Stutterless Previews of HD Res Material

[Soopafresh]

I don't know if this trick works on ALL HD Res material, but it runs perfectly on my 720p and 1080i Mpeg2 files. It plays back in 1/2 size as the original, but for slow machines (<3Ghz) , it will do the trick

Download a recent copy of Mplayer

http://ffdshow.faireal.net/mirror/mplayer/

from the command line (or, you can save this as a batch file)

mplayer -vc ffmpeg12 -lavdopts lowres=1 filename.mpg

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If you want to get fancy, save the following line as Play.bat

mplayer -vc ffmpeg12 -lavdopts lowres=1 %1


Then from the command line, you can always run

Play myfile.mpg

* The Mplayer Syntax was snagged from an old Doom9 post. Props to the originator *

[minchjp]

I have always found that the best way to playback MPEG-2 HDTV files, is to set MPlayer, or Zoom Player to use the Cyberlink DTV Codec, and using the filter properties options, enable video acceleration. If you have a video card with DxVA, you will notice a huge difference. I get around 90-100% cpu usage without it enabled, and 40% with video acceleration enabled . I have a 2.4GHz processor btw. The great think about using this method is you get to watch HDTV at full resolution.

[Soopafresh]

Absolutely, but when you only have a FX5200 card like myself, the choices are limited. I wouldn't necessarily recommend running everything and at all times in half res, but rather, think of it as an easy way to preview footage while your system is busy doing other things (recording, etc).

[sullen]

I used to be able to play full resolution with Fusion HDTV, at Medium level quality, but recently it has been forcing me to use the Normal quality level. If I use the Medium or High I just get a crapped out jumbled picture. Kinda sucks. I haven't changed anything that I know of lately. I have a Barton 2500+ and OnBoard video for a Shuttle XPC. I hate to have to upgrade, maybe just a new AGP video card until I am forced to go PCI-E.