Playback freezing when seeking certain videos on Apple TV

[Powerkey]

This issue I was having earlier this year has returned for me.

I recently RIPd a few titles from UHD Bluray that are exhibiting a similar issue again. Files play fine, but once the playback is paused (or skip forward/backward) the video freezes and only shows a single frame every 5 seconds or so. The one minor difference from the previous issue is that a resume will correctly playback the video (the previous issue required a restart from the beginning).

This is/was happening on Infuse 8 and the version just prior to 8 on an updated Apple TV (3rd Gen).

RIPping software has had minor revisions and could be part of the problem, but I also upgraded to macOS Sequoia, which may have changed the VideoToolbox hardware compression.

As before, this issue only exists with Infuse on Apple TV. Plex on Apple TV plays correctly.

[Axl2021]

Playback bug with some BDMV files

Hi James. I confirm the presence of a bug. This happens on movies with a BDMV structure on m2ts files. I have not seen this on mkv files. If you repackage a movie from ts to mkv, everything works fine.In addition to the fact that microfreezes happen, sometimes the movie stops and infuse gives an error. The film Oppenheimer infuse does not allow you to watch to the end. There are a few minutes left until the end of the movie and infuse gives you an offer to watch the next movie. And also, in …

I also constantly encounter this bug, but when playing files in the m2ts container. Just the BluRay structure files.

I am 90% sure that the problem is in the caching of the stream.

[Powerkey]

I think that may be a different issue than the one I am experiencing. Problematic files are .mkv files in my case.

Also, the freezing is not brief. It is a permanent freeze that changes key frames every few seconds.

[dalnew]

I can confirm I am seeing this on Infuse 8 mkv files. Seems like mostly bigger files but I haven’t dug into what is consistent about the files that get stuck after trying to skip forward or backward. Definitely freezing completely though.

Not a network issue as same Apple TV works fine for the same files on plex or older infuse 7. Also everything is hardwired.

[tsartin]

I’m also experiencing this issue. Infuse will freeze at the same point on a file where other players work fine. Occasionally it’ll throw a playback error 0.

I tried an mkvtoolnix remux which seemed to work at first, but the problem just arose again at a later point in the file. Again, other players work fine in these instances.

I’m on Infuse 8.0.2 playing .mkv files on a 4K Apple TV hardwired.

[UncleBabyBilly]

Yes I am experiencing this as well video will pause for like 5 seconds at a time. My test file is HEVC MKV The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Oddly enough it’s not all movies just some. Definitely started around the time of the 8 version.

[munpip214]

@UncleBabyBilly

video will pause for like 5 seconds at a time

You are having the following issue or the the video is just randomly pausing?

@Powerkey

once the playback is paused (or skip forward/backward) the video freezes and only shows a single frame every 5 seconds or so

For me I was having an issue on v7 as well

[UncleBabyBilly]

@munpip214

You are having the following issue or the the video is just randomly pausing?

No it is randomly pausing during regular playback. Already confirmed this is not happening in Plex or other films with similar Mediainfo video information.

[munpip214]

I’ve had this happen before, but this is unrelated to the original issue in this thread. Perhaps open a new issue?

[Powerkey]

I was able to do some testing on this to possibly help determine the exact problem.

My procedure for UHD-HDR movies…
• RIP from UHD Bluray using MakeMKV (v.1.17.6 & v.1.17.8)
• Compress with Handbrake (v1.8.2) using the “H.265 10-bit (VideoToolbox)” encoder
• [Optional] remove unused languages and metadata using MKVToolNix (v.87.0 & v.88.0)
• Playback on AppleTV 4k (3rd Gen) using Infuse (v.7.8.4 & v.8.x)

The issue is: playback is fine until skip (forward or back) is used (pausing/resume appears to be okay). The video freezes and only displays a key frame(?) every 10 seconds. Audio continues as normal. Exiting out of playback and then clicking the “Resume” button seems to be the easiest workaround.

It appears to be limited to AppleTV (tvOS 18.x) and iPad (iPadOS 18.x). macOS (15+) appears to be working fine as does my iPhone (12 Pro Max). I am uncertain if the last 2 devices are able to playback HDR so this could be a clue. Also, other players on AppleTV (Plex, VLC) seem to work fine.

This proceedure worked fine a few months ago. I think the change that caused the problem was an upgrade to macOS 15.x. And, I assume, the VideoToolbox hardware encoder. It is obviously not as simple as that as other players appear to be working correctly. As-does Infuse on macOS.

Here are the tests I have done:
• MP4 and MKV both exhibit the problem
• 8-bit VideoToolbox works (but no HDR)
• x265 10-bit encoder works
• Bitrates appear to have no effect on the problem. A low bitrate file 4.5Mbps is the same as an 85Mbps file.
• DolbyVision files work. At least the ones I have tested (P7-MEL)

Updates:
Nov 12, 2024 - Pro Video Formats 2.3.2 Update - No Change
Nov 19, 2024 - macOS 15.1.1 Update - No Change
Nov 20, 2024 - Infuse 8.0.4 Update - No Change
Dec 03, 2024 - Handbrake 1.9.0 Update - No Change
Dec 03, 2024 - Infuse 8.0.5 Update - No Change

[Axl2021]

I also now see this problem on mkv files.

[james]

Are you able to send in a sample file you are seeing issues with?

This is usually the best way for us to investigate playback issues like this which often times are file-specific.

[Powerkey]

Done.

Filename is “Test-HDR10_HB-1.8.2_VideoToolbox 10-bit_CQ60.mkv”

[james]

Sample received. Will look into this.

[Axl2021]

@james hi. I think that these topics can be combined into one. It doesn’t matter that the problem occurs for all of us on different types of video files. As a result, the microfreeze bug still occurs due to an incorrect cache after pausing/rewinding.

Image freezes after seek

I has send you “test.mp4”. You can see that the video begin frozen. If you move the play position, or you change the subtitles, the image is frozen. If you exit and play in same position, the video works fine. Apple TV A2843 tvOS 18.1 [22J580] Infuse 8.0.4 [5022]

Playback freezing when seeking certain videos on Apple TV

Sample received. Will look into this.

Playback bug with some BDMV files

@james greetings. Have you received my video files? Have you seen the described bugs? Do you understand what needs to be done with the files and after the uploaded folders? If I had previously seen that the player crash problem only occurs with a full BluRay folder, I would have uploaded all the movies to you in folders at once. But I did not reload all the movies in folders, since it takes about 6-7 hours to download one such file. I hope you were able to diagnose the bugs and I didn’t wast…

[Powerkey]

@james Did you happen to test my files and are you getting similar results?

Also, I tested Handbrake 1.9.0 and Infuse 8.0.5 and the problem still exists.

[Axl2021]

James, how long are we going to wait for a normal reaction from you? It’s been 9 (!!!) months! How long will you ignore these problems? To be honest, my patience is running out…

Image freezes after pause or seek

I’m seeing this issue when seeking on a lot of movies. Is this similar to what others are reporting? If often will fix itself once it reaches a scene change or others, but sometimes requires a stop and restart of the movie. 93X9P

I send you file “IMG_1107.mov” - send you 10 days later
I sent you 5 complete films in early November. In June, I sent clippings of them.
8ATT5, RKZXC, 8BSQJ, E0DHC, PNPRN - send november.
Playback bug with some BDMV files - #11 by Axl2021 - send Jun.

I’ve been waiting patiently until you finish the Plex Direct Mode. I waited patiently while you were doing infuse 8. As of today, the 8th edition of infuse has already been stabilized. Outwardly, everything is fine with him. There is no serious flaw in everything that was planned for him.
I ask you to finally fix the main function of the player - the correct video playback.

[kopiro]

I’m having the same issue as well, let me know if you need any report.