Poor Playback on PC for Mac Rips

[steve_thatguy]

I'm using MacTheRipper 1.5.6 to rip DVDs to .vob files, then using DVDxDV Pro 1.02 to convert the files from .vob to .mov in NTSC mode (to get a good mix of quality and small file size). We then edit the clips in Final Cut Pro HD 4.5 and export back to Quicktime .mov.

The files play beautifully on the Mac, but when we move the clips to our PC (running Windows XP Pro) the quality is not the same. It looks more like we'd ripped from VHS. Does anyone have any clue why this might be?

[gcutler]

Is it the same PC in your PC Profile? What video settings is your PC set for?

[steve_thatguy]

Yeah, it's our lab computer (which is what's listed in my profile). It's set at 32bit, 1280x1024, 60Hz refresh (it's an LCD monitor), full hardware acceleration... If there's anything else you want to know, let me know.

Thanks,
-Steve

[galactica]

what app are you viewing the files with on the PC

[steve_thatguy]

I've used Quicktime for Windows, and have the same problem with MediaLab (an experiment presentation software--this is for a research project). I'm thinking of trying VideoLAN to double-check, but to even have two players playing back poorly makes me worry.

[deadsierra]

I'd try VLC or something of the sort, cause QT for windows is not so good, and this MediaLab is not a well known app for playing video, AFAIK.

[steve_thatguy]

Ok, so VLC playback has better image quality--the kind of quality that I'd expect--but the playback is really choppy. Consistently choppy, like the framerate has dropped or something.

Does this mean that the codecs are my problem? Should I be exporting these files some other way from Final Cut Pro?

Thanks,
-Steve

[terryj]

I would strongly point to the codecs,
as if you used the standard Video codec
for QT Windows, it's not that great.

Try re-exporting out of FCP to QT Movie,
but choose the 3ivxd4.5 codec.
Make sure this codec is
also installed on the PC.

I have had great success using this codec on both platforms.
Just encode the video using the "Single Pass, Constant Quality "
setting.
http://www.3ivx.com/support/mac/encoding/quicktime.html#single_pass_cq

[AntnyMD]

If you install the 3ivx codec in Windows, it will try to play MPEG4 QuickTime movies in Windows Media Player (screwed, I know). And if the MPEG4 QT movie has an AAC soundtrack, the audio portion of the 3ivx codec expires after 15 or 30 days.

QuickTime 6 on the PC will play MPEG4 QuickTime movies with AAC audio without needing support from 3ivx, it's great. Just burn a copy of QT6 for Windows onto your CDs.

[steve_thatguy]

Is it possible to use the 3ivx to encode to another .mov file? Unfortunately since we're using MediaLab to present the experiment to subjects, we are restricted to the filetypes it can use (.avi, .mpg, .mov).

Thank you very much for the help.

-Steve

[terryj]

If you install the 3ivx codec in Windows, it will try to play MPEG4 QuickTime movies in Windows Media Player (screwed, I know). And if the MPEG4 QT movie has an AAC soundtrack, the audio portion of the 3ivx codec expires after 15 or 30 days.

QuickTime 6 on the PC will play MPEG4 QuickTime movies with AAC audio without needing support from 3ivx, it's great. Just burn a copy of QT6 for Windows onto your CDs.

But then burning a copy of QT6 would require each client to install it right?
Why do that if you are trying to take the simplest route
to get the files to play back on
a PC, and you want the user to just
(1) Click on the file.
(2) Play it.

Quicktime should by defaualt be installed in most Win Xp boxes.
Ours here at the shop do.

Our workflow has been to Edit the content on FCP 4,
export to Final Cut Movie File.
Open the Final Cut movie file in Compressor 1.2
Export from Compressor to Quicktime Movie,
using the 3iVX codec, in Q2 mode, and setting the audio
to AIFF, 16bit, 48khz, 2 channel stero, not AAC,
which you shouldn't use in a QT movie for wide distribution,
ANYWAY.

Steve---
THE FILETYPE IS STILL .mov, it just uses the 3ivx codec
to encode the video, rather than Sorenson, Apple Video, or Motion JPG,
UNDERSTAND? 3ivx is not A FILETYPE, but a CODEC used
to create the compression scheme for rendering the final ouputted file.

Burn the file properly tagged as .mov, burn to a ISO CD.
Take the file over to the PC running Win XP, with the
3ivx codec installed, open in QT for windows.
Plays fine.


Since I'm not making an MPEG-4 filetype, I have no
frickin' idea what Ant's talkin' about.

[AntnyMD]

My point of suggesting putting QT software on the CDs was making it easy for Windows users who don't bother to update their QT software ... Windows users are known for many things .. keeping their software up to date isnt one of them.

Whats the bigger headache? Giving them the right software to play the files (like all those audio CDs with Enhanced CD content), or taking all the calls saying your files wont play in their version of QuickTime?

THATs what Ant's talkin' about.

[terryj]

My point of suggesting putting QT software on the CDs was making it easy for Windows users who don't bother to update their QT software ... Windows users are known for many things .. keeping their software up to date isnt one of them.

Whats the bigger headache? Giving them the right software to play the files (like all those audio CDs with Enhanced CD content), or taking all the calls saying your files wont play in their version of QuickTime?

THATs what Ant's talkin' about.

...aaah, incorporating IT/MIS into the mix, can be tricky.

Still, I've had no issues thus far ( knock on wood)
with the methods I've used, so you might give my settings a try.