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View Full Version : A Try: mjpeg for avi vj content distribution


topherz
6th December 2005, 08:54 AM
Hi all,

We have two new SOURCE (www.dandelion.org/source) releases coming out very very soon and I am hoping to move away from cinepak for our avi compression. It looks like mjpeg could be the holy grail!

:help:

I would really appreciate it if people out there in vj land could try out this mjpeg encoded clip in their vj softwares and let me know how it works in responses to this thread. This experiment could be helpful to everyone looking for the "right codec" to produce AVI vj content for others.

Here is the clip:
http://www.dandelion.org/mediablock/DCVS08_mjpeg_test.avi

Please provide the following information:

********

Operating system: (Windows XP SP2, Windows 2000....)
DirectX Version: (v8,v9,v9c....)
MJPEG Codec: (only if you have installed one... Morgan v2, PIC, Main Concept...)
VJ software tried in: (resolume, arkaos,vjamm...)

Did the clip work?

********

Here is some background on our serach for the ideal codec for distributing vj content:

Our criteria is:
A. To have a codec that everyone already has on their computer. We want anyone who buys our content to have zero hassle.
B. To have a codec that works very well in VJ software, scrub, scrape, mutate, backwards, etc.
C. To have a codec that places minimal strain on the CPU
D. To have a codec that looks beautiful.



We started in 2001 using the cinepak codec. Although it was not the best looking codec even in 2001, at the time it was the acknowledged champ of vj codecs cause it decompresses so damn fast. Last year we planned to change to using Indeo. Then we learned that with windows XP sp2 indeo was no longer a standard free codec. Grrr!
Since I had to buy an MJPEG codec I always assumed you had to pay for it.We only recently learned that MJPEG decompressors are *supposedly* provided with Directx8, Directx9 and WindowsXP.

See:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq.aspx#3_9

3.9 My content needs an MJPG (MJPEG) decoder. Where can I get one?
If your digital camera produces MJPEG .avi files, install Microsoft DirectX 9.0, which includes an MJPEG decoder. To install DirectX 9.0, see the DirectX Download page.

And:
http://www.nwlink.com/~zachd/pss/pss.html
A: DirectX 8, DirectX 9, and Windows XP all include a MJPEG decoder.
If this doesn't work for you, there's also the PICVideo Motion JPEG codec. Other companies probably make 'em too.

******

(By the way, Ive read in a few posts her e the opinion to distribute stuff at maximum quality in a not-necesserily vj friendly codec and let each vj re-encode to their favorite format. This is a good idea, but we have taken the decision that we just want clips that are ready to go. Also, we provide hiqh quality PJPEG quicktimes - so people can use those to recompress to other formats if they want.)

I hope some people have a minute or two to try this! If you like the clip please feel free to use it.

-topher

topherz
6th December 2005, 08:57 AM
Operating system: Windows XP sp2
DirectX Version: v9c
MJPEG Codec: Morgan v2
VJ software tried in: resolume, windows media player

Did the clip work?

Yes.
The clip works fine everywhere.

(As expected since the morgan MJPEG codec is installed!!!)

SilentEclipse
6th December 2005, 09:09 AM
Nice clip! worked fine in realplayer and resolume 2.0

xp sp1
directx9
midivid mjpeg....dunno what else i have to be honest

sleepytom
6th December 2005, 09:57 AM
yeah works fine for me XPsp2 DX9.0c
installed codecs:-

[Video Codecs]

CODEC Manufacturer Description Status File Version Size Creation Date
c:\windows\system32\msyuv.dll Microsoft Corporation msyuv.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSYUV.DLL 5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 17.00 KB (17,408 bytes) 04/08/2004 00:56
c:\windows\system32\msvidc32.dll Microsoft Corporation msvidc32.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSVIDC32.DLL 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) 25.00 KB (25,600 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\ir32_32.dll Intel(R) Corporation ir32_32.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IR32_32.DLL Not Available 194.50 KB (199,168 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\msrle32.dll Microsoft Corporation msrle32.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSRLE32.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 11.00 KB (11,264 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\iccvid.dll Radius Inc. iccvid.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\ICCVID.DLL 1.10.0.11 78.50 KB (80,384 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\msh263.drv Microsoft Corporation msh263.drv OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSH263.DRV 5.1.2600.2180 288.00 KB (294,912 bytes) 04/08/2004 00:56
c:\windows\system32\iyuv_32.dll Microsoft Corporation iyuv_32.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IYUV_32.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 46.50 KB (47,616 bytes) 04/08/2004 00:56
c:\windows\system32\ir41_32.ax Intel Corporation ir41_32.ax OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IR41_32.AX 4.51.16.03 828.50 KB (848,384 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\tsbyuv.dll Microsoft Corporation tsbyuv.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\TSBYUV.DLL 5.1.2600.0 (XPClient.010817-1148) 8.00 KB (8,192 bytes) 17/08/2001 22:36
c:\windows\system32\msh261.drv Microsoft Corporation msh261.drv OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSH261.DRV 5.1.2600.2180 184.00 KB (188,416 bytes) 27/12/2004 10:51
c:\windows\system32\ir50_32.dll Intel Corporation Indeo? video 5.10 OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IR50_32.DLL R.5.10.15.2.55 737.50 KB (755,200 bytes) 01/01/1980 00:00
c:\windows\system32\vp31vfw.dll On2.com vp31vfw.dll OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\VP31VFW.DLL 3, 2, 5, 0 436.00 KB (446,464 bytes) 07/11/2005 23:29
c:\windows\system32\cfhd.dll CineForm Inc. CineForm HD VFW Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\CFHD.DLL 2, 1, 1, 117 1.13 MB (1,183,744 bytes) 09/09/2005 08:31
c:\windows\system32\pvwv220.dll Pegasus Imaging Corporation PICVideo Wavelet2000 Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\PVWV220.DLL 2.10.0.29 352.00 KB (360,448 bytes) 25/02/2003 09:32
c:\windows\system32\pvljpg20.dll Pegasus Imaging Corporation PICVideo Lossless JPEG Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\PVLJPG20.DLL 2.10.0.29 192.00 KB (196,608 bytes) 25/02/2003 09:36
c:\windows\system32\pvmjpg30.dll Pegasus Imaging Corporation PICVideo 3 M-JPEG VfW Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\PVMJPG30.DLL 3.0.0.12 392.00 KB (401,408 bytes) 11/01/2005 10:54

i'm guesing the its pic video thats playing it back - it works in VJamm on the VFW anyway (thats good - faster than directshow)


BTW to find out what codecs you have installed type 'msinfo32' without the quotes into the run box (on the start menu) - this opens the system infomation utility - expand the components > multimedia > video codecs section and you get a list of all the available codecs on your machine.

Ollie
6th December 2005, 10:03 AM
works fine here too

mac os x 10.4.3 Quicktime 7.0.3

cool clip by the way, how'd you do that? :)

sleepytom
6th December 2005, 10:08 AM
also having done some more tests with graphedit your file will also playback using quartz.dll http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?quartz
i belive this is a standard component of directx now.

how did you compress this file?

VJamm
6th December 2005, 10:27 AM
does this play back on standard windows without any codecs installed?

or is there a free codec installer to go with it?

and will it be free to use?

sorry for all the questions

Russell

devonmiles
6th December 2005, 11:09 AM
Operating system: Windows XP sp2
DirectX Version: v9c
MJPEG Codec: picvideo
VJ software tried in: resolume, windows media player

works well but i notice a slight offset top and right from frame 35 to 41, dunno why.
is it a 3ds render or a series of stills processed in ae?

robotfunk
6th December 2005, 11:10 AM
I believe it does. I am almost sure the DECompresser ships freely with any recentish Windows, only the COmpressor isn't supplied by default and needs to be purchased if you want to make clips with this codec.

also runs fine here on both my XP and Mac as expected.

[Edit: That was a reply to Russell]

topherz
6th December 2005, 11:16 AM
Thanks everyone so far!

Tom, it is compressed with the Morgan multimedia v2 MJPEG codec.
And thanks for the tip on Quartz, that is encouraging.

Ollie, thanks! Lots of stills, lots of mouse clicks and eyestrain in after effects.

Russell,
"does this play back on standard windows without any codecs installed?" This is exactly what I am trying to find out. I hope so. According to literature, it should playback on any XP machine, or anything with Directx9 or Directx8 installed. But I want to be sure before i release a DVD with the clips on it!!!

No codec installer will come with the clips.

All the clips that we release on the Source label are licensed for VJ use, for playback in any venue - but they are not licensed to be resold or incorporated in mixes that are sold. So it is not royalty free stock footage. Dont think Creative Commons has something that suits us exactly yet!!


cheers, topher

topherz
6th December 2005, 11:22 AM
devon,
ha ha, very observant. yes this offset is in the video itself - no strange codec artefact. The clip is not a 3D render.

-topher

Lucidhouse
6th December 2005, 01:16 PM
(cool clip)

works a treat here!

windows xp
mediaplayer
resolume

.

Westbam
6th December 2005, 02:33 PM
You hooked up a camara on a car, and drove a circle in a garage?? Looks great!!!

WinXP SP2, yeh, it worked.
Premiere, VVVV (based on DirectShow), BS player and MediaPlayer.

But looking on a VJ forum for people with no codecs installed is like looking for a virgin in a whorehouse ;)

devonmiles
6th December 2005, 04:27 PM
i think its more like shooting a full cirlce of stills around the column and putting them together in ae with blend effects and some gamma, contrast, huescale etc.

sleepytom
6th December 2005, 05:19 PM
yeah it looks like the same people who made the mayan stuff - amzingly painstaking process involving a tripod, tape mesure and digital stills camera.

alangeering
6th December 2005, 07:27 PM
off topic: laser rangefinder mounted to tripod can speed things up.

disassembler
6th December 2005, 07:49 PM
SHIT HOT CLIP!!!!

Almost thought it was 3d.

topherz
7th December 2005, 02:19 PM
Thanks for trying the MJPEG clip. I hope more people will try it and post their system information.

But, for the record I have had 5 non-VJ's try it as well and it has worked so far except for some problems in Realplayer.

cheers, topher

Ollie
7th December 2005, 03:24 PM
Originally posted by alangeering
off topic: laser rangefinder mounted to tripod can speed things up.

know of any cheapish ones? the ones i can find around ?30 are limited to about 12 meters.

I experimented with this today, its a project i've had in the back of my mind for ages (seems topherz and i share some same idea's like the demension elevator, i've been planning one of thoes for ages :))

All i did'nt was use the viewfinder focus thingys on my camera to line up the objects, in this case trees, will post an example later.

ollie

many2
7th December 2005, 04:35 PM
The clip has run properly on the 3 computers I've tested it with. All were running XP pro.