[Q] VLC for Android Beta doesn't show srt subtitles? - Xperia Z2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

The latest version of VLC for Android Beta (version 0.9.10) downloaded from Google Play doesn't display srt subtitles anymore on my device (Sony Xperia Z2 D6503). I'm running the latest version of Android available for the device (4.4.4) and the latest available firmware version (23.0.1.A.0.167). The VLC application correctly detects the SRT file and it can be chosen as a subtitle track. However, when playing video there's no subtitles to be seen. I've tried this with a large number of different video files in different formats and with different SRT files stored in both internal and external storage or USB stick with no luck. The video files and SRT files are not corrupted since I've been able to play them with no problems on my device by using other video playback software such as BSPlayer for Android or Sony's built-in video player on the device. I've reinstalled the VLC application a number of times, rebooted the device, soft-resetted the device, cleared the media database and history in the application's settings, and cleared all application data in the system settings with no luck. I've also tried older versions of VLC and the nightly build.
I also posted this problem on the VLC's official help forum and I had a discussion with one of the developers there. From the log file I sent him (available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jclfbs2a7hbha2o/VLC debug.txt?dl=0) he detected that the problem is somehow related to system fonts or text rendering modules as can be seen from the following lines in the log file linked above:
freetype spu text: Using /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf as font from file /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf
freetype spu text: Using /system/fonts/DroidSansMono.ttf as mono-font from file /system/fonts/DroidSansMono.ttf
freetype spu text: file /system/fonts/DroidSans-Bold.ttf have unknown format
core spu text: no text renderer modules matched
Unfortunately the developer wasn't able to help me any further than that. So that's why I'm posting here.
I'd also like to point out that this issue wasn't there in the previous firmware version (17.1.2.A.0.314). I'm currently experiencing this problem running the firmware posted here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/development/stock-4-4-4-23-0-1-0-167-bug-free-t2929402 As a friend of mine who also owns a Sony Xperia Z2 and uses the exact same firmware is experiencing this exact same issue, one could think that it has something to do with the firmware and Android build in question. Of course it could be any number of things affecting the subtitles but other Android devices I've tried have had no problem with displaying the subtitles in VLC.
So I'm just wondering is anyone else experiencing this annoying problem with VLC and Xperia Z2 and would someone have any idea of how to fix this? Of course meanwhile I can use other video players such as BSPlayer to watch videos with srt subtitles, but I prefer the interface of VLC.

I actually don't know anyone personally that uses either VLC or BS player anymore. You'd be best getting MX player instead, it has native support for everything that's thrown at it, including stylised subtitle support.
Are you sure you're trying to use SRT subtitles? The only time you should get warnings/errors about TTF font files is when a MKV with embedded ASS subtitles can't find a suitable substitute.

Of course there are other viable media players available, I'm aware of that. And as I pointed out VLC is the only media app misbehaving this way. And yes, I'm absolutely sure that I'm using srt subtitles. Same subtitles that have no problem playing with other media players on my device or with VLC on other Android devices. I specifically pointed out the location of the subtitle files for VLC manually. I was just curious about this error. This misbehaviour with VLC started instantly after updating firmware and the same happened to a friend of mine so that got me thinking if there's a possibility of something being different in the fonts department FW- or OS-wise. But I happen to know a couple of other apps as well that are not currently playing well with Android 4.4.4 so it's not that exceptional to find an app not fully compatible with that version of Android. Oh well, maybe I just have to move on and start using some other media player as you suggested. Using VLC was just an old habit for me and after all there's a saying that old habits die hard. And now that you mentioned MX Player as a better alternative. Well it seems that it no longer supports AC3 audio due to licensing issues so in that way it's unfortunately less functional compared to either VLC or BSPlayer. :/ And I happen to play quite a lot of media with AC3 audio on my device. However, there seem to be workarounds available for getting MX Player to play AC3 again.

One year later I suffer the same on a Asus Zen pad 540 and newest firmware, so it seems there are sensible parts of Android, mine is 5.0.
I wish I could use Ac3 with Mx player
Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

its 2020, updated my VLC to latest version... and VLC now is not reading any .srt file...
.mp4 .mkv are my vid extensions.. and no srt reading happened

Related

media player wont play any files

hi all,
i just got my xda and im still learning how to use all of its features, i read that wma files should work in the media player but when i open the video it says 'windows media cannot play this file'
any ideas anybody? as the media player was one of the main reasons for buying this phone
cheers steve
i tried downloading and using 'pocketmusic' and when i go to find media files it doesnt pickup anything other than mp3 and the original media player video
i also tried a new rom and still no joy
best player
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=1080
im still no closer to playing media files with media player
my media player is version 8.5 build 12177
i have tried all media types, it plays music fine but wont play any mwa wma mpeg avi files at all
ive tried installing other media players and the same problem occurs, it comes up with a message saying something along the lines of, there are no programs associated with that file type
i also installed a newer upto date rom and it made no difference
can anybody help, i really am out of ideas
What rom version are you at. I have the same problem and I'm at A.30.09. I started to have this problem after i upgrade from PPC2002. Hopefully we can find a solution.

[Q] Anyone else having problems with the stock Vibrant Video Player?

Hey guys,
So I was wondering if anyone else thinks the video player on the Vibrant is really lacking in terms of functionality. The device says that it can play .avi files (and then some) but when I download files from my PC to the phone (I transferred a few episodes of The Simpsons and Pixar's UP), it simply says "Unsupported Filed Type".
Does anyone else have this problem? I've also tried downloading official .divx files (movie trailers) from divx.com that I know should work on the Vibrant, but it still doesn't.
Now, I've downloaded RockPlayer and all those files that couldn't be played with the stock video player now plays perfectly. Now, what am I missing here? It's not an issue with my particular phone right? Additionally, if the phone is marketed as a multimedia phone that supports a wide variety of file types, it kind of sucks that it can't even play on the stock video player.
[PS. The files I transferred to my phone can play fine on a PS3, so the format should be correct, I believe]
Often the issue is a particular encoding or the resolution is too high. I use MediaCoder to do my conversions, because Rockplayer freezes occasionally on me.
The avi files in PC (usually downloaded from torrents) tend to be encoded with special codecs and not all players can play it. Even in the PC, if you don't have VLC player, some times they don't play in computer itself...
Convert them to supported formats before copying them to mobile.

Stock video player

Okay guys, I don't know how many of u came from an epic to photon, but for those of u that did, I'm sure u noticed the stock video player sucks. If there anyway we could add the ability to play mkv files or any other format? The video plays but there's no sound....any ideas?
sent from my photon
I've been using MX Video Player from the market lately. It seems to support a lot of formats that the stock player does not.
Hi, first time android owner so just figuring things out. I downloaded mobo player and it works great and it allows me to play different video formats. I end up downloading movies and tv shows in flv format and copy them to my phone and it wokrs great. The built in player would not allow me to play them. I believe Mobo claime to play all video formats.
Try it out and let us know. And btw...sorry but i don't know what an mkv file is. I will google it though...peaceout!
thanks for the suggestions guys, i was looking to just stick to the stock video player, but i don't think that's gonna happen, mkv is just another file type, just like avi, mp4, just another video type. I downloaded Vplayer and that works fine for all video types, I just hate having multiple apps for one thing....I guess maybe i just got used to the epic stock video player. Well anyway thanks again, in case anyone else needs a suggestion on video players, Vplayer is good, but not a freeware. If you don't mind supporting the devs who make this stuff i recommend it.
Weather Channel Codecs for Photon
I downloaded The Weather Channel app, but the videos on it won't work like all the other videos I just spent three days trying to find the right codec info for. Is there ANYTHING I can download that will make them work since converting them isn't an option?
Here's what I have:
Stock Android
System Version: 45.3.6.MB855.Sprint.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.4
Build Number: 4.5.1A-1_SUN-198_6
Many thanks to anyone who can assist.

AVI player for cyn9 m4

Trying to watch avis. Sideloaded video players from previous roms but no good. Installed mobo player run and it says instal codec ARMV7... which I do and still doesn't work. Any other players? I'm in china on business so alot of stuff on store isn't available tho apktops works and most download sites.
Bump
I have had good luck with MX player so far on the stock rom, on Task14, and CM9. This one too needs a codec DL'ed and installed. And for a few videos I had to switch it from hardware decoding to software decoding, but it has so far played anything I threw at it.
That said, if I am not mistaken, .AVI is only a container, it can "hold" a variety of different encoding types. It is possible that you have run up against something out of the norm, but my guess is that with the right player and settings, it will play. You might try checking the settings in the app you are trying to use now, see if you can switch from HW to software decoding.
Good Luck,
Jason

[Q] Mp4 sound but no vision on Video Player

Sound But No Vision
HD video mp4 files taken with my Samsung mini video camera have until a few days ago played perfectly well via Video Player on my Tab 10. (with ICS).
Since last week after downloading the files via the usb connection from the microsd card as usual, when I use Video Player I get a box saying 'play audio data only' so no picture just sound. Previous mp4 files already downloaded into Gallery all play properly. I have converted these latest mp4 files to .wmv and they play fine but it is a mystery why this should suddenly happen.
I doubt it is the camera or the card as all the files on the card play properly on my PC and my wife's Tab2 7.1. I can't recall making any changes to my Tab 10 but there is always a possiblity that I have, unknowingly - at least that's my story
Any advice would be welcome but please treat me gently and bear in mind I am a novice in things Galaxy Tab. Things like factory restarts scare the whatsit out of me
PS; I have searched among old posts but any vaguely relevant are old and refer to Honeycomb so perhaps are not applicable.
How about try mobo player?
lemoon said:
How about try mobo player?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have tried these players, MX, mobo, MVideo, Vplayer and HD player. It seems that my Tab does something to these later files which affects all the payers in some way although the Video Player that comes with the Tab is the only one that shows the dialog box saying 'play audio data only'
It sounds like an option has been made to only play the audio but I can't find it anywhere on the Tab or in Video Player that gives such a choice. Equally, there is the possiblity that I closed VP and stupidly chose 'force stop' which I understand may cause errors. What you do about that situation I don't know unless its possible to reinstall Video Player but I can't find a way of doing that as the app doesn't appear on Shop or Android apps stores.
I've had a look at the files using Cyberlink PowerDirector and it plays them perfectly and there are no queries with either its appearance or the 'techy' information presented for them.
I am no judge but perhaps it is one of those 'tap seven times in Settings' things that you read about in these threads.

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