Ugly Problem wtih NeoTV and embedded subtitles

[LeeThompson]

I've been converting my DVD library to MPEG4 for easy network playback and I've run into a bit of a problem.

If I use Handbrake or VidCoder (which is based on Handbrake) and include the DVD's subtitle tracks, the NeoTV 550 will lock up at some random point (usually 5-15 minutes into it). (It also won't display the subtitles which is another, less serious, problem.)

The NeoTV 550 essentially freezes and the remote will no longer do anything. I've found that the web interface still operates enough to reboot the unit.

It may be something as simple as a codec ID that the NeoTV doesn't like and I'm looking into workarounds but thought I'd share this in case anyone is seeing something similar or if anyone's come up with a good solution.

MediaInfo of one of the many files. This particular example has both DVD style subtitles (SUB/IDX) and closed caption (SRT) on tracks 5 and 6 respectively.

Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42
File size                                : 714 MiB
Duration                                 : 43mn 35s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 2 290 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48
Writing application                      : HandBrake 4472svn 2012030401

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC                   : No
Format settings, ReFrames                : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 43mn 35s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 1 450 Kbps
Width                                    : 720 pixels
Height                                   : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio            : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 23.968 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 23.981 fps
Standard                                 : NTSC
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.175
Stream size                              : 452 MiB (63%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 120
Encoding settings                        : cabac=0 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=10 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1450 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48
Color primaries                          : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                           : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Codec ID                                 : ac-3
Duration                                 : 43mn 35s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 448 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -83ms
Stream size                              : 140 MiB (20%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48

Audio #2
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                           : C (commentary)
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Codec ID                                 : ac-3
Duration                                 : 43mn 35s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 192 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -83ms
Stream size                              : 59.9 MiB (8%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48

Audio #3
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                           : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Codec ID                                 : ac-3
Duration                                 : 43mn 35s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 192 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -83ms
Stream size                              : 59.9 MiB (8%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48

Text #1
ID                                       : 5
Format                                   : mp4s
Codec ID                                 : E0
Duration                                 : 42mn 53s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 4 558 bps
Maximum bit rate                         : 4 284 Mbps
Delay relative to video                  : -83ms
Stream size                              : 1.40 MiB (0%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48

Text #2
ID                                       : 6
Format                                   : Timed text
Muxing mode                              : sbtl
Codec ID                                 : tx3g
Duration                                 : 42mn 53s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 99 bps
Delay relative to video                  : -83ms
Stream size                              : 31.1 KiB (0%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-06-20 12:03:51
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-06-20 12:50:48

[LeeThompson]

I should add that this issue occurred with 3.2.16NA and the new 3.2.27NA.

[LeeThompson]

Update 2: I've found that if, after playback starts, I turn off subtitles on the NTV550 it will not freeze. (Which is ok since it won't display embedded MP4 subtitles encoded by Handbrake/VidCoder anyway). If only subtitles could be set to default to off...