Mercurial > mplayer.hg
diff DOCS/formats.html @ 6960:87deea511b1f
continuing paragraph reformatting
| author | gabucino |
|---|---|
| date | Sat, 10 Aug 2002 20:26:43 +0000 |
| parents | 3274d0725fde |
| children | 916f62dd0910 |
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--- a/DOCS/formats.html Sat Aug 10 18:56:45 2002 +0000 +++ b/DOCS/formats.html Sat Aug 10 20:26:43 2002 +0000 @@ -13,21 +13,22 @@ <P><B><A NAME="formats">2.1 Supported formats</A></B></P> <P>It is important to clarify a common mistake. When people see a file with a -<B>.AVI</B> extension, they immediately conclude that it is not an MPEG file. -That is not true. At least not entirely. Contrary to popular belief such a file -<B>can</B> contain MPEG1 video.</P> + <B>.AVI</B> extension, they immediately conclude that it is not an MPEG file. + That is not true. At least not entirely. Contrary to popular belief such a + file <B>can</B> contain MPEG1 video.</P> <P>You see, a <B>codec</B> is not the same as a <B>file format</B>.<BR> -Examples of video <B>codecs</B> are: MPEG1, MPEG2, DivX, Indeo5, 3ivx.<BR> -Examples of file <B>formats</B> are: MPG, AVI, ASF.<BR> + Examples of video <B>codecs</B> are: MPEG1, MPEG2, DivX, Indeo5, 3ivx.<BR> + Examples of file <B>formats</B> are: MPG, AVI, ASF.<BR> </P> -<P>In theory, you can put an OpenDivX video and MP3 audio -into an <B>MPG</B> format file. However, most players will not play it, since -they expect MPEG1 video and MP2 audio (unlike <B>AVI</B>, <B>MPG</B> does not have the -necessary fields to describe its video and audio streams). -Or you might put MPEG1 video into an AVI file. <A HREF="http://ffmpeg.sourceforge.net">FFmpeg</A> -and <A HREF="encoding.html">MEncoder</A> can create these files.</P> +<P>In theory, you can put an OpenDivX video and MP3 audio into an <B>MPG</B> + format file. However, most players will not play it, since they expect MPEG1 + video and MP2 audio (unlike <B>AVI</B>, <B>MPG</B> does not have the + necessary fields to describe its video and audio streams). Or you might put + MPEG1 video into an AVI file. + <A HREF="http://ffmpeg.sourceforge.net">FFmpeg</A> and + <A HREF="encoding.html">MEncoder</A> can create these files.</P> @@ -39,38 +40,39 @@ <P>MPEG files come in different guises:</P> <UL> -<LI>MPG: This is the most <B>basic</B> form of the MPEG file formats. It contains -MPEG1 video, and MP2 (MPEG-1 layer 2) or rarely MP1 audio.</LI> -<LI>DAT: This is the very same format as MPG with a different extension. It is used -on <B>Video CD</B>s. Due to the way VCDs are created and Linux is designed, -DAT files cannot be played nor copied from VCDs as regular files. You have -to use the <CODE>-vcd</CODE> option to play the Video CD.</LI> -<LI>VOB: This is the MPEG file format on <B>DVD</B>s. It is the same as MPG, plus the -capability to contain subtitles or non-MPEG (AC3) audio. It contains encoded MPEG2 -video and usually AC3 audio, but DTS, MP2 and uncompressed LPCM are allowed, too.<BR> -<B>Read the <A HREF="cd-dvd.html#dvd">DVD section</A> !</B></LI> + <LI>MPG: This is the most <B>basic</B> form of the MPEG file formats. It + contains MPEG1 video, and MP2 (MPEG-1 layer 2) or rarely MP1 audio.</LI> + <LI>DAT: This is the very same format as MPG with a different extension. It + is used on <B>Video CD</B>s. Due to the way VCDs are created and Linux is + designed, DAT files cannot be played nor copied from VCDs as regular files. + You have to use the <CODE>-vcd</CODE> option to play the Video CD.</LI> + <LI>VOB: This is the MPEG file format on <B>DVD</B>s. It is the same as MPG, + plus the capability to contain subtitles or non-MPEG (AC3) audio. It + contains encoded MPEG2 video and usually AC3 audio, but DTS, MP2 and + uncompressed LPCM are allowed, too.<BR> <B>Read the <A + HREF="cd-dvd.html#dvd">DVD section</A>!</B></LI> </UL> <P>Series of frames form independent groups in MPEG files. This means that you -can cut/join an MPEG file with standard file tools (like <CODE>dd</CODE>, -<CODE>cut</CODE>), and it remains completely functional.</P> + can cut/join an MPEG file with standard file tools (like <CODE>dd</CODE>, + <CODE>cut</CODE>), and it remains completely functional.</P> -<P>One important feature of MPGs is that they have a field to describe -the aspect ratio of the video stream within. For example SVCDs have -480x480 resolution video, and in the header that field is set to 4:3, so that -it is played at 640x480. AVI files do not have this field, so they have to be -rescaled during encoding or played with the <CODE>-aspect</CODE> option.</P> +<P>One important feature of MPGs is that they have a field to describe the + aspect ratio of the video stream within. For example SVCDs have 480x480 + resolution video, and in the header that field is set to 4:3, so that it is + played at 640x480. AVI files do not have this field, so they have to be + rescaled during encoding or played with the <CODE>-aspect</CODE> option.</P> <P><B><A NAME="avi">2.1.1.2 AVI files</A></B></P> -<P>Designed by Microsoft, <B>AVI (Audio Video Interleaved)</B> is a -widespread multipurpose format currently used mostly for DivX and DivX4 -video. It has many known drawbacks and shortcomings (for example in streaming). -It supports one video stream and 0 to 99 audio streams. File size is limited to -2GB, but there exists an extension allowing bigger files called <B>OpenDMS</B>. -Microsoft currently strongly discourages its use and encourages ASF/WMV. Not that -anybody cares.<BR> +<P>Designed by Microsoft, <B>AVI (Audio Video Interleaved)</B> is a widespread + multipurpose format currently used mostly for DivX and DivX4 video. It has + many known drawbacks and shortcomings (for example in streaming). It + supports one video stream and 0 to 99 audio streams. File size is limited to + 2GB, but there exists an extension allowing bigger files called + <B>OpenDMS</B>. Microsoft currently strongly discourages its use and + encourages ASF/WMV. Not that anybody cares.<BR> <P>There is a hack that allows AVI files to contain an Ogg Vorbis audio stream, but makes them incompatible with standard AVI. <B>MPlayer</B> @@ -80,9 +82,9 @@ problem.</P> <P><B>Note:</B> DV cameras create raw DV streams that DV grabbing utilities -convert to two different types of AVI files. The AVI will then contain either -separate audio and video streams that <B>MPlayer</B> can play or the raw DV -stream for which support is under development.</P> + convert to two different types of AVI files. The AVI will then contain either + separate audio and video streams that <B>MPlayer</B> can play or the raw DV + stream for which support is under development.</P> <P>There are two kinds of AVI files:</P> <UL> @@ -110,32 +112,33 @@ </UL> <P>Any audio and video codec is allowed, but note that VBR audio is not well -supported by most players. The file format makes it possible to use VBR -audio, but most players expect CBR audio, thus they fail with VBR. VBR is -uncommon and the Microsoft AVI specs only describe CBR audio. Most AVI -encoders/multiplexers create bad files when using VBR audio. There are only -two known exceptions: NanDub and <A HREF="encoding.html">MEncoder</A>.</P> + supported by most players. The file format makes it possible to use VBR + audio, but most players expect CBR audio, thus they fail with VBR. VBR is + uncommon and the Microsoft AVI specs only describe CBR audio. Most AVI + encoders/multiplexers create bad files when using VBR audio. There are only + two known exceptions: NanDub and <A HREF="encoding.html">MEncoder</A>.</P> <P><B><A NAME="asf">2.1.1.3 ASF/WMV files</A></B></P> <P>ASF (active streaming format) comes from Microsoft. They developed two -variants of ASF, v1.0 and v2.0. v1.0 is used by their media tools (Windows -Media Player and Windows Media Encoder) and is very secret. v2.0 is published -and patented :). Of course they differ, there is no compatibility at all (it is -just another legal game). <B>MPlayer</B> supports only v1.0, as nobody has ever seen -v2.0 files :). Note that ASF files nowadays come with the extension .WMA or -.WMV.</P> + variants of ASF, v1.0 and v2.0. v1.0 is used by their media tools (Windows + Media Player and Windows Media Encoder) and is very secret. v2.0 is published + and patented :). Of course they differ, there is no compatibility at all (it + is just another legal game). <B>MPlayer</B> supports only v1.0, as nobody has + ever seen v2.0 files :). Note that ASF files nowadays come with the extension + .WMA or .WMV.</P> <P><B><A NAME="mov">2.1.1.4 QuickTime/MOV files</A></B></P> -<P>These formats were designed by Apple and can contain any codec, CBR or VBR. -They usually have a .QT or .MOV extension. Ever since the MPEG4 group chose -QuickTime as the recommended file format for MPEG4, their MOV files come with a -.MPG or .MP4 extension (Interestingly the video and audio streams in these -files are real MPG and AAC files. You can even extract them with the -<CODE>-dumpvideo</CODE> and <CODE>-dumpaudio</CODE> options.).</P> +<P>These formats were designed by Apple and can contain any codec, CBR or VBR. + They usually have a .QT or .MOV extension. Ever since the MPEG4 group chose + QuickTime as the recommended file format for MPEG4, their MOV files come with + an + .MPG or .MP4 extension (Interestingly the video and audio streams in these + files are real MPG and AAC files. You can even extract them with the + <CODE>-dumpvideo</CODE> and <CODE>-dumpaudio</CODE> options.).</P> <P><B>Note:</B> Most new QuickTime files use <B>Sorenson</B> video and QDesign Music audio. See our <A HREF="codecs.html#sorenson">Sorenson</A> codec @@ -144,26 +147,26 @@ <P><B><A NAME="vivo">2.1.1.5 VIVO files</A></B></P> -<P><B>MPlayer</B> happily demuxes VIVO file formats. The biggest disadvantage of -the format is that it has no index block, nor a fixed packet size or sync bytes -and most files lack even keyframes, so forget seeking!</P> +<P><B>MPlayer</B> happily demuxes VIVO file formats. The biggest disadvantage + of the format is that it has no index block, nor a fixed packet size or sync + bytes and most files lack even keyframes, so forget seeking!</P> <P>The video codec of VIVO/1.0 files is standard <B>h.263</B>. The video codec -of VIVO/2.0 files is a modified, nonstandard <B>h.263v2</B>. The audio is the same, -it may be <B>g.723</B> (standard), or <B>Vivo Siren</B>.</P> + of VIVO/2.0 files is a modified, nonstandard <B>h.263v2</B>. The audio is the + same, it may be <B>g.723</B> (standard), or <B>Vivo Siren</B>.</P> -<P>See the <A HREF="codecs.html#vivo_video">VIVO video codec</A> -and <A HREF="codecs.html#vivo_audio">VIVO audio codec</A> sections for installation -instructions.</P> +<P>See the <A HREF="codecs.html#vivo_video">VIVO video codec</A> and + <A HREF="codecs.html#vivo_audio">VIVO audio codec</A> sections for installation + instructions.</P> <P><B><A NAME="fli">2.1.1.6 FLI files</A></B></P> -<P><B>FLI</B> is a very old file format used by Autodesk Animator, but it is -a common file format for short animations on the net. <B>MPlayer</B> demuxes -and decodes FLI movies and is even able to seek within them (useful when -looping with the <CODE>-loop</CODE> option). FLI files do not have keyframes, so the picture -will be messy for a short time after seeking.</P> +<P><B>FLI</B> is a very old file format used by Autodesk Animator, but it is a + common file format for short animations on the net. <B>MPlayer</B> demuxes + and decodes FLI movies and is even able to seek within them (useful when + looping with the <CODE>-loop</CODE> option). FLI files do not have keyframes, + so the picture will be messy for a short time after seeking.</P> <P><B><A NAME="real">2.1.1.7 RealMedia (RM) files</A></B></P> @@ -178,19 +181,20 @@ <P><B><A NAME="nuppelvideo">2.1.1.8 NuppelVideo files</A></B></P> <P><A HREF="http://mars.tuwien.ac.at/~roman/nuppelvideo">NuppelVideo</A> -is a TV grabber tool (AFAIK:). <B>MPlayer</B> can read its .NUV -files (only NuppelVideo 5.0). Those files can contain uncompressed YV12, -YV12+RTJpeg compressed, YV12 RTJpeg+lzo compressed, and YV12+lzo compressed -frames. <B>MPlayer</B> decodes them all (and also <B>encodes</B> them with -<B>MEncoder</B> to DivX/etc!). Seeking works.</P> + is a TV grabber tool (AFAIK:). <B>MPlayer</B> can read its .NUV files (only + NuppelVideo 5.0). Those files can contain uncompressed YV12, YV12+RTJpeg + compressed, YV12 RTJpeg+lzo compressed, and YV12+lzo compressed frames. + <B>MPlayer</B> decodes them all (and also <B>encodes</B> them with + <B>MEncoder</B> to DivX/etc!). Seeking works.</P> <P><B><A NAME="yuv4mpeg">2.1.1.9 yuv4mpeg files</A></B></P> -<P><A HREF="http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net">yuv4mpeg / yuv4mpeg2</A> is -a file format used by the <A HREF="http://mjpeg.sf.net">mjpegtools programs</A>. -You can grab, produce, filter or encode video in this format using these tools. -The file format is really a sequence of uncompressed YUV 4:2:0 images. +<P><A HREF="http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net">yuv4mpeg / yuv4mpeg2</A> is a file + format used by the <A HREF="http://mjpeg.sf.net">mjpegtools programs</A>. + You can grab, produce, filter or encode video in this format using these + tools. The file format is really a sequence of uncompressed YUV 4:2:0 + images. </P> @@ -224,10 +228,10 @@ <P><B><A NAME="mp3">2.1.2.1 MP3 files</A></B></P> <P>You may have problems playing certain MP3 files that <B>MPlayer</B> will -misdetect as MPEGs and play incorrectly or not at all. This cannot be fixed -without dropping support for certain broken MPEG files and thus will remain -like this for the foreseeable future. The <CODE>-demuxer</CODE> flag described -in the manpage may help you in these cases.</P> + misdetect as MPEGs and play incorrectly or not at all. This cannot be fixed + without dropping support for certain broken MPEG files and thus will remain + like this for the foreseeable future. The <CODE>-demuxer</CODE> flag + described in the manpage may help you in these cases.</P> <P><B><A NAME="wav">2.1.2.2 WAV files</A></B></P>