The VideoLAN Forums

Hi, i recently obtained a copy of a movie within a mkv container, the mkv works fine, and when i open the movie the audio track works, although the video track, when I try to enable it says that the format is not supported by vlc, it is listed as "mul" in the video track window, although i am not sure if this is the codec, i would like either a solution to this or another program that i would be able to play this with. Thanks, if you need more info please respond Mac os x 10.3 ibook g3 700mhz

Brilthor

Most likely this is a mkv with the video comressed with a codec vlc doesn't support. It therefore set's null as codec. There are quite a few video codecs that vlc don't support and many of them may be placed in mkv. That's just life. We are always working to improve, but can't be perfect, sorry.

And since we are talking mkv, it's probably the Real Video 9 codec, which oddly enough seems to be rather popular among matroska creators. VLC does not support that codec.

I have had the same problem quite few times, and as The DJ said, it IS the Real Video 9 codec (or RV40) that makes all this trouble. Get the codec and use another player.

You´ll find it here.
http://ftp.lug.udel.edu/MPlayer/releases/codecs/

oh ll it be any solution coming ? or does it already exist ?

Real is a proprietary format that VLC does not support and unless it is reverse engineered, will never support. Mplayer uses the windows real codec to decode Real Video, but this solution conflict with the GPL licensing of VLC.

I am trying to play a mkv with XVID video and MP4a audio in ver 0.7.2-beta2, running Mac OS X 10.3.3 on a 500MHz G4 machine.

The movie plays superslow and without sound. The movie virtually grinds to a halt. It worked to play this movie in version 0.7.0, with the occasional dropped frames, but totally watchable and with sound.

I have tried to trash prefs, problem still remains.

Just wanted to inform the team, and maybe someone knows a solution.

it's a problem with the mp4a sound. i have it as well. We are looking into it.

Real is a proprietary format that VLC does not support and unless it is reverse engineered, will never support. Mplayer uses the windows real codec to decode Real Video, but this solution conflict with the GPL licensing of VLC.

Is it possible using helix player source code provided by helix community?

No. The codecs are not opensource and released binary only as far as i know. VLC cannot link against such libraries. it violates the GPL license.

No. The codecs are not opensource and released binary only as far as i know. VLC cannot link against such libraries. it violates the GPL license.

but you can get full source of helix player for linux in helix community site:

http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdnaclient/
http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdn ... source.zip
http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdn ... source.zip

I am trying to play a mkv with XVID video and MP4a audio in ver 0.7.2-beta2, running Mac OS X 10.3.3 on a 500MHz G4 machine.
The movie plays superslow and without sound. The movie virtually grinds to a halt. It worked to play this movie in version 0.7.0, with the occasional dropped frames, but totally watchable and with sound.

I am almost word-for-word having that same problem, except I've got a 1GHz G4 and the movie plays just fine in 0.7.2-beta2 - except for one detail - the mp4a audio track does not play correctly. For the most part there is zero 'hearability' but once in a great while you can catch a mumble or two. Quite strange.

I would be very much thankful for a hint as to how to play .mp4a audio on my machine, as dirt is incredibly hard to dig up on the web about it.

No. The codecs are not opensource and released binary only as far as i know. VLC cannot link against such libraries. it violates the GPL license.

but you can get full source of helix player for linux in helix community site:

http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdnaclient/
http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdn ... source.zip
http://forms.helixcommunity.org/helixdn ... source.zip

The agreement even tells you it cannot be used in combination with GPL'ed applications (like VLC)

Any attempt to apply non RPSL license terms,
including without limitation the GPL, to Covered Code is expressly forbidden.
You are responsible for ensuring that Your use of Compatible Source Licensed
code does not violate either the RPSL or the Compatible Source License.

Also the RealVideo codecs fall into a special catergory. Read this:

If you wish to use the RealNetworks' add-on technologies (such as the RealAudio and RealVideo codecs) for personal use only (not for commercial use), or for developing a Helix DNA-based application, you are welcome to do that. We make the compiled versions of those codecs available for a wide range of platforms

See, compiled binaries. Closed source. VLC cannot use them.

what are the implications of real gpl'ing the helix client? won't that make the client compiled with codecs a 'derivitive work', and necessitate gpl'ing the entire thing?

if helixcommunity.org can get around the licence issues, why not videolan.org?

-a/c

It's a difference in interpretation. According to our vision GPL is to keep a contained system of fully free and opensource software. Therefore we cannot 'connect' with proprietary material.

However some people ignore this 'intent' of the GPL and read the text really well and see that there isn't much of a legal framework that can forbid doing this. However as the Authors of a GPL program always have a final call according the GPL, we can say that we will not approve of this.

Besides they are GPL'ing Helix Player not Real Player, which you need to use the binary codecs (as far as I understand). So i think there Helix player isn't even in violation of the GPL (as we interpret it). Above situation is probably more true for Mplayer than it is true for Helix.