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<P><B><A NAME=5>5. FAQ section</A></B></P>
<TABLE BORDER=0 WIDTH=100% ALIGN=left>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=3><P><B><A NAME=5.1>5.1 Compilation</A></B></P>
</TD></TR><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD> </TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
configure ends with this text, and MPlayer won't compile !<BR>
<CODE>Your gcc does not support even i386 for '-march' and '-mcpu'.</CODE>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Your gcc isn't installed correctly, check <CODE>config.log</CODE> file
for details.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD> </TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What does "No such file or directory" means ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Probably there is no such file or directory.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD> </TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What's the problem with gcc 2.96 ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
To be short: <B><I>DO NOT USE gcc 2.96 !!!</I></B><BR>
Check <A HREF="gcc-2.96-3.0.html">this</A> and <A HREF="users_against_developers.html">this</A> texts!
If you still really really want to do so, be sure to use the latest release.
<BR>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Great, I have gcc 3.0.1 from RedHat/Mandrake, then I'm fine--!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
No, since there have been/are issues with those compilers.<BR>
Use 2.95.x series for reliability (not <A HREF="gcc-2.96-3.0.html">2.96</A>).
Use the latest gcc 3.0.x (starting at 3.0.2) if you want to use a 3.0.x version.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I tried to compile MPlayer, but I got this output:<BR>
</B><PRE>
In file included from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_cwchar.h:42,
from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/fpos.h:40,
from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/char_traits.h:40,
from /usr/include/g++-v3/bits/std_string.h:41,
from /usr/include/g++-v3/string:31,
from libwin32.h:36,
from DS_AudioDecoder.h:4,
from DS_AudioDec.cpp:5:
/usr/include/wchar.h: In function Long long int wcstoq(const wchar_t*,
wchar_t**, int)':
/usr/include/wchar.h:514: cannot convert `const wchar_t* __restrict' to
`const
</PRE>
</TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Upgrade your glibc to the newest. On Mandrake, use 2.2.4-8mdk .
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
...gcc 2.96... (yes, some people are STILL flaming about their gcc 2.96!!)
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
<P>But we has idegs (the word 'ideg' is described further in the FAQ). And our
idegcounters overflow again and again.</P>
<P>Unfortunately MPlayer is out of our control. It's used by lamers, Linux users
who can't even use windows, and never tried to compile a kernel. They installed
(with default options) Mandrake or RedHat or Suse, and without RTFM'ing they
send messages saying 'it doesn't work! help me! please! i'm new to the linux!
help! oh! help me!'. We can't stop them, but at least we try to force them RTFM
and to read messages of ./configure and mplayer.</P>
<P>And you clever guys come and flame us with gcc 2.96 and binary packages.
Instead of helping users or making patches to help solve problems.</P>
<P>Half of our spare/free time is spent by answering silly mails here and
making newer tricks and checks to configure to avoid such mails.</P>
<P>And there is a balance. On one hand are you, clever guys, saying we are very
bad because we don't like buggy gcc 2.96, and at the other hand there are the
'new to linux' guys who are showing us gcc 2.96 is buggy.</P>
<P>Conclusion: we can't be good. Half of people always will say we are bad.</P>
<P>Maybe we should close the project, make it closed source, commercial, and
provide install support for it. then we could leave current work, so
development could go faster, and we earn lots of money with it and buy a big
house, etc etc. Do you really want it? It seems.</P>
<P ALIGN=RIGHT>Arpi (a mail on the mplayer-users list)</P>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Where can I find information about gcc 2.96 bugs ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
In <A HREF="gcc-2.96-3.0.html">this</A> documentation. And <A HREF="users_against_developers.html">this</A>
documentation describes why RedHat released 2.96 and other interesting things.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
SDL output doesn't work or compile. Problem is ....
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It is tested with newest SDL (probably runs on 1.1.7+).
It does NOT work with any previous version, so don't ask.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I am still having trouble compiling with SDL support. gcc says something
about "undefined reference to `SDL_EnableKeyRepeat'" What's now?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Where did you install the SDL library? If you installed in /usr/local
(the default) then edit the top level config.mak and add
"-L/usr/local/lib " after "X_LIBS=" Now type make. You're done!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
It doesn't compile, and it misses uint64_t inttypes.h and similar things...
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
copy etc/inttypes.h to <B>MPlayer</B> directory (cp etc/inttypes.h .)
try again...
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have Pentium III but ./configure doesn't detect SSE
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Only kernel versions 2.4.x supports SSE (or try latest 2.2.19 or newer, but
be prepared for problems)
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have G200/G400, how to compile/use mga_vid driver?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Read all this documentation.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Are there rpm/deb/... packages of <I>MPlayer</I>?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You can make a .deb package for yourself, check section <A HREF="documentation.html#6.1">6.1</A>.
It's _STRONGLY_ discouraged to use precompiled packages
of <B>MPlayer</B>, since it (currently) _highly_ depends on compile-time
options and optimizations!
Precompiled packages are COMPLETELY unsupported by the <B>MPlayer</B> team!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
During 'make', MPlayer complains about X11 libraries. I don't understand,
I DO have X installed!?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
...but you don't have the X development package installed. Or not
correctly. It's called XFree86-devel* under RedHat, and xlib6g-dev* under
Debian. Also check if the /usr/X11 symlink exists (this can be a problem on
Mandrake systems). It can be created with the<BR>
<CODE>$ ln -sf /usr/X11R6 /usr/X11</CODE><BR>
command. Also check the /usr/include/X11 link :<BR>
<CODE>$ ln -sf /usr/X11R6/include/X11 /usr/include/X11</CODE><BR>
Your distribution may differ from the Linux Filesystem Standard.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What about DGA driver? I can't find it!!!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
./configure autodetects your DGA driver. If -vo help doesn't show
DGA, then there's a problem with your X installation.
Try ./configure --enable-dga (and RTFM)
Alternatively, try SDL's DGA driver with '-vo sdl:dga' options.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I can't compile SVGAlib.. I'm using 2.3/2.4 kernel.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You have to edit SVGAlib's Makefile.cfg and comment "BACKGROUND = y" out.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I compiled MPlayer with libdvdcss/libdivxdecore support, but when
I try to start it, it says:<BR>
<CODE>> error while loading shared libraries: lib*.so.0: cannot load
shared object file: No such file or directory</CODE><BR>
I checked up on the file and it IS there in /usr/local/lib.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Add /usr/local/lib to <B>/etc/ld.so.conf</B> and run <B>ldconfig</B> .
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
MPlayer doesn't seem to find my libcss. What am I doing wrong ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's normal. <B>MPlayer</B> no longer depends on libcss to play a DVD. You
have to install <B>libdvdread</B> and <B>libdvdcss</B>. Check for DVD Playback
part <A HREF="cd-dvd.html">here</A>. libcss is to be used for example when you
want to play encrypted VOB files from hard disk (not for general users).
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Hmm, strange. When loading the mga_vid.o kernel module, I found this in the logs:<BR>
<CODE>Warning: loading mga_vid.o will taint the kernel: no license</CODE>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
The latest kernels modules needs require a flag indicating its license (mainly
to avoid kernel hackers' debugging closed sources drivers).
Upgrade your kernel and your modutils and <B>MPlayer</B>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When compiling <I>MEncoder</I>, it segfaults at linking !!!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Dunno, upgrading binutils should help (2.11.92.* or newer should be good). Not our fault, do NOT report!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I'd like to compile <I>MPlayer</I> on Minix !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Me too. :)
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD COLSPAN=3><B><A NAME=5.2>5.2. General questions</A></B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What about DVD playing ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Read the CD/DVD section in <A HREF="cd-dvd.html">this page</A>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
-xy or -fs option doesn't work with x11 driver (-vo x11)
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It does, but you have to explicitly specify software scaling (it's SLOW!) with
the <CODE>-zoom</CODE> option. You better use XF86VidMode support:
you must specify the -vm and the -fs switch, and you're done.
Make sure you have the right Modelines in your XF86Config file, and
try if the DGA driver (and SDL's DGA driver, see RTFM) works for you.
It's much faster. If SDL's DGA works too, use that, it'll be EVEN faster!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What is the meaning of numbers in the status line?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
See: <CODE>A: 2.1 V: 2.2 A-V: -0.167 ct: 0.042 57 41% 0% 2.6% 0 4 49%</CODE><BR>
<UL>
<LI>A: audio position in seconds
<LI>V: video position in seconds
<LI>A-V: audio-video difference in seconds (delay)
<LI>ct: total A-V sync correction done
<LI>frames played (counting from last seek)
<LI>video codec cpu usage in percent (for mpeg it includes video_out too!)
<LI>video_out cpu usage for avi, 0 for mpg (see above)
<LI>audio codec cpu usage in percent
<LI>frames needed to drop to maintain A-V sync
<LI>current level of image postprocessing (when using -autoq)
<LI>current cache size used (normal is ~50%)
</UL>
<I>Most of them are for debug purposes, and will be removed soon.</I>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What if I don't want them to appear?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Then you use the -quiet option, and read the manpage.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Why is video_out cpu usage zero (0%) for mpeg files?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's not zero, but it's built in into codec, so can't be measured separated.
You should try to play the file using -vo null and then -vo ... and check
the difference to see video_out speed...
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What's XMMP? (is it XMMS or XMPS but mispelled?)
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's a new project, see http://frozenproductions.com for details
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
There are error messages about file not found /usr/lib/win32/....
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Download <A HREF="ftp://ftp.mplayerhq.hu/MPlayer/releases/w32codec.zip">w32codec.zip</A>
from *our* FTP (avifile's codec package has different DLL set).
Install it.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Are there any mailing lists on MPlayer?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Yes! See RTFM on how to subscribe them!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I've found a nasty bug when I tried to play my favourite video!!
Who should I inform?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
See Appendix <A HREF="bugreports.html">C</A>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have problems playing files with ... codec. Can I use'em?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Check <A HREF="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/codecs-status.html">http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/codecs-status.html</A>,
if it doesn't contain your codec, read
<A HREF="codecs.html#2.1.3">section 2.1.3</A>, and contact us.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Umm, what is "IdegCounter"?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
A mixture of a hungarian and an english word. In english, "Ideg" means
"nerve", and is pronounced as something like "ydaegh" . It was first used
to measure the nervousness of A'rpi, after some (umm) "mystic" disappearance
of CVS code ;)
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
And what is "Faszom(C)ounter" ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
"Fasz" is a hungarian word you don't want to know, the others are in
connection with the pervert minds of the MPlayer developers.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
LIRC doesn't work, because ...
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Are you sure you use "mplayer_lirc" instead of "mplayer"?
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Subtitles are very nice, the most beautiful I've ever seen, but they slow
down the playing! I know it's unlikely...
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
After running ./configure , edit config.h and replace <CODE>#undef FAST_OSD</CODE> with
<CODE>#define FAST_OSD</CODE>. Then recompile.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
The OSD is flickering!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You use a vo driver with single buffering (x11,xv). With xv,
use -double option.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What exactly is this libavcodec?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
See the <A HREF="codecs.html#2.1.2.2">2.1.2.2 section</A>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
But configure tells me "Checking for libavcodec ... no"!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You need to get libavcodec from FFmpeg's CVS. Read the instructions in
the <A HREF="codecs.html#2.1.2.2">ffmpeg section</A>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
The GUI isn't usable with icewm, because some panel are over the movie!!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Known, icewm is dictatoric. Unsolvable. In detail:
its taskbar overrides GUI's window resize queries. If it asks for
resize to 800x600, then it resizes window to 800x(600-taskbar_size). It's bad.
Very bad.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I can't access the GUI menu. I press right click, but I can't access any
menu items !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Are you using FVWM ? Try the following :<BR>
Start -> Settings -> Configuration -> Base Configuration<BR>
<BR>
Set "Use Applications position hints" to Yes.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
How can I run MPlayer in the background ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Use : <CODE>mplayer <options> <filename> < /dev/null &</CODE>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD COLSPAN=3>
<B><A NAME=5.3>5.3. File playing problems</A></B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
...... works with avifile/aviplay while doesn't with MPlayer.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
<B>MPlayer</B> != avifile
The only common thing between these players is the Win32 DLL loader.
The codecs (dll) sets, syncronization, demultiplexing etc is totaly
different and shouldn't be compared.
If something works with aviplay it doesn't mean that <B>MPlayer</B> should do
it and vice versa.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Audio goes out of sync playing .avi file.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Try with -bps or -nobps option
if still bad, send me (upload to ftp) that file, I'll check.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Indeo 3.x/4.x movies are viewed upside-down!!!?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's a known bug (really it's a bug/limitation of the DLL codec)
Try if your vo driver supports the -flip switch.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Indeo 3.x,4.x video doesn't work at 32bpp resolutions (16,24 bpp are ok).
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's a known bug (really it's a bug/limitation of the DLL codec).
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
MPlayer exits with something error when using l3codeca.acm.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Check 'ldd /usr/local/bin/mplayer' output. If it contains<BR>
<CODE>libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x4???????)</CODE><BR>
where "?" is any number then it's ok, the error is not here. If it is:<BR>
<CODE>libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x00??????)</CODE><BR>
then there is problem with your kernel/libc. Maybe you are using some
security patches (for example Solar Designer's OpenWall patch) which
forces loading libraries to very low addresses.
Because l3codeca.acm is a non-relocatable DLL, it must be loaded to
0x00400000, we can't change this. You should use non-patched kernel,
or use <B>MPlayer</B>'s -afm 1 option to disable using l3codeca.acm.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
My computer plays M$ DivX AVIs with resolutions ~ 640x300 and stereo mp3
sound too slow. When I use -nosound switch, everything is ok (but quiet).
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Ok son, your machine is too slow. RTFM or anything.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
MPlayer dies with "MPlayer interrupted by signal 4 in module: decode_video".
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Try running <B>MPlayer</B> on the machine you compiled on. Or recompile. Don't
use <B>MPlayer</B> on different CPU than it was compiled on.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have problems with [your window manager] and fullscreen xv/xmga/sdl/x11 modes..
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Use the -fsmode switch. See example.conf or manpage.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
But it works with avifile!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
So what?
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Then avifile is better!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Then use avifile, it has nice GUI and nice C++ code :)
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I got this playing mpeg files: Can't find codec for video format 0x10000001!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You have old version of codecs.conf at ~/.mplayer/. Upgrade it from etc/<BR>
<B>OR</B> you have the <CODE>vc=</CODE> option or similar, in your
config file(s).
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
After starting mplayer under KDE(1/2) I just get a black screen and nothing
happens, after about one minute the video starts playing.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
The KDE arts sound daemon is blocking the sound device, either wait the time
until video starts or you disable the arts-daemon in kontrollcenter.
If you want to use arts sound, specify audio output via SDL (ao=sdl), and
make sure your SDL can handle arts sound. Yet another option is to start
mplayer with artsdsp.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have an AVI that plays with grey screen with -vc odivx, and green with -vc divx4 .
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's not a DivX file, but an M$ MPEG4v3 . Update your codecs.conf.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
There this movie is, and when I play it I get video-audio desync and/or MPlayer crashes with the following:<BR>
<CODE>DEMUXER: Too many (945 in 8390980 bytes) video packets in the buffer!</CODE>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
This can have multiple reasons.<BR>
<UL><LI>your CPU <B>and/or</B> video card <B>and/or</B> bus is too SLOW. <B>MPlayer</B>
displays a message if this is the case. (and the dropped frames counter is going up fast)</LI>
<LI>if it is an AVI, maybe it has bad interleaving. Try the <I>-ni</I> option.</LI>
<LI>your sound driver is buggy, or you use ALSA 0.5 with <I>-ao oss</I>. See the <A HREF="sound.html">soundcards section</A>.</LI>
<LI>the AVI has bad header, try with the <I>-nobps</I> option, and/or <I>-mc 0</I> .</LI></UL>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have an MJPEG file which works with other players but displays only black
image in MPlayer.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Disable the Windows DLL in <CODE>codecs.conf</CODE>, or use <CODE>-vc ffmjpeg</CODE> option (you have to
compile MPlayer with libavcodec).
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When I try to grab from my tuner, it works, but colors are strange. It's ok
with other applications.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Your card probably misreports its colorspace capacity. Try with YUY2 instead
of default YV12 (see TV input documentation).
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When I try to start playing, I get this message, but playing is good :<BR>
<CODE>Linux RTC init: ioctl (rtc_pie_on): Permission denied</CODE>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
See the <A HREF="documentation.html#1.3">Installation section</A>. The part
about new sync code.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have A/V sync problems. Some of my AVIs play fine, but some play with
double speed !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You have buggy soundcard/driver. Most likely it's fixed at 44100Hz, and
you try to play a file which has 22050Hz audio. Try the <CODE>-ao sdl</CODE>
driver.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
All the WMV (or other..) files I play gives green/gray window and there is
only sound! It prints:<BR>
<CODE>Detected video codec: [null] drv:0 (NULL codec (no decoding))</CODE>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Update your <CODE>codecs.conf</CODE>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD COLSPAN=3>
<B><A NAME=5.4>5.4. Video/audio driver problems (vo/ao)</A></B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Ok, -vo help shows DGA driver, but it is babbling about permissions!
Help me!
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It works only if running as root! It's a DGA limitation.
You should become to root (su -), and try again.
Another solution is making mplayer SUID root, but its NOT RECOMMENDED!<BR>
<CODE>chown root /usr/local/bin/mplayer</CODE><BR>
<CODE>chmod 750 /usr/local/bin/mplayer</CODE><BR>
<CODE>chmod +s /usr/local/bin/mplayer</CODE><BR>
<B>!!!! BUT STAY TUNED !!!!</B><BR>
This is a *BIG* security risk! *NEVER* do this on a server or on a computer
can be accessed by more people than only you because they can gain root
privilegies through suid root mplayer!!!<BR>
<B>!!!! SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ... !!!!</B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When using Xvideo, my Voodoo 3/Banshee says:<BR>
<CODE>X Error of failed request: BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied)<BR>
Major opcode of failed request: 147 (MIT-SHM)<BR>
Minor opcode of failed request: 1 (X_ShmAttach)<BR>
Serial number of failed request: 26<BR>
Current serial number in output stream:27</CODE><BR>
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Your driver is old, update it. Either download (at least) DRI version 0.6
from <A HREF="http://dri.sourceforge.net">http://dri.sourceforge.net</A>,
or use the DRI cvs.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When using Xvideo, I can't play DivX avis with my Voodoo 3/Banshee!
It says:<BR>
...<BR>
<CODE>Xvideo image format: 0x32315659 (YV12) planar<BR>
Xvideo image format: 0x30323449 (I420) planar<BR></CODE>
...
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A1:</TD><TD>
See the previous answer.
</TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A2:</TD><TD>
Since 0.18pre4 we support libavcodec from the ffmpeg package. It contains
a C language DivX and OpenDivX decoder. The DivX decoder uses YV12 format
for output, thus it should work for you. Compile in libavcodec support.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
OpenGL (-vo gl) output doesn't work (hangup/black window/X11 errors/...).
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Your opengl driver doesn't support dynamic texture changes (glTexSubImage)
It's known not to work with nVidia's binary mess.
It's known to work with Utah-GLX/DRI and Matrox G400 card. Also with
DRI and Radeon card. It won't work with DRI others than these.
it will not work with 3DFX cards because the 256x256 texture size limit.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have an nVidia TNT/TNT2 card, and I have a band with strange colours,
right under the movie! Whose fault is this?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's the nVidia X driver's. These bugs are ONLY with the TNT/TNT2 cards,
and we can't do anything about it, it's not our bug. UPDATE : it's fixed
in newest drivers, at last..
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I have an nVidia XYZ card, and when I click on the GUI's diplay window to toggle
displaying the GUI panel, a black square appears where I clicked. I have
the newest driver.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Yes, nvidia corrected a previous bug (above), and implemented a new one. Let's
congratule them. UPDATE : according to
<A HREF="users_against_developers.html#nvidia">NVidia</A>, this is already
corrected.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When I use the GUI with SDL video output, a second video window is created.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Known, don't use SDL for GUI yet.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD COLSPAN=3>
<B><A NAME=5.5>5.5. Feature requests</A></B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Is there a hint on how to watch RealMedia movies in MPlayer?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
There's no way to do it. Therefore this format deserves to die in flames.
Theoretically you can reverse engineer Real codecs built for Linux (they
are available as .so files), but in practice that's really difficult, even
if you know how the compiler used by Real is making assembler code.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
When will be <your favourite video feature> (like subtitle placement) implemented?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Wait for libvo2.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I want to play MP3 files with MPlayer !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
This feature is not planned. There are much better players (mpg123, 3pm, xmms)
for this task, use them. BTW, MPlayer stands for Movie Player.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I'd like to seek +/- 1 frames, instead of 10 seconds.
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
This won't be done. It was, but then it messed up A/V sync. Feel free to
implement it, and send a patch. Don't ask for it.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
Where is the Windows version ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
It's not released, and won't be. Look around the windows scene (opensource
ASF parsers, opensource ASF encoders, etc) and you'll know why. We don't
want to go to jail.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
What card you may suggest me to buy?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A0:</TD><TD>
It's for your opinion only but our issues are:
</TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A1:</TD><TD>
Speed:
<br>This
parameter can be computed very easy:
<br><b>a)</b>
which movies do you plan to watch:
<br><b>-
MPEG1:</b> 320x200@32=256000
<br>so
you need only 256*25fps=6.4Mb/sec bandwidth (This format can be played
in real-time on any PC since P-100 + S3Virge)
<br><b>-
MPEG4:</b> 640x480@32=1228800
<br>you
need videobandwidth 1.2*25fps=30Mb/sec To watch such movie in real-time
you need enough power PC: (Celeron-450+DIMM based video card)
<br><b>-
MPEG2 (aka DVD or SDTV):</b> 1024x768@32=3145728
<br>you
need videobandwidth 3*30fps=90Mb/sec In extremal cases (if your video card
supports IDCT decoding) this can be played on the same PC as for MPEG4
<br><b>-
HDTV (HighData TeleVision):</b> 2000x2000@32=16000000
<br>i.e.
videobandwidth = 16*30fps=480Mb/sec (This means also that you need at least
32Mb of video memory to watch this stream: 16Mb for RGB area and 16Mb for
YUV area)
<br><b>b)</b>
Bandwidth of PCI slot is: 33Mhz*32bit=132Mb/sec And PCI2.1 has 66MHz*32bit=265Mb/sec
that is far enough for any movie playback (except HDTV streams which really
require AGP bus).
<br><b>c)</b>
What memory type should be installed on video card:
<br><b>SIMM</b>
- avoid that
<br><b>DIMM</b>
- good if your video card has 128-bit memory access.
<br><b>DDR</b>
- is far enough for all types.
<br>Note:
By DGA comparision - there is no any visible difference between video cards
which have installed the same type of video memory.
<br><b>Resume:</b>
If you have enough power CPU (Celeron-450 or K6-2-500) it would be enough
to buy any video card which has at least 8Mb of DIMM or DDR memory.
</TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A2:</TD><TD>
Quality:
<br>This
question was investigated in depth at:
<br><a href="http://www.anandtech.com">http://www.anadtech.com</a>
AnandTech - Video Card Roundup - DVD Quality, Features & Performance
(October 2000)
</TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A3:</TD><TD>
WORKING features under Linux:
<br>If
you are win32 user then probably you have support (from driver and DirectX8
side) for any feature which was introduced in your chip.
<br>But
for <b>linux </b>users:
<br>Currently
I know only several vendors which have more or less advanced support under
Linux:
<br>
<table BORDER COLS=5 WIDTH="100%">
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>
<center>Matrox</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>ATI</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>NVidia</center>
</td>
<td>
<center>S4 Savage</center>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Driver's provider</td>
<td>enthusiasts</td>
<td>enthusiasts</td>
<td>OEM + enthusiasts</td>
<td>enthusiasts</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Driver's quality</td>
<td>Best(X11,kernel)</td>
<td>Best(X11,GATOS,kernel)</td>
<td>Buggy(X11 only)</td>
<td>Best(X11 only)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VIDEO OVERLAY</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BES and YV2RGB</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>YES</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>scaling filters</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>adaptive deinterlace</td>
<td>NO</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Video equalizer (hue, contrast, saturation, color correction)</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>PARTLY (under devel)</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alpha blending, color and video keys</td>
<td>PARTLY</td>
<td>PARTLY (under devel)</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Video capture</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>YES(GATOS)</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TV-out</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>YES</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>Well
- it's very rude observing of video card. Indeed we should pay our attention
for models of video card:
<br>For
example if MatroxG400(G450) drivers support TV-out then G550 has no such
support.
<br>Other
sample: Adaptive deinterlacing exists only since Rage128 chip and isn't
present on Mach64+ ones. Same as 3D features are far different from Mach64
to Radeon2 8500 with trueform possibilities.
<p><b>ANYWAY
- MPLAYER'S TEAM DOESN'T ACCEPT ANY CLAIMS IF YOU AFTER</b>
<br><b>READING
OF THIS MATERIAL WILL BUY CARD WHICH IS UNSUCCESSFUL FOR YOU!!!</b>
<br><b>THIS
MATERIAL IS ONLY OUR VISION.</b>
<p><b>Q:</b>
If PCI slot is far enough for most types of movies then why S3 Virge
<br>is
too slow for them?
<br><b>A:</b>
Due to its SIMM memory.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD COLSPAN=3>
<B><A NAME=5.6>5.6. Encoding</A></B>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
How can I encode ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Check <A HREF="encoding.html">this documentation</A>.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
My tuner works, with MPlayer I can hear the sound and watch the video, but
MEncoder doesn't encode audio !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
TV audio encoding is currently unimplemented, we're working on it.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
I can't encode DVD subtitles into the AVI !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
You have to specify the <CODE>-sid</CODE> option correctly!
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
MEncoder segfaults on start !
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Upgrade DivX4Linux.
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD><TR>
<TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>Q:</TD><TD WIDTH=100%><B>
How can I encode only selected chapters from DVD ?
</B></TD><TR><TD></TD><TD VALIGN=top>A:</TD><TD>
Use the <CODE>-chapter</CODE> option correctly, like : <CODE>-chapter 5-7</CODE>
</TD><TR><TD COLSPAN=3> </TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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