clang --prefix=/opt/ffmpeg --extra-version=tessus --enable-avisynth --enable-fontconfig --enable-gpl --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libdav1d --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenh264 --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-version3 --pkg-config-flags=--static --disable-ffplay
  libavutil      56. 30.100 / 56. 30.100
  libavcodec     58. 53.100 / 58. 53.100
  libavformat    58. 28.101 / 58. 28.101
  libavdevice    58.  7.100 / 58.  7.100
  libavfilter     7. 55.100 /  7. 55.100
  libswscale      5.  4.101 /  5.  4.101
  libswresample   3.  4.100 /  3.  4.100
  libpostproc    55.  4.100 / 55.  4.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/Users/macbook/Dropbox/FFMPEG FUNZIONANTE - 23 luglio 2018 - N-46494/video di esempio SVIZZERA/xxx.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: mp42mp41
    creation_time   : 2019-06-26T18:14:05.000000Z
  Duration: 00:01:36.15, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 2677 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 2479 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 30k tbn, 60k tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2019-06-26T18:14:06.000000Z
      handler_name    : ?Mainconcept Video Media Handler
      encoder         : AVC Coding
    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 189 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2019-06-26T18:14:06.000000Z
      handler_name    : #Mainconcept MP4 Sound Media Handler
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (aac (native) -> aac (native))
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] using SAR=1/1
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX FMA3 BMI2 AVX2
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] profile Main, level 3.1, 4:2:0, 8-bit
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] 264 - core 157 r2969 d4099dd - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2019 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=1 ref=3 deblock=1:0:0 analyse=0x1:0x111 me=hex subme=7 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=1 me_range=16 chroma_me=1 trellis=1 8x8dct=0 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=-2 threads=12 lookahead_threads=2 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=0 bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=1 b_bias=0 direct=1 weightb=1 open_gop=0 weightp=2 keyint=250 keyint_min=25 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=40 rc=crf mbtree=1 crf=24.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 ip_ratio=1.40 aq=1:1.00
Output #0, mp4, to '/Users/macbook/Dropbox/FFMPEG FUNZIONANTE - 23 luglio 2018 - N-46494/video di esempio SVIZZERA/xxx-COMPRESSA.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: mp42mp41
    encoder         : Lavf58.28.101
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (libx264) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(bt709, progressive), 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=-1--1, 29.97 fps, 30k tbn, 29.97 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2019-06-26T18:14:06.000000Z
      handler_name    : ?Mainconcept Video Media Handler
      encoder         : Lavc58.53.100 libx264
    Side data:
      cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 0/0/0 buffer size: 0 vbv_delay: -1
    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2019-06-26T18:14:06.000000Z
      handler_name    : #Mainconcept MP4 Sound Media Handler
      encoder         : Lavc58.53.100 aac
frame= 2880 fps=136 q=-1.0 Lsize=   10268kB time=00:01:36.10 bitrate= 875.2kbits/s speed=4.52x    
video:8653kB audio:1510kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 1.023622%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] frame I:15    Avg QP:14.82  size: 41071
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] frame P:1107  Avg QP:21.23  size:  5989
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] frame B:1758  Avg QP:22.99  size:   918
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] consecutive B-frames:  2.5% 46.5%  5.1% 45.8%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] mb I  I16..4: 65.9%  0.0% 34.1%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] mb P  I16..4:  4.2%  0.0%  1.0%  P16..4: 21.8%  4.7%  3.3%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:65.0%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] mb B  I16..4:  0.2%  0.0%  0.1%  B16..8: 16.3%  0.6%  0.1%  direct: 0.5%  skip:82.2%  L0:33.8% L1:63.5% BI: 2.8%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 19.3% 28.5% 9.3% inter: 2.4% 3.1% 0.2%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] i16 v,h,dc,p: 58% 25%  9%  8%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 28% 26% 23%  4%  4%  4%  4%  3%  4%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] i8c dc,h,v,p: 67% 19% 12%  2%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] Weighted P-Frames: Y:2.3% UV:1.5%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] ref P L0: 73.9% 10.1% 11.8%  4.2%  0.1%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] ref B L0: 88.6% 10.2%  1.2%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] ref B L1: 97.7%  2.3%
[libx264 @ 0x7fcd41800000] kb/s:737.63
[aac @ 0x7fcd41801800] Qavg: 384.685

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

Is the issue also reproducible if you use -f lavfi -i testsrc2=s=hd720:d=90 as input?

[mucikiki]

I tried, but Samsung TV says "Audio codec not supported". Maybe I need to specify some audio options in the ffmpeg command?

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

Try with -f lavfi -i testsrc2=s=hd720:d=90 -f lavfi -i sine=d=90

[mucikiki]

Ok, audio error has gone away.

I confirm you that I have the same "Video data not supported" error message.

So, I send you 3 video examples obtained from your command, maybe you cand find the difference between them (I tried with FFPROBE but with no success):

Video created with ffmpeg 4.1.1 (it works):
​https://www.dropbox.com/s/04vf10d1u23vdy8/xxx-4.1.1.mp4?dl=1

Video created with ffmpeg 4.1.2 (it DOESN'T works):
​https://www.dropbox.com/s/wm16k3sxflr52ow/xxx-4.1.2.mp4?dl=1

Video created with ffmpeg 94144 (it DOESN'T works):
​https://www.dropbox.com/s/mzrv7gqwsdptio8/xxx-latest-ffmpeg%2094144.mp4?dl=1

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

This looks like an x264 (or Samsung) issue, you will have to compile yourself to verify.

These are the commits in FFmpeg before 4.1.2, none should affect the command line I suggested:
​http://git.videolan.org/?p=ffmpeg.git;a=shortlog;h=a7cb7a2e

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

These are the x264 version strings (remaining parts are identical):
x264 - core 157 r2935 545de2f - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2018
x264 - core 157 r2969 d4099dd - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2019

[mucikiki]

I found the solution:

in ffmpeg 4.1.1, if I use "-profile:v main -level 3.1" everything was ok.

in ffmpeg 4.1.2 (and newer), if I want the same behaviour, I NEED di specify "-profile:v baseline -level 3.1"

It seems that since 4.1.2 something changed in what is MAIN and what is BASELINE. Is it possible in your opinion? Now that I modified my code using BASELINE instead of MAIN, everything is ok. Maybe after x264-r2935-545de2f they used a different version of the H.264/AVC standard? So now there is a "new" baseline, instead of the "old" baseline?

[mucikiki]

Typing error:

of course, it's not "-level 3.1", but "-level:v 3.1"

[James]

This is a known issue introduced to libx264 by ​https://code.videolan.org/videolan/x264/commit/92d36908cbafd2a6edf7e61d69f341027b57f6f8. It's not a bug in the library but rather a bug in Samsung TVs and other hardware decoders that wrongly bail out when a bitstream value they are supposed to ignore is set to a value other than 0.

It was nonetheless reverted by ​https://code.videolan.org/videolan/x264/commit/f9af2a0f71d0fca7c1cafa7657f03a302da0ca1c as the amount of faulty devices is considerable, and there's no guarantee they'd get a firmware fix.

Update your libx264 and recompile ffmpeg with it.