[ROM] AlfaWise H96 PRO+ 3/16Gb - 3/32Gb - 3/64Gb - SCV4A-ATV 7.1.2 (DDR3/DDR4 - ANDROIDTV VERSION)

[Lacix]

Because Kodi uses Android MediaCodec/Surface for HW acceleration, that with *all* the roms I've tested so far gives problems (either pixellation or stuttering). With the most recent Kernels, there is just a bit of stuttering, but it gets more noticeable when you have subtitles activated because it looses 1 frame every time a subtitle appears on screen. This happens with every player, not only with Kodi, which makes me think that is related on how the driver is handling overlays for putting text on top of video.

However, Kodi 16 (FTMC/SPMC) still keep the code for using AMLCodec and bypassing all the Android crappy drivers, giving you a pretty good reproduction experience. But I've got used to Kodi 17 and using Kodi 16 seems like a step backwards to me (not having access to in-progress movies, tv-shows...). That's why for now I'm using Libreelec on a pen-drive for dual-booting. With libreelec I have Kodi 17 with AMLCodec and Framerate switching, all working perfectly. The drawback of this is tat you have to reboot every time you want to switch from/to Kodi to/from Android apps, which is kind of annoying.

I am using SPMC with Plex kodi connect (with Plex server) and there is an on deck (in progress) and recently added widget too (using Titan skin with Netflix style). There is no such widget for normal Kodi 16?

[Alejandro Perez]

I'll check again and will provide feedback as well. Depending on the tested ROM I had either stuttering (stock ROM and some other) or occasional pixelation (this ROM I think and many others). This pixellation highly depends on the encoding of the file. Some media files have none, some others are absolutely horrible (as 90% of the time pixellated). I'm not sure whether Kodi 19 can fix it (maybe it can). I'll reinstall this ROM and give all of them a round (FTMC/SPMC/Kodi17/Kodi18).

Thanks for the tip!

[Akirainblack]

As I said I use Kodi 18 with no stuttering visible (with or without subtitles) on this ROM. That was why I suggested. Have you checked on the forums if there's a solution or asked if anyone knows of one?

[Alejandro Perez]

Because Kodi uses Android MediaCodec/Surface for HW acceleration, that with *all* the roms I've tested so far gives problems (either pixellation or stuttering). With the most recent Kernels, there is just a bit of stuttering, but it gets more noticeable when you have subtitles activated because it looses 1 frame every time a subtitle appears on screen. This happens with every player, not only with Kodi, which makes me think that is related on how the driver is handling overlays for putting text on top of video.

However, Kodi 16 (FTMC/SPMC) still keep the code for using AMLCodec and bypassing all the Android crappy drivers, giving you a pretty good reproduction experience. But I've got used to Kodi 17 and using Kodi 16 seems like a step backwards to me (not having access to in-progress movies, tv-shows...). That's why for now I'm using Libreelec on a pen-drive for dual-booting. With libreelec I have Kodi 17 with AMLCodec and Framerate switching, all working perfectly. The drawback of this is tat you have to reboot every time you want to switch from/to Kodi to/from Android apps, which is kind of annoying.

[Akirainblack]

Why not just use Kodi? I have to say that Leia Beta 4 is a huge step forward! It's 2/3 of the size of previous Kodi's and in my multiroom setup loads everything much faster.

[Alejandro Perez]

I am sure. I've tried it (only Mediacodecs are shown in the acceleration settings).

Right. I was mistaken with the 64bit version of SPMC krypton, which I tried and where subtitles are not rendered. If you are not interested in subtitles, you might want to give it a try to that version, since it is krypton rather that jarvis.

[Lacix]

Thanks! I'll try it this afternoon. You sure this 64bit version http://download.semperpax.com/spmc/a...3d-aarch64.apk does not allow amlcodec?

I am sure. I've tried it (only Mediacodecs are shown in the acceleration settings).

[Alejandro Perez]

Subtitles are rendered in SPMC.

Thanks! I'll try it this afternoon. You sure this 64bit version http://download.semperpax.com/spmc/a...3d-aarch64.apk does not allow amlcodec?

[Lacix]

Thanks! I'll try it tomorrow as well and will tell you whether it works better than FTMC with BT and seeking.

Subtitles are rendered in SPMC.

[Alejandro Perez]

16.7.4
SPMC-16.7.4-spmc-94d913d-armeabi-v7a.apk

I am not sure about the subtitles will check it tomorrow.
(Don't let to upgrade it with google play automatically because in the shop it is a 64bit version which doesn't contain amcodec)

Thanks! I'll try it tomorrow as well and will tell you whether it works better than FTMC with BT and seeking.

[Lacix]

Which version do you use, 16 or 17? At least with v17 (which is alpha or beta) I found out that subtitles are not rendered at all with amlcodec, which is unfortunate because 95% of what I see is with subtitles. I should give a try to v16. I did not because I thought FTMC would be better than SPMC.

16.7.4
SPMC-16.7.4-spmc-94d913d-armeabi-v7a.apk

I am not sure about the subtitles will check it tomorrow.
(Don't let to upgrade it with google play automatically because in the shop it is a 64bit version which doesn't contain amcodec)

[Alejandro Perez]

Have you tried SPMC?

http://spmc.semperpax.com/

arm32 version has amcodec and works great with this ROM. (64 bit version doesn't have amcodec. Only problem I've found that during fast forward/seeking the screen is black but maybe it is a problem with amcodec)

Which version do you use, 16 or 17? At least with v17 (which is alpha or beta) I found out that subtitles are not rendered at all with amlcodec, which is unfortunate because 95% of what I see is with subtitles. I should give a try to v16. I did not because I thought FTMC would be better than SPMC.

[Lacix]

I tested again SCV7 but this time I tried FTMC. As expected now that I've read more about it, using amcodec was hugely better (almost perfect). Indeed, the only thing that makes FTMC not 100% perfect is that it takes some time (15s-1m) to start sinking audio to the BT earphones, and that it requires some more time than Kodi to seek on my NFS share. Other than that, is perfect quality so I'm most certainly switching to that player on Android.

Note: FTMC worked on my stock rom, but did not allow me to select amcodec decoding. Still made smoother playing than Kodi.

Have you tried SPMC?

http://spmc.semperpax.com/

arm32 version has amcodec and works great with this ROM. (64 bit version doesn't have amcodec. Only problem I've found that during fast forward/seeking the screen is black but maybe it is a problem with amcodec)

[eMKei]

I tried upgrade with Blue iso, but my board is green I noticed later. Nothing messed up, box is working fine. It just stopped at screen "Upgrading"

[Alejandro Perez]

hi Superceleron,

thanks for your great work! I own a H96 Pro+ 3GB/16GB, v6, and it'm not able to find a decent Firmware for it. Old ones (ie. 2017 ones) suffer from occasional to frequent pixellation (for instance, I get this with even with your SCV1). Newer ones (such as the stock FW, or SCV4A) suffer from stuttering (specially with subtitles on). And more annoying... they work awfully with 24hz modes! Playing is unbearably stuttered at 24Hz! I cannot understand that. Do you have any idea of why that could be?

The only good firmware I've been able to find has been Libreelec, which works like a charm. I have it running on a Pen drive, but I really hate having to reboot for switching between Kodi and Android apps (which I use a lot for my child - cartoons etc).

I'm not sure if any other owner of a CZ-S32-v6 suffers from the same problems. I have to admin I have quite sensitive eyes. Even my wife complains about my complains, and says I'm too delicate.

I tested again SCV7 but this time I tried FTMC. As expected now that I've read more about it, using amcodec was hugely better (almost perfect). Indeed, the only thing that makes FTMC not 100% perfect is that it takes some time (15s-1m) to start sinking audio to the BT earphones, and that it requires some more time than Kodi to seek on my NFS share. Other than that, is perfect quality so I'm most certainly switching to that player on Android.

Note: FTMC worked on my stock rom, but did not allow me to select amcodec decoding. Still made smoother playing than Kodi.