[cutthatcity]

i was using like 1.2.00 or something and it was better but i noticed the sound was a little out of sync in some things. i upgraded to the newest firmware and its even worse now. i am using hdmi out, and i tried making it so the video was from hdmi and the sound was from the a/v plugs. i was able to have them both play sound from 2 different devices (receiver and tv). after hearing that those werent even in sync i tried just using the av plugs and it was BETTER but still a lot of things are just slightly off sync.


..why is this? is this a common problem? and how can i fix it? i play primarily 720p mkv files. many of them play perfectly but it seems like 1 in 5 have a sync problem.

 

[toolman2k10]

I'm afraid there is no solution and im afraid there wont be one either. WD is busy with other (new) products and hasnt released a new FW for a long time now. furthermore, the last 5/6 FWs have been increasingly worse in terms of sync and playback, even though many will say it YOUR fault and the files are badly encoded, shame on you downloader bla bla crap.


nevertheless, you have problems, I have problems.others have been problems....i guess the only solution is to buy a new player.

 

[Marty913]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16893702


i was using like 1.2.00 or something and it was better but i noticed the sound was a little out of sync in some things. i upgraded to the newest firmware and its even worse now. i am using hdmi out, and i tried making it so the video was from hdmi and the sound was from the a/v plugs. i was able to have them both play sound from 2 different devices (receiver and tv). after hearing that those werent even in sync i tried just using the av plugs and it was BETTER but still a lot of things are just slightly off sync.


..why is this? is this a common problem? and how can i fix it? i play primarily 720p mkv files. many of them play perfectly but it seems like 1 in 5 have a sync problem.

I agree with toolman2k10 that you probably won't see any fix from WD. In fairness to WD it's a tough problem to solve just because of all the individual variables (encoding, various codecs used, cables, receivers, TV's, etc.). Any one or all of them could be contributing to the problem. There are some things you can do to try and pin it down.


Most of the issues are probably encoding related. One way to find that out is to start with a known good file like a VOB (essentially an MPG), ISO, or even an MKV or AVI that has not been de-muxed and re-muxed or has been done correctly. A couple different files types are even better but they all have to be known good. Maybe the problem is with a specific file type


If they play OK in a simple computer-based standalone player (VLC, Media Player) but won't play in sync through the WDTV-Receiver-Display then you know it's something in the equipment chain. Maybe next you can hook the WDTV directly to the TV and bypass the receiver. If that's OK, try it with the receiver. I guess my point is you have to systematically work through everything. It may even be a specific file type.


I will say that separating the audio/video into two signal paths (HDMI and RCA, or Composite / Optical, etc.) may make it appear more in sync but it makes it a lot more difficult to find the real problem. The whole point of sync is to not separate the A/V.


You've probably tried all this stuff already and I don't want to jump in with a bunch of stupid suggestions; just offering suggestions. It sounds like if 4 out of 5 files are OK then the 5th file must have bad encoding. Not much WD can do to fix that. I can say that almost every one of my files were created or re-encoded by me and I have zero sync problems. I have had problems with downloaded files and files given to me by friends. I'm using the latest firmware but have upgraded it a couple times and haven't seen any problems pop up.

 

[whiteboy714]

Regardless of what Toolman says.


If one out of every 5 files is no good then I'm going to say its the files. Whats different about them?


Are these ones you encoded yourself? Or are these ones you downloaded from some crappy site like demonoid and the others are from a real site?


You gotta take a look at the files, and dont say they play fine on my pc cause a pc can play just about anything.


Are they still outta sync if you go hdmi straight to the tv? With audio only coming from the tv?

 

[cutthatcity]

ok to clarify it is 100% NOT the files. i have played them on my computer and they all play perfectly fine.


now i have tried to downgrade the firmware but it wont let me anymore (using the trick where u change the version to a high one than it is)... so is it the player now? or the firmware? again its NOT the files.

 

[cutthatcity]

oh and the wdtv is hooked directly to the tv. the hdmi and the av audio plugs go into the tv. the reciever is hooekd up through the tvs audio out. what i meant was i tried having it with with hdmi through the tv and the av through the reciever and the av was different.. now i guess i dont know if its different through the tv but it seems to be. maybe it would be better directly to the reciever though? i dunno..


ok and whiteboy what do you mean its the files even though they play fine on a computer? that doesnt make sense man. and they are the most out of sync through hdmi.

 

[cutthatcity]

oh also marty like i said in earlier firmwares it played better.. does anyone have any idea why it wont let me do the downgrade firmware trick anymore? sorry for making so many posts at once lol i just kept thinking of something else

 

[whiteboy714]

The firmware trick should work, haven't heard any other cases of why it wouldn't.


Why do you need audio cables and hdmi fed to the tv? Do you have to do it this way so you can send it out from the audio jacks on tv to rec?


Can you just send video and audio through hdmi to tv? See how the sync is like that.


Then send it to receiver with audio out on your tv. And see how the sync is.


I'm just trying to cut down components. Audio and video through hdmi to tv, with no receiver is where I'd start.


If your getting a different results with different methods of hooking everything up then it could be your set up.


As for the firmware trick your making it think its a new firmware correct? Like 1.3.5? This should work not sure why it wouldnt.


And for the record just because a file plays on a pc does not mean it will play on the wdtv.

 

[toolman2k10]

while i agree on the fact that if your pc plays it, the WD (or any other player) should also play it correctly, there does seem to be lots of sync issues with the WD with files that are within spec and correctly encoded. so i fully believe cutthatcity if he says the files are not the problem. i know many of you who will keep saying it is and theres no problem at all with your gazillions of hd files, but that doesnt mean many of the WD users do have problems which become increasily worse.



only WD can fix this, which i highly doubt will ever happen, since they have been doing nothing lately and its silent. the only message ive seen from ScottWD, the WD spokesman, is about a silly new external HD that as he says works beautifully with the WD. yeah sure, I will buy another WD product to reward their almost non-existing, come-to-a-full-stop support. They are busy with new products, like i said before....and his latest message proves that. they have left the forums and no word on anything so far....and the uservoice site sits there useless, which is logical since after about two admin posts from WD communication has stopped there as well.


trust me, they fooled us all with a nice little sexy machine, started off good with FWs...but now leave us with a incompetent player, putting our money in a new next super product that ofcourse all of us should buy. i wont for sure buy any WD product ever...their virtually non exisiting support is no good sign for things to come. i wil lwait for the new popcorn and pay much more, but get more also...

 

[whiteboy714]

Well I'm glad this incompetent works flawlessly for me.


If you read my post I recommended more then just saying "its the files"


But still, if he says man this thing sucks it cant play mkv's in sync. Then I'd lean towards the player or the setup. But when its 1 out of 5 files. I'm leaning towards the files.


You have no idea what hes downloading. Maybe its one certain group that are the issue.


He says he only watches 720p.


I get all my files from BT HD sites. I get every new movie thats worth a crap in 720p. And every single one is in sync. With FW 1.02.08. I know you cant grasp this.


To the original poster, can you please upload some samples that are out of sync and PM them to me. I would love to give them a try and see if they work here or whats up with them.

 

[Heli Pilot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16898606


ok to clarify it is 100% NOT the files. i have played them on my computer and they all play perfectly fine.


again its NOT the files.

So what if they play on your computer that has a dedicated graphics card, a ton more memory, and a cpu that can all help process the file? The WD is NOT a computer.

Quote:
there does seem to be lots of sync issues with the WD with files that are within spec and correctly encoded.

No, there's not, there's problems playing files that pirate groups encode to play on a computer, and use settings that that comply with DXVA/CUDA niether of which apply to the WD.

 

[bwaldron]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Heli Pilot /forum/post/16903257


The WD is NOT a computer.

Sure it is.

But it's one built for a specific purpose. And as you note, it will not play all the content that a general purpose PC with more processing power (and RAM) will.

 

[cutthatcity]

whiteboy i have tried those. the difference isnt whats going into the tv. its the audio coming out of the hdmi seems to be out of sync more with the firmware and the audio going through the av cables tends to be slightly more in sync. and yes thats the trick putting in a newer firmware version. ive tried it multiple times with different older firmwares and it just wont read it as a new firmware or give me anything to select.. i mean i dont imagine i was doing anything wrong. i used to do it with earlier firmwares when i wanted to revert back..

 

[whiteboy714]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16906110


whiteboy i have tried those. the difference isnt whats going into the tv. its the audio coming out of the hdmi seems to be out of sync more with the firmware and the audio going through the av cables tends to be slightly more in sync. and yes thats the trick putting in a newer firmware version. ive tried it multiple times with different older firmwares and it just wont read it as a new firmware or give me anything to select.. i mean i dont imagine i was doing anything wrong. i used to do it with earlier firmwares when i wanted to revert back..

Well when your hardware adjustments are affecting it that makes me wonder. But if you have some that are in sync and some that aren't its hard to say.


Good luck man not sure what I can say. If you want to upload some samples that are out of sync I'd be glad to test them. Or give me the exact release names and I can grab them if you are downloading.

 

[Heli Pilot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16906110


whiteboy i have tried those. the difference isnt whats going into the tv. its the audio coming out of the hdmi seems to be out of sync more with the firmware and the audio going through the av cables tends to be slightly more in sync. and yes thats the trick putting in a newer firmware version. ive tried it multiple times with different older firmwares and it just wont read it as a new firmware or give me anything to select.. i mean i dont imagine i was doing anything wrong. i used to do it with earlier firmwares when i wanted to revert back..

Do you hvae anyway to input optical from the WD to a receiver, or teh TV, instead of HDMI, or RCA?

 

[MrMod]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16906110


whiteboy i have tried those. the difference isnt whats going into the tv. its the audio coming out of the hdmi seems to be out of sync more with the firmware and the audio going through the av cables tends to be slightly more in sync. and yes thats the trick putting in a newer firmware version. ive tried it multiple times with different older firmwares and it just wont read it as a new firmware or give me anything to select.. i mean i dont imagine i was doing anything wrong. i used to do it with earlier firmwares when i wanted to revert back..

Perhaps you aren't using a plain text editor. Try taking a fresh wdtv.ver file from the 1.02.07 zip and use Notepad to change the line to VERSION='1.03.00'. wdtv.ver and wdtv.bin have to be at the root directory level too. Sorry if you have already tried these things.

 

[cutthatcity]

what do you mean plain text editor? i was using notepad. i opened the file which i think was 1.02.00 and changed it to 1.03.00. it used to work but after i upgraded to a certain firmware it wouldnt let me downgrade anymore..

 

[MrMod]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16911869


what do you mean plain text editor? i was using notepad. i opened the file which i think was 1.02.00 and changed it to 1.03.00. it used to work but after i upgraded to a certain firmware it wouldnt let me downgrade anymore..

Plain text meaning no formatting tags that are inserted, such as what Microsoft Word does. However since you are using Notepad, then forget about that possibility.


What does the WD TV display for its version in Settings->About?

 

[whiteboy714]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cutthatcity /forum/post/16911869


what do you mean plain text editor? i was using notepad. i opened the file which i think was 1.02.00 and changed it to 1.03.00. it used to work but after i upgraded to a certain firmware it wouldnt let me downgrade anymore..

If what your saying is true then you shouldn't be able to go to a new firmware either. Have you tried the firmware in a different drive?

 

[danniee]

I see there's as much bulls*it here as on the WDTV forum. I dont understand why some feel the need to defend WD as if it was their own stupid company. It's just your loss and ours. As if you dont wish to admit to yourself that it is product with too many let downs but even worse, no support or upgrades from WD.


I found this thread because I too have SYNC PROBLEMS so it is definately not a coincidense. There is for certain sync issues with the WDTV. All files play well on my PC but almost all files are out of sync on the WDTV. That's just lame. This is a dedicated video playing machine still some nut job in this thread makes a stupid remark about a pc being a pc. Jeez, how dumb can you be. When we buy a product we expect it to work!!


Never again WD. I recommend you all to have a look at the new Popcorn hour c200.