Intermittent bufferStalledError & bufferNudgeError #7038

silvgg · 2025-02-20T14:00:07Z

silvgg
Feb 20, 2025

I'm looking for some help regarding intermittent audio streaming issues from SoundCloud that have persisted for over a week. The issue:

Occurs randomly on page refresh (oddly enough it seemed like I had no issues for a day or so, but now happens frequently)
Happens regardless of playback position (0 or elsewhere in track)
Segments appear to load but playback fails with errors
Occurs in both v1.5.2 and v1.6.0-beta.1

Here are my HLS settings:

{
    enableWorker: true,
    debug: true,
    maxBufferLength: 30,
    maxMaxBufferLength: 600,
    maxBufferSize: 60 * 1000 * 1000,
    manifestLoadingTimeOut: 10000,
    manifestLoadingMaxRetry: 3,
    manifestLoadingRetryDelay: 500,
    manifestLoadingMaxRetryTimeout: 64000,
}

Here are some of the logs:

[log] > Debug logs enabled for "Hls instance" in hls.js version 1.6.0-beta.1
audio-engine-2.service.ts:713 [log] > stopLoad
audio-engine-2.service.ts:713 [log] > loadSource:https://cf-hls-media.sndcdn.com/playlist/izbzjQB04prn.128.mp3/playlist.m3u8?(auth params n stuff)
audio-engine-2.service.ts:713 [log] > [stream-controller]: Trigger BUFFER_RESET
audio-engine-2.service.ts:714 [log] > attachMedia
audio-engine-2.service.ts:714 [log] > [buffer-controller]: created media source: MediaSource
hls.mjs:17342 [log] > [buffer-controller]: Media source opened
hls.mjs:18390 [log] > [buffer-controller]: checkPendingTracks (pending: 0 codec events expected: 0) {}
hls.mjs:29937 [log] > [level-controller]: manifest loaded, 1 level(s) found, first bitrate: 0
hls.mjs:17501 [log] > [buffer-controller]: 1 bufferCodec event(s) expected.
hls.mjs:29975 [log] > [level-controller]: auto startLoad with configured startPosition -1
hls.mjs:33030 [log] > startLoad(-1)
hls.mjs:30021 [log] > [level-controller]: Switching to level 0 (SDR @0) from level -1
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: STOPPED->IDLE
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: STOPPED->IDLE
hls.mjs:31135 [log] > [stream-controller]: Level 0 loaded [0,27][part-27--1], cc [0, 0] duration:252.0772999999999
hls.mjs:8921 [log] > [stream-controller]: setting startPosition to 0 by default
hls.mjs:23886 [log] > [interstitials]: setSchedulePosition 0, undefined
hls.mjs:24313 [log] > [interstitials]: buffered to boundary [primary: 0.00-252.08]
hls.mjs:24054 [log] > [interstitials]: resuming [primary: 0.00-252.08]
hls.mjs:33030 [log] > startLoad(0)
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->STOPPED
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: STOPPED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 0 of level 0 (frag:[0.000-1.985]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: IDLE->STOPPED
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: STOPPED->IDLE
hls.mjs:24067 [log] > [interstitials]: resumed [primary: 0.00-252.08]
hls.mjs:18371 [log] > [buffer-controller]: Updating MediaSource duration to 252.077
hls.mjs:15650 [log] > [transmuxer-interface, main]: Starting new transmux session for sn: 0 p: -1 level: 0 id: 1
        discontinuity: true
        trackSwitch: true
        contiguous: false
        accurateTimeOffset: true
        timeOffset: 0
        initSegmentChange: true
hls.mjs:10932 [log] > MPEG Audio sync word found !
hls.mjs:14035 [log] > [mp4-remuxer]: ISGenerated flag reset
hls.mjs:14026 [log] > [mp4-remuxer]: initPTS & initDTS reset
hls.mjs:14030 [log] > [mp4-remuxer]: reset next timestamp
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:31743 [log] > [stream-controller]: Init audio buffer, container:audio/mpeg, codecs[selected/level/parsed]=[//]
hls.mjs:17752 [log] > [buffer-controller]: BUFFER_CODECS: "audio" (current SB count 0)
hls.mjs:18390 [log] > [buffer-controller]: checkPendingTracks (pending: 1 codec events expected: 1) {"audio":{"listeners":[],"codec":"","container":"audio/mpeg","levelCodec":"","metadata":{"channelCount":2},"id":"main"}}
hls.mjs:18457 [log] > [buffer-controller]: creating sourceBuffer(audio/mpeg;codecs=) {"listeners":[],"codec":"","container":"audio/mpeg","levelCodec":"","metadata":{"channelCount":2},"id":"main"}
hls.mjs:18426 [log] > [buffer-controller]: SourceBuffers created. Running queue: 
video: (none) 
audio: (SourceBuffer) 
audiovideo: (none) }
hls.mjs:15856 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: InitPTS for cc: 0 found from main: 0/90000
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 0 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 0 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 0 of level 0 (frag:[0.000-1.985])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 0 of level 0 (frag:[0.000-1.985] > buffer:[0.000-1.959])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 1 of level 0 (frag:[1.985-4.963]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 1.985
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 1 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 1 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 1 of level 0 (frag:[1.985-4.963])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 1 of level 0 (frag:[1.985-4.963] > buffer:[0.000-4.937])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 2 of level 0 (frag:[4.963-9.953]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 4.963
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 2 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 2 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 2 of level 0 (frag:[4.963-9.953])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 2 of level 0 (frag:[4.963-9.953] > buffer:[0.000-9.927])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 3 of level 0 (frag:[9.953-19.931]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 9.953
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 3 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 3 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 3 of level 0 (frag:[9.953-19.931])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 3 of level 0 (frag:[9.953-19.931] > buffer:[0.000-19.905])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 4 of level 0 (frag:[19.931-29.910]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 19.931
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 4 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 4 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 4 of level 0 (frag:[19.931-29.910])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 4 of level 0 (frag:[19.931-29.910] > buffer:[0.000-29.884])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:8390 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loading main sn: 5 of level 0 (frag:[29.910-39.889]) cc: 0 [0-27], target: 29.91
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->FRAG_LOADING
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: FRAG_LOADING->PARSING
hls.mjs:8116 [log] > [stream-controller]: Loaded main sn: 5 of level 0
hls.mjs:15266 [log] > [transmuxer.ts]: Flushed main sn: 5 of level 0
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSING->PARSED
hls.mjs:9151 [log] > [stream-controller]: Parsed main sn: 5 of level 0 (frag:[29.910-39.889])
hls.mjs:8267 [log] > [stream-controller]: Buffered main sn: 5 of level 0 (frag:[29.910-39.889] > buffer:[0.000-39.863])
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: PARSED->IDLE
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.100, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.100, state: STOPPED
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.100, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:30666 [log] > [stream-controller]: Media seeked to 0.100
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.300, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.300, state: STOPPED
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.300, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:30666 [log] > [stream-controller]: Media seeked to 0.300
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.600, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.600, state: STOPPED
hls.mjs:7828 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: media seeking to 0.600, state: IDLE
hls.mjs:30666 [log] > [stream-controller]: Media seeked to 0.600
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: IDLE->ERROR
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: STOPPED->ERROR
hls.mjs:33041 [log] > stopLoad
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [stream-controller]: ERROR->STOPPED
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [audio-stream-controller]: ERROR->STOPPED
hls.mjs:9183 [log] > [subtitle-stream-controller]: IDLE->STOPPED
audio-engine-2.service.ts:842 [log] > recoverMediaError
audio-engine-2.service.ts:842 [log] > detachMedia
audio-engine-2.service.ts:842 [log] > [buffer-controller]: media source detaching
audio-engine-2.service.ts:842 [log] > attachMedia
audio-engine-2.service.ts:842 [log] > [buffer-controller]: created media source: MediaSource

robwalch · 2025-02-20T17:36:06Z

robwalch
Feb 20, 2025
Maintainer

Have you tried v1.6.0-beta.3? It includes improvements to stall detection and gap jumping.

1 reply

silvgg Feb 20, 2025
Author

Will try it right now and see.

With, v1.5.2 / v1.6.0-beta.1 I have determined the issue was trying to run audio through an AudioContext. If I run it through a native Audio (HTMLAudioElement) it doesn't have any issues at all.

Is HLS.js not compatible with AudioContext? I understand that there are two timings to deal with that (the Audio and AudioContext have separate/independent currentTime values.

I was planning on trying to play multiple HLS Audio sources in a timeline which was the original reasoning for trying to route through AudioContext. It's strange that the issue is intermittent though.

Any ideas?

robwalch · 2025-02-20T17:39:23Z

robwalch
Feb 20, 2025
Maintainer

The logs show that the buffer is provisioned. The red flag is that this is mpeg/audio (mp3).

Can you file a bug with steps to reproduce? Issues have better visibility than discussion threads and should be the first step in reporting issues that may require code changes to fix.

3 replies

silvgg Feb 20, 2025
Author

I definitely want to try and provide steps to reproduce, but I tried your suggestion to upgrade to v1.6.0-beta.3 and the issues seems to have stopped. It seems to be able to run through an AudioContext now with no issues? I am just afraid that the issue might show up again for whatever reason, so I will continue to monitor this on the new version and see if I can get it to reproduce the issue again. Definitely a strange issue.

robwalch Feb 20, 2025
Maintainer

Using an AudioContext is another issue altogether. HLS.js is responsible only for streaming to a MediaSource. The media element and attaching it to WebAudio should be completely independent of any changes made to HLS.js.

Maybe latest stable/older versions detect a stall because of an issue with current time not advancing and hedge attempts disrupt playback (just a guess)?

v1.6 stall detection increases the threshold for current time advancement and adds faster and more reliable stall detection following "waiting" events.

silvgg Feb 20, 2025
Author

So basically avoid using AudioContext? Curious if there is some way to support it if it is the issue.

Unfortunate news, after messing around with it for another 15 minutes or so, the issue started happening again (while in AudioContext). It makes me wonder if the issue with AudioContext is deeply embedded in the browser (Chrome Version 133.0.6943.127 (Official Build) (64-bit)) and related to some caching mechanism. The reason I say this is because I can consistently make the streaming work if I make ANY changes to the code. Once I refresh the page though, it stops working. Then undoing the code change makes it work again until I refresh.

It is also very odd that it took a while to happen and about 20 different refreshes. Emptying the cache / hard refreshing also does not seem to do anything.

My current solution is going to be to remove the Audio from the AudioContext and play it that way. Going to keep monitoring this to see if it happens again. Pretty confident that it won't happen though if it's not running in an AudioContext.

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Intermittent bufferStalledError & bufferNudgeError #7038

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Intermittent bufferStalledError & bufferNudgeError #7038

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