Watching vcd/svcd on macs... is it possible?

[DVinci]

Hello,

Ok I need to view a mpg1/2 clip on a mac. I've burned vcds and svcd before on my pc. I can't find the actual mpg file on the Cd when browsing the cd contents. So am I better off burning the mpg file onto the cd as data, and not burning a vcd/svcd?

Now, if I burn it directly as data, will the G4 macs (using quicktime) recognize the mpg clip? Does the mac requrie a codec installed?

DVinci
(Leonardo "D"a "V"inci)

[DVinci]

Please, I need to know soon. If someone can help, please post your answer.

Thanks

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: DVinci on 2002-01-12 21:16:00 ]</font>

[major]

quicktime directly opens and plays MPG1 without any problems

for MPG2 you need to copy the file into your hard disk, reboot in OSX and use this software to play it: http://www.videolan.org/

[JHebert]

With QuickTime Player you need to go into the VCD disk and then go into the MPEGAV folder and select the .DAT file to start the movie.
You can also create an association in File Exchange control panel so that .DAT files automatically open in QuickTime Player when you double click on them.
There are also shareware Mac VCD player programs that can just play VCD disk directly and have additional features.
Here are some good Mac video and VCD links:
http://www.macdvd.org
http://www.moviemac.com
http://www.eskimo.com/~pristine/video.html#vcdplayer

[DVinci]

Thanks! Just what I needed!

[AntnyMD]

DVinci, did opening the .DAT file in Quicktime work for you? I have yet to be able to do that one and have it work as it should.

Does Videolan put MPEG-2 codecs on and make them available in OS X? I downloaded the software the other day based on links you guys provided before (thanks a lot!) ... but it looks like the encoding of MPEG-1/2 is difficult, at best.

I've ordered a copy of Virtual PC just in case this gets too frustrating.

[major]

Videolan is a MPG2 player. It doesnt use Quicktime and doesnt allow you to encode. It only plays a MPG2 file.

[DVinci]

AntnyMD,

No, I haven't tried opening a DAT file that since I have no access to a Mac at the moment. I will try it once I get access.

DVinci

[DarkInfo]

Disclaimer before I begin: I'm not a Mac user, but I have friends who are. And amazingly, we can peacefully co-exist. I do what I can to make things cross-platform friendly, but sometimes I run stuck and turn to people like you for help. :)

I have some SVCDs floating around my hard drive as BIN/CUE images. My Mac friend running OS X wants to watch these SVCDs. I do some research, I find the videolan player, and after a minor setback (no developer tools installed), we get that working. Now, takes her iMac over to where she can connect to a G3 with a CD burner. She burns the BIN images using Toast Titanium and they appear to be normal SVCDs when done. But... videolan can't play the file off the CD and she can't copy it to her hard drive. I do some research... Mac OS X does not like Mode 2 CDs. Just a little ways up, I read major's post that says you should copy the file onto your hard disk, reboot into OS X (presumably from OS 9), and use VidoeLan. So I have my friend try that -- OS 9 can't read the disc any better than OS X could. I also find this post here that says Finder can't read Mode 2 discs in OS 9 either.

If we have to copy the files to her HD every time to watch them, that's tolerable, but HOW can we do that?

Thanks much for any help!

[JHebert]

Instead of burning the BIN/CUE images to SVCD maybe try extracting the MPEG-2 files from them with Isobuster on the PC and just burn to a regular data CD-R. Then you could put the CD in the Mac with OSX and play with VideoLan.

[ryanr47]

how do I use videolan? I dled the program, but have no clue on how to use it....

[danybrit]

i cant play svcd...its imposible...even with virtual pc..please im new here and playing svcd's..please someone can help me..i try with virtual pc..but that report an error saying that virtual pce can find the video component

[major]

the only mac SVCD player out there is at http://www.videolan.org/vlc/macosx.html and you must compile it in OSX terminal mode

[miast]

I am a newbie so please bare with me.

I'm trying to watch a svcd on a mac os 10.1
I downloaded the vlc program from videolan.org but it won't recognize the disc and it won't play the mpeg2 when I try and open the file. It was suggested earlier in this thread that I download the mpeg file directly to my hardrive and reboot. Tried that but the file won't download and it seems other people have the same problem.

I've heard other people say vlc works after they do something with development tools and compile it in the terminal. I am unfamiliar as to how to do this.

I apologize for the bother but if someone could clarify this issue it would be greatly appreciated.

miast2@mac.com

[major]

To copy the mpeg2 track from a SVCD to your hard disk you need to use Astarte CD Copy within OS9. Then open the raw track/s with videolan. To compile vlc in CLI mode you need first to install Developers tools (available from connect.apple.com site) then open Terminal and look at http://www.videolan.org/vlc/macosx.html for download link (take the 'latest tarball' package) and compiling instructions. The CLI vlc directly plays .mpg, .bin, .m2v and even raw disk tracks. Also as soon as Quicktime 6 will be out you will be able to play natively MPEG2 without additional software.

[anime:layer]

Actually, if you take a close look at the videolan download page, you will discover that there's a MacOS X binary file (a precompiled one).
If you download that one you will only need to doubleclick it...

[major]

the binary distribution is a GUI version which is not the same as the CLI one, and it will fail playing some MPGs.

[AntnyMD]

The GUI version behaves strangely. For example, it won't play a VOB file unless I have at least two VOB files in the playlist.

[miast]

I'm super sorry.

I've downloaded the vlc tarballs and binary versions. I've spent forever downloading the developer tools. I've looked at the instructions given on the site and on the read me's and I have no idea what I'm doing. vlc opens from the binary download but won't play svcds. I'm unfamiliar with Unix and didn't expect svcds to be so complicated.

Do I use the terminal applications utility or the project builder from the dev tools?

How do I complile and what do I compile. (I read the tips but still can't figure it out.)

Hope someone can help.

thanks.

miast2@mac.com

[major]

Provided Developer tools have already been installed, download the tarball somewhere in your hard disk, unstuff it with Stuffit Expander, open Terminal application (from Utilities folder), type cd directory_path_name to enter the vlc directory (you can drag and drop the directory icon on the terminal window to automatically enter its pathname), ls -l (to list and check directory contents), ./configure (lots of text will start scrolling) and when it is done make (again lots of text). You have just compiled the source code to a binary executable file. Then check if it works by typing ./vlc path_to_mpeg_file. You may need to read some Unix tutorial so as to get familiar with basic command line syntax.

[miast]

Mr. major the moderator, thank you for your help so far.

I tried dragging the folder into the terminal window to enter its pathname but it said "permission denied"

I tried typing "sudo " before dragging and dropping. It had me put in my administrator password. Then it said "command not found"

I did a bit of research and some sites suggested I login in as something called root.

I enabled root user through net info.

I logged on as root by typing "su root" (I think)

I dragged the vlc folder to enter its path name again but I still got the "permission denied"

Any way to get around this? Am I doing something wrong or missing a step?

thanks.

miast2@mac.com

[major]

You should not type sudo or su root or anything like that to enter the vlc directory. If you get a permission denied error when dragging and dropping the folder, it's probably because you don't typed cd on the terminal window before dragging the folder on it.

Check this tutorial to learn some basics of Unix.

[miast]

Okie dokie.
I'm almost there! You were right. I did not put the cd before the file path name. I did that and followed the rest of the instructions and saw everything scroll down a second time after typing "make"
Your next instruction however was to see if it works by typing in
"./vlc path of mpg file" I typed in ./vlc (then dragged and dropped the file path of the mpg2 from a svcd I wanted to play)" and I got a little message: VideoLAN Client - version 0.2.92_2002-02-22 Ourumov - (C)1996-2001 VideoLan.
Looked good to see something happen but still no play. I checked the folder that unstuffed after downloading the tarball, the one I just compiled and noticed there was a new vlc application icon in there. I double clicked on that and opened the program but still: file open disc is grayed out and file open file then choosing the mpg2 from the cd still won't play.

I wen't through the unix tutorial download you provided (thank you) and it gives me a good intro to unix but don't think it answers my problem.
I hope my unix incompetence isn't getting to be too much of a bother. While I look up more info can you help me out a wee bit more please?

miast2@mac.com

[major]

Difficult to say where is the problem. It could be in your MPG file. Try to play different MPG1 and MPG2 files to see whether it works on some or if it fails on all. It could be some error occurred during the compiling process, but it would be needed to read the output of the make command to know. Try compiling in another folder version 0.2.90 and see if you get a different result.

[miast]

I recompiled versions 0.2.90 and 0.2.92 a couple more times and the same thing happens. Within the .92 version nothing happens at the terminal window when trying to play anything. But within the application I can play some mpg1 files and not others, and then with others I get only sound and no video. No mpg2 however.
Within the .90 version I can play things from the terminal but the same problem: will play some mpg1, not others, and then some only get sound with no video. The application however will play nothing. It won't open anything. Also no mpg2 in the earlier version. Within the terminal however of .90, when I try and play the mpg2 by typing ./vlc (file path and name) : it reads: null pointer in IBXRefCountRelease!
Read failed (Operation not permitted)

Any suggestions? Something else I need to download?

[major]

Well, i'm running out of options to check. Here some random ones:
- have you got the latest version of Developers Tools
- move your MPGs in a folder inside the VLC folder
- do you have enough free memory and/or virtual memory on the main hard disk
- have you updated OSX to the latest version
- has the make process highlighted any errors
- have u tried to play with vlc options (list them with vlc -h)

[miast]

My whole vlc problem was trying to play it directly from a disc on osx.
I finally gave up and tracked down a copy of astarte cd copy and copied the mpg2 file to my hard drive.

vlc now recognizes and opens the file but the video is jerky and the sound pops. You really can't make much out.

Any suggestions?

[major]

vlc is not perfect, and for better results you will need a faster mac. The other solution is to wait for Quicktime 6 which will include native MPG2 playback.