Take a look at the Malata N-996

[laks]

http://www.avdeal.ca/malata_dvd.htm

Any questions?
Just ask me. I'm the owner of one of these.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: laks on 2001-08-21 18:47:58 ]</font>

[Iview]

I'm doing some research on this player. There is just one more question in my mind, wonder if you can answer that? Did you try xSVCD on this Player and what is the max. bitrate it read?
Thanks.

[laks]

I have not tried that yet, but I guess I could go up to 3000.
Expect an answer on that tomorrow.

I can tell you that I tried a mini DVD using a demo of Spruce and it didn't work, it was something like 7000. I used the LSX plug in for Premiere. It did work fine on my PC. The malata only show me the file list. I used cheap CD-Rs and I have no problems with VCDs and SVCDs (compliant with the standard). I guess I should wait for a DVD burner. I'm transfering from DV.

[Iview]

If you don't mind, can you please try an xSVCD @ 4000k and report back, thanks.
Also I believe most of the standalone DVD players capable of playing miniDVD can only read up to the range of 4000 - 5000k. So, why don't you try a miniDVD @ 4000k? I think 7000k was too high for a miniDVD.

[laks]

I made a xSVCD with these settings:
video 3000K constant rate
audio 128K

I used the LSX plugin with a SVCD(pal) template only changing the above rates. I also tried to output to TMPEGnc with Avisynth, but if I loaded a SVCD template it would not allow me to set higher rates(video). I burned onto a CD-R with Nero using the SVCD template (of course this was not compliant)

The result was very good indeed, if you can live with a slight jerkiness. There is also some lagg(is this a word?)
in scenes with some sudden panning, but this applies to all of my SVCDs(not VCDs). From these results I guess this is as higher I can go. I'll try another one with lower video rate (+/- 2850K) and see what happens.

I can't create miniDVD I don't have the software. The Spruce software was a demo with only two exports and they are all gone. Going up to 4000K for a xSVCD? well from the results using 3000K it will not work.

Wait a moment! I believe I have an earlier version of spruce in a cd from a magazine. I'll keep you informed, but be patient; I'm working this weekend, so maybe next Wed.

Good luck with your research. And tell if you find more info on the Malata n-996 (firmware uppgrade?)

[Iview]

laks,
Thanks a bunch for the infos. I guess when it start to stutter that means the bitrate is too high for the player.
I heard that they are working on a firmware to fix some minor problems, anyway will find out soon.
Hope to hear from you again!

[laks]

Iview
Where did you heard about the firmware?

I've tried a xSVCD with 2850K(video) and 128K(audio).
The quality is more or less the same as a standard SVCD.
I think I'll stick to my previous effort with 3000K despite the slight stutter.

No luck with the minDVD. I haven't found the CD with the earlier version of SpruceUp. As soon as I get my hands on a DVD authoring software, I'll post the results.

[kitty]

There is a mini-DVD sample file on this site at http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvd.htm - you can burn this image.

Da Kitty