XMS-888 - Mpeg4 - Firmware?

[buts]

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.

Just checked those 2 audiostreams files. Yes, the 'Track' button switches
between German/English streams. It takes 5-10 sec to switch but
it works for all 2 stream samples shown above.

Does anybody know how to check DivX/Xvid file for a presence of
GM/QPEL ? Avicodec and Gspot 2.21 don't show this info. I read before
that ESS chip supports 1-point GMC (Divx5) and doesn't support
3-point GMC (for Xvid). However, I am still curious why Divx5 GMC+QPEL
high bitrate file basically played and single QPEL Divx5 didn't.

[lat3ralis]

Does anybody know how to check DivX/Xvid file for a presence of
GM/QPEL ? Avicodec and Gspot 2.21 don't show this info.

If you enable the OSD with "frame type" turned on in ffdshow, you can see whether QPel/GMC/B-Frames were used or not :D

I read before that ESS chip supports 1-point GMC (Divx5) and doesn't support 3-point GMC (for Xvid). However, I am still curious why Divx5 GMC+QPEL high bitrate file basically played and single QPEL Divx5 didn't.

From my tests, I couldn't get anything with QPel working (XviD or DivX). So I think it's safe to asume that QPel isn't supported.

lat3ralis

[HoochieMamma]

could people read my post at the end of page 32? (posting this because people will go to the end of this thread and miss my post)

[andw]

could people read my post at the end of page 32? (posting this because people will go to the end of this thread and miss my post)
Yes, I believe that is a bare RF modulator, would need power supply etc. I think you could get one already to go (as a complete unit), I'm sure I've seen them around, with power supply and everything.
However, I don't think it will help you, my understanding is that it would take an AV signal, and output a RF signal, no different than going through your VCR AV inputs for example. If your TV can't handle the signal as AV, I doubt very much that making it an RF signal will make any difference.
Some VCR's will chuck a fit when you try to pass a macrovision encoded picture through them, but some like mine will only make a mess of the signal going to tape if you try and record.
If you want to give it a go however, just pass the AV signal through your VCR, and switch your TV to the channel your VCR comes in on. Then you won't have to buy the Jaycar part + power circuitry etc.

[HoochieMamma]

Ok cool thanks

[buts]

If you enable the OSD with "frame type" turned on in ffdshow, you can see whether QPel/GMC/B-Frames were used or not :D

From my tests, I couldn't get anything with QPel working (XviD or DivX). So I think it's safe to asume that QPel isn't supported.

lat3ralis

Just checked that the high bitrate Divx5 described as GMC+Qpel doesn't
have QPEL, only B, GMC and I,P frames. Obviously it was a misprint on that
site where I copied it from. So I convinced now that all files with QPEL are not playable.

[himem.sys]

With some of my smaller divX files u can get the OSD to turn off :O with firmware 1.0

Also i tried the liteON home dvd player tester file (for their players yes) downloaded off their website and the XMS-888 played it with no sound LOL

[skaman]

p.s. skaman - what do you recompress with?

The data and code is compressed with GZIP. When I manually recompress I generally use the -9 (best compression) option to make sure that the patched block does not exceed the original space. If you run into a problem where the patched code/data exceeds the original space, then you'll need to do some shifting of blocks and recalculating of pointers - not fun! BTW, when you manually compress using GZIP, you need to delete the GZIP header of the compressed block before patching it into the ROM.

You may also be able to use Patcher to do the GZIP compression and patching in a single step. The latest Patcher versions are in the MIPSX SRC Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mipsx_src). I believe sdetoni modified Patcher for 1M ROM compatibility but I haven't personally confirmed this.

Happy Hacking!

Late!

[HoochieMamma]

So is there a connector etc. that is used to convert an NTSC signal into a PAL signal and can be purchased in australia for cheap?

[bcasteng]

So is there a connector etc. that is used to convert an NTSC signal into a PAL signal and can be purchased in australia for cheap?
Um... Hi, and no.

When you play back on a multisystem TV, there is no conversion; the TV just switches its frame rate (from 25 to 30), its linecount (from 625 to 525) and its colour decoding (from NTSC3.58 to PAL4.43). Easy to do on a TV, and seriously non-trivial to do properly in an external box. There are cheap standards converters for a few $hundreds which work OK.... just OK, and would certainly be the right answer where there's no other choice.

The modulator from the Jaycar catalogue would only code a PAL signal, will give you mono, and will degrade both audio and video compared to a direct connection.

I have an unrelated question: can someone recommend a [clean and freebie!] tool which will convert (effectively)
from: a Quicktime movie file produced by a Sony Camera
to: some format that will play correctly on the XMS-888??

My random experiments with Quicktime and AVI have so far been... well, pretty useless. :-(

PS: congrats to all contributing to this thread. I read the lot after buying my player last Friday. My wishlist for V1.2? Ability to play back MPEG1 layer 2 (two) files at Broadcast resolutions. 48k/44.1k, 256/384kbps would be just brilliant.

[andw]

For MOV to AVI, use RAD Video Tools (Freeware). (.qt as well I think)
Just discovered this myself today, when I wanted to view the NASA mars rover animation on the XMS-888.
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/mov2avi.htm (this link is actually for the 'guide', but if you click on
http://www.radgametools.com/down/bink/radtools.exe it will download for you.
Install it, run it, highlight the file you want and click on 'Convert a file'.
You can then select what codec to use, and configure it.
I tried using Xvid codec and RMP4 codec, both worked well. (divx5.1.1 didn't, but I think that was my fault)

[noisemaker]

i have had alot of issues with sounds and sometimes the movie doesn't appear, except with DISC ERROR, or some dont appear at all and skip to the next film on the disc, and some dont even come up with sound, its really p*ssing me off, and i have done the firmware upgrade... the scary thing is, the disc error even appears on films that have worked, but i had to do the whole

eject, eject, or eject, eject power off, power on, blow dust off disc, repeat

its strange, im seriously contemplating returning this player and getting a new one, unless someone out there can gimme a hand

[andw]

Hi noisemaker, so far people with this problem have returned them (taking sample discs for testing) and had them swapped over for working ones. My guess would be that there are some out there with dodgy lasers or something.

[HoochieMamma]

Is there an easy way to connect/join an .avi (DivX or Xvid) without encoding it again?

[noisemaker]

if its the lasers, wouldn't there be problems playing dvd and vcd's too? maybe its the way i encoded the films? i shortened them in size so i can fit more to the disc and dunno what audio codec used, well to be honest i forgot its either mpeg 2 or wma codec, not sure, but you'd think it'd work, please please help meee (to the beatles tune) :D

[andw]

noisemaker, I had problems when I burnt the cd at 48x, no problems at 12x, and I'm pretty sure that I've burnt ok at 24x. Some very weird things happened at 48x.
Anyway, my guess would be that if it was the lasers, then yes you'd probably have probs with DVD's etc as well.
Have you tried a different disc type? - Some of the above forum people have taken their discs in, with the same problems, and a different player in the store was ok. (you'll have to search the thread for the instances though).
If you've tried a diff disc, burnt slower etc, try taking the discs in to test on another 888 in store.

[noisemaker]

oh yes i have :) i had almost an hour session at the store simply testing and querying the staff :\


maybe i didn't query enough, and i thought at first it may have to do with the colour of the discs (blue? gold? etc etc)

its funny u mention that, i have burnt everything in 48x i might try 24x perhaps :\

cheers for that mate

[LastActionZero]

... 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...
<stuff deleted>...
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?

Hi HoochieMamma,

This is not a TV problem.
TVs can not produce pixelated pictures, or jaggies (not from analog signals anyhow).

The jaggies are typical of interlaced programs (i.e. TV as opposed to film).
Pixelated sections are typical of corrupt data (e.g. through dirt / damage on surface or DVD player built-in software not working too well).

If your friend's DVD player played it ok, then his player either: does a better job of changing an NTSC signal into a PAL (if it was being converted); plays the NTSC straight through and his TV can cope (most sold in Australia do); or can read the surface better (where your player may find the signal on the disc 'not quite readable').

For the jaggies, try using the Preferences set up to select interlaced source (instead of the default 'super smart' - which has the machine guess whether the material is progressive or interlaced).

For the pixelated areas, if it is the player that does not translate NTSC to PAL too well (unlikely, I have several R1s that play fine on the 888) then a device to translate NTSC to PAL will help. I don't think they come cheap though... for what they are.

The jaycar unit you quoted probably only takes in the PAL video input, and if you plug in an NTSC video signal, it is unlikely to work (i.e. likely to still appear black and white and roll). But even if it did work, don't forget that an RF signal is much lower quality than plugging in A/V cables directly.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Laz.

[HoochieMamma]

Hi laz, I already had the XMS-888 set to interlaced mode so that cant be the problem. Its wierd cos the jaggard edges is more like lines going though the picture and it only happens when there is high motion sences. When I set the XMS-888 to multi system or NTSC it goes all black and white and wierd looking but the lines are not there anymore. I cant figure this problem out, it has to be the TV cos its from ~1993 and cant convert NTSC signals so thats what I think it is (not sure though)

[lat3ralis]

Its wierd cos the jaggard edges is more like lines going though the picture and it only happens when there is high motion sences.

That definately sounds like an interlacing problem to me. Perhaps when you encoded the video, you forgot to de-interlace and specified the source as being progressive (rather than interlaced).

lat3ralis