Thanks, JimH. The issues I refer to here are beyond the bug report on the 106 thread. Reading your diagnostics post, I should call the unfavorable outcomes "hanging" instead of "crashing."
What version of MC are you using? 26.0.106 (also happened with .103)
Have you configured Windows Defender? Yes, I established "Exceptions" for the JRiver program folder, the Roaming AppData, and all file types that are media I play.
Are you using any other antivirus. If so, uninstall it, just to test. N/A
Does it behave the same way on another machine? Other machine not updated yet to this version, so no it doesn't happen on it.
Is the media on a local library? Or is it on a NAS or USB drive? Media is both local machine and NAS (Synology, with "Mapped Network Drives," so it's configured as if local to the machine.
What type of files? TV recordings, and blu-ray movies in MKV containers
What OS? Is it up to date? Windows 10 x64, Version 20H2
Are your drivers up to date? As far as I know.
Try turning off auto-import in the Tools menu. Ok.
What are you playing to? How is it connected? Test playback to another device. Switch among audio via ASIO, HDMI, and Direct Sound. Computer output via HDMI to Marantz AVR7013 to LG OLED TV
I downloaded version 26.0.98 and installed it over. Problems have not re-occurred thus far.