annotate DOCS/DXR3 @ 4010:938d37ad4f85

preliminary version

DXR3/H+ video/audio output plugins manual by David Holm
=======================================================

2002-01-06: I've started working on config support.
	    You can try -vo dxr3:swsync to disable hardware
	    syncing and use mplayers software syncer instead.
	    I'd like some feedback on which one works best
	    on your particular machine =). (I recommend
	    using em8300 0.10 or later)
	    
2001-12-28: There is a whole bunch of updates since the
            last time. For one thing, digital audio now
	    works thanks to Steven Brookes.
	    This is the first version to exclusively
	    use the dxr3's hardware sync. It seems as if
	    there are some bugs in the driver, so bugreports
	    will be appreciated.
	    Also, you will need to get the em8300 drivers
	    from cvs unless a version newer than 0.9.0 has
	    been released.
	    Note1: Seeking won't work with -vc mpegpes!
	    Note2: You now MUST use -ao dxr3 for proper
	    a/v sync!
	    
2001-12-04: Thanks to Inaki Garci'a Etxebarria of
	    zapping.sourceforge.net we have now
	    abandoned rte since it caused problems for
	    users who didn't rtfm and compiled it with
	    ffmpeg support. Instead we are now using
	    libmp1e which is a modified version of mp1e.
	    
1. Introduction

The DXR3 and Hollywood+ are two not too different mpeg-(1/2) and ac3
hardware playback cards that came at about the same time as the first
dvd-rom drives hit the market. At that time most computers weren't
powerful enough for synced software dvd playback. And even the faster
(intel-based) computers had troubles with artifacts.
Sigma Designs came up with the great idea to create a hardware
mpeg-(1/2), ac3 decoder. Sigma Designs are known for their realmagic
hardware (or they bought the company who came up with the first
realmagic boards, I don't know which).
Later Creative Labs thought, hey, we also wan't this product, and to
distribute it with our dvd-drives (the DVD Encore packages if I recall
correctly). So they bought the designs for the Hollywood plus and
replaced the circuit used to produce a proper video feed for tv's
called adv7170 or adv7175a depending on which h+ board you own with
a bt865. The reason for this is beyond my understanding as this seems
complete illogical to me, but I have had great experiences with
bt(brooktree) circuits in the past, so I don't mind.
Well, nowadays most people have no use for a mpeg-(1/2) or ac3
hardware decoder since most computers these days have no problem doing
this in software and have cycles left for posprocessing (removing of
artefacts and other garbage produced by compression).
These days, you have two uses for this card:
1. You have a slow computer which you use for vcd/dvd playback
2. You discover what I have done with the implementation of this as
   an audio/video output device for mplayer (read on and you'll find
   out).



2. Requirements

 * First of all you will need the DXR3/H+ drivers properly installed.
   Version 0.9.0 or later

 * Run <mplayerdir>/configure and make sure that DXR3/H+ support = yes
   
 From here on compilation (of at least my code ;) should go without any
 problems.



3. Usage

After installation you will have two new outdevices in mplayer:
    -vo dxr3	For video output
    -ao dxr3	For audio output 

MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VCD and DVD Notes
There are some notes to take into account here for optimum playback.
When playing any mpeg-(1/2) file, this including usage of the "-dvd"
and "-vcd" options you must either add the "-vc mpegpes" or edit
codecs.conf and make sure videocodec mpegpes is listed above mpeg12.
If you fail to do this you will only get software playback which kinda
spoils most of the useful features of this card except for tv-out ;).
Remember that if you edit the codecs.conf file and move the mpegpes
section will have to specify "-vc mpeg12" if you want to playback
any of these video types _without_ "-vo dxr3"!
Use -ac hwac3 if you want AC3 audio to be handled by hardware (please
send some feedback on this).

DIVX Notes
When playing divx's add "-vc odivx" for maximum performance.
I've switched to mp1e from ffmpeg so it should be lightning fast now.
libmp1e currently does not work on nonx86 processor and nonmmx processors.
I'm in the process of fixing this.

Other codecs:
No "-vc <codec>" switches should be required as mplayer will autodetect.
If you find an unsupported codec please contact me!

* Avoid running mplayer as root or setuid root as rtc timing seems to
  slow down playback on the dxr3 for some users. I will look into this
  at a later point as this hardly qualifies as a severe bug *


 
4. Contacting me

You can contact me either by e-mailing me, <[e-mail]> or by using
icq: 798427
Feedback, bugreports and general suggestions are appreciated (preferably
by e-mail). My name is David Holm for those of you who are incapable of 
reading a heading. ;)