XMS-888 - Mpeg4 - Firmware?

[andw]

Hi jok11n, Any ideas what fixes they are waiting on?

[lat3ralis]

lat3ralis what software did you use to create the MP4 stream container, also have you tried the ogm(vorbis) container format.

I used mp4ui to create the container, as per the doom9 mpeg-4 guide. I haven't tried ogm, although I'd be surprised if it's supported.

GMC and Q-Pel are definately not supported, I have that from the factory. Still waiting on info back from the factory on some of the other formats, they are waiting on ESS for some further info, once I get that info I will post here.

Thanks for the info jok11n, more details from the factory would be much appreciated :D

lat3ralis

[Nicksta]

Hi all,

I purchased a XMS888 about two weeks ago and have played around ten different SVCD,DIVX 3.11, 5 and XVID movies with no problems whatsoever.

I obtained a two cd movie encoded in XVid with AC3 5.1, Gspot tells me both cds have been encoded identically. Both parts require 90min CD's as they weigh in at about 750mb each.

I have used Digimedia 90min/800mb disks and burnt using Nero (latest). The second Cd works fine everytime, the first I have burnt four times now and it will NOT play. I have tried changing the header to divx instead of xvid and tried various settings changes on Nero. Vdub reports there are no errors also. Anyone encountered this problem? What could be wrong?

The file plays fine on the pc and the burn cd also plays fine.

If noone has any ideas, perhaps someone point me to a good easy to use proggie that I can reencode this file with AC3 intact either at the same rate or down to something that squeezes into 700mb still wit AC3 5.1?

Cheers,

Nicksta

[jokiin]

Hi jok11n, Any ideas what fixes they are waiting on?

They were not specific other than telling us that they are waiting on feedback from engineers at ESS to address some issues that they have not been able to resolve themselves.

[speedyocca]

i found this site on the net that lists features of dvd players
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=3691&Search=Search&#comments

[andw]

Yeah, a good source for info, one of the reports on there is mine for the xms-888, and one for the xms-150.

[davidf]

If noone has any ideas, perhaps someone point me to a good easy to use proggie that I can reencode this file with AC3 intact either at the same rate or down to something that squeezes into 700mb still wit AC3 5.1?
Nicksta

Demux the file into the 2 separate streams then remux with nandub I found this has worked on 1 or 2 files that didn't work correctly.

[buts]

I did a testing of different formats from TestCD found on www.dvdboard.de.
This CD (600 Mb) contains 1 min of fast motion video with J. Chang in the mountans. Camera moves very fast showing mountains around, moving water etc. There is a big transparent word "Muster" imposed over the movie with complicated edges. So it gets bad if the player can't decode properly
fine details.
There are files with two audostreams German/English. German is alright
in all of them, I don't know how to switch to English (if possible).
I've done that on a normal 68 cm TV.
Here are results:

Resolutions:
480x204 -
496x208 -
512x220 -
528x220 -
544x236 -
560x239 -
576x248 -
592x248 -
608x260 -
624x260 -
640x272 -
656x276 -
672x288 -
688x288 -
704x296 -
720x308
All are ok, with no left, right black borders. Some have the word "Muster"
shifted slightly to the right.


DivX3:
All 704x430, 16:9

fast3k-DivXTon.avi - Fast Motion 2649 kb/s, DivX Audio 64kb/s OK
fast3k.avi - Fast Motion 2649 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
fast6k.avi - Fast Motion 2773 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
low15k.avi - Low Motion 1610 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s Basically OK
There are problems on the borders of the word Muster

low3k-DivXTon.avi - Low Motion 3221 kb/s, DivX Audio 64kb/s OK
low3k.avi - Low Motion 3222 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
low6k-320.avi - Low Motion 6025 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s OK

DivX5:
All 704x430, 16:9
1k-bf.avi - 1-pass 995 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, BFrames OK
1k-gmc.avi - 1-pass 999 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, GMC OK !
1k-qpel.avi - 1-pass 1018 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, Quarter Pixel
Just skips this file, no error message on QPEL.

2pass15k.avi - 2-pass 2981 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
2pass3k.avi - 2-pass 1503 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
6k-320.avi - 1-pass 6378 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s
Video is slowing down on fast scenes, audio breaks

6k-gmc-bf-320.avi - 1-pass 6628 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s, GMC, Quarter Pixel
Sometimes Video is very slow and disappears for 1 sec in the middle,
Audio breaks. However, basically it's ok.
Just curious, will it be fine encoded with GMC and QPEL (both !) at low
bitrates ?

JPG:
1000.jpg 1000x666 Pixel OK
1500.jpg 1500x999 Pixel OK
2000.jpg 2000x1332 Pixel OK
4000.jpg 3967x2642 Pixel OK

Music:

Test-CBR-128.mp3 OK
Test-CBR-320.mp3 OK
Test-VBR.mp3 OK, so player can handle VBR with low bitrates.
Test.ac3 OK
Test.ogg does not show up in menu
Test.wma OK

Muxing:
1 Frame Interleave, 500ms Preload

avimux+ac3.avi
avimux+cbr.avi
avimux+vbr.avi
nandub+ac3.avi
nandub+cbr.avi
nandub+vbr.avi
vdub+ac3.avi
vdub+cbr.avi
vdub+vbr.avi
All look OK for me, I can't say much about possible small audio delays
because they speak in german.

Ton:
1 Frame Interleave, 500ms Preload

1xAC3-448.avi
1xCBR-MP3.avi
1xVBR+1xAC3.avi
1xVBR-MP3.avi
2xAC3-448.avi
2xCBR-MP3.avi
2xVBR-MP3.avi
All OK.
The first german audio stream is fine, I dont' know how to switch
to the second stream (if possilbe).


Xvid:
All 704x430, 16:9
1k-bf.avi - 1-pass 1032 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, BFrames=3, OK
1k-gmc.avi - 1-pass 1038 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, GMC not OK, skips
1k-qpel.avi - 1-pass 1039 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s, Quarter Pixel not OK, skips
2pass15k.avi - 2-pass 1617 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
2pass3k.avi - 2-pass 3106 kb/s, MP3 128kb/s OK
6k-320.avi - 1-pass 5970 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s
after 15 sec a slideshow, but basically OK
6k-gmc-bf-320.avi - 1-pass 5894 kb/s, MP3 320kb/s, GMC, Quarter Pixel not OK, skips

[malcez]

Just wanted to congratulate people for keeping up efforts on this thread.

Seems like some people have really done some hard work.

And thanks jok11n for updating us on the firmware 1.2 progress.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers

[andw]

I did a testing of different formats from TestCD found on www.dvdboard.de.
.......
There are files with two audostreams German/English. German is alright
in all of them, I don't know how to switch to English (if possible).
.....
Does the 'Track' button on the remote switch?
I've only got Xvids with 1 audio track, but when I press it it says 'Audio 1/1'.
edit: also added your info on the webiste under the 'Disc Formats..' section.

[Nicksta]

Demux the file into the 2 separate streams then remux with nandub I found this has worked on 1 or 2 files that didn't work correctly.

Thanks man.

After messing with nandub and Vdub, and running a few test burns on cdrw, I found out the advert for the ripper which was the first key frame would not play on the xms888 for some unknown reason, so I just cut that keyframe off and then direct copied and it worked first go.

Cheers,

Nick.

[lat3ralis]

I did a testing of different formats from TestCD found on www.dvdboard.de ...

Thanks for the info. It's interesting to note that GMC and Q-Pel seem to work for DivX 5 content, but not XviD.

lat3ralis

[andw]

Well, this is weird, just had my first Xvid encode that has behaved weirdly...
Actually 2, as I wanted to see what Fair Use (2 pass) encoded like compared to DVDx (using 1 pass). (can't see that I can tell the difference).
Anyway, on BOTH of them the GOTO button is bring up 'the hand' as is skip back / forward, and FFWD and FRWD.
I have powered it off / on, to no avail.
very strange.....(will have to try playback on some others again now)
edit: well, the other discs don't have problems, just burnt one of the discs again at 12x (instead of 48x) and it's fine.
These are the first discs I've tried on it burnt at 48x, I have not had any problems with 24x burn.

[HoochieMamma]

Hello people, Just got myself the XMS-888 DivX player and I have to say its very good for me (havent had any major problems). But I'am unable to play the movie Showtime because it was encoded using QPEC, and I was wondering if it was posible for the manufactures to support QPEC with v1.2 of the firmware? Is it posible with the decoder chip its got? (yes I have updated the firmware to v1.1 andw)

[andw]

Hi HoochieMamma, welcome aboard. Have you upgraded the firmware yet?
Jok11n might be able to help with QPEC support, we are all waiting for specs from ESS, hopefully these will tell us exactly what the chip is capable of.

[lat3ralis]

Hello people, Just got myself the XMS-888 DivX player and I have to say its very good for me (havent had any major problems). But I'am unable to play the movie Showtime because it was encoded using QPEC, and I was wondering if it was posible for the manufactures to support QPEC with v1.2 of the firmware? Is it posible with the decoder chip its got?

Unforunately, I don't think QPel could be added via a firmware update. It is more of an issue with the decoder chip. Also, very few mpeg-4 players support QPel.

Actually, I do have a possible fix (although this is a longshot) ...

If your movie was encoded with XviD, try changing the fourcc to 'DIVX' and see if it works. Changing the fourcc tells the player to decode the file as if it were encoded with DivX (rather than XviD). A previous post suggests that the player works with QPEL if it is encoded with DivX 5. You can change the fourcc with the fourcc utility that comes with Koepi's XviD builds (available at http://koepi.roeder.goe.net/). I'd be suprised if it works, but its definately worth a try anyway. I might give this a go myself :D

lat3ralis

[lat3ralis]

I might give this a go myself :D

Ok, I tried it with no success. I burned two samples one XviD (with 'DIVX' fourcc) and one DivX 5 (both encoded with GMC and QPel). The player didn't play either of the files and gave a "codec not supported (QPEL)" error.

lat3ralis

[LastActionZero]

Hi all,

I was interested in burning and trying the TestCD that *buts* posted about, but I don't speak German and had trouble finding it on http://www.dvdboard.de/.

I finally found it, so here are the links for those that also want to download it.
[If someone has space, a local mirror would be good (I'm only getting 10KB/s)... though I could not understand who originally was posting it (to give them the credit / ask for permission)]

Here is the readme file:
ftp://zhnujm.dyndns.org/TestCD.txt

Here is the actual test CD:
http://www.horgi.mtu.ru/DivXTestCD.zip

Cheers,

LaZ.

[HoochieMamma]

Oh ok cool, thanks for trying that lat3ralis (I only have 1 blank cd left)

[HoochieMamma]

I have a DVD box set of Family Guy season 1&2 and Futurama season 1 I had to get shipped over from america (R1 NTSC) from ebay.com.au (really cheap!) ok. And I have this problem where every so often the edges go all jaggered and some scences pixalated. Its a problem with the TV cos I had the same problem with my old digiRED DVD player, its an old TV but still very good (80cm), and I think its a problem with the TV trying to cope with an NTSC signal (I have tryed the DVD on my friends TV (which is newer) and works perfectly) and I was wondering if this product will fix my problem:

http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=LM3850&CATID=31&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=xxxxxxxxxx&Keyword2=xxxxxxxxxx&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=372

I think it will because when I play the DVD and switch it to "Multi-System" or "NTSC" it goes all black and white and really unwatchable, but I'am able to notice that the jaggered edges are gone. So with this do-hickey above will I be able to set it for "Multi-System" and be able to view it better on my PAL only TV?