Hue 'ambilight' mode -some files work, some not

[Superhans]

Just started using the Hue integration and I'm very impressed - what an absolutely great add-on.

However, there are some inconsistencies ... certain files give the 'ambilight' effect when played back but others not, just a steady backlight (green on my Shield, white on my FireTV 4k stick).

I'd heard that the codecs might be to blame - some not supporting the ability to extract colour/luminance data - but it seems to happen even on files that use the same coding (albeit at different resolutions).

eg. Taking two files, this one works to give the 'Ambilight' effect:

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 319 MiB
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Overall bit rate : 1 062 kb/s
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.2 2017012200
Writing library : Lavf57.7.2 / Lavf57.7.2

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Nominal bit rate : 900 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 406 pixels


... but this one doesn't:

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 334 MiB
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Overall bit rate : 1 113 kb/s
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.2 2017012200
Writing library : Lavf57.7.2 / Lavf57.7.2

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Nominal bit rate : 950 kb/s
Width : 960 pixels
Height : 540 pixels

... only real difference is the resolution.

Any ideas why one works and one doesn't?

[davilla]

Just started using the Hue integration and I'm very impressed - what an absolutely great add-on.

However, there are some inconsistencies ... certain files give the 'ambilight' effect when played back but others not, just a steady backlight (green on my Shield, white on my FireTV 4k stick).

I'd heard that the codecs might be to blame - some not supporting the ability to extract colour/luminance data - but it seems to happen even on files that use the same coding (albeit at different resolutions).

eg. Taking two files, this one works to give the 'Ambilight' effect:

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 319 MiB
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Overall bit rate : 1 062 kb/s
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.2 2017012200
Writing library : Lavf57.7.2 / Lavf57.7.2

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Nominal bit rate : 900 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 406 pixels


... but this one doesn't:

Format : Matroska
Format version : Version 4 / Version 2
File size : 334 MiB
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Overall bit rate : 1 113 kb/s
Writing application : HandBrake 1.0.2 2017012200
Writing library : Lavf57.7.2 / Lavf57.7.2

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 41 min 59 s
Nominal bit rate : 950 kb/s
Width : 960 pixels
Height : 540 pixels

... only real difference is the resolution.

Any ideas why one works and one doesn't?

It's not codec that encoded the content but which decoder is used to decode and render.

[Superhans]

I was assuming that the decoder used would depend on the codec that was being decoded - does the 960x540 res lead to the invocation of a different decoder than a 720x406 res file would?

A bit annoying if so, as I've started to encode all files for storage on my media NAS as 960x540.


Edit: The Ambilight effect is stunning by the way - great work on that.

[davilla]

I was assuming that the decoder used would depend on the codec that was being decoded - does the 960x540 res lead to the invocation of a different decoder than a 720x406 res file would?

A bit annoying if so, as I've started to encode all files for storage on my media NAS as 960x540.


Edit: The Ambilight effect is stunning by the way - great work on that.

Depends on how you have MrMC setup. Look in settings -> video -> acceleration

[koying]

Did you enable "Enable capture" in codecs?

[Superhans]

Did you enable "Enable capture" in codecs?

Yep - that did the trick, thanks!

Now all the files that I tried, work. Was it that hardware decoding kicked in above a certain res ?

[koying]

There is a setting regarding using mediacodec surface for SD (width < 800), which I assume was off for you.

Surface needs capture for hue, as you noticed.