v1.2.01, v1.2.01_G Beta version for Z9X 8K/Z30 PRO/Z3000 PRO/UHD8000

Looks to be, but that doesn't mean to say it isn't corrupt.

By the way - best not show references to obviously pirated content eh?

The best way to show details like this is a MediaInfo report which gives far more detail and you can edit the text.

 

I actually subscribed to Apple TV just prefer to play via my own system not my apple tv thanks for the info how do i copy the media info report?

 

I use the same logic too - it's legally flawed but it keeps my conscience clear

MediaInfo is invaluable with video files, you can download here:

MediaInfo

Once installed, set the View to "Tree" for the best overall view:



And you can export a text file using File/Export then either post as a text file or paste as text (best into a code box on the forum to keep formatting):

Code:

General
Unique ID                                : 172095462304149785194565239774945883080 (0x81786162D7C71A53201B0550D5FA33C8)
Complete name                            : \\nas4\Shared\DVDs & Kids  Backup\DVD Backup\A Clockwork Orange\A Clockwork Orange.mkv
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 2
File size                                : 5.38 GiB
Duration                                 : 2 h 11 min
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 5 876 kb/s
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Encoded date                             : 2011-05-27 20:00:56 UTC
Writing application                      : MakeMKV v1.6.8 win(x86-release)
Writing library                          : libmakemkv v1.6.8 (0.7.7/0.8.1) win(x86-release)

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : Main@Main
Format settings                          : CustomMatrix / BVOP
Format settings, BVOP                    : Yes
Format settings, Matrix                  : Custom
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG2
Codec ID/Info                            : MPEG 1 or 2 Video
Duration                                 : 2 h 11 min
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 5 376 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 7 500 kb/s
Width                                    : 720 pixels
Height                                   : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 4:3
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Standard                                 : PAL
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Scan order                               : Top Field First
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.518
Time code of first frame                 : 00:59:58:00
Time code source                         : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed                         : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame          : Closed
Stream size                              : 4.92 GiB (91%)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 2 h 11 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 384 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel layout                           : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 8 ms
Stream size                              : 360 MiB (7%)
Title                                    : 3/2+1
Language                                 : English
Service kind                             : Complete Main
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No
Dialog Normalization                     : -27 dB
compr                                    : 5.74 dB
cmixlev                                  : -3.0 dB
surmixlev                                : -3 dB
mixlevel                                 : 123 dB
roomtyp                                  : Small
dialnorm_Average                         : -27 dB
dialnorm_Minimum                         : -27 dB
dialnorm_Maximum                         : -27 dB

Menu
00:00:00.000                             : en:Chapter 01
00:00:50.280                             : en:Chapter 02
00:02:18.520                             : en:Chapter 03
00:04:24.120                             : en:Chapter 04
00:07:20.920                             : en:Chapter 05
00:08:43.520                             : en:Chapter 06
00:12:56.000                             : en:Chapter 07
00:16:12.600                             : en:Chapter 08
00:19:20.320                             : en:Chapter 09
00:24:51.520                             : en:Chapter 10
00:27:03.400                             : en:Chapter 11
00:27:59.880                             : en:Chapter 12
00:32:04.480                             : en:Chapter 13
00:35:07.960                             : en:Chapter 14
00:41:52.280                             : en:Chapter 15
00:45:31.800                             : en:Chapter 16
00:50:54.000                             : en:Chapter 17
00:53:21.160                             : en:Chapter 18
00:58:56.120                             : en:Chapter 19
01:04:42.360                             : en:Chapter 20
01:08:25.920                             : en:Chapter 21
01:12:35.368                             : en:Chapter 22
01:16:08.688                             : en:Chapter 23
01:20:39.928                             : en:Chapter 24
01:22:53.888                             : en:Chapter 25
01:24:39.688                             : en:Chapter 26
01:28:14.888                             : en:Chapter 27
01:32:06.768                             : en:Chapter 28
01:35:33.488                             : en:Chapter 29
01:38:18.648                             : en:Chapter 30
01:45:13.648                             : en:Chapter 31
01:56:17.848                             : en:Chapter 32
01:59:05.448                             : en:Chapter 33
02:02:31.008                             : en:Chapter 34
02:07:15.328                             : en:Chapter 35
02:08:34.248                             : en:Chapter 36

 

Practically no one pays attention to this. Taking into account the value of this box, it is unacceptable for this to happen. On the other hand, I think we already have the answer to this problem: there is no solution. The box was released several months ago and the problem remains. It is a shame...

 

@Markswift2003
Hey Mark, I don't know what this DTS sync issue is that everyone keeps talking about. I have the Z3000 Pro running on the 1.2.01FW and I play all my files off a 16tb hard drive that is in the internal hard drive slot on the unit. All my files play with the audio in-sync for DD, DTS, DTS-HD MA, TrueHD, DTS-X, TrueHD/Atmos, DD+/ATMOS. It's not an issue for my unit. And I'm using the main HDMI out, plugged into a Yamaha RX-A8A receiver that is not set to pass audio to the tv.

Hope that helps

 

Guys if you are talking about the Lipsync issue there is a dedicated thread - please post there

 

http://forum.zidoo.tv/index.php?threads/dts-dts-hd-dts-x-lipsync.99127/

 

Mark, do you have any information please, whether work is being done to fix the problem with playing the default audio track and subtitles?
No matter how I set it in the settings, it always plays only the first audio track and subtitles.

And does anyone have any information please, whether Mcbluna is working on a new version of his HomeTheaterDBtool that would work with the latest Zidoo boxes?
I tried to write to him directly via his website, but no response from him.

 

FWIW, I learned with Zidoos long ago with other models that their handling of the default flag for audio tracks is a bit wonky... I simply reorder the tracks and put my preferred default audio track in the first position... I have normal playing of subtitle tracks as OFF, but at least Zidoos correctly play subtitles marked as F or Forced for any foreign language instances in my titles.

 

I received a Z9X 8K yesterday, experience so far has been...not good. Not sure if I got a lemon or what, but it is super unstable, lots of crashes/hard reboots and weird artifacts on the screen. I have it connected to a Denon X1800H on the same input as my the Z9X I have was.

I can see why the default background is just a grey screen now, since if you choose the actual one graphic included now, it is slow to load when you open Media Center.

My main issue seems to be related to SMB though, once I add my main network share the box becomes super unstable. Trying to scan just my 4K-Movie share (just under 500 movies) I always end up with HT crashing or a full on hard reboot. Then in HT it shows the source as scanning (even though it is not) and I have to cancel the scan, then try and start it again. It may get a bit further but will eventually crash or reboot again.

On my unRAID NAS I can see an error in the Syslog during these issues:


Google leads to some results about OSX issues with SAMBA shares, but nothing really relevant. unRAID allows for making changes to the SAMBA config if there was something that would need to be added.

I figured scanning/scraping would be a lot faster on this new model but it is even slower honestly than my Z9X.

I then tried to import a backup for HT from the Z9X to the 8K, which also fails. It tries to process it, but then just crashes and doesn't actually finish. Then HT won't even open, just fast crashes and I end up having to reset the data settings for the apps.

I did like the PQ when I was able to watch something, though I did get the video stopping and audio continuing to play issue as reported in this thread.

@Markswift2003 - a lot to unpack here I know, but any thoughts would be appreciated. I updated to the newest firmware as soon as I got it and have factory reset it numerous times with the same issues occurring still.

 

Pretty sure this has been discussed somewhere before. IIRC, this won't work between different models/chipsets.

 

Well that'd be pretty stupid honestly.

 

Might have worked realtek to realtek models but ,different manufactered chipset

None of the stability /crashes /reboots etc are normal in the slightest for Zidoos ,theyve always been one of the more stable of media players

ID say first off check HDMI is in properly ,also maybe swap power brick (ie try the one from the older zidoo ,incase its running lowV or A ) ( my NVR HDD stopped working last week ,took me ages to figure out it was the 2 A brick had gone low ...wasnt supplying enuff to power up the internal HDD ....swapped out and all working fin

 

That has been my experience with the Z9X as well, pretty stable for the most part.

I don't think it is anything physical connection wise personally as the Z9X works as normal using the same power/HDMI.

 

i know when i got my previous Pro model ,it was pretty janky for a few hours or so ,turned out i hadnt plugged the HDMI ,quite fully in

Part of why i suggest it for this model is the HDMI switching seems more finnicky .ie swapping sources from the Z308k back to my TV for some youtube,and then going back , ill occassionaly see it do a BOOT on display
Maybe also swap out the HDMI cable just to be certain too

Also ,try the Zidoo direct to tv bypass reciever ,just to narrow down the issues ,maybe

 

No idea what's going on here - the only thing I can think is there's something the Unraid server doesn't like about the way the Zidoo is addressing it, but why that'd be different to the Realtek boxes I don't know.

I haven't experienced any of the issues you describe, and I've been using these boxes from the very early days, way before they were released.

I always use the same background image on my boxes, including the AML ones, and it doesn't cause any slowdown - ok it needs to cache for a second maybe on the first use after you set it, but I think that's to do with the fact that the main home screen has dynamic images so the wallpaper is only used on the secondary screens, Media Center and Music. Once cached, it appears immediately.

No issues scanning - I did some scan speed tests in the early days for particular sizes of library (100 to 4000 titles) and found it faster than the old models and indeed faster than the equivalent AML Dune models.

As for crashing on scanning - again, I've never seen that and suspect it's to do with Unraid again, so maybe someone else using Unraid can chip in here (@Sledgehamma , are you still using Unraid?).

My current library is a similar size to yours at 553 movies and it never misses a beat and posterwall display is immediate. As I say, I also have test libraries of up to 4000 titles and again, HT manages those with no problems or slowdowns.

Backup import success from previous installations will depend on HT versions - personally I've always used local art and local NFOs which makes everything bombproof and HT versions do not matter.

The freezing issue has been fixed in firmware I'm currently testing so that will soon no longer be an issue.

 

You are to make a backup of HT5 on one model and restore to another. If it fails that is due to some other issue.

 

We don't eat or sleep, we're waiting for such firmware

 

I had my first freeze instant last night while watching a concert video (Neil Diamond Hot August Night III) MKV rip. At about the 2 hour mark, the video started the stutter and freeze (I'm using the latest firmware). This is the first I've seen this and I didn't update the firmware until last week to try and fix an issue I've been having with Pixar Dolby Atmos tracks (micro audio drops that are a split second in length). Unfortunately, the Beta firmware didn't fix that issue and introduced this freezing that I have never seen since getting the player in September. I've watched 80+ movies in that time frame and this was the first time I've ever had stuttering or freezing of the video.

 

As I've said previously, I'm not 100% sure when this issue originally manifested, but in my notes to the devs I've stated that I think it was v1.1.70 and seemed to get worse after v1.1.80 but big improvements were made in v1.2.01.

Note that this is a freezing issue - the video freezes and audio continues for a few seconds before it all resyncs and video continues. But after v1.2.01 behaviour seemed to change and both audio and video freezing indefinitely, but given the nature of the issue I can't be 100% sure about that being universal.

So far I'm not seeing it in internal beta so that bodes well...

But if you're seeing "stuttering" then I'd look first at file integrity and then to network architecture before anything else. Other than a possibility with VC-1 there's no other reason to see stuttering inherent in the player.