Certain mp3-files break playback

2025-03-19 15:48:58

Hi,

recently I switched from a Samsung Galaxy S10e (Android 12, One-Ui 4.1) to a Galaxy S25 (Android 15, One-UI 7). I moved my complete music library without any manipulation from the old phones sdcard to the new phones internal memory. On both phones the same version of foobar2000 mobile is installed via play store.

On the new phone there's a playback problem. On some files playback starts but hangs immediatly after approx. a second. The time indicator moves from 0:00 to 0:01 and jumps back to 0:00 in an endless loop while there's no sound. Trying to skip to the next or previous song or any other file in the library doesn't help, the same behaviour (loop) on every other file. The only way out then is stopping the app in the apps preferences manually.

Only certain files cause this type of freeze and it is reproducible with them. The weird thing is that after a clean restart of the app (after stopping it manually) these causing files play once without any problem but then the next song failes to be played.

On the old phone (and on other previous smartphones I used in the past) I never had any of this before with the same songs/files. Furthermore, those "breaking" files are played without any problem in other music apps on the S25. So it may be the combination of foobar2000 and the new phone or android version.

Is there anything I can do about it, some pref or so? If no, is there anything I can contribute like logs etc? If so, please let me know how to get and where to send them.

Best regards,
Alex.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #1 – 2025-04-14 11:57:05

Just an update on this after Android updates, reinstalling of foobar2000 mobile and further observing:

The problems still exists, but changed slightly. Now, this "almost one second loop and playback freeze" happens not only on track start but sometimes also in the middle of a track when pausing it via headphones remote control or when an interrupting sound from another app occurs while track playback (like a voice message). However, removing f2kmobile via long tap on the sqare button, waiting some 3-4 seconds until a strange short finishing sound comes up and reopen foobar now helps in some cases to restart playback. But not in all cases, sometimes I still have to kill the app via androids app preferences.

Is it just me with these problems? Anyone else using the app on a Galaxy S25+ (or some other Android 15 phone) without any problems?
TIA, regards, Alex.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #2 – 2025-04-15 09:34:30

Does it help if you enable OpenSL output [ Tools / Advanced / Audio ] ?
It has been known to solve similar issues with certain old devices.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #3 – 2025-04-16 13:47:12

Alas, it doesn't. In fact, it's quite worse. Enabling this option causes clicks/crackings during playback in intervals of some seconds. (Again, this is only on the new phone, on older ones playback with the option enabled works flawless.)

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #4 – 2025-04-22 13:57:58

Just a heads up: next major foobar2000 update drop will obsolete OpenSL & AudioTrack output modes and use proper modern Android interface (AAudio via Oboe library) per current Google recommendations, hopefully addressing this bug.
Expect beta versions early next month.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #5 – 2025-05-09 16:16:13

Audio output was rewritten in newly released version 2.25 preview, I'd appreciate if you could test it and report results.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #6 – 2025-05-10 08:07:59

Thanks Peter! Just downloaded and installed version 2.25. Will now start to test, results will come soon.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #7 – Today at 16:17

First impression - the preview version is much better, thx! However, I've still experienced a playback error, but a different one.

First I was listening to some podcasts and then one of my mix music folders with mp3 files from different sources. I made a phone call and went back to foobar2k resuming music playback. When one of my "breaking" files was reached in that folder, playback was "stuttering" all of a sudden. The sound was similar to the one in this video (sec 4-6 in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gC3nh3AvV0&t=4s) and was slowed down, also. Skipping to the next song brought no help, stuttering was still there. Closing the app "repaired" playback for other files, only the initial "breaking" file was still affected. Then I stopped playback and went home.

Two hours later at home, I reopened the app to record the stuttering sound. But all seemed fine again, even the "breaking" file was played clear. I.e., I cannot reproduce the error at the moment. I'll continue testing and let you know, if there's something to report.

Regards, Alex.

Re: Certain mp3-files break playback

Reply #8 – Today at 16:44

Not sure how relevant it is in Android world, but could you share some specs of the files that you have issues with? I assume your working MP3s are 44.1 kHz stereo files, what about the files that have given problems?