VAAPI playback issue (no video)

[ken1234]

upgraded to ubuntu 24.04 and having playback issues
system is intel based using iHD and the intel-media-va-driver-non-free package

when i try to play back a recording, audio works, and i can see that from intel-gpu-top that hardware decoding of the video is happening, but no video is shown.

in the playback logs, I see a lot of this:

GLVid: Nothing to display


Anyone run into this problem before and know how to get past it, or can point me to other threads on debugging VAAPI for myth?

thanks in advance!


more selected playback logs:
2025-08-30 15:33:04.977227 I AFD: Stream #0: ID: 0x31 Codec ID: mpeg2video Type: Video(1920x1080) Bitrate: 16999200

2025-08-30 15:33:04.977942 I AFD: Trying to select best video track
2025-08-30 15:33:04.977984 I AFD: Selected track #0: ID: 0x31 Codec ID: mpeg2video Profile: Main Type: Video(1920x1080) Bitrate: 16999200

2025-08-30 15:33:04.978016 I VideoProfile: LoadBestPreferences(1920x1080, 29.970, mpeg2video)
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978031 I VideoProfile: LoadBestPreferences result: priority:1 width: height: fps: codecs:
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978041 I VideoProfile: decoder:vaapi renderer:opengl-hw deint0:medium:shader:driver deint1:medium:shader:driver cpus:4 upscale:bilinear
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978085 I VAAPIDec: VAAPI supports decoding 'mpeg2video Main yuv420p 1920x1080'
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978090 I AFD: InitVideoCodec ID:mpeg2video Type:Video Size:1920x1080
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978105 I Player(6): SetFrameInterval Interval:33366 Speed:1 Scan:Progressive Scan (Multiplier: 1)
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978117 I ScanTracker: DetectInterlace(Detect Scan, Interlaced Scan, 29.97, 1080) ->Interlaced Scan
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978131 I AFD: Using vaapi for video decoding
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978149 I AFD: Opened codec 0x58e6f8553180, id(mpeg2video) type(Video)
2025-08-30 15:33:04.978192 I AOBase: Opening audio device 'hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=0' ch 2(6) sr 48000 sf signed 32 bit reenc 0
2025-08-30 15:33:04.998118 I Dec: Selected track #1 (type 2) in the Unknown language(0)
2025-08-30 15:33:04.998132 I Dec: Resyncing position map. posmapStarted = 0 livetv(0) watchingRec(0)
2025-08-30 15:33:05.064835 I Dec: Position map filled from DB to: 215775
2025-08-30 15:33:05.069273 I Dec: Duration map filled from DB to: 215775
2025-08-30 15:33:05.070214 I Dec: SyncPositionMap prerecorded, from DB: 14386 entries
2025-08-30 15:33:05.070218 I Dec: SyncPositionMap, new totframes: 215775, new length: 7199, posMap size: 14386
libva info: VA-API version 1.20.0
libva info: User environment variable requested driver 'iHD'

libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_20
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
2025-08-30 15:33:05.073504 I AFD: Position map found
2025-08-30 15:33:05.073512 I AFD: Successfully opened decoder for file: "/var/lib/mythtv/recordings/14300_20250719000000.ts". novideo(0)
2025-08-30 15:33:05.076138 I Using last position @ 140630
2025-08-30 15:33:05.076439 W VDPAUInterop: GL_NV_vdpau_interop is not available
2025-08-30 15:33:05.076490 I VidOutGPU: Allowed renderers for MPEG-2 vaapi (Decoder: vaapi): 'opengl-hw'
2025-08-30 15:33:05.076496 I VideoProfile: Safe renderers for 'vaapi': opengl-hw
2025-08-30 15:33:05.076498 I VidOutGPU: Allowed renderers (filt: vaapi): opengl-hw
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077142 I VideoProfile: Accepting: cmp() w() h() framerate() codecs( ) dec(vaapi) cpus(4) skiploop(enabled) rend(opengl-hw) deint(medium:shader:driver,medium:shader:driver) upscale(bilinear)
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077151 I VideoProfile: LoadBestPreferences(1920x1080, 29.970, mpeg2video)
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077157 I VideoProfile: LoadBestPreferences result: priority:1 width: height: fps: codecs:
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077161 I VideoProfile: decoder:vaapi renderer:opengl-hw deint0:medium:shader:driver deint1:medium:shader:driver cpus:4 upscale:bilinear
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077167 I VidOutGPU: Preferred renderer: opengl-hw
2025-08-30 15:33:05.077168 I VidOutGPU: Trying video renderer: 'opengl-hw'

2025-08-30 15:33:05.216039 I VAAPIInterop: New VAAPI frame pool with 2 1920x1080 surfaces
2025-08-30 15:33:05.221895 I VAAPIInterop: Created deinterlacer '2x VAAPI Adaptive'
2025-08-30 15:33:05.221899 I VAAPIDRM: Deleting progressive frame cache
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231374 D EGLDMABUF: DRM frame: Layers 2 Objects 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231380 D EGLDMABUF: Layer 0: Format R8 Planes 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231386 D EGLDMABUF: Plane 0: Index 0 Offset 0 Pitch 1920
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231387 D EGLDMABUF: Layer 1: Format GR88 Planes 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231390 D EGLDMABUF: Plane 0: Index 0 Offset 2088960 Pitch 1920
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231393 D EGLDMABUF: Object: 0 FD 85 Mods 0x0
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231445 E EGLDMABUF: No EGLImage for plane 0 12300
2025-08-30 15:33:05.231489 D GLVid: Nothing to display
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233607 D EGLDMABUF: DRM frame: Layers 2 Objects 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233615 D EGLDMABUF: Layer 0: Format R8 Planes 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233619 D EGLDMABUF: Plane 0: Index 0 Offset 0 Pitch 1920
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233623 D EGLDMABUF: Layer 1: Format GR88 Planes 1
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233627 D EGLDMABUF: Plane 0: Index 0 Offset 2088960 Pitch 1920
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233630 D EGLDMABUF: Object: 0 FD 85 Mods 0x0
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233679 E EGLDMABUF: No EGLImage for plane 0 12300
2025-08-30 15:33:05.233698 D GLVid: Nothing to display
2025-08-30 15:33:05.238598 I Player(6): Waiting for video buffers...
2025-08-30 15:33:05.253192 D GLVid: Nothing to display
2025-08-30 15:33:05.254746 D GLVid: Nothing to display
2025-08-30 15:33:05.272661 D GLVid: Nothing to display
2025-08-30 15:33:05.289701 D GLVid: Nothing to display

[mtvf2894]

I have just updated from 22.04 LTS to 24.04.3 LTS and from 33 to 35 and I thought everything had gone really well.

Just started to watch a recording and I also have no video but I can hear audio (but it sounds a bit odd).

Intel 8th Gen using VAAPI

Any help much appreciated?

Thanks

[mtvf2894]

I can hear audio (but it sounds a bit odd).

Replying to my own post but if sound is a bit odd check mixer settings are not set to Internal Speaker

Just started to watch a recording and I also have no video but I can hear audio (but it sounds a bit odd).
Intel 8th Gen using VAAPI

If anyone has any idea of how to get VAAPI working though it would be greatly received standard OpenGL playback is maxing out my CPU to the point of being virtually unusable.

I have tried a few other kernels but still does the same thing just audio no picture.

Thanks

[white_haired_uncle]

If anyone has any idea of how to get VAAPI working though it would be greatly received standard OpenGL playback is maxing out my CPU to the point of being virtually unusable.

I know you want to get vaapi working, but I have to wonder what it is you're trying to play that your CPU can't handle. My two core 15+ year old CPU, chosen because it was the lowest wattage available, handles anything except AV1 in HD. What does the standard profile look like? You should be able to get by just fine with software while you work the issue.

[mtvf2894]

I know you want to get vaapi working, but I have to wonder what it is you're trying to play that your CPU can't handle. My two core 15+ year old CPU, chosen because it was the lowest wattage available, handles anything except AV1 in HD. What does the standard profile look like? You should be able to get by just fine with software while you work the issue.

My 8th Gen Intel CPU is at 60%-80% usage on all 4 cores when playing back recordings according to the MythTV playback data on screen display.
With VAAPI this was just 10%-20% usage so much less electricity used and far less heat and I think it was better quality.

Although I can at least get it to playback something using OpenGL I have got severe upgrade regrets and wished I just left it at 22.04 and 33.

[white_haired_uncle]

My 8th Gen Intel CPU is at 60%-80% usage on all 4 cores when playing back recordings according to the MythTV playback data on screen display.

What are you playing back? mpeg2 at 1920x1080, or ...?

What do the playback profile settings look like?

It sounds like something is very wrong.

FWIW, my profile settings. Two entries, one for 1920x1080[1] (my TV's native resolution, so no interlacing my myth is necessary) and one for everything else.

[1] Okay, 1920x1080 and higher, but neither my TV or any recordings I've had to deal with so far are any higher than 1920x1080.

Code: Select all

MariaDB [mythconverg]> select p.value,p.data from displayprofiles as p,displayprofilegroups as pg where p.profilegroupid=pg.profilegroupid and pg.hostname='wolverine' and pg.name='wolverine' order by profileid,value;
+--------------------+--------------------------+
| value              | data                     |
+--------------------+--------------------------+
| cond_codecs        |                          |
| cond_height        | >=1080                   |
| cond_width         | >=1920                   |
| pref_decoder       | ffmpeg                   |
| pref_deint0        | none                     |
| pref_deint1        | none                     |
| pref_max_cpus      | 2                        |
| pref_osdfade       | 1                        |
| pref_osdrenderer   | softblend                |
| pref_priority      | 1                        |
| pref_skiploop      | 0                        |
| pref_upscale       | bilinear                 |
| pref_videorenderer | opengl-yv12              |
| cond_codecs        |                          |
| cond_framerate     |                          |
| cond_height        |                          |
| cond_width         |                          |
| pref_cmp0          |                          |
| pref_cmp1          |                          |
| pref_decoder       | ffmpeg                   |
| pref_deint0        | medium                   |
| pref_deint1        | low                      |
| pref_filters       | kerneldeint,crop=0:0:1:0 |
| pref_max_cpus      | 2                        |
| pref_osdfade       | 1                        |
| pref_osdrenderer   | softblend                |
| pref_priority      | 2                        |
| pref_skiploop      | 0                        |
| pref_upscale       | bilinear                 |
| pref_videorenderer | opengl-yv12              |
+--------------------+--------------------------+

(wolverine is both the name of the frontend and the name of the playback profile I created for it)

[mtvf2894]

It sounds like something is very wrong.

Yes I have gone back to 22.04 and just upgraded MythTV and everything is back working.
At least for me upgrading from 22.04 to 24.04 (and 25.04) causes VAAPI playback and very high CPU usage on OpenGL playback.

Can you confirm the OS and version you are using?

Thanks

[white_haired_uncle]

I'm on Devuan 5 right now, though I've run the same configuration on Ubuntu 18-22, Sci Linux 5-6, and Fedora going back to the single digits (might have even had a Fedora Core on there). I'm running the development version now, so a bit ahead of v35, but again the same config for many years and versions. I've also been doing some testing lately on other OSes on the same machine with 35/fixes and not seen an issue (though I wasn't really looking, just wanted to make sure the build produced something I could record and watch).

I can try 24.04 on there. Give me a break from trying to drag freebsd kicking and screaming into a proper net boot.

[mtvf2894]

I think it is an issue with 24.04+ as the OP was also on this version and having the same issue.

No picture on VAAPI playback and at least for me when using OpenGL very high cpu usage and I also had an errant other process which I can't remember also using 25% CPU usage. I tried disabling the deinterlacing and deblocking filter and it may have saved 10% CPU but still in the 60-70% range on average.

Once I realised 35 was available in the PPA for 22.04 luckily I took a clone backup so I could easily rollback to 22.04 and just upgraded from 33.

Now OpenGL uses approximately 5-10% and VAAPI works fine also at slightly less 3-8% with 22.04.

My gut is suspecting 24.04+ has newer Intel drivers and or it is something to do with a newer Mesa and or it could just need a clean install but this is pure guesswork.

It would be great if we can get a 3rd person confirming an issue with 24.04 but I have tried Googling for ideas and implemented many suggested solutions to the problem but no success so I am back with 22.04

[white_haired_uncle]

Looks like you're both on intel. A search on "Ubuntu 24.04 VAAPI" finds a lot of issues out there, including an interesting one for intel near the top.

Are you running wayland? With 24.04 and/or both?

[white_haired_uncle]

I installed u2404 + mythv35/fixes on my frontend, same machine I've been using just fine for years. Watched a short snip of HD, and was it choppy (awful).
Looked a M->Playback->Playback Data and didn't see anything concerning, but it was using "2x GLSL Kernel" for the deinterlacer. Created a profile with two entries like I usually do, set interlacing off for height=1080, and it played just fine. This was all Codec-dec: MPEG-2 ffmpeg in Playback Data - while myth claims this machine can use VAAPI and something else, nothing has ever worked (or been needed) besides ffmpeg.

"2x GLSL Kernel" seems to be the "High Quality" deinterlacer option. "2x GLSL Linearblend" (Med Qual) was better, but still kind of sucked.

SD was using Linearblend, and it was fine.

I did install dahdi-firmware-nonfree (aka linux-firmware-nonfree, thanks knuckleheads). Anything debian-ish tends to require that and firmware-amd-graphics (no idea where that is for 24.04) for my ancient hardware.

I can't say the above was necessarily specific to U2404. It may just be that I was not using my usual profile (where I never would have seen an issue since interlacing is off for HD). I might try 2204, or not, today was a great reminder why I got off ubuntu - just keeps getting worse.

EDIT: Booted the frontend back to it's usual Devuan5/mythv36 and tried turning on interlacing for HD. At medium quality it was fine. On high it was just a little jerky - totally watchable but if you were looking for it you could see it. Definitely much better than u2404.

I'm not using an intel video, though.

Code: Select all

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RS780D [Radeon HD 3300]

[mtvf2894]

Thanks for taking time to investigate on your setup.

At least for me and the OP U2404 seems to be the problem at least when using (certain?) Intel graphics. I also tried U2504 but same problems.
Summary includes very high CPU usage when using OpenGL and no video (only audio) when using VAAPI.

If anyone does have this problem and works out how to fix in U2404+ please post details.

Thanks

[kmdewaal]

A bit of long shot but easy to test: you can try setting these two environment variables before starting mythfrontend, e.g. in the mythfrontend startup script:

Code: Select all

export MYTHTV_NO_EGL=1
export LIBVA_DRI3_DISABLE=1

This works for me on my laptop running Ubuntu 24.

[white_haired_uncle]

My 10 year old $250 laptop has an intel gpu (Intel Corporation GeminiLake [UHD Graphics 600]) . Today I downgraded it from Mint21 (u22.04) to Mint22 (u24.04). It's about useless for doing more than one thing at once now, but myth handled it just fine. VAAPI Normal was okay, not as smooth as Standard, but watchable. Better with hardware deinterlacing turned off, and just barely better than that with deinterlacing off completely. I didn't see any difference between VAAPI and Standard in terms of CPU use, about 35% on both CPUs (Celeron(R) N4000 CPU @ 1.10GHz). fixes/35, btw.

Now the big decision, back to mint21 (easy), or something a lot lighter that fits a little better on a 30GB disk.