diff --git a/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginApi.h b/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginApi.h
index 9caea3e7e8..b071a58f5f 100644
--- a/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginApi.h
+++ b/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginApi.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct CMediaTrack {
     void *data;
     void (*free)(void *data);
 
-    status_t (*start)(void *data, MetaDataBase *params);
+    status_t (*start)(void *data);
     status_t (*stop)(void *data);
     status_t (*getFormat)(void *data, MetaDataBase &format);
     status_t (*read)(void *data, MediaBufferBase **buffer, uint32_t options, int64_t seekPosUs);
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ struct CMediaTrackV2 {
     void *data;
     void (*free)(void *data);
 
-    status_t (*start)(void *data, AMediaFormat *params);
+    status_t (*start)(void *data);
     status_t (*stop)(void *data);
     status_t (*getFormat)(void *data, AMediaFormat *format);
     status_t (*read)(void *data, MediaBufferBase **buffer, uint32_t options, int64_t seekPosUs);
diff --git a/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginHelper.h b/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginHelper.h
index 2acc2bf6fd..d76d5f8d21 100644
--- a/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginHelper.h
+++ b/include/media/MediaExtractorPluginHelper.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ struct MediaTrack;
 class MediaTrackHelper {
 public:
     virtual ~MediaTrackHelper() {};
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL) = 0;
+    virtual status_t start() = 0;
     virtual status_t stop() = 0;
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase& format) = 0;
 
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ inline CMediaTrack *wrap(MediaTrackHelper *track) {
     wrapper->free = [](void *data) -> void {
         delete (MediaTrackHelper*)(data);
     };
-    wrapper->start = [](void *data, MetaDataBase *params) -> status_t {
-        return ((MediaTrackHelper*)data)->start(params);
+    wrapper->start = [](void *data) -> status_t {
+        return ((MediaTrackHelper*)data)->start();
     };
     wrapper->stop = [](void *data) -> status_t {
         return ((MediaTrackHelper*)data)->stop();
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ inline CMediaTrack *wrap(MediaTrackHelper *track) {
 class MediaTrackHelperV2 {
 public:
     virtual ~MediaTrackHelperV2() {};
-    virtual status_t start(AMediaFormat *params = NULL) = 0;
+    virtual status_t start() = 0;
     virtual status_t stop() = 0;
     virtual status_t getFormat(AMediaFormat *format) = 0;
 
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ inline CMediaTrackV2 *wrapV2(MediaTrackHelperV2 *track) {
     wrapper->free = [](void *data) -> void {
         delete (MediaTrackHelperV2*)(data);
     };
-    wrapper->start = [](void *data, AMediaFormat *params) -> status_t {
-        return ((MediaTrackHelperV2*)data)->start(params);
+    wrapper->start = [](void *data) -> status_t {
+        return ((MediaTrackHelperV2*)data)->start();
     };
     wrapper->stop = [](void *data) -> status_t {
         return ((MediaTrackHelperV2*)data)->stop();
diff --git a/include/media/MediaTrack.h b/include/media/MediaTrack.h
index 174f4cc562..ee3591e303 100644
--- a/include/media/MediaTrack.h
+++ b/include/media/MediaTrack.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ struct MediaTrack
 
     // To be called before any other methods on this object, except
     // getFormat().
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL) = 0;
+    virtual status_t start() = 0;
 
     // Any blocking read call returns immediately with a result of NO_INIT.
     // It is an error to call any methods other than start after this call
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class MediaTrackCUnwrapper : public MediaTrack {
 public:
     explicit MediaTrackCUnwrapper(CMediaTrack *wrapper);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase& format);
     virtual status_t read(MediaBufferBase **buffer, const ReadOptions *options = NULL);
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2 : public MediaTrack {
 public:
     explicit MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2(CMediaTrackV2 *wrapper);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase& format);
     virtual status_t read(MediaBufferBase **buffer, const ReadOptions *options = NULL);
diff --git a/media/extractors/aac/AACExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/aac/AACExtractor.cpp
index b52aec548e..1589131b18 100644
--- a/media/extractors/aac/AACExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/aac/AACExtractor.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
             const Vector<uint64_t> &offset_vector,
             int64_t frame_duration_us);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase&);
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ AACSource::~AACSource() {
     }
 }
 
-status_t AACSource::start(MetaDataBase * /* params */) {
+status_t AACSource::start() {
     CHECK(!mStarted);
 
     if (mOffsetVector.empty()) {
diff --git a/media/extractors/amr/AMRExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/amr/AMRExtractor.cpp
index 8039f3a79a..0b5d310564 100644
--- a/media/extractors/amr/AMRExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/amr/AMRExtractor.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public:
             const off64_t *offset_table,
             size_t offset_table_length);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ AMRSource::~AMRSource() {
     }
 }
 
-status_t AMRSource::start(MetaDataBase * /* params */) {
+status_t AMRSource::start() {
     CHECK(!mStarted);
 
     mOffset = mIsWide ? 9 : 6;
diff --git a/media/extractors/flac/FLACExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/flac/FLACExtractor.cpp
index debdcfc3b8..337ada55e9 100644
--- a/media/extractors/flac/FLACExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/flac/FLACExtractor.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public:
             DataSourceHelper *dataSource,
             MetaDataBase &meta);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &meta);
 
@@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ FLACSource::~FLACSource()
     delete mParser;
 }
 
-status_t FLACSource::start(MetaDataBase * /* params */)
+status_t FLACSource::start()
 {
     ALOGV("FLACSource::start");
 
diff --git a/media/extractors/midi/MidiExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/midi/MidiExtractor.cpp
index 9b0f4e7f04..9c2c863e13 100644
--- a/media/extractors/midi/MidiExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/midi/MidiExtractor.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
             MidiEngine &engine,
             AMediaFormat *trackMetadata);
 
-    virtual status_t start(AMediaFormat *params);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(AMediaFormat *);
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ MidiSource::~MidiSource()
     }
 }
 
-status_t MidiSource::start(AMediaFormat * /* params */)
+status_t MidiSource::start()
 {
     ALOGV("MidiSource::start");
 
diff --git a/media/extractors/mkv/MatroskaExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/mkv/MatroskaExtractor.cpp
index 73c8d17dfc..20ff6e26b3 100644
--- a/media/extractors/mkv/MatroskaExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/mkv/MatroskaExtractor.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ private:
 struct MatroskaSource : public MediaTrackHelper {
     MatroskaSource(MatroskaExtractor *extractor, size_t index);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ MatroskaSource::~MatroskaSource() {
     clearPendingFrames();
 }
 
-status_t MatroskaSource::start(MetaDataBase * /* params */) {
+status_t MatroskaSource::start() {
     if (mType == AVC && mNALSizeLen < 0) {
         return ERROR_MALFORMED;
     }
diff --git a/media/extractors/mp3/MP3Extractor.cpp b/media/extractors/mp3/MP3Extractor.cpp
index e56a71bbd8..eca571186f 100644
--- a/media/extractors/mp3/MP3Extractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/mp3/MP3Extractor.cpp
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ public:
             off64_t first_frame_pos, uint32_t fixed_header,
             MP3Seeker *seeker);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &meta);
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ MP3Source::~MP3Source() {
     }
 }
 
-status_t MP3Source::start(MetaDataBase *) {
+status_t MP3Source::start() {
     CHECK(!mStarted);
 
     mGroup = new MediaBufferGroup;
diff --git a/media/extractors/mp4/MPEG4Extractor.cpp b/media/extractors/mp4/MPEG4Extractor.cpp
index e3da6d89f4..e81e9b2a61 100644
--- a/media/extractors/mp4/MPEG4Extractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/mp4/MPEG4Extractor.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public:
                 const sp<ItemTable> &itemTable);
     virtual status_t init();
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
@@ -137,8 +137,6 @@ private:
 
     MediaBufferBase *mBuffer;
 
-    bool mWantsNALFragments;
-
     uint8_t *mSrcBuffer;
 
     bool mIsHeif;
@@ -4122,7 +4120,6 @@ MPEG4Source::MPEG4Source(
       mStarted(false),
       mGroup(NULL),
       mBuffer(NULL),
-      mWantsNALFragments(false),
       mSrcBuffer(NULL),
       mIsHeif(itemTable != NULL),
       mItemTable(itemTable) {
@@ -4221,19 +4218,11 @@ MPEG4Source::~MPEG4Source() {
     free(mCurrentSampleInfoOffsets);
 }
 
-status_t MPEG4Source::start(MetaDataBase *params) {
+status_t MPEG4Source::start() {
     Mutex::Autolock autoLock(mLock);
 
     CHECK(!mStarted);
 
-    int32_t val;
-    if (params && params->findInt32(kKeyWantsNALFragments, &val)
-        && val != 0) {
-        mWantsNALFragments = true;
-    } else {
-        mWantsNALFragments = false;
-    }
-
     int32_t tmp;
     CHECK(mFormat.findInt32(kKeyMaxInputSize, &tmp));
     size_t max_size = tmp;
@@ -5113,7 +5102,7 @@ status_t MPEG4Source::read(
         }
     }
 
-    if ((!mIsAVC && !mIsHEVC && !mIsAC4) || mWantsNALFragments) {
+    if ((!mIsAVC && !mIsHEVC && !mIsAC4)) {
         if (newBuffer) {
             if (mIsPcm) {
                 // The twos' PCM block reader assumes that all samples has the same size.
@@ -5541,7 +5530,7 @@ status_t MPEG4Source::fragmentedRead(
 
     }
 
-    if ((!mIsAVC && !mIsHEVC)|| mWantsNALFragments) {
+    if ((!mIsAVC && !mIsHEVC)) {
         if (newBuffer) {
             if (!isInRange((size_t)0u, mBuffer->size(), size)) {
                 mBuffer->release();
diff --git a/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2PSExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2PSExtractor.cpp
index 577d1be7cd..fc13d2cc0c 100644
--- a/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2PSExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2PSExtractor.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ struct MPEG2PSExtractor::Track : public MediaTrackHelper, public RefBase {
     Track(MPEG2PSExtractor *extractor,
           unsigned stream_id, unsigned stream_type);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ private:
 struct MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack : public MediaTrackHelper {
     WrappedTrack(MPEG2PSExtractor *extractor, const sp<Track> &track);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
 
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ MPEG2PSExtractor::Track::~Track() {
     mQueue = NULL;
 }
 
-status_t MPEG2PSExtractor::Track::start(MetaDataBase *) {
+status_t MPEG2PSExtractor::Track::start() {
     if (mSource == NULL) {
         return NO_INIT;
     }
@@ -734,8 +734,8 @@ MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack::WrappedTrack(
 MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack::~WrappedTrack() {
 }
 
-status_t MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack::start(MetaDataBase *params) {
-    return mTrack->start(params);
+status_t MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack::start() {
+    return mTrack->start();
 }
 
 status_t MPEG2PSExtractor::WrappedTrack::stop() {
diff --git a/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2TSExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2TSExtractor.cpp
index c0826c90a0..a74ddaaa19 100644
--- a/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2TSExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/mpeg2/MPEG2TSExtractor.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ struct MPEG2TSSource : public MediaTrackHelper {
             bool doesSeek);
     virtual ~MPEG2TSSource();
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ MPEG2TSSource::MPEG2TSSource(
 MPEG2TSSource::~MPEG2TSSource() {
 }
 
-status_t MPEG2TSSource::start(MetaDataBase *) {
+status_t MPEG2TSSource::start() {
     return mImpl->start(NULL); // AnotherPacketSource::start() doesn't use its argument
 }
 
diff --git a/media/extractors/ogg/OggExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/ogg/OggExtractor.cpp
index dc6b0b7176..123ac91379 100644
--- a/media/extractors/ogg/OggExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/ogg/OggExtractor.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ struct OggSource : public MediaTrackHelper {
 
     virtual status_t getFormat(MetaDataBase &);
 
-    virtual status_t start(MetaDataBase *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
 
     virtual status_t read(
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ status_t OggSource::getFormat(MetaDataBase &meta) {
     return mExtractor->mImpl->getFormat(meta);
 }
 
-status_t OggSource::start(MetaDataBase * /* params */) {
+status_t OggSource::start() {
     if (mStarted) {
         return INVALID_OPERATION;
     }
diff --git a/media/extractors/wav/WAVExtractor.cpp b/media/extractors/wav/WAVExtractor.cpp
index 1b7c2e4df8..cc1a501f82 100644
--- a/media/extractors/wav/WAVExtractor.cpp
+++ b/media/extractors/wav/WAVExtractor.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ struct WAVSource : public MediaTrackHelperV2 {
             int32_t bitsPerSample,
             off64_t offset, size_t size);
 
-    virtual status_t start(AMediaFormat *params = NULL);
+    virtual status_t start();
     virtual status_t stop();
     virtual status_t getFormat(AMediaFormat *meta);
 
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ WAVSource::~WAVSource() {
     }
 }
 
-status_t WAVSource::start(AMediaFormat * /* params */) {
+status_t WAVSource::start() {
     ALOGV("WAVSource::start");
 
     CHECK(!mStarted);
diff --git a/media/libmediaextractor/include/media/stagefright/MetaDataBase.h b/media/libmediaextractor/include/media/stagefright/MetaDataBase.h
index 2e9aedecc4..c14669fdcf 100644
--- a/media/libmediaextractor/include/media/stagefright/MetaDataBase.h
+++ b/media/libmediaextractor/include/media/stagefright/MetaDataBase.h
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ enum {
     kKeyOpusSeekPreRoll   = 'ospr',  // uint64_t (seek preroll in ns)
     kKeyFlacMetadata      = 'flMd',  // raw data
     kKeyVp9CodecPrivate   = 'vp9p',  // raw data (vp9 csd information)
-    kKeyWantsNALFragments = 'NALf',
     kKeyIsSyncFrame       = 'sync',  // int32_t (bool)
     kKeyIsCodecConfig     = 'conf',  // int32_t (bool)
     kKeyIsMuxerData       = 'muxd',  // int32_t (bool)
diff --git a/media/libstagefright/MediaTrack.cpp b/media/libstagefright/MediaTrack.cpp
index 792b31736f..99f6a4571d 100644
--- a/media/libstagefright/MediaTrack.cpp
+++ b/media/libstagefright/MediaTrack.cpp
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ MediaTrackCUnwrapper::~MediaTrackCUnwrapper() {
     free(wrapper);
 }
 
-status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapper::start(MetaDataBase *params) {
-    return wrapper->start(wrapper->data, params);
+status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapper::start() {
+    return wrapper->start(wrapper->data);
 }
 
 status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapper::stop() {
@@ -111,13 +111,8 @@ MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2::MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2(CMediaTrackV2 *cmediatrack2) {
 MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2::~MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2() {
 }
 
-status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2::start(MetaDataBase *meta) {
-    sp<AMessage> msg;
-    convertMetaDataToMessage(meta, &msg);
-    AMediaFormat *format =  AMediaFormat_fromMsg(&msg);
-    status_t ret = wrapper->start(wrapper->data, format);
-    delete format;
-    return ret;
+status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2::start() {
+    return wrapper->start(wrapper->data);
 }
 
 status_t MediaTrackCUnwrapperV2::stop() {
diff --git a/media/libstagefright/RemoteMediaSource.cpp b/media/libstagefright/RemoteMediaSource.cpp
index e549fcfa0a..db31af2fba 100644
--- a/media/libstagefright/RemoteMediaSource.cpp
+++ b/media/libstagefright/RemoteMediaSource.cpp
@@ -25,25 +25,29 @@ RemoteMediaSource::RemoteMediaSource(
         MediaTrack *source,
         const sp<RefBase> &plugin)
     : mExtractor(extractor),
-      mSource(source),
+      mTrack(source),
       mExtractorPlugin(plugin) {}
 
 RemoteMediaSource::~RemoteMediaSource() {
-    delete mSource;
+    delete mTrack;
     mExtractorPlugin = nullptr;
 }
 
 status_t RemoteMediaSource::start(MetaData *params) {
-    return mSource->start(params);
+    if (params) {
+        ALOGW("dropping start parameters:");
+        params->dumpToLog();
+    }
+    return mTrack->start();
 }
 
 status_t RemoteMediaSource::stop() {
-    return mSource->stop();
+    return mTrack->stop();
 }
 
 sp<MetaData> RemoteMediaSource::getFormat() {
     sp<MetaData> meta = new MetaData();
-    if (mSource->getFormat(*meta.get()) == OK) {
+    if (mTrack->getFormat(*meta.get()) == OK) {
         return meta;
     }
     return nullptr;
@@ -51,11 +55,11 @@ sp<MetaData> RemoteMediaSource::getFormat() {
 
 status_t RemoteMediaSource::read(
         MediaBufferBase **buffer, const MediaSource::ReadOptions *options) {
-    return mSource->read(buffer, reinterpret_cast<const MediaSource::ReadOptions*>(options));
+    return mTrack->read(buffer, reinterpret_cast<const MediaSource::ReadOptions*>(options));
 }
 
 bool RemoteMediaSource::supportNonblockingRead() {
-    return mSource->supportNonblockingRead();
+    return mTrack->supportNonblockingRead();
 }
 
 status_t RemoteMediaSource::pause() {
diff --git a/media/libstagefright/include/media/stagefright/RemoteMediaSource.h b/media/libstagefright/include/media/stagefright/RemoteMediaSource.h
index d1ec1ed472..03d3869ca6 100644
--- a/media/libstagefright/include/media/stagefright/RemoteMediaSource.h
+++ b/media/libstagefright/include/media/stagefright/RemoteMediaSource.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
     sp<RemoteMediaExtractor> mExtractor;
-    MediaTrack *mSource;
+    MediaTrack *mTrack;
     sp<RefBase> mExtractorPlugin;
 
     explicit RemoteMediaSource(