[MPlayer-users] Close to resolution: (was Re: Problem: some videos freeze, other very similar videos do not--difference might be just in?resolution (pixels)--how to convert?)

[Randy Kramer]

houghi,

Thanks!

Some comments (ruminations) below--it may be sort of meaningless rambling for 
the most part, so you may not want to read it unless you're a glutton for 
punishment. ;-)

On Wednesday 19 October 2011 02:10:39 am houghi wrote:
> The only reason I could come up with would be on the 'broken' one
> VIDEO:  [H264]  320x240  0bpp  59.917 fps  227.8 kbps (27.8 kbyte/s)
> on the 'working' one
> VIDEO:  [H264]  480x360  0bpp  29.970 fps  503.1 kbps (61.4 kbyte/s)
>
> What you could try is use ffmpeg or mencoder and convert it from flv to
> flv, but with less fps. Also see if the avi file has not already done
> that.

Wow!  I can't believe I didn't notice that difference in frame rate before.  

But, in fact, there appears to be something strange going on.

Before I sent the first email to this list, I looked carefully at those 
numbers (I thought) and, at that time, the only difference I could spot was 
the 320x240 vs. the 480x360.  

Well, I did notice a difference in the frame rate, but what I remember seeing 
was 29.917 vs. 29.970, and I assumed that was insignificant.  (It propably 
is.)

So, today, I tried playing video1 again (both the copy labeled video1 and the 
original with a more meaningful title).  Both of those say the frame rate is 
1000 fps (when played with either mplayer or gmplayer).  Then I looked back 
at my original email to this list, and see that it says 1000 fps.  

Even seeing that hasn't convinced me that, prior to that, I didn't see 29.917.  
(Too many negatives, I mean, I still think I originally saw 29.917 for 
video1, despite the evidence (from me) to the contrary).)  (I know, I'm 
getting old.)

In any case, leaving that aside, I'm left wondering why on my system the frame 
rate is reported as 1000 fps, and on your system, the frame rate is reported 
as 59.917--Oh, ok, I have a clue--it probably relates to what Reimar (and 
Carl) have been trying to tell me:

<quote (from Reimar)>
That version is so old that it will have massive issue with all kinds
of H.264 files.

This particular issue looks like something with time stamps, things like
-fps and -nocorrect-pts might be worth trying, but honestly anything
older than rc4 is simply unsuitable for H.264 files, particularly recently
encoded ones.

Nearly 4 year old software just doesn't cut it when you want to play
the latest multimedia files.
</quote>

So, anyway, for the record, I believe them.  If I felt comfortable compiling 
(or found a "supported" Lenny .deb for a later version of [g]mplayer), I 
might try upgrading.  So far, I haven't.

As it is, I'll experiment with using memcoder or ffmpeg to convert the file to 
a more realistic frame rate.

So, thanks again!

> Also look at the load of your machine and if it is too high, see if you
> can bring it down and see if that affects the performance. Turn off any 3d
> stuff that you might be running.

Of course, but that other stuff is what I should be doing with my computer, 
the video stuff is just diversion. ;-)

> I can play both files withour any issues.

regards,
Randy Kramer

PS: At some point, I'll post (at least) one more time with the command line I 
use to convert the file to a better fps.