ATV3 framedrops after 6.1 update

We are having very similar issues. I think ours must have started around the same time but I assumed it was something I was doing wrong. I will try down grading the firmware and let you know if that works for us.

Is there anyway to downgrade an apple tv 2? I'm so fed up with this problem!

Hello all,

I would like to get some more information. If you are experiencing noticeable frame drops after updating Apple TV to software version 6.1, please send me <royb@apple.com> an email with the answers to these questions:

1. What encoder software was used to create the affected videos?

2. What version of the encoder software?

3. What OS is on the computer doing the encoding?

4. What settings did you use in the encoder software? (please send a screenshot, if possible)

5. If you have identified any settings that seem to make it worse or better, what are they?

Thanks,

Roy

Most of the videos I'm having issues with were encoded by someone else so finding who did 'em is going to be tricky.

What's most frustrating is that it all used to work so well!

I can (don't know that it will help) send along analysis of the "good" vs. "bad" files as seen by a utility I have called "VideoSpec".

I sure can't find any rhyme or reason regarding encoding vs. bitrate vs. image size vs. interlacing which seems to line up at all with the things that don't play well. That's what is so maddening.

Example: This plays well:

*** General Parameters ***

- Name: 04.Race.MotoGP.720p.mp4

- Container: MP4 - QuickTime

- Size: 1.922 GB

- Duration: 1h 5mn

- Bitrate: 3 907 Kbps

*** Video Track Parameters ***

- Format: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

- Bitrate: Max.: Undefined / Average: 3 743 Kbps / Min.: Undefined

- Frame rate (fps): Max.: --- / Average: 25.000 / Min.: ---

- Encoding profile: High@L3.1

- Image size: 1280*720

- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Undefined

- Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9

- Interlacing: Progressive

BUT this does not:

*** General Parameters ***

- Name: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Louis C.K..m4v

- Container: M4V - QuickTime

- Size: 321.91 MB

- Duration: 22mn 39s

- Bitrate: 1 894 Kbps

*** Video Track Parameters ***

- Format: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

- Bitrate: Max.: --- / Average: 1 600 Kbps / Min.: ---

- Frame rate (fps): Max.: 30.303 / Average: 29.970 / Min.: 29.412

- Encoding profile: Main@L3.2

- Image size: 852*480

- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Undefined

- Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9

- Interlacing: Progressive

The smaller, simpler 2nd file causes the ATV to skip frames, eventually no sound and then the video drops out entirely. The larger, more-complex first file plays just spiffy from start to finish.

That's the best I can do for file information. I'm happy to run these and others through whatever tool would give you the best information to look at (and to email if you prefer getting it that way).

I think I've still info from a test I did comparing different encodes of the same movie, I'll post and send email tomorrow..

Using the Apple TV 3 preset in Handbrake for Mac. I think I encoded this back when Mountain Lion was newest OS. I don't have a sound system so I always just change it to 2 channel audio. Used to work just fine but recently it only plays for about 30 minutes before sound stops. Very weird.

***** Analyzed File Results *****

*** General Parameters ***

- Name: Serenity (1080p HD).m4v

- Container: M4V - QuickTime

- Size: 5.036 GB

- Duration: 1h 59mn

- Bitrate: 5 640 Kbps

*** Video Track Parameters ***

- Format: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

- Bitrate: Max.: --- / Average: 5 500 Kbps / Min.: ---

- Frame rate (fps): Max.: Undefined / Average: 23.976 / Min.: Undefined

- Encoding profile: High@L4.0

- Image size: 1920*816

- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Undefined

- Display Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

- Interlacing: Progressive

*** First Audio Track Parameters ***

- Format: AAC - MPEG-4 audio

- Bitrate: 129 Kbps

- Resolution: Undefined

- Rate: 48.0 KHz

- Channel(s): 2 (stereo)

- Position: Front: L R

*** Miscellaneous ***

- Subtitle(s): #1 : Timed Text - English /

- Album: Undefined

- Performer: Undefined

- Genre: Undefined

- Encoded date: Undefined

- Album artist: Undefined

Ok I'm working on compiling a list for you of the type of files that are not working. I'm going to try a new programme this weekend and let you know if it is just old files. So far I would say that it's just items encoded via getiplayerautomator. It hasn't as yet happened with items I've done through handbrake or through itunes. It's so frustrating as they were working perfectly before.

Eventually.....

1. What encoder software was used to create the affected videos? - I have forgotten, I did it a while ago...

2. What version of the encoder software? - See above

3. What OS is on the computer doing the encoding?

4. What settings did you use in the encoder software? (please send a screenshot, if possible) See below

5. If you have identified any settings that seem to make it worse or better, what are they? see below...

The settings in handbrake that worked:

The audio settings:

The settings that didn't work:

The audio settings that didn't work:

Hi,

I just wanted to go on record that not only am I having this exact same issue, it happaned on all 3 of my ATV's in my house! All are Apple TV 3's and all were working perfectly before the last 2 updates. I too hoped that the last minor update would've resolved the stuttering issue but it didn't.

I'm extremely frustrated (and so are my kids!!!)

C'mon Apple! Get this fixed!

gzabar wrote:

Hi,

I just wanted to go on record that not only am I having this exact same issue, it happaned on all 3 of my ATV's in my house! All are Apple TV 3's and all were working perfectly before the last 2 updates. I too hoped that the last minor update would've resolved the stuttering issue but it didn't.

I'm extremely frustrated (and so are my kids!!!)

C'mon Apple! Get this fixed!

Apple is not present on these forums. We are just users like you trying help each other. To officially notify Apple of your problem use this link...

https://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

The more that report the issue the better the chance of Apple noticing. I do have to say, however, that I am not having the issues described here, at all. My Apple TV plays everything fine. The issue that I and others have currently is regarding Dolby Digital 5.1 not working with Netflix. If you have that issue too report it also.

They may not be OFFICIALLY present, but I've received an email from a person with an apple.com email address stating:

"We have tried to reproduce the issue here at Apple and we haven't had any success to repro it. Is it possible to get the content you are seeing the framedrop issue with?"

So I'm going to be working on sourcing a couple of the "bad files" up on my web server for them to download and digest...

Too bad they're copyright content. Ah well, it's all for the greater good, right?

I'll also state that some of the files which gave me difficulty are playing just fine after running 'em through Handbrake -- but I didn't used to have to do that with MP4/H.264 files that I download.... nor do I want to continue to have to do that!

I have also tried re coding the problem files with handbrake and they work just fine but I have so many files that are corrupting that recoding each one is not a viable option.

I've downgraded like the suggestion earlier in the thread and everything is fine, I don't have to re-mux all my content, phew! However, the atv constantly wants to update to the latest (broken) firmware, so I have to be sure to turn it off after using it.

Also, I for one, won't be buying a new apple tv, whenever it is released, until this fault is fixed. I would imagine new hardware would essentially run the same IOS, carrying over the fault with zero chance of downgrading to a previous IOS version.

If apple stops signing the currently working firmware we'll be screwed if the atv automatically updates!

Heads up

I also downgraded the firmware on one of my 3 apple tv's.

Seems to be working.

Unfortunately Netflix is now broken, can't connect to Netflix anymore.