All, I love G-force and the other visualizations but one thing is bugging me -- after some time (probably less than 1 hr), the visulization is out of sync with the audio. Probably about 1/2 second or so. Get seworse over time.
All I can find about this is the following from the FAQ:
"Why isn't the visual response from G-Force in sync with the audio that I am hearing?Your audio player is probably buffering audio such that by the time it gets to the speakers it was already displayed in G-Force a while ago. Try experimenting with smaller buffer sizes in your audio player to decrease this time delay. Also, running G-Force in a large window can cause a high enough system load that the audio player enters an abnormal state of playback, so try reducing the G-Force's frame size to correct the problem".
I am using 7MC for playing audio and the g-force visualizations but have no idea how to mess with the buffer -- I believe it uses Media Player so have tried setting the buffer to 1 (the lowest). No help.
The system load is minimal so I do not think it is that.
Any ideas or pointers? I am fairly technical so just need a nudge in the right direction.
Cheers, Tony.
Overtime getting out of synch w/audio
Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall, juxtiphi
Re: Overtime getting out of synch w/audio
twiseva wrote:All, I love G-force and the other visualizations but one thing is bugging me -- after some time (probably less than 1 hr), the visulization is out of sync with the audio. Probably about 1/2 second or so. Get seworse over time.
All I can find about this is the following from the FAQ:
"Why isn't the visual response from G-Force in sync with the audio that I am hearing?Your audio player is probably buffering audio such that by the time it gets to the speakers it was already displayed in G-Force a while ago. Try experimenting with smaller buffer sizes in your audio player to decrease this time delay. Also, running G-Force in a large window can cause a high enough system load that the audio player enters an abnormal state of playback, so try reducing the G-Force's frame size to correct the problem".
I am using 7MC for playing audio and the g-force visualizations but have no idea how to mess with the buffer -- I believe it uses Media Player so have tried setting the buffer to 1 (the lowest). No help.
The system load is minimal so I do not think it is that.
Any ideas or pointers? I am fairly technical so just need a nudge in the right direction.
Cheers, Tony.
Hi Tony,
I am not an expert when it comes to windows media center but I do know that the only way to change the buffer is to edit the registry which is not recommended unless you really know your stuff, and It may only affect the buffer used for TV pause and replay.
A way to get around this is to use another player .
I know that winamp allows you to control the buffer through its own options but not sure about others. Winamp is my primary player due to how easy it was to use. since then winamp has become bloated with a bunch of junk but if you can find an older version I would suggest using it instead of mc7. It may make your experience more tolerable.
Hello twiseva
There are loads of older versions of Winamp available here:-
http://www.oldversion.com/Winamp.html
Regards BTT
There are loads of older versions of Winamp available here:-
http://www.oldversion.com/Winamp.html
Regards BTT
Thanks BTT, I may try that just to see if perhaps its Media Center related or not. However, its a dedicated HTPC so its not really a long term option to use another player.
I think I maybe onto something as I was playing files froma server. I copied them locally and it seems to be better, although I am testing to see if the delay comes back.
I think I maybe onto something as I was playing files froma server. I copied them locally and it seems to be better, although I am testing to see if the delay comes back.
So I have done some testing and it DOES seem that remote files on a server are causing this delay -- I'd like to keep them on the server but am ok not doing so. If anyone has any ideas on why this might be the case and any way to fix it that'd be great.
I can understand a buffer but not one that changes and causes the synch to get more and more out of line over time.
I can understand a buffer but not one that changes and causes the synch to get more and more out of line over time.
Update
OK, so this continues and I finally took some item to dig in a little. Here is what I found:
Windows Media Player/Center is the issue. It seems after playing MP3s for about an hour or more it is feeding the music to the plugin after you hear it through the speakers. It happens even for the built-in Now Playing screen. Just watch the time of the song ... it ends up multiple seconds behind actual audio (easy to see at the end of a song). I tried this on 3 separate PCs (and a friends) and it happens on ALL of them.
Unfortunately this impacts G-Force the same.
I have determined if I run G-Force standalone OR screensaver (outside of WMP/7MC) its keeps up with the audio fine.
So what to do to enable use of G-Force within 7MC? Here is what I did although it looses some of the integration of using it as a plug-in to WMP:
Set up a application menu item to G-Force screensaver. Simple really. Unfortunately you loose any ability to control music, see cover art etc. However it stays in sync with the audio!
I did try G-Force standalone but could not figure out how to easily open it in full screen (without any windowed screen first) AND no easy way to use my remote to exit and return to 7MC.
If anyone has any in-depth knowledge of WMP and knows how I can fix it that'd be great but for now at least I can run my visualizations for a lengthy time and have them stay in-sync
Windows Media Player/Center is the issue. It seems after playing MP3s for about an hour or more it is feeding the music to the plugin after you hear it through the speakers. It happens even for the built-in Now Playing screen. Just watch the time of the song ... it ends up multiple seconds behind actual audio (easy to see at the end of a song). I tried this on 3 separate PCs (and a friends) and it happens on ALL of them.
Unfortunately this impacts G-Force the same.
I have determined if I run G-Force standalone OR screensaver (outside of WMP/7MC) its keeps up with the audio fine.
So what to do to enable use of G-Force within 7MC? Here is what I did although it looses some of the integration of using it as a plug-in to WMP:
Set up a application menu item to G-Force screensaver. Simple really. Unfortunately you loose any ability to control music, see cover art etc. However it stays in sync with the audio!
I did try G-Force standalone but could not figure out how to easily open it in full screen (without any windowed screen first) AND no easy way to use my remote to exit and return to 7MC.
If anyone has any in-depth knowledge of WMP and knows how I can fix it that'd be great but for now at least I can run my visualizations for a lengthy time and have them stay in-sync
Hello twiseva
Why isn't the visual response from G-Force in sync with the audio that I am hearing?
Your audio player is probably buffering audio such that by the time it gets to the speakers it was already displayed in G-Force a while ago. Try experimenting with smaller buffer sizes in your audio player to decrease this time delay. Also, running G-Force in a large window can cause a high enough system load that the audio player enters an abnormal state of playback, so try reducing the G-Force's frame size to correct the problem.
Source SoundSpectrum
Regards BTT
Why isn't the visual response from G-Force in sync with the audio that I am hearing?
Your audio player is probably buffering audio such that by the time it gets to the speakers it was already displayed in G-Force a while ago. Try experimenting with smaller buffer sizes in your audio player to decrease this time delay. Also, running G-Force in a large window can cause a high enough system load that the audio player enters an abnormal state of playback, so try reducing the G-Force's frame size to correct the problem.
Source SoundSpectrum
Regards BTT
BTT, thanks for the pointer to the FAQ. Unfortunately its not that easy. A couple of things:
1. WMP has only one way to change the buffer and that does not help -- unless you know of a registry hack to do it better? I changed it to the lowest (1) and it makes no difference (plus the buffer seem to be for streaming. The files are local). Honestly I think its a WMP bug.
2. The system is under a low load. I checked it some while back and its below 5% most of the time while running music and G-Force.
I may try this just to see but have not got around to digging into the config details to change it m(do you have a handy pointer)?
Thanks for replying ... I am curious for those WMP folks out there -- do YOU see this issue or is it truly limited to my 3 PCs at my house? Its hard to believe but possible ...
Cheers, Tony.
1. WMP has only one way to change the buffer and that does not help -- unless you know of a registry hack to do it better? I changed it to the lowest (1) and it makes no difference (plus the buffer seem to be for streaming. The files are local). Honestly I think its a WMP bug.
2. The system is under a low load. I checked it some while back and its below 5% most of the time while running music and G-Force.
I may try this just to see but have not got around to digging into the config details to change it m(do you have a handy pointer)?
Thanks for replying ... I am curious for those WMP folks out there -- do YOU see this issue or is it truly limited to my 3 PCs at my house? Its hard to believe but possible ...
Cheers, Tony.
twiseva wrote:BTT, thanks for the pointer to the FAQ. Unfortunately its not that easy. A couple of things:
1. WMP has only one way to change the buffer and that does not help -- unless you know of a registry hack to do it better? I changed it to the lowest (1) and it makes no difference (plus the buffer seem to be for streaming. The files are local). Honestly I think its a WMP bug.
2. The system is under a low load. I checked it some while back and its below 5% most of the time while running music and G-Force.
I may try this just to see but have not got around to digging into the config details to change it m(do you have a handy pointer)?
Thanks for replying ... I am curious for those WMP folks out there -- do YOU see this issue or is it truly limited to my 3 PCs at my house? Its hard to believe but possible ...
Cheers, Tony.
Normally I dont use WMP, but I gave it a spin to see if it was in sync and it seems to be fine on my machine. I use a specific track thats has a simple drum opening so I can see if its in sync right away.
I usually use winamp for my music, I have no issues with it at all .
Thanks juxtiphi and BTT for helping me out.
juxtiphi , as BTT indicated, if you can run a playlist for 1hr + and see if there is any sync issues? Some basic steps to repeat issue:
1. Run for 1+ hr. I really do not see any issues for sometime.
2. Do NOT stop the music. If you do it gets back in sync.
3. Watch the 'now playing' screen -- either WMP or 7MC. Watch as the music gets to the end of each song -- you will start to see that the audio for the next song starts BEFORE the track time ends for the previous ends -- the gap gets bigger the longer you wait.
If you can do this it'll be greatly appreciated. I'd love to know if its a WMP defect or simply something up with my PCs here.
BTT, I have done a bunch of searches -- generally everything about cync seems to be around video/audio sync issues. There is nothing out there on this issue (that I could find). I have tried many things including all the usual driver updates etc. I think this is a different issue from those ...
Cheers, Tony.
juxtiphi , as BTT indicated, if you can run a playlist for 1hr + and see if there is any sync issues? Some basic steps to repeat issue:
1. Run for 1+ hr. I really do not see any issues for sometime.
2. Do NOT stop the music. If you do it gets back in sync.
3. Watch the 'now playing' screen -- either WMP or 7MC. Watch as the music gets to the end of each song -- you will start to see that the audio for the next song starts BEFORE the track time ends for the previous ends -- the gap gets bigger the longer you wait.
If you can do this it'll be greatly appreciated. I'd love to know if its a WMP defect or simply something up with my PCs here.
BTT, I have done a bunch of searches -- generally everything about cync seems to be around video/audio sync issues. There is nothing out there on this issue (that I could find). I have tried many things including all the usual driver updates etc. I think this is a different issue from those ...
Cheers, Tony.
Hi Tonytwiseva wrote:Thanks juxtiphi and BTT for helping me out.
juxtiphi , as BTT indicated, if you can run a playlist for 1hr + and see if there is any sync issues? Some basic steps to repeat issue:
1. Run for 1+ hr. I really do not see any issues for sometime.
2. Do NOT stop the music. If you do it gets back in sync.
3. Watch the 'now playing' screen -- either WMP or 7MC. Watch as the music gets to the end of each song -- you will start to see that the audio for the next song starts BEFORE the track time ends for the previous ends -- the gap gets bigger the longer you wait.
If you can do this it'll be greatly appreciated. I'd love to know if its a WMP defect or simply something up with my PCs here.
BTT, I have done a bunch of searches -- generally everything about cync seems to be around video/audio sync issues. There is nothing out there on this issue (that I could find). I have tried many things including all the usual driver updates etc. I think this is a different issue from those ...
Cheers, Tony.
I put over 2 and a half hours of music on with my test track as the last song, ran now playing in fullscreen and when it got to my test track I did not see any sync issues.