Loading table takes more then 4 minutes by PBX....

[Jopp]

Hello,

On my cab I have a lot of tables and all run and load fine within PinballX.

Only problem with 1 specific table: Gorillaz. 

https://vpuniverse.com/files/file/22258-gorillaz/

When selecting this table within PBX, things start normal: I have my Loading video on my main screen waiting for the table to load...but.

After 40 sec this video disappears (I guess this is the length of the video) and all screens (topper, BG, PF) are black, just looks like it's a major freeze.

But...after 3 min 50 the BG appears and 15 sec later (which is also long compared to normal) the table appears and I can play making it a total of more then 4 minutes before this table is ready.

All other tables are running within seconds. Also, when starting this table directly with VPX10.8 GL it runs within seconds.

Installed latest PBX version (6.20) but no succes.

Thank you

PBX_log & ini.zip

[Draco1962]

Please attach the pinballx.ini and log.txt files separately.

Thank you.

[Jopp]

here they are...



thank you

log.txt PinballX.ini XDMDlog.txt

[Tom Speirs]

Im fine with tables being posted. No roms though.

I will look shortly but one suggestion. Please try running PinballX in full screen windowed mode.

Please provide the files again.

Thank you.

[Jopp]

14 hours ago, Tom Speirs said:

Im fine with tables being posted. No roms though.

I will look shortly but one suggestion. Please try running PinballX in full screen windowed mode.

Well..I thought it would be handy to know exactly what table i was having problems with (as it is 1 specific table)

But ok, all fine.

I tried FSwindowed....exactly the same result.

 

[Tom Speirs]

Again, please post the files again. You can listen to me.

[Jopp]

what are you looking for??

Both log files and ini files I have posted again, see post above (seperate so not in a zip file...)

Anything else?

[Draco1962]

@Tom Speirs if you are referring to the link for the table it is restored in the original post and here:

https://vpuniverse.com/files/file/22258-gorillaz/

My apologies for the confusion as tables used to be verboten.

[Mike_da_Spike]

I noticed you installed all in the windows 'program files' folder.

From the past, this was always a bad choice as windows has more restrictions on it

[Jopp]

Well....it is not directly in the windows -> programs folder.

Windows is installed on a seperate ( C  : )  drive and the rest, including subfolders like Program Files is on a (also physical) different drive (D in this case).

The folders you mention do exist under the C; (and windows use them) but I do not use them for VPX, just gave them the same names.

And besides V2:  all other tables (>600) run and load fine. Not superfast but within 20..30 seconds where this specifice table takes more then 4 minutes.

Thanks for your input Mike!

[Mike_da_Spike]

I did not mean to imply that it was the cause of your issue. I was merely making an observation.

I don't have that table  on my cabinet, but try to set the full screen exclusive hack for vpx. Maybe that will help a bit. 

Edit: How about using the DX version of VP 10.8 ? Or is this because you run VR, 3d anaglyph or headtracking that you need to run GL?(just for testing)

[Jopp]

thanks Mike.

Well....I do have the DX as well but it is giving me micro ball-stutters where the GL version is working great.

The loading problem I reported here has purely (afaik) to do with PBX and or the combination with this table:
when loading and running tis specific table directly with VPX it runs great.

WHEN it does start with PBX (>4min) it runs also great...just 4 minutes waiting is not normal (all other tables run fine).

[scutters]

Sounds similar to this issue with RC5 - https://github.com/vpinball/vpinball/issues/1962, even though it seems to affect you with only one table and only when opened through PinballX.

Can you try with RC4 GL version of VPX instead and see if the issue is still present?

[Mike_da_Spike]

8 hours ago, Jopp said:

The loading problem I reported here has purely (afaik) to do with PBX and or the combination with this table:
when loading and running tis specific table directly with VPX it runs great.

Yeah I understand and think Tom like to know how to fix this as well.
is the table loaded directly and you see it when using ALT-TAB ? Is it just that PinballX can't find the process and switch over to it ?

8 hours ago, Jopp said:

Well....I do have the DX as well but it is giving me micro ball-stutters where the GL version is working great.

But will it start instantly, or also a 4 minute delay ? (I still play all my normal tables via DX and only VR and Headtracking through GL. I Don't see any microstutter on my side) 

Although You don't use the default Visual Pinball System, please try to set this option and retry :

Out of curiosity, how is the FS setting in VPX configured for you?

If I have some time this weekend, I will also check the table and see how performance goes on my cabinet.

I've observed something else that might be of interest (though it's not directly related to your issue, it's something I've encountered myself). You're using DC2.exe during startup to adjust your screen settings. By this time, PinballX is already active and may not properly accommodate the changes you're making (which could involve DPI or resolution adjustments). You might not observe any problems, but I've experienced issues in the past. My solution was to execute DC2.exe prior to starting PinballX.exe.

[Jopp]

Hi Mike,

thank you for your help, appreciated.

And... I think I've found the issue.

First of all: I tried all the options you mentioned. but with no succes.

Then I looked something up...... have a look at the picture I attached.

As this table is an original I did not have any Launch sound so I exported a sound from the tables's  sound menu.

But....as you can see.... this audio is 3min30 sec long and....PBX is waiting for it to be played back completely!!
(but you won't hear it because PBX mutes the audio)

I deleted this launch sound and now the loading time using PBX was 37 sec so ...3m30 + 0m37 makes more then 4 minutes.

So...mystery solved.

Only strange thing is that launching the table from PBX takes 37sec, when I load and run it from my tables directory directly (so same situation: VPX.8 had to be loaded and running as well) it takes 19 seconds so PBX makes it double the time.

May-be PBX is also waiting for the loading video to be completed as it loops?

Anyway...mystery solved, thanks for your help Mike!

[Mike_da_Spike]

Thanks for sharing this! I wasn't aware that the audio finished, even when it fates out. 

How long is your loading video? I only use loading videos of max 7 seconds in loop, but never seen (or realised) it finish it loop. Maybe Tom has an answer on it ?

[Draco1962]

If it is still only this one table, it may still be a media issue. How long is the loading video?

[Jopp]

Did some testing with the loading videos and I can say:

the length of the LV does not matter at all.

First I checked again loading time before you can really play the table with my default settings (but no launch audio), it was 37 sec.

Then I deleted all videos from the LV dir, same result. Then I placed a very long video (1m40) in the LV subdir, when starting the table it starts this video but again, after 37 sec the table is up-and-running.

So, LV had no effect on loading times, it was just the Launch Audio that did.

One weird thing though:

When starting this table from PBX first I see DOF become active (by the undercab and speaker lights) and the BG shows.

But it takes an other 16 sec's before the table is playable (it appears first after 14sec, disappears and then the talbe comes back and you can play).

When starting directly from VPX the time between BG appearing and table is ready is 6 sec's so less then half the time.

But..well..can live with that, it's just an observation.

[Mike_da_Spike]

how about disabling the following PinballX plugins :
 

19:06:14.72  20-11-2024:  Loaded Plugin:"DirectOutput PinballX Plugin" Version 1 By Swisslizard
19:06:14.84  20-11-2024:  PlugIn Did not initialize. Disabling PlugIn
19:06:15.13  20-11-2024:  Loaded Plugin:"LED Plugin" Version 1 By Tom Speirs
19:06:15.18  20-11-2024:  PlugIn: "LED Plugin" Initialized OK
19:06:15.18  20-11-2024:  Using Plugin System Version: 1

will that help ?

[Jopp]

Hi Mike,

that's a good find 🙂 !

So...I disabled the 2 plugins but same_same. Still 37 sec from pressing start_to_play -> playing ready.

I enabled only the working one and made a log file, see attached file.

Only thing I can see in the log_file is that PBX is having a time out after 32 seconds. Does that mean sometihing/ is that unusual or is it normal?

19:31:55.70  24-11-2024:  D:\Program Files\Visual Pinball\PinballX\vpauto.exe
19:32:28.11  24-11-2024:  Visual Pinball Foreground Timout: 32

Thanks!

log.txt

[Mike_da_Spike]

did you ever set these options ?

[Jopp]

Yes,

gave it a try today but no change.

But it isn't a big problem..more then 4 minutes is but these additional 19 seconds....can live with that.

Thanks for your help Mike!

[wrd1972]

What is the "full screen hack". What is it doing?

[scutters]

9 hours ago, wrd1972 said:

What is the "full screen hack". What is it doing?

I think primarily it was to address an issue where VPX could start from PinballX without focus, as indicated in the settings tooltip "Activate VP 10 window when it is running full screen exclusive.". But it may well do some other stuff too, @Tom Speirs would need to advise the finer details.