Real Media

[joeblow]

I apologize to J-B for not stopping the thread as was requested but I think this discussion can only further the product.

How about a switch or something that allows for external codecs to be used. Perhaps the path of the installed codec. This would allow VLC to keep it's cross platform nature, wash the developers hands of using the illegal codecs (if that is the case with Real Alternative), and give added functionality to the end user. Is this feasible?

[joeblow]

Oh yea, just as a point of info, when I play my rm files with VLC, the audio plays but not the video. I just get a green screen. Not sure if that adds anything.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Well, for the nth time:

There is no Open Source Codec for RV40 and RV50, so neither ffmpeg, nor VLC can read those.

However, their could be a hack to load the Real Dlls like RealAlternative, for x86. But this would not be Cross Platform, nor Multi-OS. This is feasible, but, noone in the dev team is wanting to do it. Especially because VideoLAN's team is short-staffed.

If Someone codes this support (like MPlayer does), and knows how to do it, please give it to the mailing-list.

[joeblow]

Thanks JB. I'm just curious, does the codec need to be open source for a program to legally call or use it? I know many commercial programs that can use real alternative codec (including WMP11) without getting into legal issues. So, I wouldn't consider it a hack as much as a feature. I regret that I don't have the experience to do this but really hope someone does in the near future. Thanks all for the info and keep up this wonderful player.

[Alexsource]

You can always re-encode with MediaCoder -> http://www.free-codecs.com/download/MediaCoder.htm

Huh!
Not always, since MediaCoder is MS Windows only. While VLC is cross-platform...

Well it does use mplayer and mencoder wich are both multiplatform. MediaCoder is more of a "frontend" of sorts.
It would surely be more difficult to pull it off in other OSs, but I think it is possible.

There might be other apps similar to mediacoder for other OSs as well.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Thanks JB. I'm just curious, does the codec need to be open source for a program to legally call or use it? I know many commercial programs that can use real alternative codec (including WMP11) without getting into legal issues. So, I wouldn't consider it a hack as much as a feature. I regret that I don't have the experience to do this but really hope someone does in the near future. Thanks all for the info and keep up this wonderful player.

Well, the GPL is a bit strict on that issue, but AFAIK, if the loader is generic, it can be ok and legal. But you need to ask the FSF to have the final word on it.

Then, is it a good idea ? I don't think so, but that is just my personnal idea.

[sveinung]

A possible solution to the Real Media problem could be to set up a bounty for releasing a spec for Real Video (one bounty for RV40, and one bounty for RV50). The bounty for the spec would be payed when the spec was demonstrated to work by having the codec implemented in ffmpeg.

It would be important that the spec (if created by reverse engineering) would be created by someone else that the person(s) implementing it to avoid copyright issues, so a bounty to implement the spec and have it included in ffmpeg would also be a good idea.

To make a bounty like that work, it is important that many users would contribute to it. $10 is not a huge amount, but multiplied 10 000 times it would surely help to get a spec. That is another important reason to separate spec from implementation, since people using players that are not using ffmpeg also would be interested by that.

Just an idea for an alternative to nag the VLC developers...

[szr]

No. VLC does not and will not support current RealMedia-codecs until free implementations exist.

I really don't understand what the big fuss is (considering that VLC allows you to skip all the intro/ads on a DVD, something that puts any DVD player in voilation, not that I'm complaining, it just seems rather ironic.)

I love VLC; it's a great player without all bloat (such as WMP.) What would be so wrong to profile the interface to use codecs like what come from Real Alternative.**

As for a "free" way to do use Real, take a look at the "Tara Audio Video Plugin" for winamp. It wourks well with Real Alternative.**

You should not in any violation if you provide the same thing that Tara's winamp plugin provides. You still need the necessary Real codec files on your system to actually play anything. There for you would not be providing codecs, and hence not in voilation of the GPL.

( ** Real Altarnative or what ever equivilent exists on a given platform.)

[CloudStalker]

Well let's see: next version of ffmpeg

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I love VLC; it's a great player without all bloat (such as WMP.) What would be so wrong to profile the interface to use codecs like what come from Real Alternative.**

I'll pass the fact that RealAlternative is illegal in all countries where Real is distributed.

There is a way, you haven't read this forum carefully: Someone has to code the dll DirectShow loader. I don't think any dev is willing to do it, mainly because they don't have the time for. CODE it, send the patch and we will put it in. Thanks.

[Alexsource]

Well let's see: next version of ffmpeg

WOOOOOw! and what's the source for this great news???

[DirkDiggler]

Ok.
So what we need is a type of thing like the Tara's Real Input Plugin (for winamp), or the RealMediaSplitter for WMP.
The staff is not currently interested in developing such kind of thing.
Volunteers?

[DGMurdockIII]

could support be added now for it

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

It is under work.

[DGMurdockIII]

any word yet

[redqc]

you people are lost seriously !

message to the vlc devs, you people are a lost case ! i used to love vlc until i found i cant play my rmvb streams.
whats the point of vlc if it cant play all the video formats online ? you people have forgot what VLC stands for.

VLC GPL strick blaa blaa you know what i bet you any money vlc will be forgotten in 2 years from now. better faster players will be out that play every single codec on the internet. leaving one out is like leaving a love one behide ! that aint nice at all !

MPC can do it. why cant you

as of right now ! im just using the K-light codec and plays everything

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Well, VLC should be able to read Real Media soon...

[humplop]

yeah redqc, congratulation ! you can read rm videos on your computer, under windows, with a codec pack (try to install any stand alone code now, or an other pack, this will be very funy) for windows, with MPC : a windows player (nearly just a frontend).

Do you understand that VLC can be used under many systems (there are alternative to windows) and will ever works the same way, whatever is your OS or your hardware.

[Kalec]

Well, VLC should be able to read Real Media soon...

Are you guys still working on adding real media? I would love to see it implemented.

[kdean]

Real Media already has a partial implementation in VLC.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html