Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

I keep playing around with video conversion settings. It's hard now for me to be content with 400x240 anymore - as you'll see why. ;)

I played the new "World Enough and Time" episode (normal, not HD version) from Star Trek New Voyages at http://stnv.dragonfly.com/ and automatically copied it using the Firefox "Download Helper" Add-On.

It looks REALLY incredible on my N800/'07/MPlayer for some reason (VERY sharp and vivid - digital pre-enhancement no doubt) And it plays quite smoothly (just a tiny line of verical "smearing" along the bottom edge).

Overall, I think this is THE N800/810 video file you want to show off to your friends (including iPod owners! :D).

Mplayer file infomation says it's AVI/DIVX/750x384/750 kbps video, & DSPMP3/32/44100 audio.

I'm now converting DVDs to 750x384 video w/ DVD Shrink/Super and usually have to tweak up the audio volume to +20 on VOB files I ripped. I keep the vid bitrate closer to 500-600 kbps and the frame rate at 23.79-something (but I'm going to go for 25fps next time).

I'm now thinking that chosing Super's DV50 encoding option over DIVX results in smoother and better looking play. I also need to jiggle the rates better somehow to sync the sound better. Maybe the 25 fps option will work better for this, too.

Of course, most of my choice DVDs are relatively grainy movies from the 60's to begin with, so none looks as nice as the Trek direct-to-digital file, even with duplicating the same file info settings.

Maybe MPlayer on OS 08 will be better at smoother playback as well?

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

Download Helper saves this as an FLV file. Did you have to re-encode this, or did you play it back as an FLV file?

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

I thought I transferred it and played it straight from the download - otherwise, I don't know where that odd screen resolution came from. :confused:

If it doesn't work on someone else's N800/'07/MPlayer - then I must'a converted in Super and left the original rez untouched (but I don't remember doing that).

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

The download link is:

http://redirector.intelligentcdn.ver...4/f3e360e8.flv

I only looked at the page source. Haven't watched yet, but it links to a 189.5MB .flv file.

UPDATE: It appears that may only be an audio file.

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

Downloading now, thanks. Ill see if it plays in mplayer.

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

Changing framerate from source is a bad idea. It just leads to weird playback and audio-sync issues. Trying to add frames is stupid anyway, where do you think you're gonna get more info?

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

So much for that. I tried it in mplayer and got about .5 fps.

no, it is the full video. The reason why it appears to be an audio file is because it performs THAT poorly.

You must have used something else, although you are right that this video looks pretty damn good(as a slideshow).

Re: Pushing the Video rez envelope (Trek Style)
 

Well guys...forgive me...I guess my enthusiasm caused cerebral-flatulence. :p

I think I can now recall that I must have initially loaded the downloaded file into my freeware "FLV Player" on my PC to view it.

The player's info box gave me the file's odd screen dimensions and the equally odd 23.976 frame-rate. I don't have any other player onboard that gets this specific info for a .flv file.

These settings are easily replicated in the Super Video Converter (and no other freeware GUI converter that I'm aware of).

I converted it into a DIVX codec / AVI wrapper - again keeping the same relatively high rez and frame rate. So the sound syn is still retained, the motion is surprisingly acceptable and the color , sharpness and contrast are OUTSTANDING! :D

I hope I remembered all the details correctly and that you all can have the same success with this video and report it here! the higher rez seems particularly appreciated in the sharp glints and hi-lites.

BTW: I just discovered that my new iGO wireless Bluetooth keyboard's arrow keys and return key makes for a nifty remote for MPlayer! ;)