How do I force VLC in VB.NET to buffer before playing? Any help would be amazing

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VS2012

How do I force VLC in VB.NET to buffer before playing? Any help would be amazing

Basically videos play well but at times videos will stop randomly and I don't know how to allow for proper buffering which would help tremendously.

Could someone please tell me howto do this

Code so far:

VB

Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions

   Public Class Form1
       Dim Paused As Boolean = False
       Dim Started As Boolean = False
       Dim PlayedSecond As Boolean = True
       Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
           PlayedSecond = False
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.items.clear()
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.add("http://binder-science.wikispaces.com/file/view/The+Characteristics+of+Living+Things.flv")
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.play()
           Started = True
       End Sub

       Sub playsecond()
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.items.clear()
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.add("http://postfcs.wikispaces.com/file/view/Nature+by+Numbers+%5Bwww.keepvid.com%5D.flv")
           AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.play()
           PlayedSecond = True
           Started = False
       End Sub

       Private Sub AxVLCPlugin21_pause(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles AxVLCPlugin21.pause
           Paused = True
       End Sub

       Private Sub IsFinished_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles IsFinished.Tick
           If Not AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.isPlaying And Paused = False And Started = True And PlayedSecond = False Then
               playsecond()
               Started = True
           End If
       End Sub

       Private Sub AxVLCPlugin21_play(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles AxVLCPlugin21.play
           Paused = False
       End Sub

       Private Enum InputState
           IDLE = 0
           OPENING = 1
           BUFFERING = 2
           PLAYING = 3
           PAUSED = 4
           STOPPING = 5
           ENDED = 6
           ERRORSTATE = 7
       End Enum


       Private Sub InfoTimer_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles InfoTimer.Tick
           Dim state As InputState = DirectCast(AxVLCPlugin21.input.state, InputState)
           Select Case state
               Case InputState.IDLE, InputState.OPENING, InputState.BUFFERING
                   Status.Text = state.ToString()
                   Exit Select
               Case InputState.PLAYING
                   Dim title As String = System.IO.Path.GetFileName(AxVLCPlugin21.mediaDescription.title)
                   Dim current As TimeSpan = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(AxVLCPlugin21.input.Time)
                   Dim total As TimeSpan = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(AxVLCPlugin21.input.Length)
                   Dim pos As Double = AxVLCPlugin21.input.Position
                   Status.Text = String.Format("{0} {1} {2}:{3:D2}/{4}:{5:D2} {6:P}", state, title, current.Minutes, current.Seconds, total.Minutes, total.Seconds, pos)
                   Exit Select
               Case InputState.PAUSED
                   Status.Text = String.Format("{0} {1}", state, System.IO.Path.GetFileName(AxVLCPlugin21.mediaDescription.title))
                   Exit Select
               Case InputState.STOPPING, InputState.ENDED
                   playsecond()
                   Exit Select
               Case InputState.ERRORSTATE
                   Status.Text = String.Format("{0} {1}", state, AxVLCPlugin21.mediaDescription.title)
                   Exit Select
               Case Else
                   Status.Text = state.ToString()
                   Exit Select
           End Select
       End Sub

   End Class

Posted 3-Feb-13 3:37am

Andrew Smith

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Member 8620581 3-Feb-13 10:47am

Why do you wanna buffer ?

1 solution

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Alan N · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-03T06:14:00

Buffering can be increased by specifying options in the play list. Although you can test various sizes in the plugin I find it easier and quicker in the VLC player. Just check "Show more options" in the OpenMedia dialog, and adjust the cache value UpDown control.

VB

Private Sub LoadBufferedUrl()
  Const TestUrl As String = "http://binder-science.wikispaces.com/file/view/The+Characteristics+of+Living+Things.flv"
  ' Buffer 10 seconds
  Dim Options As String() = New String() {":network-caching=10000"}
  AxVLCPlugin21.playlist.add(TestUrl, Nothing, Options)
End Sub

As before this has been converted from C# so I hope it's OK.

Other options can be specified, but I have not been able to find a list of which VLC player options are operational in the plugin. Many are not and these are the few I can vouch for:

:file-caching=2100	Approximate cache size in milliseconds (max 60,000)
:network-caching=3000	Approximate cache size in milliseconds (max 60,000)
:start-time=60.0	Start playing position (seconds). 
                        This is inaccurate on some file types, e.g. mpeg2, 
                        probably due to variable bit rate and lack of indexing.
:stop-time=120.0	Stop playing position (seconds).  This is accurate
:input-repeat=N	        Repeat N times (play N+1 times)
:run-time=30.0	        Play for a maximum of this duration (seconds)

Examples
Play first 10 seconds, 4 times
Dim Options As String() = New String() {":input-repeat=3", ":run-time=10.0"}
Play from 10 to 20 seconds
Dim Options As String() = New String() {":start-time=10.0", ":run-time=10.0" }
or this would do the same
Dim Options As String() = New String() {":start-time=10.0", ":stop-time=20.0" }

Alan.