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Front End Support => MaLa Frontend => Topic started by: Circo on June 15, 2011, 10:37:25 am

Title: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 15, 2011, 10:37:25 am
I am in the process of converting all the emumovies previews to the x.264 encoding format.  Now if I rename the file from preview.mp4 to preview.avi it does work in Mala, but it would be a lot easier if it accepted the native .mp4 extension.  Would it be possible to add mp4 support in the next version?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 15, 2011, 11:28:46 pm
I guess i should go into detail as to why I am making this fundamental change :)

with the switch to x.264 I am able to cut the files sizes by more than half.  AVI (XviD) has worked great for us but the time has come to catch up with the latest tech.  Within a month or so I plan to drop AVI's pretty much completely and I would like to avoid confusion if at all possible.  GameEx has added support for mp4 and tests are good.  Like I said mala does work if you trick it by renaming the file but it does cause a slight delay while windows figures out the encoding.

So far I have only uploaded 1 set to the FTP for testing SNES, this is a new set and it's under official videos - mp4 on the ftp 480p size is at 1.8GB vs the older set which was 4.8GB.  If anyone would like to help with testing it would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 19, 2011, 12:06:09 am
I think this is pretty easy as the Video Engine will decode many formats but MaLa is currently only looking for *.avi's at the moment. I can change it so if a *.avi does not exist then look for a *.mp4.

Can you post (or link) a few *.mp4 examples please for testing.

Thanks

[Later....]

Actually if you (and others) want to test yourself you can download the latest version of the stand alone video tester if you want?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107768.msg1143112#msg1143112 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107768.msg1143112#msg1143112)

Anyway I think I have support for .mp4 now in the latest beta 1.745.  I have not done much testing of it.
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: nick3092 on June 19, 2011, 11:17:15 am
I have an FTP account at EMU Movies and grabbed a few of the SNES videos out of the MP4/GameEx folder.  I also installed the latest beta of MaLa.  I can confirm they do now work - Sort of.  It plays the MP4 fine the first time through.  But if you leave it on the game, and it loops through to start the video again, you get no video, but the audio keeps playing.

One other observation I have is that it takes about twice as long for the video to start up when switching games versus the AVI files.  Granted we are talking like maybe 1 to 1.5 seconds for an AVI to reload when changing games versus 2 to maybe 2.5 seconds for an MP4.  And I don't know if that's just because it takes a little bit longer to start decoding the MP4 versus the AVI.  But patience is not a virtue I was blessed with.  ;D

Either way, now is as good of time as any to say thanks to Circo and Loadman for continuing to support this hobby.
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 19, 2011, 03:41:15 pm
I noticed the same thing in Mala, not seeing that delay in other front ends.  Does mala use external or internal codecs?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 19, 2011, 09:33:45 pm
I noticed the same thing in Mala, not seeing that delay in other front ends.  Does mala use external or internal codecs?

I dunno. I use a Video wrapper. VideoGrabber.  http://www.datastead.com/products/tvideograbber/ (http://www.datastead.com/products/tvideograbber/)

I will have to fire an email to them to ask why it behaves this way.

Can you send me or link an example of the 'same video' as an  .avi and .mp4 I can send to them as an example of how it behaves differently please.
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 20, 2011, 01:43:35 am
Do you have a dropbox acct?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 20, 2011, 06:01:02 am
Do you have a dropbox acct?

Yup. I will PM you details
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 21, 2011, 07:08:30 am
Email sent to Video Engine developer....

Let's hope he can fix support for .mp4 or tell me what I need to change in my code/config to make it work
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 22, 2011, 10:37:29 am
I'll hold off on fully dropping support for AVI's until they get this fixed for you, I'm still a ways out on my conversions being all complete.  Here is a link as to our progress if anyone is intersted Announcement at EmuMovies (http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php?/blog/1/entry-1-preparing-to-say-goodbye-to-avi-and-that-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/)
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: TheShanMan on June 22, 2011, 03:03:09 pm
Fixed link: http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php?/blog/1/entry-1-preparing-to-say-goodbye-to-avi-and-that-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/ (http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php?/blog/1/entry-1-preparing-to-say-goodbye-to-avi-and-that-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/)
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on June 22, 2011, 03:08:36 pm
Fixed link: http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php?/blog/1/entry-1-preparing-to-say-goodbye-to-avi-and-that-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/ (http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php?/blog/1/entry-1-preparing-to-say-goodbye-to-avi-and-that-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/)

Lol thanks, I fixed my post as well
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: nick3092 on June 30, 2011, 08:07:02 pm
Email sent to Video Engine developer....

Let's hope he can fix support for .mp4 or tell me what I need to change in my code/config to make it work

Just curious. Little over a week now. Have you heard back Loadman?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on July 01, 2011, 12:12:37 am
Email sent to Video Engine developer....

Let's hope he can fix support for .mp4 or tell me what I need to change in my code/config to make it work

Just curious. Little over a week now. Have you heard back Loadman?

Nothing  :banghead:
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on July 09, 2011, 08:40:14 pm
Email sent to Video Engine developer....

Let's hope he can fix support for .mp4 or tell me what I need to change in my code/config to make it work

Just curious. Little over a week now. Have you heard back Loadman?

Nothing  :banghead:

I will email again.


FYI..this is a copy of original mail:

> Hi,
>
> There appears to be an issue with .mp4 video playback
>
> Of the .mp4's I have played from various sources .mp4's videos appear to:
> - Take significantly longer to load
> - When looped only audio plays on 2nd play
> - Can't be rotated
>
> The supplier of videos for my project is changing the format from .avi to .mp4 soon
>
> Please advise if this is a configuration error on my part or this is a bug.
>
> Thanks
>
> Simon
>
> An example video in .avi and .mp3 format can be found here (my website)
>
> http://www.malafe.net/files/download/Videos.zip (http://www.malafe.net/files/download/Videos.zip)
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on July 10, 2011, 01:44:13 am
ooooo That did it.

They just sent me a new Beta version to test...

I will post later with results
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on July 10, 2011, 03:57:08 am
The tension is just unbareable :) crossing my fingers and my toes
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on July 17, 2011, 06:07:06 am
The tension is just unbareable :) crossing my fingers and my toes

Hmm Initial testing was not good but they are still working on it
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Circo on August 03, 2011, 10:02:18 pm
Any updates?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on December 23, 2011, 06:19:39 pm
Yup, New version early next year.

I just got a new job so Have not looked at MaLa for some time.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: lettuce on December 24, 2011, 04:52:34 am
Any chance of adding an option to select what display you want mala to be displayed on or 2 display setup?
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: bigrck on May 03, 2013, 08:08:47 pm
Yup, New version early next year.

I just got a new job so Have not looked at MaLa for some time.

 :cheers:
Hello Loadman !

I just try the first 30 mame mp4 video from Emumovies with MALA 1.745 beta (19/6/2011).
And unfortunatly none of them have worked (nor with MaLaVideoTester)
The current emumovies mp4 codec is AVC (x264) + AAC.
Do you have any chance to try the 2012 version of Video Engine wrapper ?
I would love to have Mala work with Emumovies Mp4 witout conversion :)

Thanks in advance !
RCK
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on May 04, 2013, 06:55:01 am
YEah,

I will give it a whirl and see if it is any better

http://www.datastead.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=40 (http://www.datastead.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=40)
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: bigrck on May 04, 2013, 01:06:26 pm
Cool ! 8)

Here is the 1942.mp4 video file you will be able to test with the new version of the video player.
There was a lot of update since 2011, let's hope it will work better :)
http://rck.free.fr/mala/1942.mp4 (http://rck.free.fr/mala/1942.mp4)

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to reply and to test this :applaud:
Mala & Emumovies users bless you :notworthy:
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: bigrck on May 27, 2013, 04:57:47 am
YEah,

I will give it a whirl and see if it is any better

http://www.datastead.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=40 (http://www.datastead.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=40)
Hello Loadman,
Any news of a new build with updated video player ?  :)
We don't need any more feature, Mala is already fantastic.

Best regards,
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 19, 2013, 11:04:07 pm
Ha ha

My wife/life is eating my time :-)

Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: Gray_Area on June 20, 2013, 05:37:54 pm
Ha ha

My wife/life is eating my time :-)



Hey, as long as you eatin them, too.
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: bigrck on June 21, 2013, 04:25:12 am
Ha ha

My wife/life is eating my time :-)
Héhé, I know what it is :)
Be aware, it will be worst with children  ;D

Anyway, if you find 2 hours to make a build with new video lib this summer, just post it here, thanks !
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 21, 2013, 11:17:13 pm
Hi

I just got mp4's to work 100% loading the following Codec Pack.  The key ingredient seems to be ffdshow Video Decoder

http://download.cnet.com/Media-Player-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10749065.html (http://download.cnet.com/Media-Player-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10749065.html)

Note: You will need to run the 'beta' version of MaLa.

http://www.malafe.net/files/download/MaLa1745.zip (http://www.malafe.net/files/download/MaLa1745.zip)

Let us know how you go
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: bigrck on June 22, 2013, 01:11:12 pm
Woot ! Very good find  :cheers:

I work a bit more on this and in fact you only need two Filter:

1 - Haali Media Splitter (to read the container)
http://haali.su/mkv/ (http://haali.su/mkv/)

2 - ffdshow tryouts - 32-bit (1.3.4500) (to read the new mp4 codec)
http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/download.php (http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/download.php)

A big thanks for finding it, at no need to make a new build  ;)
Title: Re: Would it be possible to add support to mp4 for video previews?
Post by: loadman on June 22, 2013, 11:10:07 pm
Thanks goodness for that. 

I would have to pay more $$$ to get an updated video engine.

In the end it was just Codec dependence.