MPG1 vs. MPG2

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:07 am

I normally create MPG 1 video clips for use in presentations. (I know even Win 98 could read MPG 1). I had a strange situation today.

Playing the MPG1 files on my client's PCs 3 of them) doesn't work. Media Player complains about the codec. It plays however on my (5) PCs. I then converted the clips to MPG 2 using MSPs video convert function. The MPG 2s play perfectly on both my and client's PCs. The client has Win XP Home 2nd Ed and Media Player 9. On my PCs I have same Windows but Media Player 10.

Why would the newer MPG2 codec work and not the MPG1. Normally it's the other way around that newer codecs are not readable.

MGP 1 Settings: MPG 1 720x576, Variable bit rate 4000. Mpg sound at 256. Normal type of settings. - These ones don't play
MPG2 Settings The same - just the other codec.

Strange???

zoobie · Post by **zoobie** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:21 am

The VCD standard support a maximum of about 1150Kb/s of video.

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:32 pm

Why would it then show on some PCs but not on other?

Gorf · Post by **Gorf** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:09 am

mmponline wrote:Why would it then show on some PCs but not on other?

No idea - but the only reason to be using MPEG-1 at those bitrates is compatibility, which is obviously not working.

4mbps at D1 resolution will look much better using MPEG-2 anyway. I'd tentatively suggest that the MPEG-1 problem is with your client's PCs, and therefore nothing you should be wrooying about.

The problem with MPEG-2 is that it needs a licence to decode. You don't get one free with Windows, but if you install DVD playback software (as is becoming the norm these days) you get one installed with that.

MPEG-1 is low visual quality compared to some of the other codecs available - personally I'd go for WMV which (as long as there are no Macs in the audience) will be better quality at lower bitrates and just as compatible.

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:17 pm

Thanks for the advice.

Just a question or two.

Is the wmv codec readibly available in all Windows systems, or is there a need to download it. I would prefer to distribute my CDs with no need to install anything (that's why I used the MPG1 format that now gave hickups).

If wmv can do the job, it would be great. As far as I can remember, it's much smaller than MPG anyway.

What would the best settings be? (Your opinion, I know there might be zillion suggestiuons out there).

Gorf · Post by **Gorf** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:02 pm

On PCs, the WMV codec is readily available. If the PC is old, you might find it needs the windows media 7 codec or earlier. The current version is 9 (I think) and should already be installed if the audience machines are quite new.

If the audience machines are connected to the internet, it's irrelevant, as Windows Media Player will download whichever version is needed.

Don't bother encoding WMVs through the Ulead interface. Download WME (windows media encoder) direct from Microsoft and encode it with that.

As to the best settings - s.u.c.k it and see. You were already encoding at PAL DVD-size resolutions and bitrate, so you can get away with the highest settings.

Now that I think about it, though, MPEG-2 at D1 resolution (which has nonsquare pixels) is a bit of an odd choice for PC playback (which has square pixels). If your source media comes from a DV camcorder, I'd suggest 768x576 or 720x540. If your footage is interlaced, drop it to 384x288 unless you have a way of adaptive deinterlacing so that you can get the best from both fields and encode at a higher screen size.

mmponline · Post by **mmponline** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:31 am

I had a similar problem as previous with MPEG one on another clients PS. Also Media Player 9.

I never had this problem.

I wonder:
Is it a problem in Mediap Player 9?
Is it aproblem with the encoder of MSP8? Never had this problem with MSP7.
Maybe a bit of both?

I'll stick to MPG2 for now.

Just for the record. In South Africa the PCs do not update that frequently as most users are on normal analog connections (SLOW) and only use their PCS for e-mail (maybe short browses) and then disconnect. On my ADSL line(to expensive for private use, little or no competition for national telephone company) , the updates are done as needed, being on line most of the time. Can you immagine the limitations we have in creating websites - always fighting bandwidth.