Unable to play .mp4 and .avi video files

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board have reported difficulties playing video files, specifically in formats .mp4 and .avi. The symptoms include:

• For .mp4 files, the seek bar moves without displaying any video.
• For .avi files, neither the seek bar moves nor is any video displayed.

This issue occurs after users have attempted to install necessary codecs using the command sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras, which did not resolve the problem. The context of the problem is primarily during media playback, impacting user experience significantly as it prevents access to multimedia content.

The issue appears to be consistent across multiple attempts, indicating it is not an isolated incident. Users are unable to utilize their Jetson Orin Nano for video playback, which may hinder development projects that rely on multimedia capabilities.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The Jetson Orin Nano may have limitations in hardware acceleration for certain video formats.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the installed media player or conflicts with other software components affecting playback.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the media player or GStreamer configuration could lead to playback failures.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or improperly configured drivers may prevent proper video decoding.

• Environmental Factors: Insufficient power supply or overheating could affect performance and functionality.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users might not have correctly configured their media playback environment or dependencies.

Each of these causes could contribute to the inability to play video files as expected.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issue of video playback on the Jetson Orin Nano, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Hardware Specifications:

   • Ensure that your Jetson Orin Nano meets the minimum requirements for video playback.
   • Check for any visible hardware defects.

2. Check Installed Packages:

   • Confirm that all necessary multimedia packages are installed:

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly
     

3. Test GStreamer Commands:

   • Use GStreamer commands to test video playback:

     gst-launch-1.0 filesrc location=yourfile.mp4 ! decodebin ! autovideosink
     

   • Replace yourfile.mp4 with the path to your actual video file. This command helps determine if GStreamer can handle the file format.

4. Check for Driver Updates:

   • Ensure that your system is running the latest drivers compatible with Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Update your system:

     sudo apt upgrade
     

5. Inspect Configuration Settings:

   • Review any configuration settings for your media player and GStreamer.
   • Ensure that no conflicting settings are present that could prevent playback.

6. Test with Different Media Players:

   • Try installing and using alternative media players such as VLC or MPV:

     sudo apt install vlc
     

7. Monitor System Resources:

   • Use system monitoring tools to check CPU and memory usage during playback attempts.
   • Ensure that there are no resource constraints affecting performance.

8. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to the "Accelerated GStreamer — Jetson Linux Developer Guide" for specific examples and further troubleshooting guidance.

9. Power Supply Check:

   • Verify that your power supply is sufficient and stable, as inadequate power can lead to performance issues.

10. Seek Community Support:

    • If problems persist, consider reaching out to community forums or Nvidia support channels for additional assistance.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to video playback on their Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. If multiple users report success with a particular solution, it should be highlighted as a recommended approach for others facing similar issues.