[GH-ISSUE #304] Error and hiccups when playing m4a files in Safari

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:29 +03:00

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Originally created by @yodahome on GitHub (Apr 16, 2016).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/koel/koel/issues/304

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I'm using koel on Ubuntu 14.04 and installed the lastest version (last commit dc27eeb). Everything works fine except for when I try to play m4a files in Safari 9.1 (on Mac OS X 10.11.4). Sometimes they play but they stutter, sometimes they don't seem to load at all, sometimes (especially when starting another song while one is already playing) the whole app seems to crash and is reloaded by Safari with an error message in the browser (Safari web content quit unexpectedly). It does seem to work with mp3 files and it does work without any problems on Firefox or Chrome on the same system. Any ideas?

Originally created by @yodahome on GitHub (Apr 16, 2016). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/koel/koel/issues/304 Hey, thanks for contributing to Koel! To save time for both of us, please make sure these checkboxes are checked before submitting the issue: - [X] You have read and followed closely the [Wiki](https://github.com/phanan/koel/wiki), [Upgrade Guide](https://github.com/phanan/koel/releases), as well as [Troubleshooting](https://github.com/phanan/koel/wiki/Troubleshooting) - [X] The issue has not been reported before - [X] This is not a "how to install on Windows" or "why is my npm messed up" question - [maybe] You're a cool person All checked? Now also make sure your issue - [X] Is associated with a version. Or better yet, a commit. - [X] Is as detailed as possible (ahem... OS, browser, steps to reproduce, maybe?) - [X] Includes the error output if it's a bug/error report ("Whoops!" is not very helpful, you know) - [X] Is in English, 因为我不说中文。 I'm using koel on Ubuntu 14.04 and installed the lastest version (last commit dc27eeb). Everything works fine except for when I try to play m4a files in Safari 9.1 (on Mac OS X 10.11.4). Sometimes they play but they stutter, sometimes they don't seem to load at all, sometimes (especially when starting another song while one is already playing) the whole app seems to crash and is reloaded by Safari with an error message in the browser (Safari web content quit unexpectedly). It does seem to work with mp3 files and it does work without any problems on Firefox or Chrome on the same system. Any ideas?

kerem closed this issue

2026-02-26 02:32:29 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016):

[maybe] You're a cool person

I love this part 😄

For your issue, my first suspect would be the m4a decoder on your server. Then, between us, why would you use Safari…? (I know, Koel is supposed to support Safari, but still, can't help myself 😄 ).

@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016): > [maybe] You're a cool person I love this part 😄 For your issue, my first suspect would be the m4a decoder on your server. Then, between us, why would you use Safari…? (I know, Koel is supposed to support Safari, but still, can't help myself 😄 ).

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016):

I'm having issues playing m4a files in Opera but not Chrome or Firefox (minor hiccups though), I have not opened an issue as the Wiki states that m4a is experimental.

What drew my attention was this

my first suspect would be the m4a decoder on your server

My undrestanding was that the webserver [Apache, Nginx] serves the file and then its up to the browser on the client side to do the rest including decoding the file, am I missing something?

@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016): I'm having issues playing m4a files in Opera but not Chrome or Firefox (minor hiccups though), I have not opened an issue as the Wiki states that `m4a` is experimental. What drew my attention was this > my first suspect would be the m4a decoder on your server My undrestanding was that the webserver [Apache, Nginx] serves the file and then its up to the browser on the client side to do the rest including decoding the file, am I missing something?

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016):

My undrestanding was that the webserver [Apache, Nginx] serves the file and then its up to the browser on the client side to do the rest including decoding the file, am I missing something?

You're not – I have no idea why I came up with the previous answer; maybe I was thinking about FLAC (I'll blame the long day 😃). Still, I have not encountered any problem with m4a, or simply haven't testing it aggressively enough. If you guys could send me the problematic file (assuming license is not a problem) that would help a lot.

@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016): > My undrestanding was that the webserver [Apache, Nginx] serves the file and then its up to the browser on the client side to do the rest including decoding the file, am I missing something? You're not – I have no idea why I came up with the previous answer; maybe I was thinking about FLAC (I'll blame the long day 😃). Still, I have not encountered any problem with m4a, or simply haven't testing it aggressively enough. If you guys could send me the problematic file (assuming license is not a problem) that would help a lot.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016):

Hmm… MDN actually states that:

The MP4 container format with the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec is natively supported by desktop/mobile Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, but Chromium and Opera do not support the format. IE and Chrome also support the MP3 audio codec in the MP4 container, but Safari does not. Firefox/Firefox for Android/Firefox OS supports the format in some cases, but only when a third-party decoder is available, and the device hardware can handle the profile used to encode the MP4.

Apparently this is totally up to the browser then.

@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 17, 2016): Hmm… MDN actually [states](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Supported_media_formats#MP4_H.264_%28AAC_or_MP3%29) that: > The MP4 container format with the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec is natively supported by desktop/mobile Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, but Chromium and Opera do not support the format. IE and Chrome also support the MP3 audio codec in the MP4 container, but Safari does not. Firefox/Firefox for Android/Firefox OS supports the format in some cases, but only when a third-party decoder is available, and the device hardware can handle the profile used to encode the MP4. Apparently this is totally up to the browser then.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2016):

So I did some more digging and found that most m4a files actually play fine, right now its just one Album that I'm having issues with.

Its not a free Album so I will try to find a way to reproduce it and will let you know.

@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 18, 2016): So I did some more digging and found that most m4a files actually play fine, right now its just one Album that I'm having issues with. Its not a free Album so I will try to find a way to reproduce it and will let you know.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2016):

So I was wrong none of the m4a files play in Opera, apparently the ones I tried I had them in mp3 as well.

The only thing I can maybe think of a way to reproduce is to have them converted by iTunes [thats the only common thing between the files I have].

Codec info

If https://github.com/phanan/koel/issues/306 happens I would just have them converted and maybe have it made optional.

@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2016): So I was wrong none of the m4a files play in Opera, apparently the ones I tried I had them in mp3 as well. The only thing I can maybe think of a way to reproduce is to have them converted by iTunes [thats the only common thing between the files I have]. Codec info ![image](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/10334679/14657551/9b9534c8-065c-11e6-8e3d-b397057f3464.png) If https://github.com/phanan/koel/issues/306 happens I would just have them converted and maybe have it made optional.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 20, 2016):

@bdgold From the linked MDN resource:

The MP4 container format with the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec is natively supported by desktop/mobile Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, but Chromium and Opera do not support the format.

@phanan commented on GitHub (Apr 20, 2016): @bdgold From the linked MDN resource: > The MP4 container format with the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec is natively supported by desktop/mobile Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, but Chromium and Opera do not support the format.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@bheidkamp3 commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016):

@bdgold hey I'm having a similar issue. Did you ever get your files playing and do you know if your files are ALAC m4a files?

@bheidkamp3 commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016): @bdgold hey I'm having a similar issue. Did you ever get your files playing and do you know if your files are ALAC m4a files?

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016):

@bheidkamp3 for FLAC I'm using FFMPEG have a look in the 2.0.0 release notes, for m4a files I just use Firefox which works great but I have suggested that it can be supported a little more efficiently if used with FFMPEG and its been attached to https://github.com/phanan/koel/issues/306 so I'm keeping my hopes up.

@BernardGoldberger commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016): @bheidkamp3 for FLAC I'm using FFMPEG have a look in the [2.0.0](https://github.com/phanan/koel/releases/tag/v2.0.0) release notes, for m4a files I just use Firefox which works great but I have suggested that it can be supported a little more efficiently if used with FFMPEG and its been attached to https://github.com/phanan/koel/issues/306 so I'm keeping my hopes up.

kerem commented

2026-02-26 02:32:30 +03:00

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@bheidkamp3 commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016):

Alright thanks. Some of my m4a files work and some MP3 files are just missing. I think I likely need to just rescan or fiddle around with it

@bheidkamp3 commented on GitHub (May 4, 2016): Alright thanks. Some of my m4a files work and some MP3 files are just missing. I think I likely need to just rescan or fiddle around with it

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[GH-ISSUE #304] Error and hiccups when playing m4a files in Safari #220