view DOCS/xml/en/audio.xml @ 15533:ddf15d233d58

Do not switch to audio tracks whose codec private data differs from the main audio track's as this will most likely result in messed up audio output. Patch by Michael Behrisch <list () behrisch ! de>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<!-- $Revision$ -->
<sect1 id="audio">
<title>Audio output devices</title>
<sect2 id="sync">
<title>Audio/Video synchronization</title>

<para>
Linux sound card drivers have compatibility problems. This is because
<application>MPlayer</application> relies on an in-built feature of
<emphasis>properly</emphasis> coded sound drivers that enable them to
maintain correct audio/video sync. Regrettably, some driver authors
don't take the care to code this feature since it is not needed for
playing MP3s or sound effects.
</para>

<para>
Other media players like <ulink url="http://avifile.sf.net">aviplay</ulink>
or <ulink url="http://xinehq.de">xine</ulink> possibly work
out-of-the-box with these drivers because they use "simple" methods
with internal timing. Measuring showed that their methods are not as
efficient as <application>MPlayer</application>'s.
</para>

<para>
Using <application>MPlayer</application> with a properly written audio
driver will never result in A/V desyncs related to the audio, except
only with very badly created files (check the man page for workarounds).
</para>

<para>
If you happen to have a bad audio driver, try the <option>-autosync</option>
option, it should sort out your problems. See the man page for detailed
information.
</para>
</sect2>

<sect2 id="troubleshooting">
<title>Troubleshooting</title>

<para>Some notes:</para>

<para>
  If you have ALSA version 0.5, then you almost always have to use
  <option>-ao alsa5</option>, since ALSA 0.5 has buggy OSS emulation code,
  and will <emphasis role="bold">crash <application>MPlayer</application></emphasis>
  with a message like this:
  <screen>
DEMUXER: Too many (945 in 8390980 bytes) video packets in the buffer!<!--
--></screen>
</para>
<para>
  If the sound clicks when playing from CD-ROM, turn on IRQ unmasking as
  described in the <link linkend="drives">CD-ROM</link> section.
</para>
</sect2>

</sect1>