VLC Player 7 wont play my DVD any more.

[macudo]

I wave installd VLC 7 and it dont play from my external Firewire
DVD burner any more. Version 6.0.2 worws fine. I put back the
Version 6 and all works fine again.
Allso WMA and WMV streams from Internet will not work for me
with Version 7.

[The DJ]

Did you try resetting your preferences yet?

[macudo]

No. Should i do that?

[The DJ]

YES
please report back with your results

[macudo]

It changed nothing.
DVD is stil not playing.

[The DJ]

What is it reporting?
What does it say in the messages window?

[truthischeap]

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 7:49 pm    Post subject:

External DVD drive reads but skips frames; behaves as though 500 MHz G3 is deficient for reasonably expected performance. I posted this elsewhere in the forums, perhaps under a mistaken subject heading, and thought I would repost it here.

Hmmm, now I am running an iBook Dual USB 500MHz G3 640 Mb with a LaCie 4X DVD +/- RW external drive to test the usability of this software for units of my type, and so far, following the instructions listed here, the DVD still skips. Is this software suitable for this unit and stated type of usage ?? I am sure I could run this on my iMac G4 750 MHz, but wanted to check this aspect of the software's functionability on the iBook G3, thus far it is not worth the effort of installation except for its live streaming capabilities, unless of course I have incorrectly installed or set up the preferences. Nonetheless, I think we would all agree that pushing a unit to its outer limits in order to run a piece of software is not advisable.

Now, I am new to this site and this piece of software, and found it in a search to find a means to play DVDs on this iBook which means getting around Apple, Inc.s locking out DVD Player from units not originally shipped with a combo drive, essentially shutting out the external DVD market to folks in my position looking to upgrade withouth shelling out $3,000.00 USD for a new unit (more than likely only to find ourselves obsolete in approx. 15 months or so and repurchasing). So, in this long winded reply, I am seeking advice on any other alternatives for proper functioning of the DVD play capabilites of VLan .7.0 on the G3 ? I will include the error message at the end of this note. Secondly, if we come to a conlusion that 500 MHz G3's are not up to speed, should we ask the folks at VLan to make such information available to potential downloader/users running slightly older systems ? I make this last suggestion in the spirit of well-informed users and hope that such a request will not be viewed as an unnecessary whine, or gripe from someone unable to use this software. It seems to me that one of the key segments of the market VLAn has in mind are precisely folks in my position, yet at this point, I can only say, the software has outrun its intended market. Again, I know this is freeware, but nothing is free, I am sure VideoLAN catches some type of benefit from folks downloading the software, and I only wish to aid if I can by offering opinions as a consumer/user. For given the somewhat recent philosophy of Apple, Inc. to speed up production of its software to near blistering speeds, or, implementing silly software manipulations for greater proprietary control of its post-point of sale porducts so that folks suffer with not so old products suddenly becoming obsolete, consumers will be forced more and more to turn to other sources to make their machines functionable.

error message:
main debug: CPU has capabilities FPU
main debug: looking for memcpy module
main debug: probing 1 candidate
main debug: using memcpy module "memcpy"
main debug: Creating group Normal with id 1 at position 0
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 33656832 (playlist) created at priority -47 (src/playlist/playlist.c:9
main debug: looking for interface module
main debug: probing 1 candidate
main debug: using interface module "hotkeys"
main debug: interface initialized
main debug: thread 34039808 (interface) created at priority -47 (src/interface/interface.c:161)
main debug: looking for interface module
main debug: probing 2 candidates
main debug: using interface module "macosx"
main debug: interface initialized
main debug: thread 34191872 (manager) created at priority -47 (src/interface/interface.c:145)
main debug: adding playlist item ´ VTS_01_1.VOB ª ( /Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB )
main debug: creating new input thread
main: playlist item `/Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB'
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 34276352 (input) created at priority 37 (src/input/input.c:257)
main debug: access `', demux `', name `/Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB'
main debug: looking for access module
main debug: probing 7 candidates
dvdplay debug: plugin discarded (not a valid source)
dvdread warning: dvdread module discarded (not a valid source)
dvd warning: dvd module discarded (not a valid block device)
vcd debug: trying .cue file: /Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.cue
vcd warning: could not open /Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB
cdda debug: trying .cue file: /Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.cue
cdda warning: could not open /Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB
access_file debug: opening file `/Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB'
main debug: using access module "access_file"
main debug: looking for demux module
main debug: probing 18 candidates
mp4 warning: MP4 plugin discarded (not a valid file)
avi warning: avi module discarded (invalid header)
asf warning: ASF plugin discarded (not a valid file)
ts_dvbpsi warning: TS module discarded (no sync)
ts warning: TS module discarded (no sync)
au warning: AU module discarded (not a valid file)
wav warning: WAV module discarded (not a valid file)
main debug: looking for id3 module
main debug: probing 2 candidates
id3tag debug: Checking for ID3 tag
main debug: using id3 module "id3tag"
main debug: unlocking module "id3tag"
a52sys warning: A52 module discarded
main debug: looking for id3 module
main debug: probing 2 candidates
id3tag debug: Checking for ID3 tag
main debug: using id3 module "id3tag"
main debug: unlocking module "id3tag"
mpga warning: mpga module discarded
mpgv warning: ES module discarded (system startcode)
livedotcom warning: SDP module discarded
mkv warning: matroska module discarded (invalid header 0x000001ba)
aac warning: AAC module discarded
main debug: looking for mpeg-system module
main debug: probing 1 candidate
main debug: using mpeg-system module "mpeg_system"
main debug: selecting ES 0xe0
main debug: looking for decoder module
main debug: probing 18 candidates
macosx debug: stream has changed, refreshing interface
main debug: using decoder module "libmpeg2"
main debug: thread 34563072 (decoder) created at priority -47 (src/input/input_dec.c:166)
main debug: dumping stream ID 0x0 [OK:0/D:0]
main debug: seekable stream, position: 0/10240 (-:--:--/-:--:--)
main debug: dumping program 0x0, version 0 (complete)
main debug: ES 0xbf, stream 0xbf, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xe0, stream 0xe0, fourcc `mpgv', selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xbe, stream 0xbe, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: using demux module "ps"
libmpeg2 debug: 720x480, aspect 576000, 29.971 fps
main debug: no usable vout present, spawning one
main debug: looking for video output module
main debug: probing 5 candidates
main: EOF reached
main debug: 1 loops consuming user: 291, system: 98
main debug: dumping stream ID 0x0 [OK:0/D:9]
main debug: seekable stream, position: 10240/10240 (0:00:00/0:00:00)
main debug: dumping program 0x0, version 0 (complete)
main debug: ES 0xbf, stream 0xbf, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xe0, stream 0xe0, fourcc `mpgv', selected [OK:4/ERR:0]
main debug: ES 0xbe, stream 0xbe, fourcc ` ', not selected [OK:0/ERR:0]
main debug: unlocking module "mpeg_system"
main debug: unlocking module "ps"
main debug: unselecting ES 0xe0
main debug: using video output module "macosx"
main debug: looking for text renderer module
main debug: probing 3 candidates
freetype debug: Using fontsize: 30
main debug: using text renderer module "freetype"
main debug: got 8 direct buffer(s)
main debug: picture in 720x480, chroma 0x49343230 (I420), aspect ratio 4:3
main debug: picture out 720x480, chroma 0x49343230 (I420), aspect ratio 4:3
main debug: direct render, mapping render pictures 0-6 to system pictures 1-7
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 34576896 (video output) created at priority 37 (src/video_output/video_output.c:471)
main debug: unlocking module "libmpeg2"
main debug: thread 34563072 joined (src/input/input_dec.c:210)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpgv', 13 PES in FIFO
main debug: no more selected ES
access_file: closing `/:///Volumes/NIGHTMARE/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB'
main debug: unlocking module "access_file"
main debug: pes: 1 packets
main debug: data: 1 packets
main debug: buffers: 2 packets
main debug: freeing info structures...
main debug: thread 34276352 joined (src/input/input.c:291)
main debug: vout garbage collector destroying 1 vout
main debug: unlocking module "freetype"
main debug: unlocking module "macosx"
main debug: thread 34576896 joined (src/video_output/video_output.c:496)
main debug: opening config file /Users/michaelmcdaniel/Library/Preferences/VLC/vlcrc
main warning: config file /Users/michaelmcdaniel/Library/Preferences/VLC/vlcrc does not exist yet
main debug: saving config for module "main"
main debug: saving config for module "livedotcom"
main debug: saving config for module "ffmpeg"
main debug: saving config for module "coreaudio"
main debug: saving config for module "macosx"
main debug: saving config for module "a52tofloat32"
main debug: saving config for module "access_file"
main debug: saving config for module "access_ftp"
main debug: saving config for module "access_http"
main debug: saving config for module "access_mms"
main debug: saving config for module "access_output_udp"
main debug: saving config for module "access_tcp"
main debug: saving config for module "access_udp"
main debug: saving config for module "adjust"
main debug: saving config for module "aout_file"
main debug: saving config for module "avi"
main debug: saving config for module "caca"
main debug: saving config for module "cdda"
main debug: saving config for module "clone"
main debug: saving config for module "crop"
main debug: saving config for module "deinterlace"
main debug: saving config for module "demuxdump"
main debug: saving config for module "demuxsub"
main debug: saving config for module "distort"
main debug: saving config for module "dummy"
main debug: saving config for module "dvd"
main debug: saving config for module "freetype"
main debug: saving config for module "gestures"
main debug: saving config for module "headphone_channel_mixer"
main debug: saving config for module "hotkeys"
main debug: saving config for module "http"
main debug: saving config for module "logger"
main debug: saving config for module "mkv"
main debug: saving config for module "motionblur"
main debug: saving config for module "rc"
main debug: saving config for module "sap"
main debug: saving config for module "slp"
main debug: saving config for module "subsdec"
main debug: saving config for module "transform"
main debug: saving config for module "ts_dvbpsi"
main debug: saving config for module "ts"
main debug: saving config for module "visual"
main debug: saving config for module "wall"
main debug: adding playlist item ´ dvdplay/ ª ( dvdplay:// )
main debug: creating new input thread
main: playlist item `dvdplay://'
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 35074048 (input) created at priority 37 (src/input/input.c:257)
main debug: access `dvdplay', demux `', name `'
main debug: looking for access module
main debug: probing 7 candidates
dvdplay warning: cannot stat() source `/dev/dvd' (No such file or directory)
dvdread warning: cannot stat() source `/dev/dvd' (No such file or directory)
dvd warning: cannot stat() device `/dev/dvd' (No such file or directory)
vcd warning: could not open /dev/cdrom
cdda warning: could not open /dev/cdrom
access_file warning: cannot stat() file `' (No such file or directory)
main warning: no access module matching "dvdplay" could be loaded
main debug: looking for access module
main debug: probing 7 candidates
dvdplay warning: cannot stat() source `dvdplay://' (No such file or directory)
dvdread warning: cannot stat() source `dvdplay://' (No such file or directory)
dvd warning: cannot stat() device `dvdplay://' (No such file or directory)
vcd warning: could not open dvdplay://
cdda warning: could not open dvdplay://
access_file warning: cannot stat() file `dvdplay://' (No such file or directory)
main error: no suitable access module for `/://dvdplay://'
main debug: pes: 0 packets
main debug: data: 0 packets
main debug: buffers: 0 packets
main debug: thread 35074048 joined (src/input/input.c:291

[macudo]

Hi.
Now it works again!!
I have a Freecom DVD+/-RW4B Combo Burner-external Firewire.
With Toast it burns perfektly.
But Systemprofiller do not reconize it as supported.
Afer y made a Patch with PatchBurn the Systemprofiller
and iTunes sais it is Completly supported and VLC 7
plays my DVD again. But not so good as the Version 6.
There are some artefakts spinning in the image.

[The DJ]

truthischeap You obviously have no clue what the intended market for VLC is. And we have no benefit at all from VideoLAN. It costs us a shitload of freetime. We may gain some points on our resume but that is it.

Learn about free and opensource software before you make statements about it.

[Guest]

truthischeap You obviously have no clue what the intended market for VLC is. And we have no benefit at all from VideoLAN. It costs us a shitload of freetime. We may gain some points on our resume but that is it.

Learn about free and opensource software before you make statements about it.

DJ,

Obviously, I have struck a nerve in you, and perhaps we are experiencing one of the all too common moments of electronic communication where one's tone is misinterpreted setting off a chain reaction of lashing out against simply misread words. I am well-aware of opensource software and its extensive benefits to the post-consumer marketplace, but I think we would both agree that cross-marketing also plays a significant role in linking "free"ware enabling programs to profit-driven markets. You are correct, and I also stated as such in my original post, I am quite unaware of the relationship of VLAN and VLC, but seeing as both are linked together, "sold" in the sense that VLC offers a means for commercial enterprises to broadcast product X or advertise product X across a virtual LAN, in the end someone profits. Yes, not directly, and yes, you personally see no direct benefits, and I do sincerely offer my gratitude for your efforts, but I think we might both agree, that in this stage of global marketing, nothing, and I mean nothing is for "free:" as all is always already subsumed under the marketplace even if, and even more astute, precisely because of its attempts at a benign-ness through merely providing access to the market without directly profiting, the employment of freeware like all else enables the marketer to reach its target, so increasing traffic profits someone somewhere in some way. Now, that said, please, if you care, re-read my post where I make the comments gesturing towards providing users the most accurate and easily accessible avenue for informing themselves about VLC prior to download. Please see my comments to your reply to my post under that heading.

Again DJ, if it seems as though my comments are meant as hostile, they are not, and I can not be more emphatic on this point. I simply wished to make it known to other users attempting to run VLC .7.0 who happen to be on G3 hardware that the software does not function, and too often in the Read Me files explicitly accurate wording is not employed, and yes, I did read them:

"4. The video is choppy! It's like we're dropping frames.
That's the normal behavior when the CPU isn't fast enough to decode all the frames. Though there is some room for improvement, don't ever expect VLC to be able to decode MPEG-2 streams or high resolution DivX on a low-end G3 machine."

My humble suggestions:

Define 'low-end G3' more clearly. In my case, the iBook is now but 2years old, and only two choices in terms of MHz were available this 500 and 600. Now, is it not reasonable of me to think I would not fall under this category and that is applies to other Powerbooks and Clamshells iBooks ? If one knows a late 2001 dual USB iBook of 500Mhz G3 will not run, then simply determine what the cut off is in terms of MHz and post it clearly. To me, such a request is reasonable.

[The DJ]

Not hostile, long. that's what they are.
To be honest defining what works and what not is impossilbe.

It all depands on the graphics card in the machine, the CPU, the way the DivX video was encoded, the heigth and widht of the movie etc etc etc etc etc.

Then there is the fact that VLC over time requires more resources, because it implementation of the decoders etc is getting better and more correct.

So for divX the cut off is somewhere between the 350 and 900 Mhz G3 and 350(slowest G4?) and 450 Mhz G4 (altivec is really good).