support of native mpeg4 ASP stream in MKV

[JordonK]

Been searching around about this today, just happened to open an mkv created by meGUI with a native ASP stream in VLC and noticed the macroblock problem.

File renders fine in MPC with *Either* ffdshow or xVid decoder inserted into the graph. Built graphs to check as well. Remuxed to new mkv w/ mkvmerge, same situation. xvid_encraw writes perfect asp streams.

Mr. strangely sensitive and angry DJ sir, this is a bug with the otherwise great VLC. So unless 'work properly' is a feature request, this thread I do believe is in the right place.

Thanks.

[Guest]

Has anyone ever noticed that QuickTime's ASP doesn't play using XviD and I don't believe it works with FFdshow either. I know it doesn't work under DivX compatibility. I have trouble finding a front end. Haali doesn't support it and Neither does Gabest. Windows dshow won't support it natively. Would someone care to explain this.

When I make an ASP using an MP4 container with VLC, QuickTime plays the file and if I play a QuickTime ASP file in VLC, it plays the file. Doesn't anyone find this interesting but me? If this is a bug then lots of people should be experiencing more problems with other codecs and players other than VLC. Instead I get comments about a freeware program called MeGUI which most people never heard of. Yes! I know what it is, but that's not the point. Instead I'm pegged as the angry one?

May I remind everyone that there has never been good compatibility between QuickTime and Microsoft's dhsow and about the only people that had any real success with this was 3ivx, which BTW has compatibility to VLC. So I will ask the stupid question again, where is the problem?

Perhaps I could word the stupid question this way, Why would anyone believe that replacing the container would resolve the issue?

DJ

[Guest]

mplayer isn't a dshow player and it play it fine (I use celtic_druid build and MPUI). mplayer use also libavcodec to decode the file, so I think it's a problem in the mkv parser.

My MPlayer and MPUI does not play your file! If a special version does it just shows how non standard your file is.

[Guest]

Perhaps I could word the stupid question this way, Why would anyone believe that replacing the container would resolve the issue?

DJ

When native MPEG4 ASP is stored in mkv, information about the stream (sometimes called the VOL info or VOL header) should be stored in a part of the file called codecprivate. VLC doesn't seem to be reading this information and sending it to the mpeg4 decoder, hence the decoder assumes default settings for things like qpel, gmc etc. which causes errors.
The files follow the standards laid out by the matroska developers; the player does not.

[DJ]

VLC always picks up the latest sources and they are compiled at runtime.

[DJ]

I spent a little time looking at your file today.

1. Direct Show! For front ends splitters or demuxers. Yes Haali does support it but Gabest doesn't, neither does Nero or 3ivx. Then the is a problem finding a decoder. It seems XviD, DiviX, 3ivx or Nero will not decode using the Haali front end the filters will not connect. So FFdshow may be the only viable solution for dshow.

2. MPlayer's latest build 8 also does not play your file. The Celtic Druid build dated Aug 14 06 does play the file but seems to have seeking problems and the subs are also very strange as all I could get was French 2 out of 4 sub tracks and it seemed iffy. The audio tracks did switch and seemed to be in sync for the bit of dialog in this short clip.

Conclusion. You are creating a (in my opinion) a proprietary video that has very limited support. If you want this video to play you will need to petition all the major players and codec vendors for support. Something people tried to do for years with QuickTime compatibility and has never been fully realized.

All the best of luck!
DJ

If you want this moved to feature requests.I would suggest rewording it and doing it yourself.

[The DJ]

I talked to matroska developers and they advise against using the Native mode for MPEG-4 ASP

[The DJ]

I did fix a couple of bugs in this area yesterday btw.
Might be better now.

[MatMaul]

I did fix a couple of bugs in this area yesterday btw.
Might be better now.

Yes it's better now !
The picture is now good !
But I can't seek.

thanks a lot !

[MatMaul]

Oups, sorry it's my fault.
The sample I used didn't have cues entries.

All works good when I remux with mkvmerge, so they are no problems with the sample present in my fist post (lotr-pb.mkv).

Thanks a lot !!