[Draconix]

Created 10 minutes test sample file to make sure is not "bad media" issue

That was a really great idea! I downloaded your sample and made a log: https://paste.kodi.tv/peyeqacevu.kodi

I still noticed several audio dropouts even with your sample, which seems to confirm that the issue isn't because of my files.
Somehow the same sample file plays perfectly for you, but has many dropouts for me. Could there be something wrong with my settings? Or maybe it's an issue specific to the Nvidia Shield?
 

Does it dropout if you skip into the video just before the dropout point? If so, a sample around that area might help other test it.

Could you try out the 10 minute sample that @jogal posted? Also are you using an Nvidia Shield? My current theory is that this may have something to do with the Shield having issues playing a few specific movies.

[jogal]

Or maybe it's an issue specific to the Nvidia Shield?

I have tested in Shield 2019 too

[Draconix]

I have tested in Shield 2019 too

Oh wow, that completely shuts down my theory then. We're playing the file on the exact same hardware, what could possibly be causing issues only on my end? I'll try anything you suggest, and hopefully we can figure this out.

[Hitcher]

Tested on my Shield TV Pro multiple times with no dropouts.

[beeswax]

I'd try without your advancedsettings.xml first and if that doesn't help, backup your \internal\Android\data\org.xbmc.kodi\files\.kodi folder and do a clean install using no advancedsettings or additional addons/skins.

edit: Don't know if I'm reading the log right but aren't these cache values a little low?

php:
Buffer Mode: 4

Memory Size: 20 MB

Read Factor: 4.00 x

Chunk Size : 131072 bytes

[mikeSiLVO]

.
edit: Don't know if I'm reading the log right but aren't these cache values a little low?

php:
Buffer Mode: 4

Memory Size: 20 MB

Read Factor: 4.00 x

Chunk Size : 131072 bytes

I think those are the new defaults that replace any entries in the advanced settings file?

[fritsch]

Works nicely on my Firetv 4K as well - while - due to the bug of the FireTV firmware the audio device needs two or three reopens on the very early start. Packer detects this as seek and reopens. After this initial switching (specific to FireTV) it runs nicely ... no dropout. I am using the usual USB 2.0 OTG Ethernet adapter.

[Draconix]

try without your advancedsettings.xml

I did try that but unfortunately it made no difference.

Since 3 people have been able to play the sample file with no issues, it's clear that either:
  1)  I'm using a bad setting somewhere.
  2)  My Shield unit is defective (very unlikely).

The thing is, I'm using the Shield and Kodi settings recommended by @jogal. I'm at a total loss here, hopefully someone can help me figure out what's going on.
There's definitely something wrong on my end, and you can see it in the Debug Logs.

EDIT: Something that might be worth looking into, we should try to see if the 4K Blu-rays of "Avatar: The Way of Water" and "Lightyear" have some sort of characteristic that makes them different from other Blu-rays (which I have no problem playing).

[CrystalP]

That leaves the receiver/soundbar, which may be more picky than others.

[Draconix]

That leaves the receiver/soundbar, which may be more picky than others.

I guess it's possible that my AVR (Sony STR-DN1080) could be more picky, as you said, which could be causing me to hear dropouts on these 2 movies while other people have no issues.
But would dropouts specifically caused by my AVR actually appear in the Kodi Debug Logs?

[RedTwenty50]

I haven't been watching any TrueHD movies lately to be able to test/comment unfortunately. However, I am wondering if perhaps this file has similar gaps to what my Cars file had? I know for when I did try Cars after the rework, it worked much better but still had the occasional drop-out (albeit much quicker drop then before) due to these gaps in the file that remained.

Honestly seems to be related to Seamless branching and Disney movies, as Lightyear, Avatar, alongside Cars (all 3) and Elemental (before the rework), all have that in common. I have tried taking the issue to MakeMKV (here) but have had no response other then someone mentioning they're having issues with The Abyss, whom is also on this forum. If these files also have the issue, it may help to have more than one person reporting the issue to them.

[Draconix]

Honestly seems to be related to Seamless branching and Disney movies, as Lightyear, Avatar, alongside Cars (all 3) and Elemental (before the rework), all have that in common.

That's really interesting, I was looking for something in common between Lightyear and Avatar, and this might just be it! If I'm able to test the 4K Blu-ray of "Cars" then it should almost confirm your theory. Do you happen to have a 5-10 minute sample of Cars that I can test?

Unfortunately it doesn't quite explain why the others in this thread don't have the same problem as me. Still though, if we can confirm your theory then it could help @jogal or @fritsch troubleshoot the problem.

[RedTwenty50]

I have my original sample here, it is 5 minutes long and it too had drop outs around 4 minutes in prior to the rework.

I know Hitcher had no issues with it either in the original thread I made (which may also interest you) in which I did mention that it seems different AVRs handle these codecs differently as well.

I will test this Avatar sample provided as well as my own copy and see if I get anything on my end

[jogal]

Please note that "Cars" sample of previous post should be considered "bad sample" as is created by MakeMKV and still has some issues that original .m2ts not has.

For reference use this (same 5 minutes) .m2ts sample instead:

https://mega.nz/file/X2JngIRL#O2PQ_IvwjS...dbuHwTX84U

EDIT
This is the same fragment converted to MVK by mkvmerge v82.0:

https://mega.nz/file/TiQHlQwA#h_sLknKPCb...t2IaF0t3gU

Both playback without dropouts with the new TrueHD MAT packer...

So we have to be cautious with everything that comes from MakeMKV, even the current versions.

[jogal]

These are the captured logs:

.m2ts

xml:
2024-05-13 15:53:22.567 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 63336, found: 63296

2024-05-13 15:53:22.567 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 96262 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:53:39.208 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 12168, found: 12128

2024-05-13 15:53:39.208 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 111414 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:54:15.388 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 43952, found: 43912

2024-05-13 15:54:15.388 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 110856 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:54:29.727 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 15736, found: 15696

2024-05-13 15:54:29.727 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 111132 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:55:20.168 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 11344, found: 11304

2024-05-13 15:55:33.308 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 113656 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:56:00.433 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 42720, found: 42680

2024-05-13 15:56:00.433 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 112904 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 15:56:43.786 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 29648, found: 29608

2024-05-13 15:56:43.786 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 113312 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

.mkv

xml:
2024-05-13 16:12:34.189 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 278698 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:12:34.276 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 61144, found: 65464

2024-05-13 16:12:35.339 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 186512 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:12:35.426 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 53368, found: 56248

2024-05-13 16:13:46.552 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 63336, found: 63296

2024-05-13 16:13:46.552 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 96262 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:14:03.233 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 12168, found: 12128

2024-05-13 16:14:03.234 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 111414 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:14:39.330 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 43952, found: 43912

2024-05-13 16:14:39.330 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 110856 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:14:53.751 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 15736, found: 15696

2024-05-13 16:14:53.751 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 111132 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:15:44.182 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 11344, found: 11304

2024-05-13 16:15:57.323 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 113656 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:16:24.386 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 42720, found: 42680

2024-05-13 16:16:24.386 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 112904 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

2024-05-13 16:17:07.809 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::PackTrueHD: detected a stream discontinuity -> output timing expected: 29648, found: 29608

2024-05-13 16:17:07.809 T:15716 warning <general>: CPackerMAT::WritePadding: a large padding block of 113312 bytes is required due to unusual timestamps

Some conclusions:
 

•  Stream discontinuities are already present even in m2ts but do not prevent correct audio reproduction with the new TrueHD packer (log events are informative, not ERRORS).
  
• Conversion to MKV seems introduces even more discontinuities but the resultant MKV file is still playable with no issues.
  
• Some Blu-Ray's/streams are "special" because not all generates these logs events.