| Re: MPEG problem [message #26829 is a reply to message #22209] |
Mon, 01 October 2001 09:36   |
Rick Towler
Messages: 821
Registered: August 1998
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Senior Member |
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The codec nightmare.....
From the IDL docs:
"Note - When creating MPEG files, you must be aware of the capabilities of
the MPEG decoder you will be using to view it. Some decoders only support a
limited set of sampling and bitrate parameters to normalize computational
complexity, buffer size, and memory bandwidth. For example, the Windows
Media Player supports a limited set of sampling and bitrate parameters. In
this case, it is best to use 352 x 240 x 30 fps or 352 x 288 x 25 fps when
determining the dimensions and frame rate for your MPEG file. When opening a
file in Windows Media Player that does not use these dimensions, you will
receive a "Bad Movie File" error message. The file is not "bad", this
decoder just doesn't support the dimensions of the MPEG."
WMP's MPEG codec handles other dimensions and bitrates but you'll have to
experiment to find out what works.
What you really need to do is drop MPEG all together. If you are doing
8-bit color animations, take a look at Mark Hadfield's page on scientific
animations at http://katipo.niwa.cri.nz/~hadfield/gust/software/animation/
and try using .flc. If you are doing 16/24 bit animations I highly
recommend looking into the intel indeo video 4 or 5 codecs (free), or the
sorenson codecs available in quicktime pro ($30). These codecs provide by
far the best quality/compression rates of any of the common, free (or mostly
free), legal codecs available.
If you are interested in compatibility then stick with indeo video 4. There
is a Xanim decoder available for this format. In windows it plays out of
the box on 98/ME/2K machines (if not, the codec is free). I don't know how
the Mac handles it out of the box but the codec is free. The quality is the
same as the version 5 codec but it encodes around 20-30% slower. The indeo
5 codec is free too but I don't believe that there is a decoder available
for Xanim. Also, .avi files encoded with version 5 *MAY* be able to be
decoded with version 4 codecs but I haven't been able to test this. The
intel codecs are available here: http://www.ligos.com/indeo
If you go this route you will need a program to stitch together and encode
your frames. I am using the windows shareware program videomach
(http://www.gromada.com/) but I am sure there are others available.
If you don't have access to a windows machine to do the encoding I still
recommend dropping MPEG and finding some linux tools to encode the frames in
a better format.
Did I mention that you should quit using MPEG?
-Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Schellens" <m_schellens@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.idl-pvwave
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 1:51 AM
Subject: MPEG problem
> I got a problem here with the IDLgrMPEG object.
> When I generate mpeg files under linux, I can play them
> with mpeg_play from linux, but not with the windows media
> player.
> Has anyone made similar experiences or even knows a workaround?
>
> thanks,
>
> :-) marc
"Marc Schellens" <m_schellens@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3BB82EA8.F5A0280C@hotmail.com...
> I got a problem here with the IDLgrMPEG object.
> When I generate mpeg files under linux, I can play them
> with mpeg_play from linux, but not with the windows media
> player.
> Has anyone made similar experiences or even knows a workaround?
>
> thanks,
>
> :-) marc
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