Playing SVCD with Windows Media Player 9

[U.N.C.L.E.]

I am running Windows XP/WM9 with the MainConcept MPEG-2 codec. My problem is that when I play a SVCD, the movie does not use the full width of the screen (1280x1024).

Just want to point out that I'm not talking about the movie filling the entire screen just the width. I would estimate that only 3/4 of the screen is used to display the movie in full screen mode.

I only have this problem with SVCD. Not DIVX, XVID, or VCD. Seems like some type of scaling problem.

Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to solve this problem?

[AlkalineTrio]

Yeah I actually have the same problem. When i play my SVCD's in Divx or WMP 9 the viewing area in full-screen mode is about 2 inches short on each side. Also, I am having problems with the audio, which for some reason is delayed about 5 seconds and gets pretty irritating. All this trouble started at the same time, when i uninstalled my trial version elecard MPEG2 player, and i cant fix it.

[U.N.C.L.E.]

You know I've had problems with Elecard Codecs too. The uninstall program doesn't work completely... Meaning even if you uninstall the program, the codecs still remain registered on the system. There is a utility that comes with Elecard codec pack that manually unregisters each codec which is originally installed. But, unfortunately, if you have already ran the uninstall, that utility has probably already been deleted.

But aannyywwaayyss...

Does anyone else have any ideas how to fix the problem described on the first post?

[Gurm]

ELECARD IS EVIL. I once had to do a system restore to get rid of them, they're that bad! ARGH!

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How did you even get SVCD's to play reliably on WMP9? They never work properly for me.

- Gurm

[U.N.C.L.E.]

I use the MPEG2 codec that is packaged with the MainConcept MPEG-2 Encoder 1.31. It is what I've found as the best solution for my needs, instead of installing a hundred different codecs that usually come in those "bundles" or codec packs.

After burning the cd (and I repeat AFTER burning the cd) the SVCD can be played using autorun or by opening the .MPG file in the MPEG folder.

I still wish I knew why I can't play SVCD using full screen width.

[BJ_M]

dont use wmp 9 -- its crap ...

use PowerDVD or WinDVD instead and it will be the correct aspect ratio ..

it has nothing to do with the codec ...

[Gurm]

Sure it does. PowerDVD and WinDVD use their own codecs. LOL.

- Gurm

[Prospero424]

Well, I have no experience with the Mainconcept decoder, but I can speak as to a few others. Elecard, as others have mentioned, can cause problems with certain configurations, but what MPEG2 decoder doesn't? Am I right? But it is also no longer free

I use the Ligos MPEG2 decoder/splitter, it comes with the new Roxio software and a few other packages, but can also be found as a standalone installation if you look hard enough. I can watch SVCD movies (fullscreen and pretty) in WMP9 as well as Zoom Player and BSPlayer, both of which I prefer, I mostly use Zoom Player because it has more detailed options. Heck, before doing ANYTHING else to your system, try one of these players and play around with the settings to see if you can get the movie to display full-screen.

Like Gurm said, PowerDVD and WinDVD both use their own decoders/splitters, no matter what other decoders you might have installed, so this may be you best, most painless bet if you can afford it. Otherwise, see if you can find another MPEG2 decoder package.


Let me know how it turns out,

Prospero

[BJ_M]

Sure it does. PowerDVD and WinDVD use their own codecs. LOL.

- Gurm

Gurm - you don't understand how a codec works ...... the aspect ratio taken from a file header is read by the playback app to determine the playback aspect ratio ..

for example --

the problem was that media player does not display teh correct aspect ratio of a svcd .. media player (windows) also doestn have a mpeg2 decoder.

install PowerDVD lets say ... so that ONLY powerdvd codec is used for mpeg2 decoding on your system .. play a svcd in media player , it will be the wrong aspect ratio.
Play it in powerdvd -- it will be correct .

both of the above use the same codec , so AS I SAID , the codec doesnt mater .. the application USING THE CODEC is what matters ..


Codec means: "COmpressor/DECompressor"

and that is ALL a codec does , in this case decompress the mpeg2 stream , it by its self does not determine the frame rate or the aspect ratio or split the file into audio and video or tell it where to play.

[DrWafer]

thats right
is the player makes the difference.
i noticed the same problem with wmp9 long ago,the solution is pretty easy,
I DONT USE WMP FOR SVCD FILES,in a matter of fact i never use it at all.

try powerDVD,windvd,zoomplayer,core media player....anything else.

if i remember well wmp8 was playing svcd in full screen,the problem started with the 9 series...

[Gurm]

I use WMP9. It won't open my SVCD's because its media identification or demuxing is screwed. I have no idea what component I have to install to make it work, and frankly I don't much care.

- Gurm

[U.N.C.L.E.]

For those who might be interested, I finally managed to find a codec that solves the original problem. (SVCD not using full width of screen)

The Ligos LSX MPEG Player 4.0 is a codec which allows you to play MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4 within Windows Media Player. Contrary to its name, there is no "player" application installed, just the codecs.

[mats.hogberg]

No matter, face it: WMP is no (S)VCD player. PowerDVD and WinDVD is.

/Mats

[bpjenn]

If I'm not mistaken, Ligos does not deinterlace the video. PowerDVD does.