VLC and its Alternatives

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

is vlc's keyboard interface customisable?

Yes.

[MetalheadGautham]

viewtopic.php?t=36135

if this poll goes positive, you must follow it...

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

viewtopic.php?t=36135

if thi poll goes positive, you must follow it...

I have nothing to 'follow' I am not the only developer.

[MetalheadGautham]

Both MPlayer and Media Player Classic can use external codecs. In VLC's description, it says that it can use some external codecs in its windows version................... then why can't it play real media

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Both MPlayer and Media Player Classic can use external codecs. In VLC's description, it says that it can use some external codecs in its windows version................... then why can't it play real media

Because VLC can use DirectMediaObject dll ( wma wmv mainly) and most of the external codecs are DirectShow dll, that are not readable with VLC.
Patches are welcome.

[MetalheadGautham]

guess I have to wait for vlc 0.9.2 then

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

guess I have to wait for vlc 0.9.2 then

Maybe you can start learning to code ?

[MetalheadGautham]

I learnt C before even I had a comp, so due to lack of practice, I forgot it completly.... I only have memories of age 11 and the words printf, scanf, getch, void, #include, etc....


But I am going to relearn them in a few months

[MetalheadGautham]

I have noticed the following problems in VLC which I don't know the reason for. Its windows contemporaries MPlayer and Media Player Classic are devoid of them.

1. There is no seekbar for real audio
2. speex files cant seek
3. flvs can't seek
4. on seeking, video becomes garbled for a while in some formats

I know these have been repeated, but I just wanted to know the reasons why.. atleast MPlayer can seek by keyboard if MPUI has the same problem...

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I have noticed the following problems in VLC which I don't know the reason for. Its windows contemporaries MPlayer and Media Player Classic are devoid of them.

1. There is no seekbar for real audio
2. speex files cant seek
3. flvs can't seek
4. on seeking, video becomes garbled for a while in some formats

I know these have been repeated, but I just wanted to know the reasons why.. atleast MPlayer can seek by keyboard if MPUI has the same problem...

1. Our real support is poor.
2.3. This is getting better in NBs.
4. Yes, on some formats, we can't detect the I-frame.

[MetalheadGautham]

Fine... and j-b, I want to know how MPlayer and Xine manage to handle real media. I see a .dll of real networks in the mplayer's folder, and I heard xine uses external win32 codecs... is it legal? and if so why can't vlc borrow some code?

[MetalheadGautham]

Fine... and j-b, I want to know how MPlayer and Xine manage to handle real media. I see a .dll of real networks in the mplayer's folder, and I heard xine uses external win32 codecs... is it legal? and if so why can't vlc borrow some code?

and most importantly, why can't you use non gpl but free codecs with VLC? they can be used as external addons, not a part of the source code...

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Fine... and j-b, I want to know how MPlayer and Xine manage to handle real media. I see a .dll of real networks in the mplayer's folder, and I heard xine uses external win32 codecs... is it legal? and if so why can't vlc borrow some code?

Well, the legality of such use have been discuted a lot.
First, you should know that RealAlternative codecs are illegal, but well.

The thing is that the way they use it now should be fine. In fact if you don't have those codecs, the program can still work, which means that they they just provide a generic parser for DirectShow codecs, so that is fine.

For the n'th time, we could borrow the code. It is possible, it is just that noone has ever submitted that patch to VLC, and that no developer is currently interested in doing so. Find someone to do it, but don't bug me.

[MetalheadGautham]

actually, real claims that real alternative codecs don't ecist, they are just repackaged real codecs.

[MetalheadGautham]

so is there a final countdown for VLC 0.9 at all? I mean when exactly will it be released? It is no use to say summer concidering the fact that summer is defferent in different countries, in australia it is in december, in greenland it is in may

[joseph5]

http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/roadmap
Seems outdated, but there is a countdown.

[MetalheadGautham]

can't be....

[MetalheadGautham]

Hey everybody! I just want to add this list of recomended media players(you may find another dedicated thread soon):

1. VLC Media Player (win/nix/mac)

needs no facts. you are here anyway... it plays most of the formats well, and is full of enhancements. If you are the geeky sort, this is for you due to the fact that its opensource, meaning you can show off yo your friends all the modifications you made to your media player.


2. MPlayer + MPUI(win/lin/mac)

Useful in playing files VLC can't handle, due to the presence of a methord to use binary win32 codecs. MPUI is the best gui for MPlayer, don't go with the offitial gmplayer. Use it to play real media, voxware, etc.


3. SUPER(win)

it is actually a frontend to MPlayer, MEncoder, FFMPEG, FFMPEG2theora, producer, etc. it is one of the best software for all your transcoading needs. But it can also be used as a player. It even supports DirectShow for the files its internal codecs can't handle.


4. foobar2000(win)

It is a player for the geeky. It is a do it yourself type player, so you need to download plugins to add some compatabilities, and the gui is prettyboring, you need to customize it yourself, but the level that can be achieved through customization is very high, you can even add support for visualizations. This too is a good tool to be shown off. You can enhance it easily, provided you pass its learning curve. If you work well, you can make it look better than one of those expencive jukeboxes used in parties, radiostations, etc. You can even add visualizations. It is highly advanced, with high quality audio output, and a host of other features. the player in its core is propiatary, but its software developement kit is under BSD liscence, meaning that you can make a big adon for foobar2000 and end up selling it for 100 bucks...(I strongly discourage that). But if you are a no fuss guy, forget foobar2000, its not for you.

the standard GUI


somebody's modified gui


5. Media Player Classic(win)

The Best Direct Show based media player for windows. Period.
with the same old school stripped down look of WMP6.4, and completly portable, this is the pnly player you need to use in case you installed a codec pack.


6. Songbird(win/lin/mac)

It is the upcoming rival to iTunes, and guess what? it is based on the VLC plugin and the Firefox engine. Cool!!!!! but too bad its still 0.2.5. just wait for the 1.0 version to get released! It combines a digital jukebox, an all in one media player and a webbrowser in one software. it supports firefox addons too. it even has skins sorry feathers. it can also retrieve videos from webpages. and you dont at all need a player's plugin, if you have THIS baby.

[MetalheadGautham]

Dear Mr. j-b,

do you think it will be a good idea for me to start a thread on supplementary/complementary programs to go with VLC? I can choose proper programs for each OS. I can also provide tips and screenshots.

- Mr MetalheadGautham

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Why not, but not on that forum (Cofee corner ?)

[MetalheadGautham]

so how is this topic? isn't it worth being a sticky? I mean, it can act as a forum where newbies can learn of the alternatives there are to RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, QuicktimePlayer, iTunes, etc... I am planning to expand it even more.(pls help on this one, I dunno bout macs)

[MetalheadGautham]

hey j-b, are there anything else other than MPlayer, VLC or Songbird for a Mac worth mentioning?

[CloudStalker]

Hey, well done with the thread, not bad.

[Alexsource]

For music files I exclussibly use XmPlay (freeware, closed source, windows). Only 300kbs and has a LOT of features out of the box. --> http://www.un4seen.com
NOTE: Do READ the readme file AND try right-clicking on buttons

[MetalheadGautham]

hey cloudstalker, do you have any idea what Raphsody is?