[MPlayer-users] -cache problems ( 'Cache not filling' OR 'Cache not responding!' errors)

[Lonni J Friedman]

Greetings,
I'm using mplayer on a home theater-like setup to play assorted media
content over an NFS share on my TV.  The system in question is running
Fedora13-x86_64.  I upgraded from MPlayer
SVN-r31206-snapshot-4.4.4 to MPlayer SVN-r33917-4.4.4.  Since
upgrading I've noticed the prevalence of cache related errors which
were not present with the previous version.  Also, this problem does
not reproduce if I'm playing the content locally (instead of over
NFS).  It definitely seems like the caching is not working, as high
def content (720p, 1080p) tends to stall out often.  The errors do not
appear to be associated with any particular type of movie format or
file.  My config file has the following contents:
###############
$ cat ~/.mplayer/config
# Write your default config options here!
fs="yes"
cache="15264"
cache-min="30"
alang=eng
stop-xscreensaver=true
ao=pulse,alsa
vo=vdpau,xv,
vc=ffh264vdpau,ffmpeg12vdpau,ffvc1vdpau,ffwmv3vdpau,
###############

However, even if I invoke mplayer with the -cache and -cache-min
options manually, I see the same errors.  Specifically, I'm seeing one
or both of the following errors:
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
Cache not responding!

Here's an example of a case where both errors are present:
####################
$ mplayer -cache 15264 -cache-min 30
The.Colbert.Report.2011.07.25.Brian.Cox.HDTV.XviD-FQM.\[VTV\].avi
MPlayer SVN-r33917-4.4.4 (C) 2000-2011 MPlayer Team
163 audio & 363 video codecs

Playing The.Colbert.Report.2011.07.25.Brian.Cox.HDTV.XviD-FQM.[VTV].avi.
Cache fill: 26.42% (4128768 bytes)

AVI file format detected.
[aviheader] Video stream found, -vid 0
[aviheader] Audio stream found, -aid 1
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
VIDEO:  [XVID]  624x352  24bpp  29.970 fps  1000.7 kbps (122.2 kbyte/s)
Clip info:
 Software: transcode-1.0.4
Load subtitles in ./
Cache not responding!
Cache not responding!
==========================================================================
Forced video codec: ffh264vdpau
Forced video codec: ffmpeg12vdpau
Forced video codec: ffvc1vdpau
Forced video codec: ffwmv3vdpau
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Unsupported PixelFormat 61
Unsupported PixelFormat 53
Selected video codec: [ffodivx] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG-4)
==========================================================================
==========================================================================
Requested audio codec family [mpg123] (afm=mpg123) not available.
Enable it at compilation.
Opening audio decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg/libavcodec audio decoders
AUDIO: 48000 Hz, 2 ch, floatle, 128.0 kbit/4.17% (ratio: 16000->384000)
Selected audio codec: [ffmp3float] afm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG layer-3 audio)
==========================================================================
AO: [pulse] 48000Hz 2ch floatle (4 bytes per sample)
Starting playback...
Movie-Aspect is 1.77:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
VO: [vdpau] 624x352 => 624x352 Planar YV12  [fs]
A:   5.3 V:   5.3 A-V:  0.000 ct: -0.033 161/161 12%  5%  1.2% 4 0 93%

Exiting... (Quit)
####################


Here's another invocation with the 'Cache no filling' error present
and with the "-v" option added:
####################
$ mplayer -v -cache 15264 -cache-min 30 Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi
MPlayer SVN-r33917-4.4.4 (C) 2000-2011 MPlayer Team
CPU vendor name: GenuineIntel  max cpuid level: 10
CPU: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU  330   @ 1.60GHz (Family: 6, Model: 28, Stepping: 2)
extended cpuid-level: 8
extended cache-info: 33587264
Detected cache-line size is 64 bytes
CPUflags:  MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNowExt: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1 SSSE3: 1
Compiled for x86 CPU with extensions: MMX MMX2 SSE SSE2 SSSE3 CMOV
get_path('codecs.conf') -> '/home/netllama/.mplayer/codecs.conf'
Reading /home/netllama/.mplayer/codecs.conf: 163 audio & 363 video codecs
init_freetype
Using MMX (with tiny bit MMX2) Optimized OnScreenDisplay
get_path('fonts') -> '/home/netllama/.mplayer/fonts'
Configuration: --disable-mencoder --disable-radio-v4l2 --disable-tv
--disable-tv-v4l1 --disable-tv-v4l2 --enable-menu --disable-inet6
--enable-vdpau --enable-fbdev --disable-arts --disable-esd
--enable-pulse
CommandLine: '-v' '-cache' '15264' '-cache-min' '30'
'Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi'
Using nanosleep() timing
get_path('input.conf') -> '/home/netllama/.mplayer/input.conf'
Can't open input config file /home/netllama/.mplayer/input.conf: No
such file or directory
Can't open input config file /usr/local/etc/mplayer/input.conf: No
such file or directory
Falling back on default (hardcoded) input config
get_path('Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi.conf') ->
'/home/netllama/.mplayer/Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi.conf'

Playing Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi.
get_path('sub/') -> '/home/netllama/.mplayer/sub/'
[file] File size is 398990016 bytes
STREAM: [file] Fringe.S03E01.HDTV.XviD-mOt.Olivia.avi
STREAM: Description: File
STREAM: Author: Albeu
STREAM: Comment: based on the code from ??? (probably Arpi)
CACHE_PRE_INIT: 0 [0] 0  pre:4689100  eof:0
Cache fill: 26.42% (4128768 bytes)

LAVF_check: AVI format
AVI file format detected.
list_end=0x2302
======= AVI Header =======
us/frame: 41708  (fps=23.976)
max bytes/sec: 16000
padding: 0
MainAVIHeader.dwFlags: (2320) HAS_INDEX IS_INTERLEAVED TRUST_CKTYPE
frames  total: 78455   initial: 0
streams: 2
Suggested BufferSize: 1048576
Size:  624 x 352
==========================
list_end=0x1168
==> Found video stream: 0
[aviheader] Video stream found, -vid 0
====== STREAM Header =====
Type: vids   FCC: XVID (44495658)
Flags: 0
Priority: 0   Language: 0
InitialFrames: 0
Rate: 2997/125 = 23.976
Start: 0   Len: 78455
Suggested BufferSize: 1048576
Quality -1
Sample size: 0
==========================
Found 'bih', 84 bytes of 40
======= VIDEO Format ======
 biSize 84
 biWidth 624
 biHeight 352
 biPlanes 1
 biBitCount 24
 biCompression 1145656920='XVID'
 biSizeImage 658944
Unknown extra header dump: [0] [0] [1] [b0] [f5] [0] [0] [1] [b5] [9]
[0] [0] [1] [0] [0] [0] [1] [20] [0] [bf] [ff] [fa] [c4] [2e] [d7] [7]
[d8] [9c] [21] [60] [a3] [1f] [0] [0] [1] [b2] [58] [76] [69] [44]
[30] [30] [36] [33]
===========================
Regenerating keyframe table for MPEG-4 video.
======= Video Properties Header =======
Format: 0  VideoStandard: 0
VRefresh: 24  HTotal: 624  VTotal: 352
FrameAspect: 9945:5588  Framewidth: 624  Frameheight: 352
Fields: 1
 == Field 0 description ==
 CompressedBMHeight: 352  CompressedBMWidth: 624
 ValidBMHeight: 352  ValidBMWidth: 624
 ValidBMXOffset: 0  ValidBMYOffset: 0
 VideoXOffsetInT: 0  VideoYValidStartLine: 0
=======================================
list_end=0x21F6
==> Found audio stream: 1
[aviheader] Audio stream found, -aid 1
====== STREAM Header =====
Type: auds   FCC:  (1)
Flags: 0
Priority: 0   Language: 0
InitialFrames: 0
Rate: 125/3 = 41.667
Start: 0   Len: 136343
Suggested BufferSize: 12288
Quality -1
Sample size: 0
==========================
Found 'wf', 30 bytes of 18
======= WAVE Format =======
Format Tag: 85 (0x55)
Channels: 2
Samplerate: 48000
avg byte/sec: 16000
Block align: 1152
bits/sample: 0
cbSize: 12
mp3.wID=1
mp3.fdwFlags=0x2
mp3.nBlockSize=1152
mp3.nFramesPerBlock=1
mp3.nCodecDelay=1393
==========================================================================
list_end=0x2324
hdr=Software  size=13
Software  : Lavf52.105.0
list_end=0x1793A9D8
Found movie at 0x2730 - 0x1793A9D8
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
Reading INDEX block, 214798 chunks for 78455 frames (fpos=395553248).
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
Cache not filling, consider increasing -cache and/or -cache-min!
AVI index offset: 0x272C (movi=0x2730 idx0=0x4 idx1=0x97A)
Auto-selected AVI video ID = 0
Auto-selected AVI audio ID = 1
AVI: Searching for audio stream (id:1)
XXX initial  v_pts=0.000  a_pos=0 (0.000)
AVI video size=341430467 (78455) audio size=52355712 (136343)
VIDEO:  [XVID]  624x352  24bpp  23.976 fps  834.7 kbps (101.9 kbyte/s)
Auto-selected AVI audio ID = 1
[V] filefmt:3  fourcc:0x44495658  size:624x352  fps:23.976  ftime:=0.0417
Clip info:
 Software: Lavf52.105.0
Load subtitles in ./
get_path('sub/') -> '/home/netllama/.mplayer/sub/'
Cache not responding!
X11 opening display: :0
vo: X11 color mask:  FFFFFF  (R:FF0000 G:FF00 B:FF)
vo: X11 running at 1280x720 with depth 24 and 32 bpp (":0" => local display)
[x11] Detected wm supports layers.
[x11] Using workaround for Metacity bugs.
[x11] Detected wm supports NetWM.
[x11] Detected wm supports ABOVE state.
[x11] Detected wm supports BELOW state.
[x11] Detected wm supports FULLSCREEN state.
[x11] Current fstype setting honours FULLSCREEN ABOVE BELOW X atoms
Cache not responding!
==========================================================================
Forced video codec: ffh264vdpau
Forced video codec: ffmpeg12vdpau
Forced video codec: ffvc1vdpau
Forced video codec: ffwmv3vdpau
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Unsupported PixelFormat 61
Unsupported PixelFormat 53
INFO: libavcodec init OK!
Selected video codec: [ffodivx] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG-4)
==========================================================================
==========================================================================
Requested audio codec family [mpg123] (afm=mpg123) not available.
Enable it at compilation.
Opening audio decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg/libavcodec audio decoders
dec_audio: Allocating 192000 + 65536 = 257536 bytes for output buffer.
FFmpeg's libavcodec audio codec
INFO: libavcodec "mp3float" init OK!
AUDIO: 48000 Hz, 2 ch, floatle, 128.0 kbit/4.17% (ratio: 16000->384000)
Selected audio codec: [ffmp3float] afm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG layer-3 audio)
==========================================================================
Building audio filter chain for 48000Hz/2ch/floatle -> 0Hz/0ch/??...
[libaf] Adding filter dummy
[dummy] Was reinitialized: 48000Hz/2ch/floatle
[dummy] Was reinitialized: 48000Hz/2ch/floatle
Trying preferred audio driver 'pulse', options '[none]'
AO: [pulse] 48000Hz 2ch floatle (4 bytes per sample)
AO: Description: PulseAudio audio output
AO: Author: Lennart Poettering
Building audio filter chain for 48000Hz/2ch/floatle -> 48000Hz/2ch/floatle...
[dummy] Was reinitialized: 48000Hz/2ch/floatle
[dummy] Was reinitialized: 48000Hz/2ch/floatle
Starting playback...
Increasing filtered audio buffer size from 0 to 65536
[mpeg4 @ 0xd5bba0]Unsupported bit depth: 0
[mpeg4 @ 0xd5bba0]Unsupported bit depth: 0
[ffmpeg] aspect_ratio: 1.779706
VDec: vo config request - 624 x 352 (preferred colorspace: Planar YV12)
Trying filter chain: vo
VDec: using Planar YV12 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is 1.78:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
VO Config (624x352->626x352,flags=1,'MPlayer',0x32315659)
VO: [vdpau] 624x352 => 626x352 Planar YV12  [fs]
VO: Description: VDPAU with X11
VO: Author: Rajib Mahapatra <rmahapatra at nvidia.com> and others
[vdpau] Updating CSC matrix for BT.601
*** [vo] Allocating mp_image_t, 624x352x12bpp YUV planar, 329472 bytes
Unicode font: 5025 glyphs.
Unicode font: 5025 glyphs.
A:   0.1 V:   0.0 A-V:  0.145 ct:  0.000   1/  1 ??% ??% ??,?% 0 0 44%
Increasing filtered audio buffer size from 65536 to 69632
*** [vo] Allocating mp_image_t, 624x352x12bpp YUV planar, 329472 bytes
Unicode font: 5025 glyphs.
Unicode font: 5025 glyphs.
A:   1.4 V:   1.4 A-V:  0.002 ct:  0.002  34/ 34  9% 11%  1.0% 3 0 59%
Uninit audio filters...
[libaf] Removing filter dummy
Uninit audio: ffmpeg
Uninit video: ffmpeg
vo: uninit ...

Exiting... (Quit)
####################


One other unrelated quirk that I've noticed is that once I stat to
play any file, any subsequent play back attempts of the same file
appear to not cache anything at all.  I can't tell whether this is
intentional behavior or not?  This behavior appears to exist in the
older mplayer version as well, so it may have always worked that way:
####################
$ mplayer -cache 15264 -cache-min 30
The.Colbert.Report.2011.07.25.Brian.Cox.HDTV.XviD-FQM.\[VTV\].avi
MPlayer SVN-r33917-4.4.4 (C) 2000-2011 MPlayer Team
163 audio & 363 video codecs

Playing The.Colbert.Report.2011.07.25.Brian.Cox.HDTV.XviD-FQM.[VTV].avi.
Cache fill:  0.00% (0 bytes)

AVI file format detected.
[aviheader] Video stream found, -vid 0
[aviheader] Audio stream found, -aid 1
VIDEO:  [XVID]  624x352  24bpp  29.970 fps  1000.7 kbps (122.2 kbyte/s)
Clip info:
 Software: transcode-1.0.4
Load subtitles in ./
==========================================================================
Forced video codec: ffh264vdpau
Forced video codec: ffmpeg12vdpau
Forced video codec: ffvc1vdpau
Forced video codec: ffwmv3vdpau
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Unsupported PixelFormat 61
Unsupported PixelFormat 53
Selected video codec: [ffodivx] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG-4)
==========================================================================
==========================================================================
Requested audio codec family [mpg123] (afm=mpg123) not available.
Enable it at compilation.
Opening audio decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg/libavcodec audio decoders
AUDIO: 48000 Hz, 2 ch, floatle, 128.0 kbit/4.17% (ratio: 16000->384000)
Selected audio codec: [ffmp3float] afm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg MPEG layer-3 audio)
==========================================================================
AO: [pulse] 48000Hz 2ch floatle (4 bytes per sample)
Starting playback...
Movie-Aspect is 1.77:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
VO: [vdpau] 624x352 => 624x352 Planar YV12  [fs]
A:   1.1 V:   1.1 A-V:  0.001 ct: -0.032  33/ 33 17% 13%  1.5% 3 0 99%

Exiting... (Quit)
####################


Please let me know if any other information is needed.  thanks in advance!