gst_plugins_base/gst/playback/gstplaysink.c
changeset 8 4a7fac7dd34a
parent 0 0e761a78d257
child 30 7e817e7e631c
child 34 1b8125c02661
--- a/gst_plugins_base/gst/playback/gstplaysink.c	Fri Mar 19 09:35:09 2010 +0200
+++ b/gst_plugins_base/gst/playback/gstplaysink.c	Fri Apr 16 15:15:52 2010 +0300
@@ -29,32 +29,33 @@
 
 #include "gstplaysink.h"
 
-#ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
-#include <glib_global.h>
-#endif
 GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_STATIC (gst_play_sink_debug);
 #define GST_CAT_DEFAULT gst_play_sink_debug
 
 #define VOLUME_MAX_DOUBLE 10.0
 
+#define GST_PLAY_CHAIN(c) ((GstPlayChain *)(c))
+
 /* holds the common data fields for the audio and video pipelines. We keep them
  * in a structure to more easily have all the info available. */
 typedef struct
 {
   GstPlaySink *playsink;
-  GstPad *sinkpad;
   GstElement *bin;
   gboolean added;
   gboolean activated;
+  gboolean raw;
 } GstPlayChain;
 
 typedef struct
 {
   GstPlayChain chain;
+  GstPad *sinkpad;
   GstElement *queue;
   GstElement *conv;
   GstElement *resample;
   GstElement *volume;           /* element with the volume property */
+  gboolean sink_volume;         /* if the volume was provided by the sink */
   GstElement *mute;             /* element with the mute property */
   GstElement *sink;
 } GstPlayAudioChain;
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@
 typedef struct
 {
   GstPlayChain chain;
+  GstPad *sinkpad;
   GstElement *queue;
   GstElement *conv;
   GstElement *scale;
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@
 typedef struct
 {
   GstPlayChain chain;
+  GstPad *sinkpad;
   GstElement *queue;
   GstElement *conv;
   GstElement *resample;
@@ -83,6 +86,33 @@
                                  * chain */
 } GstPlayVisChain;
 
+typedef struct
+{
+  GstPlayChain chain;
+  GstPad *sinkpad;
+  GstElement *conv;
+  GstElement *overlay;
+  GstPad *videosinkpad;
+  GstPad *textsinkpad;
+  GstPad *srcpad;               /* outgoing srcpad, used to connect to the next
+                                 * chain */
+  GstElement *sink;             /* custom sink to receive subtitle buffers */
+} GstPlayTextChain;
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  GstPlayChain chain;
+  GstPad *sinkpad;
+  GstElement *queue;
+  GstElement *conv;
+  GstElement *overlay;
+  GstPad *videosinkpad;
+  GstPad *subpsinkpad;
+  GstPad *srcpad;               /* outgoing srcpad, used to connect to the next
+                                 * chain */
+  GstElement *sink;             /* custom sink to receive subpicture buffers */
+} GstPlaySubpChain;
+
 #define GST_PLAY_SINK_GET_LOCK(playsink) (((GstPlaySink *)playsink)->lock)
 #define GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK(playsink)     g_mutex_lock (GST_PLAY_SINK_GET_LOCK (playsink))
 #define GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK(playsink)   g_mutex_unlock (GST_PLAY_SINK_GET_LOCK (playsink))
@@ -93,35 +123,47 @@
 
   GMutex *lock;
 
+  gboolean async_pending;
+  gboolean need_async_start;
+
   GstPlayFlags flags;
 
-  GstPlayChain *audiochain;
-  GstPlayChain *videochain;
-  GstPlayChain *vischain;
+  /* chains */
+  GstPlayAudioChain *audiochain;
+  GstPlayVideoChain *videochain;
+  GstPlayVisChain *vischain;
+  GstPlayTextChain *textchain;
+  GstPlaySubpChain *subpchain;
 
+  /* audio */
   GstPad *audio_pad;
   gboolean audio_pad_raw;
+  /* audio tee */
   GstElement *audio_tee;
   GstPad *audio_tee_sink;
   GstPad *audio_tee_asrc;
   GstPad *audio_tee_vissrc;
-
+  /* video */
   GstPad *video_pad;
   gboolean video_pad_raw;
-
+  /* text */
   GstPad *text_pad;
+  /* subpictures */
+  GstPad *subp_pad;
 
   /* properties */
   GstElement *audio_sink;
   GstElement *video_sink;
   GstElement *visualisation;
+  GstElement *text_sink;
+  GstElement *subp_sink;
   gfloat volume;
   gboolean mute;
   gchar *font_desc;             /* font description */
   guint connection_speed;       /* connection speed in bits/sec (0 = unknown) */
-
-  /* internal elements */
-  GstElement *textoverlay_element;
+  gint count;
+  gboolean volume_changed;      /* volume/mute changed while no audiochain */
+  gboolean mute_changed;        /* ... has been reated yet */
 };
 
 struct _GstPlaySinkClass
@@ -134,12 +176,6 @@
 enum
 {
   PROP_0,
-  PROP_AUDIO_SINK,
-  PROP_VIDEO_SINK,
-  PROP_VIS_PLUGIN,
-  PROP_VOLUME,
-  PROP_FRAME,
-  PROP_FONT_DESC,
   PROP_LAST
 };
 
@@ -154,17 +190,12 @@
 static void gst_play_sink_dispose (GObject * object);
 static void gst_play_sink_finalize (GObject * object);
 
-static void gst_play_sink_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
-    const GValue * value, GParamSpec * spec);
-static void gst_play_sink_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
-    GValue * value, GParamSpec * spec);
-
 static gboolean gst_play_sink_send_event (GstElement * element,
     GstEvent * event);
 static GstStateChangeReturn gst_play_sink_change_state (GstElement * element,
     GstStateChange transition);
 
-static GstElementClass *parent_class;
+static void gst_play_sink_handle_message (GstBin * bin, GstMessage * message);
 
 /* static guint gst_play_sink_signals[LAST_SIGNAL] = { 0 }; */
 
@@ -173,36 +204,8 @@
     "Generic/Bin/Player",
     "Autoplug and play media from an uri",
     "Wim Taymans <wim.taymans@gmail.com>");
-#ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
-EXPORT_C
-#endif
 
-
-GType
-gst_play_sink_get_type (void)
-{
-  static GType gst_play_sink_type = 0;
-
-  if (!gst_play_sink_type) {
-    static const GTypeInfo gst_play_sink_info = {
-      sizeof (GstPlaySinkClass),
-      NULL,
-      NULL,
-      (GClassInitFunc) gst_play_sink_class_init,
-      NULL,
-      NULL,
-      sizeof (GstPlaySink),
-      0,
-      (GInstanceInitFunc) gst_play_sink_init,
-      NULL
-    };
-
-    gst_play_sink_type = g_type_register_static (GST_TYPE_BIN,
-        "GstPlaySink", &gst_play_sink_info, 0);
-  }
-
-  return gst_play_sink_type;
-}
+G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstPlaySink, gst_play_sink, GST_TYPE_BIN);
 
 static void
 gst_play_sink_class_init (GstPlaySinkClass * klass)
@@ -215,45 +218,18 @@
   gstelement_klass = (GstElementClass *) klass;
   gstbin_klass = (GstBinClass *) klass;
 
-  parent_class = g_type_class_peek_parent (klass);
-
-  gobject_klass->set_property = gst_play_sink_set_property;
-  gobject_klass->get_property = gst_play_sink_get_property;
-
   gobject_klass->dispose = GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_play_sink_dispose);
   gobject_klass->finalize = GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_play_sink_finalize);
 
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_VIDEO_SINK,
-      g_param_spec_object ("video-sink", "Video Sink",
-          "the video output element to use (NULL = default sink)",
-          GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, G_PARAM_READWRITE));
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_AUDIO_SINK,
-      g_param_spec_object ("audio-sink", "Audio Sink",
-          "the audio output element to use (NULL = default sink)",
-          GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, G_PARAM_READWRITE));
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_VIS_PLUGIN,
-      g_param_spec_object ("vis-plugin", "Vis plugin",
-          "the visualization element to use (NULL = none)",
-          GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, G_PARAM_READWRITE));
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_VOLUME,
-      g_param_spec_double ("volume", "volume", "volume",
-          0.0, VOLUME_MAX_DOUBLE, 1.0, G_PARAM_READWRITE));
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_FRAME,
-      gst_param_spec_mini_object ("frame", "Frame",
-          "The last video frame (NULL = no video available)",
-          GST_TYPE_BUFFER, G_PARAM_READABLE));
-  g_object_class_install_property (gobject_klass, PROP_FONT_DESC,
-      g_param_spec_string ("subtitle-font-desc",
-          "Subtitle font description",
-          "Pango font description of font "
-          "to be used for subtitle rendering", NULL, G_PARAM_WRITABLE));
-
   gst_element_class_set_details (gstelement_klass, &gst_play_sink_details);
 
   gstelement_klass->change_state =
       GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_play_sink_change_state);
   gstelement_klass->send_event = GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_play_sink_send_event);
 
+  gstbin_klass->handle_message =
+      GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_play_sink_handle_message);
+
   GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (gst_play_sink_debug, "playsink", 0, "play bin");
 }
 
@@ -264,12 +240,24 @@
   playsink->video_sink = NULL;
   playsink->audio_sink = NULL;
   playsink->visualisation = NULL;
-  playsink->textoverlay_element = NULL;
+  playsink->text_sink = NULL;
   playsink->volume = 1.0;
   playsink->font_desc = NULL;
   playsink->flags = GST_PLAY_FLAG_SOFT_VOLUME;
 
   playsink->lock = g_mutex_new ();
+  playsink->need_async_start = TRUE;
+  GST_OBJECT_FLAG_SET (playsink, GST_ELEMENT_IS_SINK);
+}
+
+static void
+free_chain (GstPlayChain * chain)
+{
+  if (chain) {
+    if (chain->bin)
+      gst_object_unref (chain->bin);
+    g_free (chain);
+  }
 }
 
 static void
@@ -294,14 +282,44 @@
     gst_object_unref (playsink->visualisation);
     playsink->visualisation = NULL;
   }
-  if (playsink->textoverlay_element != NULL) {
-    gst_object_unref (playsink->textoverlay_element);
-    playsink->textoverlay_element = NULL;
+  if (playsink->text_sink != NULL) {
+    gst_element_set_state (playsink->text_sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (playsink->text_sink);
+    playsink->text_sink = NULL;
   }
+
+  free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->videochain);
+  playsink->videochain = NULL;
+  free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->audiochain);
+  playsink->audiochain = NULL;
+  free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->vischain);
+  playsink->vischain = NULL;
+  free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->textchain);
+  playsink->textchain = NULL;
+
+  if (playsink->audio_tee_sink) {
+    gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_sink);
+    playsink->audio_tee_sink = NULL;
+  }
+
+  if (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc) {
+    gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+        playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+    gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+    playsink->audio_tee_vissrc = NULL;
+  }
+
+  if (playsink->audio_tee_asrc) {
+    gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+        playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+    gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+    playsink->audio_tee_asrc = NULL;
+  }
+
   g_free (playsink->font_desc);
   playsink->font_desc = NULL;
 
-  G_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->dispose (object);
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->dispose (object);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -313,45 +331,108 @@
 
   g_mutex_free (playsink->lock);
 
-  G_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->finalize (object);
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
 #endif
 
-
 void
-gst_play_sink_set_video_sink (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstElement * sink)
+gst_play_sink_set_sink (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstPlaySinkType type,
+    GstElement * sink)
 {
-  GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-  if (playsink->video_sink)
-    gst_object_unref (playsink->video_sink);
+  GstElement **elem = NULL, *old = NULL;
+
+  GST_LOG ("Setting sink %" GST_PTR_FORMAT " as sink type %d", sink, type);
 
-  if (sink) {
-    gst_object_ref (sink);
-    gst_object_sink (sink);
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
+  switch (type) {
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_AUDIO:
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_AUDIO_RAW:
+      elem = &playsink->audio_sink;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_VIDEO:
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_VIDEO_RAW:
+      elem = &playsink->video_sink;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_TEXT:
+      elem = &playsink->text_sink;
+      break;
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_SUBPIC:
+      elem = &playsink->subp_sink;
+      break;
+    default:
+      break;
   }
-  playsink->video_sink = sink;
-  GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
+  if (elem) {
+    old = *elem;
+    if (sink)
+      gst_object_ref (sink);
+    *elem = sink;
+  }
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+
+  if (old)
+    gst_object_unref (old);
 }
+
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
 #endif
 
-
-void
-gst_play_sink_set_audio_sink (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstElement * sink)
+GstElement *
+gst_play_sink_get_sink (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstPlaySinkType type)
 {
-  GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-  if (playsink->audio_sink)
-    gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_sink);
+  GstElement *result = NULL;
+  GstElement *elem = NULL, *chainp = NULL;
 
-  if (sink) {
-    gst_object_ref (sink);
-    gst_object_sink (sink);
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
+  switch (type) {
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_AUDIO:
+    {
+      GstPlayAudioChain *chain;
+      if ((chain = (GstPlayAudioChain *) playsink->audiochain))
+        chainp = chain->sink;
+      elem = playsink->audio_sink;
+      break;
+    }
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_VIDEO:
+    {
+      GstPlayVideoChain *chain;
+      if ((chain = (GstPlayVideoChain *) playsink->videochain))
+        chainp = chain->sink;
+      elem = playsink->video_sink;
+      break;
+    }
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_TEXT:
+    {
+      GstPlayTextChain *chain;
+      if ((chain = (GstPlayTextChain *) playsink->textchain))
+        chainp = chain->sink;
+      elem = playsink->text_sink;
+      break;
+    }
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_SUBPIC:
+    {
+      GstPlaySubpChain *chain;
+      if ((chain = (GstPlaySubpChain *) playsink->subpchain))
+        chainp = chain->sink;
+      elem = playsink->subp_sink;
+      break;
+    }
+    default:
+      break;
   }
-  playsink->audio_sink = sink;
-  GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
+  if (chainp) {
+    /* we have an active chain with a sink, get the sink */
+    result = gst_object_ref (chainp);
+  }
+  /* nothing found, return last configured sink */
+  if (result == NULL && elem)
+    result = gst_object_ref (elem);
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+
+  return result;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -390,13 +471,13 @@
   gst_bin_remove (GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin), chain->vis);
 
   /* add new plugin and set state to playing */
-  chain->vis = gst_object_ref (playsink->visualisation);
+  chain->vis = playsink->visualisation;
   gst_bin_add (GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin), chain->vis);
   gst_element_set_state (chain->vis, GST_STATE_PLAYING);
 
   /* get pads */
-  chain->vissinkpad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->vis, "sink");
-  chain->vissrcpad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->vis, "src");
+  chain->vissinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->vis, "sink");
+  chain->vissrcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->vis, "src");
 
   /* link pads */
   gst_pad_link (chain->blockpad, chain->vissinkpad);
@@ -419,11 +500,22 @@
 {
   GstPlayVisChain *chain;
 
+  /* setting NULL means creating the default vis plugin */
+  if (vis == NULL)
+    vis = gst_element_factory_make ("goom", "vis");
+
+  /* simply return if we don't have a vis plugin here */
+  if (vis == NULL)
+    return;
+
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   /* first store the new vis */
   if (playsink->visualisation)
     gst_object_unref (playsink->visualisation);
-  playsink->visualisation = gst_object_ref (vis);
+  /* take ownership */
+  gst_object_ref (vis);
+  gst_object_sink (vis);
+  playsink->visualisation = vis;
 
   /* now try to change the plugin in the running vis chain, if we have no chain,
    * we don't bother, any future vis chain will be created with the new vis
@@ -433,7 +525,10 @@
 
   /* block the pad, the next time the callback is called we can change the
    * visualisation. It's possible that this never happens or that the pad was
-   * already blocked. */
+   * already blocked. If the callback never happens, we don't have new data so
+   * we don't need the new vis plugin. If the pad was already blocked, the
+   * function returns FALSE but the previous pad block will do the right thing
+   * anyway. */
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "blocking vis pad");
   gst_pad_set_blocked_async (chain->blockpad, TRUE, gst_play_sink_vis_blocked,
       playsink);
@@ -447,6 +542,30 @@
 #endif
 
 
+GstElement *
+gst_play_sink_get_vis_plugin (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+{
+  GstElement *result = NULL;
+  GstPlayVisChain *chain;
+
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
+  if ((chain = (GstPlayVisChain *) playsink->vischain)) {
+    /* we have an active chain, get the sink */
+    if (chain->vis)
+      result = gst_object_ref (chain->vis);
+  }
+  /* nothing found, return last configured sink */
+  if (result == NULL && playsink->visualisation)
+    result = gst_object_ref (playsink->visualisation);
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+
+  return result;
+}
+#ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
+EXPORT_C
+#endif
+
+
 void
 gst_play_sink_set_volume (GstPlaySink * playsink, gdouble volume)
 {
@@ -456,7 +575,15 @@
   playsink->volume = volume;
   chain = (GstPlayAudioChain *) playsink->audiochain;
   if (chain && chain->volume) {
-    g_object_set (chain->volume, "volume", volume, NULL);
+    GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "elements: volume=%" GST_PTR_FORMAT ", mute=%"
+        GST_PTR_FORMAT "; new volume=%.03f, mute=%d", chain->volume,
+        chain->mute, volume, playsink->mute);
+    /* if there is a mute element or we are not muted, set the volume */
+    if (chain->mute || !playsink->mute)
+      g_object_set (chain->volume, "volume", volume, NULL);
+  } else {
+    GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "no volume element");
+    playsink->volume_changed = TRUE;
   }
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 }
@@ -473,11 +600,12 @@
 
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   chain = (GstPlayAudioChain *) playsink->audiochain;
+  result = playsink->volume;
   if (chain && chain->volume) {
-    g_object_get (chain->volume, "volume", &result, NULL);
-    playsink->volume = result;
-  } else {
-    result = playsink->volume;
+    if (chain->mute || !playsink->mute) {
+      g_object_get (chain->volume, "volume", &result, NULL);
+      playsink->volume = result;
+    }
   }
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 
@@ -496,8 +624,18 @@
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   playsink->mute = mute;
   chain = (GstPlayAudioChain *) playsink->audiochain;
-  if (chain && chain->mute) {
-    g_object_set (chain->mute, "mute", mute, NULL);
+  if (chain) {
+    if (chain->mute) {
+      g_object_set (chain->mute, "mute", mute, NULL);
+    } else if (chain->volume) {
+      if (mute)
+        g_object_set (chain->volume, "volume", (gdouble) 0.0, NULL);
+      else
+        g_object_set (chain->volume, "volume", (gdouble) playsink->volume,
+            NULL);
+    }
+  } else {
+    playsink->mute_changed = TRUE;
   }
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 }
@@ -526,80 +664,6 @@
 }
 
 static void
-gst_play_sink_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
-    const GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec)
-{
-  GstPlaySink *playsink;
-
-  playsink = GST_PLAY_SINK (object);
-
-  switch (prop_id) {
-    case PROP_VIDEO_SINK:
-      gst_play_sink_set_video_sink (playsink, g_value_get_object (value));
-      break;
-    case PROP_AUDIO_SINK:
-      gst_play_sink_set_audio_sink (playsink, g_value_get_object (value));
-      break;
-    case PROP_VIS_PLUGIN:
-      gst_play_sink_set_vis_plugin (playsink, g_value_get_object (value));
-      break;
-    case PROP_VOLUME:
-      gst_play_sink_set_volume (playsink, g_value_get_double (value));
-      break;
-    case PROP_FONT_DESC:
-      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-      g_free (playsink->font_desc);
-      playsink->font_desc = g_strdup (g_value_get_string (value));
-      if (playsink->textoverlay_element) {
-        g_object_set (G_OBJECT (playsink->textoverlay_element),
-            "font-desc", g_value_get_string (value), NULL);
-      }
-      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
-      break;
-    default:
-      G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
-      break;
-  }
-}
-
-static void
-gst_play_sink_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id, GValue * value,
-    GParamSpec * pspec)
-{
-  GstPlaySink *playsink;
-
-  playsink = GST_PLAY_SINK (object);
-
-  switch (prop_id) {
-    case PROP_VIDEO_SINK:
-      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-      g_value_set_object (value, playsink->video_sink);
-      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
-      break;
-    case PROP_AUDIO_SINK:
-      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-      g_value_set_object (value, playsink->audio_sink);
-      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
-      break;
-    case PROP_VIS_PLUGIN:
-      GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
-      g_value_set_object (value, playsink->visualisation);
-      GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
-      break;
-    case PROP_VOLUME:
-      g_value_set_double (value, gst_play_sink_get_volume (playsink));
-      break;
-    case PROP_FRAME:
-    {
-      break;
-    }
-    default:
-      G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
-      break;
-  }
-}
-
-static void
 post_missing_element_message (GstPlaySink * playsink, const gchar * name)
 {
   GstMessage *msg;
@@ -608,15 +672,6 @@
   gst_element_post_message (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (playsink), msg);
 }
 
-static void
-free_chain (GstPlayChain * chain)
-{
-  if (chain->bin)
-    gst_object_unref (chain->bin);
-  gst_object_unref (chain->playsink);
-  g_free (chain);
-}
-
 static gboolean
 add_chain (GstPlayChain * chain, gboolean add)
 {
@@ -636,11 +691,17 @@
 static gboolean
 activate_chain (GstPlayChain * chain, gboolean activate)
 {
+  GstState state;
+
   if (chain->activated == activate)
     return TRUE;
 
+  GST_OBJECT_LOCK (chain->playsink);
+  state = GST_STATE_TARGET (chain->playsink);
+  GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (chain->playsink);
+
   if (activate)
-    gst_element_set_state (chain->bin, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
+    gst_element_set_state (chain->bin, state);
   else
     gst_element_set_state (chain->bin, GST_STATE_NULL);
 
@@ -687,6 +748,106 @@
   return result;
 }
 
+static gint
+find_property_sink (GstElement * element, const gchar * name)
+{
+  gint res;
+  gboolean is_sink;
+
+  GST_OBJECT_LOCK (element);
+  is_sink = GST_OBJECT_FLAG_IS_SET (element, GST_ELEMENT_IS_SINK);
+  GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (element);
+
+  if (is_sink &&
+      g_object_class_find_property (G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (element), name)) {
+    res = 0;
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element, "found %s property on sink", name);
+  } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element, "did not find %s property", name);
+    res = 1;
+    gst_object_unref (element);
+  }
+  return res;
+}
+
+/* find a sink in the hierarchy with a property named @name. This function does
+ * not increase the refcount of the returned object and thus remains valid as
+ * long as the bin is valid. */
+static GstElement *
+gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstElement * obj,
+    const gchar * name)
+{
+  GstElement *result = NULL;
+  GstIterator *it;
+
+  if (g_object_class_find_property (G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (obj), name)) {
+    result = obj;
+  } else if (GST_IS_BIN (obj)) {
+    it = gst_bin_iterate_recurse (GST_BIN_CAST (obj));
+    result = gst_iterator_find_custom (it,
+        (GCompareFunc) find_property_sink, (gpointer) name);
+    gst_iterator_free (it);
+    /* we don't need the extra ref */
+    if (result)
+      gst_object_unref (result);
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+static void
+do_async_start (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+{
+  GstMessage *message;
+
+  if (!playsink->need_async_start)
+    return;
+
+  playsink->async_pending = TRUE;
+
+  GST_INFO_OBJECT (playsink, "Sending async_start message");
+  message = gst_message_new_async_start (GST_OBJECT_CAST (playsink), FALSE);
+  GST_BIN_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->handle_message (GST_BIN_CAST
+      (playsink), message);
+}
+
+static void
+do_async_done (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+{
+  GstMessage *message;
+
+  if (playsink->async_pending) {
+    GST_INFO_OBJECT (playsink, "Sending async_done message");
+    message = gst_message_new_async_done (GST_OBJECT_CAST (playsink));
+    GST_BIN_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->handle_message (GST_BIN_CAST
+        (playsink), message);
+
+    playsink->async_pending = FALSE;
+  }
+
+  playsink->need_async_start = FALSE;
+}
+
+/* try to change the state of an element. This function returns the element when
+ * the state change could be performed. When this function returns NULL an error
+ * occured and the element is unreffed if @unref is TRUE. */
+static GstElement *
+try_element (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstElement * element, gboolean unref)
+{
+  GstStateChangeReturn ret;
+
+  if (element) {
+    ret = gst_element_set_state (element, GST_STATE_READY);
+    if (ret == GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "failed state change..");
+      gst_element_set_state (element, GST_STATE_NULL);
+      if (unref)
+        gst_object_unref (element);
+      element = NULL;
+    }
+  }
+  return element;
+}
+
 /* make the element (bin) that contains the elements needed to perform
  * video display. 
  *
@@ -700,37 +861,51 @@
  *  +------------------------------------------------------------+
  *           
  */
-static GstPlayChain *
-gen_video_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean raw, gboolean async)
+static GstPlayVideoChain *
+gen_video_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean raw, gboolean async,
+    gboolean queue)
 {
   GstPlayVideoChain *chain;
   GstBin *bin;
   GstPad *pad;
+  GstElement *head, *prev, *elem;
 
   chain = g_new0 (GstPlayVideoChain, 1);
-  chain->chain.playsink = gst_object_ref (playsink);
+  chain->chain.playsink = playsink;
+  chain->chain.raw = raw;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "making video chain %p", chain);
 
   if (playsink->video_sink) {
-    chain->sink = playsink->video_sink;
-  } else {
-    chain->sink = gst_element_factory_make ("autovideosink", "videosink");
-    if (chain->sink == NULL) {
-      chain->sink = gst_element_factory_make ("xvimagesink", "videosink");
-    }
-    if (chain->sink == NULL)
-      goto no_sinks;
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying configured videosink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, playsink->video_sink, FALSE);
+  }
+  if (chain->sink == NULL) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying autovideosink");
+    elem = gst_element_factory_make ("autovideosink", "videosink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, elem, TRUE);
   }
+  /* FIXME: if DEFAULT_VIDEOSINK != "autovideosink" try this now */
+  if (chain->sink == NULL) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying xvimagesink");
+    elem = gst_element_factory_make ("xvimagesink", "videosink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, elem, TRUE);
+  }
+  if (chain->sink == NULL)
+    goto no_sinks;
 
   /* if we can disable async behaviour of the sink, we can avoid adding a
-   * queue for the audio chain. We can't use the deep property here because the
-   * sink might change it's internal sink element later. */
-  if (g_object_class_find_property (G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (chain->sink), "async")) {
-    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "setting async property to %d on video sink",
-        async);
-    g_object_set (chain->sink, "async", async, NULL);
+   * queue for the audio chain. */
+  elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "async");
+  if (elem) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "setting async property to %d on element %s",
+        async, GST_ELEMENT_NAME (elem));
+    g_object_set (elem, "async", async, NULL);
     chain->async = async;
-  } else
+  } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no async property on the sink");
     chain->async = TRUE;
+  }
 
   /* create a bin to hold objects, as we create them we add them to this bin so
    * that when something goes wrong we only need to unref the bin */
@@ -740,74 +915,86 @@
   gst_object_sink (bin);
   gst_bin_add (bin, chain->sink);
 
-  if (raw) {
-    chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("ffmpegcolorspace", "vconv");
-    if (chain->conv == NULL)
-      goto no_colorspace;
-    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
-
-    chain->scale = gst_element_factory_make ("videoscale", "vscale");
-    if (chain->scale == NULL)
-      goto no_videoscale;
-    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->scale);
+  if (queue) {
+    /* decouple decoder from sink, this improves playback quite a lot since the
+     * decoder can continue while the sink blocks for synchronisation. We don't
+     * need a lot of buffers as this consumes a lot of memory and we don't want
+     * too little because else we would be context switching too quickly. */
+    chain->queue = gst_element_factory_make ("queue", "vqueue");
+    g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->queue), "max-size-buffers", 3,
+        "max-size-bytes", 0, "max-size-time", (gint64) 0, NULL);
+    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->queue);
+    head = prev = chain->queue;
+  } else {
+    head = chain->sink;
+    prev = NULL;
   }
 
-  /* decouple decoder from sink, this improves playback quite a lot since the
-   * decoder can continue while the sink blocks for synchronisation. We don't
-   * need a lot of buffers as this consumes a lot of memory and we don't want
-   * too little because else we would be context switching too quickly. */
-  chain->queue = gst_element_factory_make ("queue", "vqueue");
-  g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->queue), "max-size-buffers", 3,
-      "max-size-bytes", 0, "max-size-time", (gint64) 0, NULL);
-  gst_bin_add (bin, chain->queue);
+  if (raw && !(playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_NATIVE_VIDEO)) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating ffmpegcolorspace");
+    chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("ffmpegcolorspace", "vconv");
+    if (chain->conv == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "ffmpegcolorspace");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "ffmpegcolorspace"), ("video rendering might fail"));
+    } else {
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
+      if (prev) {
+        if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->conv, "sink"))
+          goto link_failed;
+      } else {
+        head = chain->conv;
+      }
+      prev = chain->conv;
+    }
 
-  if (raw) {
-    gst_element_link_pads (chain->queue, "src", chain->conv, "sink");
-    gst_element_link_pads (chain->conv, "src", chain->scale, "sink");
-    /* be more careful with the pad from the custom sink element, it might not
-     * be named 'sink' */
-    if (!gst_element_link_pads (chain->scale, "src", chain->sink, NULL))
-      goto link_failed;
-
-    pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
-  } else {
-    if (!gst_element_link_pads (chain->queue, "src", chain->sink, NULL))
-      goto link_failed;
-    pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating videoscale");
+    chain->scale = gst_element_factory_make ("videoscale", "vscale");
+    if (chain->scale == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "videoscale");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "videoscale"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
+    } else {
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->scale);
+      if (prev) {
+        if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->scale, "sink"))
+          goto link_failed;
+      } else {
+        head = chain->scale;
+      }
+      prev = chain->scale;
+    }
   }
 
-  chain->chain.sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
+  if (prev) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "linking to sink");
+    if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->sink, NULL))
+      goto link_failed;
+  }
+
+  pad = gst_element_get_static_pad (head, "sink");
+  chain->sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
   gst_object_unref (pad);
-  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->chain.sinkpad);
 
-  return (GstPlayChain *) chain;
+  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->sinkpad);
+
+  return chain;
 
   /* ERRORS */
 no_sinks:
   {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "autovideosink");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Both autovideosink and xvimagesink elements are missing.")),
-        (NULL));
-    free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-no_colorspace:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "ffmpegcolorspace");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
-            "ffmpegcolorspace"), (NULL));
-    free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-no_videoscale:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "videoscale");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
-            "videoscale"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
+    if (!elem) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "autovideosink");
+      GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Both autovideosink and xvimagesink elements are missing.")),
+          (NULL));
+    } else {
+      GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, STATE_CHANGE,
+          (_("Both autovideosink and xvimagesink elements are not working.")),
+          (NULL));
+    }
     free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -820,87 +1007,330 @@
   }
 }
 
-#if 0
+static gboolean
+setup_video_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean raw, gboolean async,
+    gboolean queue)
+{
+  GstElement *elem;
+  GstPlayVideoChain *chain;
+  GstStateChangeReturn ret;
+
+  chain = playsink->videochain;
+
+  /* if the chain was active we don't do anything */
+  if (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (chain)->activated == TRUE)
+    return TRUE;
+
+  if (chain->chain.raw != raw)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* try to set the sink element to READY again */
+  ret = gst_element_set_state (chain->sink, GST_STATE_READY);
+  if (ret == GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* if we can disable async behaviour of the sink, we can avoid adding a
+   * queue for the audio chain. */
+  elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "async");
+  if (elem) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "setting async property to %d on element %s",
+        async, GST_ELEMENT_NAME (elem));
+    g_object_set (elem, "async", async, NULL);
+    chain->async = async;
+  } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no async property on the sink");
+    chain->async = TRUE;
+  }
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
 /* make an element for playback of video with subtitles embedded.
  *
- *  +--------------------------------------------------+
- *  | tbin                  +-------------+            |
- *  |          +-----+      | textoverlay |   +------+ |
- *  |          | csp | +--video_sink      |   | vbin | |
- * video_sink-sink  src+ +-text_sink     src-sink    | |
- *  |          +-----+   |  +-------------+   +------+ |
- * text_sink-------------+                             |
- *  +--------------------------------------------------+
- *
- *  If there is no subtitle renderer this function will simply return the
- *  videosink without the text_sink pad.
+ *  +----------------------------------------------+
+ *  | tbin                  +-------------+        |
+ *  |          +-----+      | textoverlay |        |
+ *  |          | csp | +--video_sink      |        |
+ * sink-------sink  src+ +-text_sink     src--+    |
+ *  |          +-----+   |  +-------------+   +-- src   
+ * text_sink-------------+                         |
+ *  +----------------------------------------------+
  */
-static GstElement *
-gen_text_element (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+static GstPlayTextChain *
+gen_text_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink)
 {
-  GstElement *element, *csp, *overlay, *vbin;
-  GstPad *pad;
+  GstPlayTextChain *chain;
+  GstBin *bin;
+  GstElement *elem;
+  GstPad *videosinkpad, *textsinkpad, *srcpad;
+
+  chain = g_new0 (GstPlayTextChain, 1);
+  chain->chain.playsink = playsink;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "making text chain %p", chain);
+
+  chain->chain.bin = gst_bin_new ("tbin");
+  bin = GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin);
+  gst_object_ref (bin);
+  gst_object_sink (bin);
+
+  videosinkpad = textsinkpad = srcpad = NULL;
+
+  /* first try to hook the text pad to the custom sink */
+  if (playsink->text_sink) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying configured textsink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, playsink->text_sink, FALSE);
+    if (chain->sink) {
+      elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "async");
+      if (elem) {
+        /* make sure the sparse subtitles don't participate in the preroll */
+        g_object_set (elem, "async", FALSE, NULL);
+        /* we have a custom sink, this will be our textsinkpad */
+        textsinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->sink, "sink");
+        if (textsinkpad) {
+          /* we're all fine now and we can add the sink to the chain */
+          GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding custom text sink");
+          gst_bin_add (bin, chain->sink);
+        } else {
+          GST_WARNING_OBJECT (playsink,
+              "can't find a sink pad on custom text sink");
+          gst_object_unref (chain->sink);
+          chain->sink = NULL;
+        }
+        /* try to set sync to true but it's no biggie when we can't */
+        if ((elem =
+                gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink,
+                    "sync")))
+          g_object_set (elem, "sync", TRUE, NULL);
+      } else {
+        GST_WARNING_OBJECT (playsink,
+            "can't find async property in custom text sink");
+      }
+    }
+    if (textsinkpad == NULL) {
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Custom text sink element is not usable.")),
+          ("fallback to default textoverlay"));
+    }
+  }
 
-  /* Create the video rendering bin, error is posted when this fails. */
-  vbin = gen_video_element (playsink);
-  if (!vbin)
-    return NULL;
+  if (textsinkpad == NULL) {
+    if (!(playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_NATIVE_VIDEO)) {
+      /* no custom sink, try to setup the colorspace and textoverlay elements */
+      chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("ffmpegcolorspace", "tconv");
+      if (chain->conv == NULL) {
+        /* not really needed, it might work without colorspace */
+        post_missing_element_message (playsink, "ffmpegcolorspace");
+        GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+            (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+                "ffmpegcolorspace"), ("subtitle rendering might fail"));
+      } else {
+        gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
+        videosinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->conv, "sink");
+      }
+    }
 
-  /* Text overlay */
-  overlay = gst_element_factory_make ("textoverlay", "overlay");
+    chain->overlay = gst_element_factory_make ("textoverlay", "overlay");
+    if (chain->overlay == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "textoverlay");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "textoverlay"), ("subtitle rendering disabled"));
+    } else {
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->overlay);
+
+      /* Set some parameters */
+      g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->overlay),
+          "halign", "center", "valign", "bottom", NULL);
+      if (playsink->font_desc) {
+        g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->overlay), "font-desc",
+            playsink->font_desc, NULL);
+      }
+      g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->overlay), "wait-text", FALSE, NULL);
 
-  /* If no overlay return the video bin without subtitle support. */
-  if (!overlay)
-    goto no_overlay;
+      textsinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->overlay, "text_sink");
+
+      srcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->overlay, "src");
+
+      if (videosinkpad) {
+        /* if we had a videosinkpad, we had a converter and we can link it, we
+         * know that this will work */
+        gst_element_link_pads (chain->conv, "src", chain->overlay,
+            "video_sink");
+      } else {
+        /* no videopad, expose our own video pad then */
+        videosinkpad =
+            gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->overlay, "video_sink");
+      }
+    }
+  }
 
-  /* Create our bin */
-  element = gst_bin_new ("textbin");
-
-  /* Set some parameters */
-  g_object_set (G_OBJECT (overlay),
-      "halign", "center", "valign", "bottom", NULL);
-  if (playsink->font_desc) {
-    g_object_set (G_OBJECT (overlay), "font-desc", playsink->font_desc, NULL);
+  if (videosinkpad == NULL) {
+    /* if we still don't have a videosink, we don't have a converter nor an
+     * overlay. the only thing we can do is insert an identity and ghost the src
+     * and sink pads. */
+    chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("identity", "tidentity");
+    g_object_set (chain->conv, "signal-handoffs", FALSE, NULL);
+    g_object_set (chain->conv, "silent", TRUE, NULL);
+    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
+    srcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->conv, "src");
+    videosinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->conv, "sink");
+  } else {
+    /* we have a videosink but maybe not a srcpad because there was no
+     * overlay */
+    if (srcpad == NULL) {
+      /* ghost the source pad of the converter then */
+      srcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->conv, "src");
+    }
   }
 
-  /* Take a ref */
-  playsink->textoverlay_element = GST_ELEMENT_CAST (gst_object_ref (overlay));
+  /* expose the ghostpads */
+  if (videosinkpad) {
+    chain->videosinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", videosinkpad);
+    gst_object_unref (videosinkpad);
+    gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->videosinkpad);
+  }
+  if (textsinkpad) {
+    chain->textsinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("text_sink", textsinkpad);
+    gst_object_unref (textsinkpad);
+    gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->textsinkpad);
+  }
+  if (srcpad) {
+    chain->srcpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("src", srcpad);
+    gst_object_unref (srcpad);
+    gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->srcpad);
+  }
 
-  /* we know this will succeed, as the video bin already created one before */
-  csp = gst_element_factory_make ("ffmpegcolorspace", "subtitlecsp");
-
-  /* Add our elements */
-  gst_bin_add_many (GST_BIN_CAST (element), csp, overlay, vbin, NULL);
+  return chain;
+}
 
-  /* Link */
-  gst_element_link_pads (csp, "src", overlay, "video_sink");
-  gst_element_link_pads (overlay, "src", vbin, "sink");
+/* make an element for playback of video with subpictures embedded.
+ *
+ *  +--------------------------------------------------------+
+ *  | pbin                            +-------------+        |
+ *  |       +-------+    +-----+      |   dvdspu    |        |
+ *  |       | queue |    | csp | +---video          |        |
+ * sink----sink    src--sink  src+ +-subpicture    src--+    |
+ *  |       +-------+    +-----+   |  +-------------+   +-- src   
+ * subpicture----------------------+                         |
+ *  +--------------------------------------------------------+
+ */
+static GstPlaySubpChain *
+gen_subp_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+{
+  GstPlaySubpChain *chain;
+  GstBin *bin;
+  GstElement *elem, *head;
+  GstPad *videosinkpad, *subpsinkpad, *srcpad;
 
-  /* Add ghost pads on the subtitle bin */
-  pad = gst_element_get_pad (overlay, "text_sink");
-  gst_element_add_pad (element, gst_ghost_pad_new ("text_sink", pad));
-  gst_object_unref (pad);
+  chain = g_new0 (GstPlaySubpChain, 1);
+  chain->chain.playsink = playsink;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "making subpicture chain %p", chain);
+
+  chain->chain.bin = gst_bin_new ("pbin");
+  bin = GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin);
+  gst_object_ref (bin);
+  gst_object_sink (bin);
+
+  videosinkpad = subpsinkpad = srcpad = NULL;
 
-  pad = gst_element_get_pad (csp, "sink");
-  gst_element_add_pad (element, gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad));
-  gst_object_unref (pad);
+  /* first try to hook the text pad to the custom sink */
+  if (playsink->subp_sink) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying configured subpsink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, playsink->text_sink, FALSE);
+    if (chain->sink) {
+      elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "async");
+      if (elem) {
+        /* make sure the sparse subtitles don't participate in the preroll */
+        g_object_set (elem, "async", FALSE, NULL);
+        /* we have a custom sink, this will be our subpsinkpad */
+        subpsinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->sink, "sink");
+        if (subpsinkpad) {
+          /* we're all fine now and we can add the sink to the chain */
+          GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding custom text sink");
+          gst_bin_add (bin, chain->sink);
+        } else {
+          GST_WARNING_OBJECT (playsink,
+              "can't find a sink pad on custom text sink");
+          gst_object_unref (chain->sink);
+          chain->sink = NULL;
+        }
+        /* try to set sync to true but it's no biggie when we can't */
+        if ((elem =
+                gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink,
+                    "sync")))
+          g_object_set (elem, "sync", TRUE, NULL);
+      } else {
+        GST_WARNING_OBJECT (playsink,
+            "can't find async property in custom text sink");
+      }
+    }
+    if (subpsinkpad == NULL) {
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Custom text sink element is not usable.")),
+          ("fallback to default dvdspu overlay"));
+    }
+  }
 
-  /* Set state to READY */
-  gst_element_set_state (element, GST_STATE_READY);
+  /* make a little queue */
+  chain->queue = gst_element_factory_make ("queue", "vqueue");
+  g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->queue), "max-size-buffers", 3,
+      "max-size-bytes", 0, "max-size-time", (gint64) 0, NULL);
+  gst_bin_add (bin, chain->queue);
+  head = chain->queue;
 
-  return element;
+  /* video goes into the queue */
+  videosinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
 
-  /* ERRORS */
-no_overlay:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "textoverlay");
-    GST_WARNING_OBJECT (playsink,
-        "No overlay (pango) element, subtitles disabled");
-    return vbin;
+  if (subpsinkpad == NULL) {
+    if (!(playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_NATIVE_VIDEO)) {
+      /* no custom sink, try to setup the colorspace and textoverlay elements */
+      chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("ffmpegcolorspace", "tconv");
+      if (chain->conv == NULL) {
+        /* not really needed, it might work without colorspace */
+        post_missing_element_message (playsink, "ffmpegcolorspace");
+        GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+            (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+                "ffmpegcolorspace"), ("subpicture rendering might fail"));
+      } else {
+        gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
+        gst_element_link_pads (head, "src", chain->conv, "sink");
+        head = chain->conv;
+      }
+    }
+
+    chain->overlay = gst_element_factory_make ("dvdspu", "spuoverlay");
+    if (chain->overlay == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "dvdspu");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "dvdspu"), ("subpicture rendering disabled"));
+    } else {
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->overlay);
+      /* Set some parameters */
+      subpsinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->overlay, "subpicture");
+      /* link to the next element */
+      gst_element_link_pads (head, "src", chain->overlay, "video");
+      head = chain->overlay;
+    }
   }
+  srcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (head, "src");
+  chain->srcpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("src", srcpad);
+  gst_object_unref (srcpad);
+  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->srcpad);
+
+  /* expose the ghostpads */
+  chain->videosinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", videosinkpad);
+  gst_object_unref (videosinkpad);
+  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->videosinkpad);
+
+  if (subpsinkpad) {
+    chain->subpsinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("subpicture", subpsinkpad);
+    gst_object_unref (subpsinkpad);
+    gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->subpsinkpad);
+  }
+  return chain;
 }
-#endif
-
 
 /* make the chain that contains the elements needed to perform
  * audio playback. 
@@ -917,27 +1347,40 @@
  * sink-+                                                         |
  *  +-------------------------------------------------------------+
  */
-static GstPlayChain *
+static GstPlayAudioChain *
 gen_audio_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean raw, gboolean queue)
 {
   GstPlayAudioChain *chain;
   GstBin *bin;
-  gboolean res;
+  gboolean have_volume;
   GstPad *pad;
+  GstElement *head, *prev, *elem;
 
   chain = g_new0 (GstPlayAudioChain, 1);
-  chain->chain.playsink = gst_object_ref (playsink);
+  chain->chain.playsink = playsink;
+  chain->chain.raw = raw;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "making audio chain %p", chain);
 
   if (playsink->audio_sink) {
-    chain->sink = playsink->audio_sink;
-  } else {
-    chain->sink = gst_element_factory_make ("autoaudiosink", "audiosink");
-    if (chain->sink == NULL) {
-      chain->sink = gst_element_factory_make ("alsasink", "audiosink");
-    }
-    if (chain->sink == NULL)
-      goto no_sinks;
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying configured audiosink %" GST_PTR_FORMAT,
+        playsink->audio_sink);
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, playsink->audio_sink, FALSE);
+  }
+  if (chain->sink == NULL) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying autoaudiosink");
+    elem = gst_element_factory_make ("autoaudiosink", "audiosink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, elem, TRUE);
   }
+  /* FIXME: if DEFAULT_AUDIOSINK != "autoaudiosink" try this now */
+  if (chain->sink == NULL) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying alsasink");
+    elem = gst_element_factory_make ("alsasink", "audiosink");
+    chain->sink = try_element (playsink, elem, TRUE);
+  }
+  if (chain->sink == NULL)
+    goto no_sinks;
+
   chain->chain.bin = gst_bin_new ("abin");
   bin = GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin);
   gst_object_ref (bin);
@@ -950,97 +1393,151 @@
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding audio queue");
     chain->queue = gst_element_factory_make ("queue", "aqueue");
     gst_bin_add (bin, chain->queue);
+    prev = head = chain->queue;
+  } else {
+    head = chain->sink;
+    prev = NULL;
+  }
+
+  /* check if the sink, or something within the sink, has the volume property.
+   * If it does we don't need to add a volume element.  */
+  elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "volume");
+  if (elem) {
+    chain->volume = elem;
+
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has a volume property");
+    have_volume = TRUE;
+    chain->sink_volume = TRUE;
+    /* if the sink also has a mute property we can use this as well. We'll only
+     * use the mute property if there is a volume property. We can simulate the
+     * mute with the volume otherwise. */
+    chain->mute =
+        gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "mute");
+    if (chain->mute) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has a mute property");
+    }
+    /* use the sink to control the volume and mute */
+    if (playsink->volume_changed) {
+      g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->volume), "volume", playsink->volume, NULL);
+    }
+    if (playsink->mute_changed) {
+      if (chain->mute) {
+        g_object_set (chain->mute, "mute", playsink->mute, NULL);
+      } else {
+        if (playsink->mute)
+          g_object_set (chain->volume, "volume", (gdouble) 0.0, NULL);
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    /* no volume, we need to add a volume element when we can */
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has no volume property");
+    have_volume = FALSE;
+    chain->sink_volume = FALSE;
   }
 
-  if (raw) {
+  if (raw && !(playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_NATIVE_AUDIO)) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating audioconvert");
     chain->conv = gst_element_factory_make ("audioconvert", "aconv");
-    if (chain->conv == NULL)
-      goto no_audioconvert;
-    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
-
-    chain->resample = gst_element_factory_make ("audioresample", "aresample");
-    if (chain->resample == NULL)
-      goto no_audioresample;
-    gst_bin_add (bin, chain->resample);
-
-    res = gst_element_link_pads (chain->conv, "src", chain->resample, "sink");
-
-    /* FIXME check if the sink has the volume property */
-
-    if (playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_SOFT_VOLUME) {
-      chain->volume = gst_element_factory_make ("volume", "volume");
-      if (chain->volume == NULL)
-        goto no_volume;
-
-      /* volume also has the mute property */
-      chain->mute = gst_object_ref (chain->volume);
+    if (chain->conv == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "audioconvert");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "audioconvert"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
+    } else {
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->conv);
+      if (prev) {
+        if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->conv, "sink"))
+          goto link_failed;
+      } else {
+        head = chain->conv;
+      }
+      prev = chain->conv;
+    }
 
-      /* configure with the latest volume */
-      g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->volume), "volume", playsink->volume, NULL);
-      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->volume);
-
-      res &=
-          gst_element_link_pads (chain->resample, "src", chain->volume, "sink");
-      res &= gst_element_link_pads (chain->volume, "src", chain->sink, NULL);
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating audioresample");
+    chain->resample = gst_element_factory_make ("audioresample", "aresample");
+    if (chain->resample == NULL) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "audioresample");
+      GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+              "audioresample"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
     } else {
-      res &= gst_element_link_pads (chain->resample, "src", chain->sink, NULL);
+      gst_bin_add (bin, chain->resample);
+      if (prev) {
+        if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->resample, "sink"))
+          goto link_failed;
+      } else {
+        head = chain->resample;
+      }
+      prev = chain->resample;
     }
-    if (!res)
-      goto link_failed;
 
-    if (queue) {
-      res = gst_element_link_pads (chain->queue, "src", chain->conv, "sink");
-      pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
-    } else {
-      pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->conv, "sink");
-    }
-  } else {
-    if (queue) {
-      res = gst_element_link_pads (chain->queue, "src", chain->sink, "sink");
-      pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
-    } else {
-      pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->sink, "sink");
+    if (!have_volume && playsink->flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_SOFT_VOLUME) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating volume");
+      chain->volume = gst_element_factory_make ("volume", "volume");
+      if (chain->volume == NULL) {
+        post_missing_element_message (playsink, "volume");
+        GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+            (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
+                "volume"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
+      } else {
+        have_volume = TRUE;
+
+        /* volume also has the mute property */
+        chain->mute = chain->volume;
+
+        /* configure with the latest volume and mute */
+        g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->volume), "volume", playsink->volume,
+            NULL);
+        g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->mute), "mute", playsink->mute, NULL);
+        gst_bin_add (bin, chain->volume);
+
+        if (prev) {
+          if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->volume, "sink"))
+            goto link_failed;
+        } else {
+          head = chain->volume;
+        }
+        prev = chain->volume;
+      }
     }
   }
-  chain->chain.sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
+
+  if (prev) {
+    /* we only have to link to the previous element if we have something in
+     * front of the sink */
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "linking to sink");
+    if (!gst_element_link_pads (prev, "src", chain->sink, NULL))
+      goto link_failed;
+  }
+
+  /* post a warning if we have no way to configure the volume */
+  if (!have_volume) {
+    GST_ELEMENT_WARNING (playsink, STREAM, NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
+        (_("No volume control found")), ("Volume/mute is not available"));
+  }
+
+  /* and ghost the sinkpad of the headmost element */
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting sink pad");
+  pad = gst_element_get_static_pad (head, "sink");
+  chain->sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
   gst_object_unref (pad);
-  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->chain.sinkpad);
+  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->sinkpad);
 
-  return (GstPlayChain *) chain;
+  return chain;
 
   /* ERRORS */
 no_sinks:
   {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "autoaudiosink");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Both autoaudiosink and alsasink elements are missing.")), (NULL));
-    free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-no_audioconvert:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "audioconvert");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
-            "audioconvert"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
-    free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-no_audioresample:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "audioresample");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
-            "audioresample"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
-    free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-no_volume:
-  {
-    post_missing_element_message (playsink, "volume");
-    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
-        (_("Missing element '%s' - check your GStreamer installation."),
-            "volume"), ("possibly a liboil version mismatch?"));
+    if (!elem) {
+      post_missing_element_message (playsink, "autoaudiosink");
+      GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, MISSING_PLUGIN,
+          (_("Both autoaudiosink and alsasink elements are missing.")), (NULL));
+    } else {
+      GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, CORE, STATE_CHANGE,
+          (_("Both autoaudiosink and alsasink elements are not working.")),
+          (NULL));
+    }
     free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) chain);
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -1053,6 +1550,70 @@
   }
 }
 
+static gboolean
+setup_audio_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean raw, gboolean queue)
+{
+  GstElement *elem;
+  GstPlayAudioChain *chain;
+  GstStateChangeReturn ret;
+
+  chain = playsink->audiochain;
+
+  /* if the chain was active we don't do anything */
+  if (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (chain)->activated == TRUE)
+    return TRUE;
+
+  if (chain->chain.raw != raw)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* try to set the sink element to READY again */
+  ret = gst_element_set_state (chain->sink, GST_STATE_READY);
+  if (ret == GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  /* check if the sink, or something within the sink, has the volume property.
+   * If it does we don't need to add a volume element.  */
+  elem = gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "volume");
+  if (elem) {
+    chain->volume = elem;
+
+    if (playsink->volume_changed) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has a volume property, setting %f",
+          playsink->volume);
+      /* use the sink to control the volume */
+      g_object_set (G_OBJECT (chain->volume), "volume", playsink->volume, NULL);
+    }
+    /* if the sink also has a mute property we can use this as well. We'll only
+     * use the mute property if there is a volume property. We can simulate the
+     * mute with the volume otherwise. */
+    chain->mute =
+        gst_play_sink_find_property_sinks (playsink, chain->sink, "mute");
+    if (chain->mute) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has a mute property");
+    }
+  } else {
+    /* no volume, we need to add a volume element when we can */
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "the sink has no volume property");
+    if (!raw) {
+      GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "non-raw format, can't do soft volume control");
+      chain->volume = NULL;
+      chain->mute = NULL;
+    } else {
+      /* both last and current chain are raw audio, there should be a volume
+       * element already, unless the sink changed from one with a volume
+       * property to one that hasn't got a volume property, in which case we
+       * re-generate the chain */
+      if (chain->volume == NULL) {
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no existing volume element to re-use");
+        return FALSE;
+      }
+
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "reusing existing volume element");
+    }
+  }
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
 /*
  *  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  *  | visbin                                                            |
@@ -1064,16 +1625,19 @@
  *  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  *           
  */
-static GstPlayChain *
+static GstPlayVisChain *
 gen_vis_chain (GstPlaySink * playsink)
 {
   GstPlayVisChain *chain;
   GstBin *bin;
   gboolean res;
   GstPad *pad;
+  GstElement *elem;
 
   chain = g_new0 (GstPlayVisChain, 1);
-  chain->chain.playsink = gst_object_ref (playsink);
+  chain->chain.playsink = playsink;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "making vis chain %p", chain);
 
   chain->chain.bin = gst_bin_new ("visbin");
   bin = GST_BIN_CAST (chain->chain.bin);
@@ -1097,15 +1661,20 @@
 
   /* this pad will be used for blocking the dataflow and switching the vis
    * plugin */
-  chain->blockpad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->resample, "src");
+  chain->blockpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->resample, "src");
 
   if (playsink->visualisation) {
-    chain->vis = gst_object_ref (playsink->visualisation);
-  } else {
-    chain->vis = gst_element_factory_make ("goom", "vis");
-    if (!chain->vis)
-      goto no_goom;
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying configure vis");
+    chain->vis = try_element (playsink, playsink->visualisation, FALSE);
   }
+  if (chain->vis == NULL) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "trying goom");
+    elem = gst_element_factory_make ("goom", "vis");
+    chain->vis = try_element (playsink, elem, TRUE);
+  }
+  if (chain->vis == NULL)
+    goto no_goom;
+
   gst_bin_add (bin, chain->vis);
 
   res = gst_element_link_pads (chain->queue, "src", chain->conv, "sink");
@@ -1114,18 +1683,18 @@
   if (!res)
     goto link_failed;
 
-  chain->vissinkpad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->vis, "sink");
-  chain->vissrcpad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->vis, "src");
+  chain->vissinkpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->vis, "sink");
+  chain->vissrcpad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->vis, "src");
 
-  pad = gst_element_get_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
-  chain->chain.sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
+  pad = gst_element_get_static_pad (chain->queue, "sink");
+  chain->sinkpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("sink", pad);
   gst_object_unref (pad);
-  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->chain.sinkpad);
+  gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->sinkpad);
 
   chain->srcpad = gst_ghost_pad_new ("src", chain->vissrcpad);
   gst_element_add_pad (chain->chain.bin, chain->srcpad);
 
-  return (GstPlayChain *) chain;
+  return chain;
 
   /* ERRORS */
 no_audioconvert:
@@ -1164,33 +1733,9 @@
   }
 }
 
-#if 0
-static gboolean
-activate_vis (GstPlaySink * playsink, gboolean activate)
-{
-  /* need to have an audio chain */
-  if (!playsink->audiochain || !playsink->vischain)
-    return FALSE;
-
-  if (playsink->vischain->activated == activate)
-    return TRUE;
-
-  if (activate) {
-    /* activation: Add the vis chain to the sink bin . Take a new srcpad from
-     * the tee of the audio chain and link it to the sinkpad of the vis chain.
-     */
-
-  } else {
-    /* deactivation: release the srcpad from the tee of the audio chain. Set the
-     * vis chain to NULL and remove it from the sink bin */
-
-  }
-  return TRUE;
-}
-#endif
-
 /* this function is called when all the request pads are requested and when we
- * have to construct the final pipeline.
+ * have to construct the final pipeline. Based on the flags we construct the
+ * final output pipelines.
  */
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
@@ -1200,12 +1745,12 @@
 gst_play_sink_reconfigure (GstPlaySink * playsink)
 {
   GstPlayFlags flags;
-  gboolean need_audio, need_video, need_vis;
+  gboolean need_audio, need_video, need_vis, need_text, need_subp;
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "reconfiguring");
 
   /* assume we need nothing */
-  need_audio = need_video = need_vis = FALSE;
+  need_audio = need_video = need_vis = need_text = need_subp = FALSE;
 
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (playsink);
@@ -1214,7 +1759,22 @@
   GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (playsink);
 
   /* figure out which components we need */
-  if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_VIDEO && playsink->video_pad) {
+  if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_TEXT && (playsink->text_pad || playsink->subp_pad)) {
+    /* we have a text_pad and we need text rendering, in this case we need a
+     * video_pad to combine the video with the text */
+    if (!playsink->video_pad)
+      goto subs_but_no_video;
+
+    /* we have subtitles and we are requested to show it, we also need to show
+     * video in this case. */
+    need_video = TRUE;
+    need_text = (playsink->text_pad != NULL);
+    need_subp = (playsink->subp_pad != NULL);
+
+    /* we can't handle both of them yet */
+    if (need_text && need_subp)
+      goto subs_and_text;
+  } else if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_VIDEO && playsink->video_pad) {
     /* we have video and we are requested to show it */
     need_video = TRUE;
   }
@@ -1222,71 +1782,233 @@
     if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_AUDIO) {
       need_audio = TRUE;
     }
-    if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_VIS && !need_video) {
-      /* also add video when we add visualisation */
-      need_video = TRUE;
-      need_vis = TRUE;
+    if (playsink->audio_pad_raw) {
+      /* only can do vis with raw uncompressed audio */
+      if (flags & GST_PLAY_FLAG_VIS && !need_video) {
+        /* also add video when we add visualisation */
+        need_video = TRUE;
+        need_vis = TRUE;
+      }
     }
   }
 
+  /* set up video pipeline */
   if (need_video) {
+    gboolean raw, async, queue;
+
+    /* we need a raw sink when we do vis or when we have a raw pad */
+    raw = need_vis ? TRUE : playsink->video_pad_raw;
+    /* we try to set the sink async=FALSE when we need vis, this way we can
+     * avoid a queue in the audio chain. */
+    async = !need_vis;
+    /* put a little queue in front of the video but only if we are not doing
+     * subpictures because then we will add the queue in front of the subpicture
+     * mixer to minimize latency. */
+    queue = (need_subp == FALSE);
+
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding video, raw %d",
         playsink->video_pad_raw);
-    if (!playsink->videochain) {
-      gboolean raw, async;
 
-      /* we need a raw sink when we do vis or when we have a raw pad */
-      raw = need_vis ? TRUE : playsink->video_pad_raw;
-      /* we try to set the sink async=FALSE when we need vis, this way we can
-       * avoid a queue in the audio chain. */
-      async = !need_vis;
+    if (playsink->videochain) {
+      /* try to reactivate the chain */
+      if (!setup_video_chain (playsink, raw, async, queue)) {
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
+        free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->videochain);
+        playsink->videochain = NULL;
+      }
+    }
 
-      playsink->videochain = gen_video_chain (playsink, raw, async);
+    if (!playsink->videochain) {
+      playsink->videochain = gen_video_chain (playsink, raw, async, queue);
+    }
+    if (playsink->videochain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding video chain");
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), TRUE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), TRUE);
+      /* if we are not part of vis or subtitles, set the ghostpad target */
+      if (!need_vis && !need_text && playsink->text_pad == NULL) {
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting video sinkpad");
+        gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad),
+            playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
+      }
     }
-    add_chain (playsink->videochain, TRUE);
-    activate_chain (playsink->videochain, TRUE);
-    if (!need_vis)
-      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad),
-          playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
   } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no video needed");
     if (playsink->videochain) {
-      add_chain (playsink->videochain, FALSE);
-      activate_chain (playsink->videochain, FALSE);
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing video chain");
+      if (playsink->vischain) {
+        GstPad *srcpad;
+
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "unlinking vis chain");
+
+        /* also had visualisation, release the tee srcpad before we then 
+         * unlink the video from it */
+        if (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc) {
+          gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+              playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+          gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+          playsink->audio_tee_vissrc = NULL;
+        }
+        srcpad =
+            gst_element_get_static_pad (playsink->vischain->chain.bin, "src");
+        gst_pad_unlink (srcpad, playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
+      }
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
     }
     if (playsink->video_pad)
       gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad), NULL);
   }
 
-  if (need_audio) {
-    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding audio");
-    if (!playsink->audiochain) {
-      gboolean raw, queue;
+  if (need_text) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding text");
+    if (!playsink->textchain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating text chain");
+      playsink->textchain = gen_text_chain (playsink);
+    }
+    if (playsink->textchain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding text chain");
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), TRUE);
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->text_pad),
+          playsink->textchain->textsinkpad);
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad),
+          playsink->textchain->videosinkpad);
+      gst_pad_link (playsink->textchain->srcpad, playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), TRUE);
+      if (playsink->textchain->overlay)
+        g_object_set (playsink->textchain->overlay, "silent", FALSE, NULL);
+    }
+  } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no text needed");
+    /* we have no subtitles/text or we are requested to not show them */
+    if (playsink->textchain) {
+      if (playsink->text_pad == NULL) {
+        /* no text pad, remove the chain entirely */
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing text chain");
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), FALSE);
+      } else {
+        /* we have a chain and a textpad, turn the subtitles off */
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "turning off the text");
+        if (playsink->textchain->overlay)
+          g_object_set (playsink->textchain->overlay, "silent", TRUE, NULL);
+      }
+    }
+    if (!need_video && playsink->video_pad)
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad), NULL);
+    if (playsink->text_pad)
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->text_pad), NULL);
+  }
 
-      /* get a raw sink if we are asked for a raw pad */
-      raw = playsink->audio_pad_raw;
-      if (need_vis) {
-        /* If we are dealing with visualisations, we need to add a queue to
-         * decouple the audio from the video part. We only have to do this when
-         * the video part is async=true */
-        queue = ((GstPlayVideoChain *) playsink->videochain)->async;
-        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "need audio queue for vis: %d", queue);
+  if (need_subp && playsink->videochain) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding subpicture");
+    if (!playsink->subpchain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating subpicture chain");
+      playsink->subpchain = gen_subp_chain (playsink);
+    }
+    if (playsink->subpchain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding subp chain");
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), TRUE);
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->subp_pad),
+          playsink->subpchain->subpsinkpad);
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad),
+          playsink->subpchain->videosinkpad);
+      gst_pad_link (playsink->subpchain->srcpad, playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), TRUE);
+    }
+  } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no subpicture needed");
+    /* we have no subpicture or we are requested to not show them */
+    if (playsink->subpchain) {
+      if (playsink->subp_pad == NULL) {
+        /* no subpicture pad, remove the chain entirely */
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing subp chain");
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), FALSE);
       } else {
-        /* no vis, we can avoid a queue */
-        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "don't need audio queue");
-        queue = FALSE;
+        /* we have a chain and a subpicture pad, turn the subtitles off */
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "turning off the subp");
       }
+    }
+    if (!need_video && playsink->video_pad)
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->video_pad), NULL);
+    if (playsink->subp_pad)
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (playsink->subp_pad), NULL);
+  }
 
+  if (need_audio) {
+    gboolean raw, queue;
+
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding audio");
+
+    /* get a raw sink if we are asked for a raw pad */
+    raw = playsink->audio_pad_raw;
+    if (need_vis && playsink->videochain) {
+      /* If we are dealing with visualisations, we need to add a queue to
+       * decouple the audio from the video part. We only have to do this when
+       * the video part is async=true */
+      queue = ((GstPlayVideoChain *) playsink->videochain)->async;
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "need audio queue for vis: %d", queue);
+    } else {
+      /* no vis, we can avoid a queue */
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "don't need audio queue");
+      queue = FALSE;
+    }
+
+    if (playsink->audiochain) {
+      /* try to reactivate the chain */
+      if (!setup_audio_chain (playsink, raw, queue)) {
+        GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing current audio chain");
+        if (playsink->audio_tee_asrc) {
+          gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+              playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+          gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+          playsink->audio_tee_asrc = NULL;
+        }
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
+        playsink->audiochain->volume = NULL;
+        playsink->audiochain->mute = NULL;
+        free_chain ((GstPlayChain *) playsink->audiochain);
+        playsink->audiochain = NULL;
+        playsink->volume_changed = playsink->mute_changed = FALSE;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (!playsink->audiochain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating new audio chain");
       playsink->audiochain = gen_audio_chain (playsink, raw, queue);
     }
-    add_chain (playsink->audiochain, TRUE);
-    gst_pad_link (playsink->audio_tee_asrc, playsink->audiochain->sinkpad);
-    activate_chain (playsink->audiochain, TRUE);
+
+    if (playsink->audiochain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding audio chain");
+      if (playsink->audio_tee_asrc == NULL) {
+        playsink->audio_tee_asrc =
+            gst_element_get_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "src%d");
+      }
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), TRUE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), TRUE);
+      gst_pad_link (playsink->audio_tee_asrc, playsink->audiochain->sinkpad);
+    }
   } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no audio needed");
     /* we have no audio or we are requested to not play audio */
     if (playsink->audiochain) {
-      gst_pad_unlink (playsink->audio_tee_asrc, playsink->audiochain->sinkpad);
-      add_chain (playsink->audiochain, FALSE);
-      activate_chain (playsink->audiochain, FALSE);
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing audio chain");
+      /* release the audio pad */
+      if (playsink->audio_tee_asrc) {
+        gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+            playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+        gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_asrc);
+        playsink->audio_tee_asrc = NULL;
+      }
+      if (playsink->audiochain->sink_volume) {
+        playsink->audiochain->volume = NULL;
+        playsink->audiochain->mute = NULL;
+      }
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
     }
   }
 
@@ -1298,28 +2020,72 @@
 
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "adding visualisation");
 
-    srcpad =
-        gst_element_get_pad (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (playsink->vischain->bin), "src");
-    add_chain (playsink->vischain, TRUE);
-    gst_pad_link (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc, playsink->vischain->sinkpad);
-    gst_pad_link (srcpad, playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
-    gst_object_unref (srcpad);
-    activate_chain (playsink->vischain, TRUE);
+    if (playsink->vischain) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "setting up vis chain");
+      srcpad =
+          gst_element_get_static_pad (playsink->vischain->chain.bin, "src");
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), TRUE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), TRUE);
+      if (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc == NULL) {
+        playsink->audio_tee_vissrc =
+            gst_element_get_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "src%d");
+      }
+      gst_pad_link (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc, playsink->vischain->sinkpad);
+      gst_pad_link (srcpad, playsink->videochain->sinkpad);
+      gst_object_unref (srcpad);
+    }
   } else {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "no vis needed");
     if (playsink->vischain) {
-      add_chain (playsink->vischain, FALSE);
-      activate_chain (playsink->vischain, FALSE);
+      if (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc) {
+        gst_element_release_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee,
+            playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+        gst_object_unref (playsink->audio_tee_vissrc);
+        playsink->audio_tee_vissrc = NULL;
+      }
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "removing vis chain");
+      add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), FALSE);
+      activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), FALSE);
     }
   }
+  do_async_done (playsink);
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 
   return TRUE;
+
+  /* ERRORS */
+subs_but_no_video:
+  {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, STREAM, FORMAT,
+        (_("Can't play a text file without video.")),
+        ("Have text pad but no video pad"));
+    GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+subs_and_text:
+  {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (playsink, STREAM, FORMAT,
+        (_("Can't play a text subtitles and subpictures.")),
+        ("Have text pad and subpicture pad"));
+    GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+    return FALSE;
+  }
 }
+
+/**
+ * gst_play_sink_set_flags:
+ * @playsink: a #GstPlaySink
+ * @flags: #GstPlayFlags
+ *
+ * Configure @flags on @playsink. The flags control the behaviour of @playsink
+ * when constructing the sink pipelins.
+ *
+ * Returns: TRUE if the flags could be configured.
+ */
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
 #endif
 
-
 gboolean
 gst_play_sink_set_flags (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstPlayFlags flags)
 {
@@ -1331,11 +2097,20 @@
 
   return TRUE;
 }
+
+/**
+ * gst_play_sink_get_flags:
+ * @playsink: a #GstPlaySink
+ *
+ * Get the flags of @playsink. That flags control the behaviour of the sink when
+ * it constructs the sink pipelines.
+ *
+ * Returns: the currently configured #GstPlayFlags.
+ */
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
 #endif
 
-
 GstPlayFlags
 gst_play_sink_get_flags (GstPlaySink * playsink)
 {
@@ -1354,6 +2129,59 @@
 #endif
 
 
+void
+gst_play_sink_set_font_desc (GstPlaySink * playsink, const gchar * desc)
+{
+  GstPlayTextChain *chain;
+
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
+  chain = (GstPlayTextChain *) playsink->textchain;
+  g_free (playsink->font_desc);
+  playsink->font_desc = g_strdup (desc);
+  if (chain && chain->overlay) {
+    g_object_set (chain->overlay, "font-desc", desc, NULL);
+  }
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+}
+#ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
+EXPORT_C
+#endif
+
+
+gchar *
+gst_play_sink_get_font_desc (GstPlaySink * playsink)
+{
+  gchar *result = NULL;
+  GstPlayTextChain *chain;
+
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
+  chain = (GstPlayTextChain *) playsink->textchain;
+  if (chain && chain->overlay) {
+    g_object_get (chain->overlay, "font-desc", &result, NULL);
+    playsink->font_desc = g_strdup (result);
+  } else {
+    result = g_strdup (playsink->font_desc);
+  }
+  GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
+
+  return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gst_play_sink_get_last_frame:
+ * @playsink: a #GstPlaySink
+ *
+ * Get the last displayed frame from @playsink. This frame is in the native
+ * format of the sink element, the caps on the result buffer contain the format
+ * of the frame data.
+ *
+ * Returns: a #GstBuffer with the frame data or %NULL when no video frame is
+ * available.
+ */
+#ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
+EXPORT_C
+#endif
+
 GstBuffer *
 gst_play_sink_get_last_frame (GstPlaySink * playsink)
 {
@@ -1385,17 +2213,29 @@
 
   return result;
 }
+
+/**
+ * gst_play_sink_request_pad
+ * @playsink: a #GstPlaySink
+ * @type: a #GstPlaySinkType
+ *
+ * Create or return a pad of @type.
+ *
+ * Returns: a #GstPad of @type or %NULL when the pad could not be created.
+ */
 #ifdef __SYMBIAN32__
 EXPORT_C
 #endif
 
-
 GstPad *
 gst_play_sink_request_pad (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstPlaySinkType type)
 {
   GstPad *res = NULL;
   gboolean created = FALSE;
   gboolean raw = FALSE;
+  gboolean activate = TRUE;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "request pad type %d", type);
 
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   switch (type) {
@@ -1403,20 +2243,19 @@
       raw = TRUE;
     case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_AUDIO:
       if (!playsink->audio_tee) {
+        GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "creating tee");
         /* create tee when needed. This element will feed the audio sink chain
          * and the vis chain. */
         playsink->audio_tee = gst_element_factory_make ("tee", "audiotee");
         playsink->audio_tee_sink =
-            gst_element_get_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "sink");
-        /* get two request pads */
-        playsink->audio_tee_vissrc =
-            gst_element_get_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "src%d");
-        playsink->audio_tee_asrc =
-            gst_element_get_request_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "src%d");
+            gst_element_get_static_pad (playsink->audio_tee, "sink");
         gst_bin_add (GST_BIN_CAST (playsink), playsink->audio_tee);
         gst_element_set_state (playsink->audio_tee, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
+      } else {
+        gst_element_set_state (playsink->audio_tee, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
       }
       if (!playsink->audio_pad) {
+        GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting tee sinkpad");
         playsink->audio_pad =
             gst_ghost_pad_new ("audio_sink", playsink->audio_tee_sink);
         created = TRUE;
@@ -1428,6 +2267,7 @@
       raw = TRUE;
     case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_VIDEO:
       if (!playsink->video_pad) {
+        GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting videosink");
         playsink->video_pad =
             gst_ghost_pad_new_no_target ("video_sink", GST_PAD_SINK);
         created = TRUE;
@@ -1436,6 +2276,7 @@
       res = playsink->video_pad;
       break;
     case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_TEXT:
+      GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting text");
       if (!playsink->text_pad) {
         playsink->text_pad =
             gst_ghost_pad_new_no_target ("text_sink", GST_PAD_SINK);
@@ -1443,6 +2284,28 @@
       }
       res = playsink->text_pad;
       break;
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_FLUSHING:
+    {
+      gchar *padname;
+
+      /* we need a unique padname for the flushing pad. */
+      padname = g_strdup_printf ("flushing_%d", playsink->count);
+      res = gst_ghost_pad_new_no_target (padname, GST_PAD_SINK);
+      g_free (padname);
+      playsink->count++;
+      activate = FALSE;
+      created = TRUE;
+      break;
+    }
+    case GST_PLAY_SINK_TYPE_SUBPIC:
+      GST_LOG_OBJECT (playsink, "ghosting subpicture pad");
+      if (!playsink->subp_pad) {
+        playsink->subp_pad =
+            gst_ghost_pad_new_no_target ("subp_sink", GST_PAD_SINK);
+        created = TRUE;
+      }
+      res = playsink->subp_pad;
+      break;
     default:
       res = NULL;
       break;
@@ -1450,8 +2313,12 @@
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 
   if (created && res) {
+    /* we have to add the pad when it's active or we get an error when the
+     * element is 'running' */
     gst_pad_set_active (res, TRUE);
     gst_element_add_pad (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (playsink), res);
+    if (!activate)
+      gst_pad_set_active (res, activate);
   }
 
   return res;
@@ -1465,6 +2332,9 @@
 gst_play_sink_release_pad (GstPlaySink * playsink, GstPad * pad)
 {
   GstPad **res = NULL;
+  gboolean untarget = TRUE;
+
+  GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "release pad %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, pad);
 
   GST_PLAY_SINK_LOCK (playsink);
   if (pad == playsink->video_pad) {
@@ -1473,16 +2343,73 @@
     res = &playsink->audio_pad;
   } else if (pad == playsink->text_pad) {
     res = &playsink->text_pad;
+  } else if (pad == playsink->subp_pad) {
+    res = &playsink->subp_pad;
+  } else {
+    /* try to release the given pad anyway, these could be the FLUSHING pads. */
+    res = &pad;
+    untarget = FALSE;
   }
   GST_PLAY_SINK_UNLOCK (playsink);
 
   if (*res) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "deactivate pad %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, *res);
     gst_pad_set_active (*res, FALSE);
+    if (untarget) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "untargeting pad %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, *res);
+      gst_ghost_pad_set_target (GST_GHOST_PAD_CAST (*res), NULL);
+    }
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "remove pad %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, *res);
     gst_element_remove_pad (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (playsink), *res);
     *res = NULL;
   }
 }
 
+static void
+gst_play_sink_handle_message (GstBin * bin, GstMessage * message)
+{
+  GstPlaySink *playsink;
+
+  playsink = GST_PLAY_SINK_CAST (bin);
+
+  switch (GST_MESSAGE_TYPE (message)) {
+    case GST_MESSAGE_STEP_DONE:
+    {
+      GstFormat format;
+      guint64 amount;
+      gdouble rate;
+      gboolean flush, intermediate, res, eos;
+      guint64 duration;
+
+      GST_INFO_OBJECT (playsink, "Handling step-done message");
+      gst_message_parse_step_done (message, &format, &amount, &rate, &flush,
+          &intermediate, &duration, &eos);
+
+      if (format == GST_FORMAT_BUFFERS) {
+        /* for the buffer format, we align the other streams */
+        if (playsink->audiochain) {
+          GstEvent *event;
+
+          event =
+              gst_event_new_step (GST_FORMAT_TIME, duration, rate, flush,
+              intermediate);
+
+          if (!(res =
+                  gst_element_send_event (playsink->audiochain->chain.bin,
+                      event))) {
+            GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Event failed when sent to audio sink");
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      GST_BIN_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->handle_message (bin, message);
+      break;
+    }
+    default:
+      GST_BIN_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->handle_message (bin, message);
+      break;
+  }
+}
+
 /* Send an event to our sinks until one of them works; don't then send to the
  * remaining sinks (unlike GstBin)
  */
@@ -1491,22 +2418,22 @@
 {
   gboolean res = TRUE;
 
+  if (playsink->videochain) {
+    gst_event_ref (event);
+    if ((res = gst_element_send_event (playsink->videochain->chain.bin, event))) {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Sent event succesfully to video sink");
+      goto done;
+    }
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Event failed when sent to video sink");
+  }
   if (playsink->audiochain) {
     gst_event_ref (event);
-    if ((res = gst_element_send_event (playsink->audiochain->bin, event))) {
+    if ((res = gst_element_send_event (playsink->audiochain->chain.bin, event))) {
       GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Sent event succesfully to audio sink");
       goto done;
     }
     GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Event failed when sent to audio sink");
   }
-  if (playsink->videochain) {
-    gst_event_ref (event);
-    if ((res = gst_element_send_event (playsink->videochain->bin, event))) {
-      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Sent event succesfully to video sink");
-      goto done;
-    }
-    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (playsink, "Event failed when sent to video sink");
-  }
 done:
   gst_event_unref (event);
   return res;
@@ -1520,14 +2447,40 @@
 {
   gboolean res = FALSE;
   GstEventType event_type = GST_EVENT_TYPE (event);
+  GstPlaySink *playsink;
+
+  playsink = GST_PLAY_SINK_CAST (element);
 
   switch (event_type) {
     case GST_EVENT_SEEK:
-      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element, "Sending seek event to a sink");
-      res = gst_play_sink_send_event_to_sink (GST_PLAY_SINK (element), event);
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element, "Sending event to a sink");
+      res = gst_play_sink_send_event_to_sink (playsink, event);
       break;
+    case GST_EVENT_STEP:
+    {
+      GstFormat format;
+      guint64 amount;
+      gdouble rate;
+      gboolean flush, intermediate;
+
+      gst_event_parse_step (event, &format, &amount, &rate, &flush,
+          &intermediate);
+
+      if (format == GST_FORMAT_BUFFERS) {
+        /* for buffers, we will try to step video frames, for other formats we
+         * send the step to all sinks */
+        res = gst_play_sink_send_event_to_sink (playsink, event);
+      } else {
+        res =
+            GST_ELEMENT_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->send_event (element,
+            event);
+      }
+      break;
+    }
     default:
-      res = parent_class->send_event (element, event);
+      res =
+          GST_ELEMENT_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->send_event (element,
+          event);
       break;
   }
   return res;
@@ -1537,41 +2490,102 @@
 gst_play_sink_change_state (GstElement * element, GstStateChange transition)
 {
   GstStateChangeReturn ret;
+  GstStateChangeReturn bret;
+
   GstPlaySink *playsink;
 
   playsink = GST_PLAY_SINK (element);
 
   switch (transition) {
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_READY_TO_PAUSED:
+      /* we want to go async to PAUSED until we managed to configure and add the
+       * sinks */
+      do_async_start (playsink);
+      ret = GST_STATE_CHANGE_ASYNC;
+      break;
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_PAUSED_TO_READY:
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_READY_TO_NULL:
+      if (playsink->audiochain && playsink->audiochain->sink_volume) {
+        /* remove our links to the mute and volume elements when they were
+         * provided by a sink */
+        playsink->audiochain->volume = NULL;
+        playsink->audiochain->mute = NULL;
+      }
+      ret = GST_STATE_CHANGE_SUCCESS;
       break;
     default:
+      /* all other state changes return SUCCESS by default, this value can be
+       * overridden by the result of the children */
+      ret = GST_STATE_CHANGE_SUCCESS;
       break;
   }
 
-  ret = GST_ELEMENT_CLASS (parent_class)->change_state (element, transition);
-  if (ret == GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE)
-    return ret;
+  /* do the state change of the children */
+  bret =
+      GST_ELEMENT_CLASS (gst_play_sink_parent_class)->change_state (element,
+      transition);
+  /* now look at the result of our children and adjust the return value */
+  switch (bret) {
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE:
+      /* failure, we stop */
+      goto activate_failed;
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_NO_PREROLL:
+      /* some child returned NO_PREROLL. This is strange but we never know. We
+       * commit our async state change (if any) and return the NO_PREROLL */
+      do_async_done (playsink);
+      ret = bret;
+      break;
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_ASYNC:
+      /* some child was async, return this */
+      ret = bret;
+      break;
+    default:
+      /* return our previously configured return value */
+      break;
+  }
 
   switch (transition) {
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_READY_TO_PAUSED:
       break;
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_PLAYING_TO_PAUSED:
       /* FIXME Release audio device when we implement that */
+      playsink->need_async_start = TRUE;
       break;
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_PAUSED_TO_READY:
+    case GST_STATE_CHANGE_READY_TO_NULL:
       /* remove sinks we added */
       if (playsink->videochain) {
-        activate_chain (playsink->videochain, FALSE);
-        add_chain (playsink->videochain, FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->videochain), FALSE);
       }
       if (playsink->audiochain) {
-        activate_chain (playsink->audiochain, FALSE);
-        add_chain (playsink->audiochain, FALSE);
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->audiochain), FALSE);
+      }
+      if (playsink->vischain) {
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), FALSE);
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->vischain), FALSE);
       }
+      if (playsink->textchain) {
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), FALSE);
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->textchain), FALSE);
+      }
+      if (playsink->subpchain) {
+        activate_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), FALSE);
+        add_chain (GST_PLAY_CHAIN (playsink->subpchain), FALSE);
+      }
+      do_async_done (playsink);
       break;
     default:
       break;
   }
+  return ret;
 
-  return ret;
+  /* ERRORS */
+activate_failed:
+  {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element,
+        "element failed to change states -- activation problem?");
+    return GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE;
+  }
 }