"Playback error" with Adaptive HLS stream

[TheComputerNerd88]

Attempting to play a video with the "Adaptive" video stream selected causes a "Playback error". I'm using TubeReplacer 1.0.4 on an iPad 2 running iOS 9.3.5, with version 1.4.0 of the YouTube app.

I managed to compile the code and figured out a workaround for the issue. It appears that using the saved HLS stream file causes the playback error, specifically these lines:

TubeReplacer/googleapp/Translators/Delegates/TRVideoTranslator.m

Lines 190 to 192 in ef68e9e

	} else {
	stream = [NSClassFromString(@"YTStream") streamWithURL:[NSURL fileURLWithPath:mediaPath] format:1 encrypted:NO];
	}

Changing the URL to [NSURL URLWithString:hlsStreamURL] fixes the issue. Of course, this bypasses the autodub audio track removal process in the code, but it works well enough other than that.

[Preloading]

Does this occur with other videos? i'm trying to reproduce this, but I'm not getting an error.

[TheComputerNerd88]

Yes, the issue occurs no matter what video I choose.

I can see the HLS stream file being saved correctly to the path shown in the system logs, and I can take a stream URL from inside the file and it plays fine in Safari on the iPad. Opening the HLS stream file directly in Filza doesn't work, but transferring the HLS stream file to my computer, it plays fine in VLC. Accessing the HLS stream file on the iPad in Safari (via a web server on my computer) also works.

All that is to say, I don't think the HLS file is corrupt in any way.

In fact, I can even change the stream URL to be a hardcoded one pointing to my computer with the same stream file, and the video plays correctly in the YouTube app, i.e. [NSURL URLWithString:@"http://COMPUTER_IP_ADDRESS:8000/stream_file.m3u8"]. Curiously enough, this didn't work when I tried it with Everything as my server, but it did work with Python's built in web server (python -m http.server in the same directory as the stream file). I can also hardcode the stream URL to be a test stream (like https://test-streams.mux.dev/x36xhzz/x36xhzz.m3u8), and the YouTube app will play this back fine.

My best guess for what is causing the issue is that by passing a file URL to YouTube, the app can't access the stream correctly and fails, causing the playback error.

[Preloading]

This is strange, it seems like a permissions issue? do things improve if in Filza, you change the m3u8 to like 777 or smth?

[Preloading]

If your able, i'd love to know what it's at least trying to do under a proxy if you know how to set that up

[TheComputerNerd88]

Still getting a playback error if I hardcode a specific M3U8 file and set its permissions to 777. Under mitmproxy, I can see the initial request to manifest.googlevideo.com, which gets the HLS stream data that's saved into a file, but no other requests for more HLS data.

[Preloading]

Managed to recreate it on my own 5S, lets see how far I get lol

[lazygitter]

Attempting to play a video with the "Adaptive" video stream selected causes a "Playback error". I'm using TubeReplacer 1.0.4 on an iPad 2 running iOS 9.3.5, with version 1.4.0 of the YouTube app.

I managed to compile the code and figured out a workaround for the issue. It appears that using the saved HLS stream file causes the playback error, specifically these lines:

TubeReplacer/googleapp/Translators/Delegates/TRVideoTranslator.m

Lines 190 to 192 in ef68e9e

} else {
stream = [NSClassFromString(@"YTStream") streamWithURL:[NSURL fileURLWithPath:mediaPath] format:1 encrypted:NO];
}

Changing the URL to [NSURL URLWithString:hlsStreamURL] fixes the issue. Of course, this bypasses the autodub audio track removal process in the code, but it works well enough other than that.

Hi there internet stranger. I'm getting the same error on my ipad mini gen 1 running youtube 1.3.0, as soon as i activate adaptive in the video stream, all youtube videos simply refuse to play. I see here that you've pinpointed the issue and sort of solved it (?), but i have no idea how to do the same. Would you be so kind as to drop a tutorial on how you did that, i just want youtube working for my younger sibling. Much appreciated :D
Edit : can you perhaps share the compiled .deb file, or do i just wait until the dev patches this bug in the next update?

[Preloading]

It's not really solved. The thing that is failing filters out the dubbed audio tracks. Without it, it will play in whichever language is alphabetically first, commonly arabic. Unless your child is fluent in arabic, I don't think the patch would be very helpful. For now, you can just use the 360p option. I will eventually solve it though, it's just a rather tough issue.

[TheComputerNerd88]

I will just add that, if the video you're trying to play has no dubbed audio tracks, the workaround works fine. However, as Preloading points out, any video with dubbed audio tracks will play with what is likely the wrong language audio, which is not very useful.

For @lazygitter, hello there, other internet stranger! If you (or anybody else) still want to try the workaround with the above in mind, here is the .deb file (inside of a .zip file, because uploading deb files to GitHub directly isn't supported): dev.preloading.tubereplacer_1.0.5-3+debug_iphoneos-arm.deb.zip

For posterity, I generated this deb file with this workaround.patch, on commit a0d9c90.

[lazygitter]

Thanks for your response. I'm already content with the iPad playing YouTube videos back consistently, even at 360p. I will be patiently waiting for the fix in the next update. Again, thank you for such a fantastic contribution to the community, i love to see old devices still getting love, saving them from e-waste pile even if it's just for a few more years. (fun fact, my entire family speaks Arabic fluently :D)

[lazygitter]

I will just add that, if the video you're trying to play has no dubbed audio tracks, the workaround works fine. However, as Preloading points out, any video with dubbed audio tracks will play with what is likely the wrong language audio, which is not very useful.

For @lazygitter, hello there, other internet stranger! If you (or anybody else) still want to try the workaround with the above in mind, here is the .deb file (inside of a .zip file, because uploading deb files to GitHub directly isn't supported): dev.preloading.tubereplacer_1.0.5-3+debug_iphoneos-arm.deb.zip

For posterity, I generated this deb file with this workaround.patch, on commit a0d9c90.

Thank you very much! I will try to mess around with it until the fix is formally published by the author! Appreciate you!

[thesupertechie]

Can reproduce this, Youtube v1.3.0 on iPad Air 1, iOS 10.3.3
This even occurred on a music video, with no dubbed tracks. Sometimes it says "Playback error", and sometimes "No stream".
Casting works, however.

[thesupertechie]

I'll also note that I tried the workaround deb, but that failed to do anything.

[Preloading]

Closing as of now, as Adaptive is currently broken completely, I will reopen when a solution to adaptive is found.