Playing Mpeg files

[roberthansjorg]

Can anyone tell me which codec I should install so that my video (mpeg) files can be played using Media Payer?
I produce video cd's which are avi files converted with ProCoda to mp2 files, bundled into Autoplay Media Studio and cut to cd with Nero. They play well on my system via my CD-RW or my DVD ROM.
Well, they should do shouldn't they? However I want them to play on some-one elses PC who doesn't have a DVD or Canopus ProCoda. I understand this means a video decoder has to be included on my CD, to be installed so that this other user can play the CD on a CD ROM through Media Player.
Most people have Media Player.
Please sugest which codec I should include-Ligos?
Thanx
roberthansjorg

[eric_darling]

Re: Playing Mpeg files

Robert,

If I can help you sort things out here... You sound a little confused.

First of all Canopus makes a product called Procoder. You are calling it "ProCoda," which is incorrect.

Procoder is used to ENCODE digital video/audio files, not really to play them back - that's not what Procoder is for, and therefore, no one who receives video you encode through Procoder should need Procoder in order to view them. So, consider that unnecessary for your audience regardless of your problems.

I think you are confused about what is and is not a codec. MPEG-1 is both a format AND a codec. You can't choose a codec with MPEG-1 beyond itself. MPEG-2, which is what it sounds like you are trying to make here, is also BOTH a format AND a codec.

However, in order for your end users to successfully play back MP2 files, they will need to have either a software or hardware MPEG-2 decoder installed on their system. Most do, nowadays, but many do not. What's more at issue is that not all MP2 decoders were created equal. That's a bummer for us, and leaves us little choice but to stick with MPEG-1 for content distribution to a wide and variable audience.

There is no such thing as a "Ligos" codec. Ligos is a company that makes encoders for MPEG files, but the files they create are of a standard MPEG flavor. Nothing proprietary there.

When you speak of video cd's, do you mean VCD format? If so, your files NEED to be MPEG-1. No other format (including AVI) will work. Furthermore, as discussed in another thread somewhere by Lorne, AMS does not produce legal VCD discs. They are simply incompatible with one another.

Be very careful in distributing any software MP2 decoder, as you hint that you are considering. There are commercial obstacles in question - you may need to pay the manufacturer in order to have that privelege (not to mention some serious paperwork on your part).

Repeat the following mantra: MPEG-1, MPEG-1, MPEG-1....

Now, go and do good things!

[roberthansjorg]

Re: Playing Mpeg files

I'll try Eric, I'll try!
Thanx
robert

[roberthansjorg]

Re: Playing Mpeg files

It seems that LSX-MPEG from Ligos will do the job I've been talking about. It's a Mpeg2 decoder program downloadable as a 30 day demo from Ligos.com.
Install it and you can play mpeg2 files on your CD-ROM or HDD thru Media Player. No need for DVD-ROM or dvd programs.
I tried it on a friend's machine with XP. Works fine.
robert

[GEasterly]

Re: Playing Mpeg files

Eric,

Howdy and hello...first time caller. I too am headed down the road of wide distribution of vid, so was searching for a thread just like this one...I hope you see this.

As I examined my possible routes, I discovered many of the issues you've already covered, and kinda decided that MPEG-1 was the way to go, for all your excellent points in this post and others. But I think I may have an option I haven't seen mentioned. If this has already been covered here somewhere, I apologize now (excuse me if I mangle some facts here...still trying to fit it all together in the cranium):

I've use Vegas Vid 3 to encode, which can encode a Sorenson .mov file. I played around breifly with it, and the output in Quicktime was Saaa-weet.

Now as I understand it, Flash MX, which I also use (barely, for now *grin*) wants to import .mov files as it's "native" video format, and hence should yield some killer quality.

Now I haven't experimented yet, but couldn't I generate a Flash file, basically as a video player, that could easily be integrated using the standard flash methods within AMS? And Flash being so prevelent anyway, it's a pretty widely pre-installed deal. I can't think of any hairy licensing issues off the top of my head, either.

Seems you could also package it as a projector file, and just execute it from a menu...

But I haven't tried any of this yet, except for cranking out the .mov file. It does seem like I've come across some good looking video on the web, lately, that turned out to be Flash.

Anyway, thoughts?

Yours Newby-ly
Graham

[eric_darling]

Re: Playing Mpeg files

Eventually any post that has MPEG in the subject line tends to catch my eye, so when one pops to the top of a forum, I'm all over it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

So, you want to do Sorenson for QT, eh? I love Sorenson. Sorenson 3 (professional codec - doesn't come standard, you gotta buy it from http://www.sorenson.com) is, apart from some MPEG-4 encoders, the best web video codec on the planet for a cascade of reasons.

Now, be careful with the nomenclature. Sorenson is a company, and by popular tradition, people refer to their codec for QuickTime simply as "Sorenson." However, Sorenson also produces another codec called "Spark" for Flash MX - Spark is the only raster-quality video codec for Flash. You can do some interesting vectorized stuff with Flix Pro from Wildform, but trust me, it doesn't look like "normal" video. Spark does.

You can certainly link to QT files from within Flash, but Flash itself doesn't natively "understand" QuickTime format. You'll need to also have QT installed on the computer to watch a QT movie. Simple as that.

For what it's worth, Spark isn't capable of the Sorenson 3 QT codec, but it's pretty darn good (at least you get to encode with VBR if you choose).

So, if you want to encode video clips that will work within Flash Player 6.0 or higher, and you don't want to have to mandate any other 3rd party software to run the clips, you gotta go with Spark.

BTW, if you are not using the pro codec of Sorenson 3 with VBR, you have no idea just how incredible your clips can look. For a good example (DV source), check out this temporarily available clip: here.

Best of luck.