AVIs on a DVD Player

[enter8]

What's the best DVD player for playing AVIs?

What's the least expensive DVD player for playing AVIs?

I really hate the CPU stress and hours that I spend encoding AVIs to MPEGs so that my player can handle them. I hear lots of stories about players that can 'handle everything.'

For DVD players than can handle AVIs is the quality as good as compared to the MPEG conversions? Am I losing anything watching it in AVI? The reason I ask is that when I watch AVIs on my computer (windows media player), the audio is frequently out of sync, but after I encode them, the audio is usually fine.

An AVI can't contain a subtitle stream, correct? Can it contain audio streams?

[DigitalJunkie]

If you're interested in a DivX/DVD player, make sure you check the specs. that would tell it can play DivX3, 4 & 5 or not. As to quality, of course compressed AVI files will lose some quality. I've DivX/DVD player with HD Upconvert, so it's better than players that do not have HD Upconvert built-in. DivX/DVD players can also play subtitles, but some can only play SRT subtitles not SUB subtitles files. AVI files can also contain multiple audio streams, it all depends on how it was encoded.

If you're not sure which player to buy, bring your DivX encoded files & play them on those players first, so you know which player can play those AVI files!

[CCSDUDE]

best bang for your buck (least 2 years ago) was a 99 buck Coby http://www10.epinions.com/pr-Coby_DVD-R1100_DVD_Recorder_Player

now it's probably some 40-80 dollar http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP642-DivX-Certified-Progressive-Scan-Player/dp/B000204SWE

can't speak for the philips but a friend liked its output coby died after about 2 years of heavy use (2 dvd-r per day give or take) and played almost everything except ogg h264 and asf/wmv

quality was tolerable but not hd or projection good

[enter8]

As to quality, of course compressed AVI files will lose some quality.

They'll lose the quality in the compression process though, correct? It's not like a compressed AVI file improves quality when it's decompressed, does it?

This is just a guess, but decompression is taking the file farther away from the source material, so there might even be a drop in quality.

At the moment, I only download compressed AVIs and then decompressed them.

Thanks for the other information, that's a big help.

[enter8]

now it's probably some 40-80 dollar http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVP642-DivX-Certified-Progressive-Scan-Player/dp/B000204SWE

Whoah, I'm looking at the picture of this player and saying "hey, that looks familiar"

I OWN one! I demoted it to another family member when I put a disc in and it was a little noisier than the Panasonic I have.

Geez do I feel like an idiot.

So... I can swap out the philips for the panasonic and play AVIs, huh?

This is really stupid question, but how do I burn an avi so that it'll play? I can't just do a data disc with nero, can I? What if I want to add a menu? Or subtitles? What's the best software for that?

[CCSDUDE]

yep standard CDFS/UDF depending on media

that coby didn't list the encode/decode chips mpeg4 feature anywhere on site or in the manual at the time worked fine with dvd-r & cdr loaded with anything in xvid/divx x.0

so it stands to reason newer logic chips 'n better iso standards should make any new divx players worry free

on the compression issue... research some of the all in one dvd player chips on the market (think the coby was LSI)

best post processing/ect will show some improvement on large screens and if you toss in a 150-400 buck single switch upscaler dlp projection of 4+ foot images should be pretty sweet

[Mels_Smileys45]

I have a philips and it works great. There are even a few tricks you can look up on the net. The one I find most useful, if you have a video where the picture comes up looking funny because of the codec, or the audio is out of sync, push the "menu" button twice and it will correct itself!

Divx players are wonderful. I need to find one the plays the newer hi def codecs. I saw the new philips at wal-mart for 39 bucks and it said something about super divx or something like that. What can that be?

[DigitalJunkie]

Super DivX, according to developer they can encode with menus just like DVDs!

However, I've not seen anyone encode DivX with menus yet. So you can't even try it, if you got a player that can handle Super DivX!

[Mels_Smileys45]

Super DivX, according to developer they can encode with menus just like DVDs!

However, I've not seen anyone encode DivX with menus yet. So you can't even try it, if you got a player that can handle Super DivX!



I have seen some DIVX6 porn with menus and chapters. I did not know that was superdivx. You have to get the damn official divx encoder to do this. Auto GK had promised to support this at one time but I havent kept up with that.

[HelenaP]

Not sure if I understood your last question correctly...

...but how do I burn an avi so that it'll play?...What if I want to add a menu? Or subtitles? What's the best software for that?

but if I did, ConvetXtoDVD does menus and subs.

"It has the ability to convert multiple file types, including AVI files ( DivX or XviD supported), Quicktime files ( MOV ) , Windows Media Video files (WMV) etc.. to DVD ....It can convert NTSC to PAL and vice versa, 4:3 or 16:9 output and also has more bitrate options than previous versions of the software. It has support for manual or automatic chapters, subtitle streams and multiple audio streams also. It will also automatically output a menu."

If you decide you want to try it out, here is the guide-

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/vso_convertxtodvd_guide.cfm

[enter8]

Helena, ConvertX will convert my avi to mpeg (and take about 2 hours for a feature length film). As far as I know, convertx can't go from avi to avi w/menu and subtitles.

Extrapolating from the conversation above, it doesn't seem that regular Divx can handle menus (only the superDivx can).

Subtitles would be nice, but I can live without them. Same thing for menus. A commentary track, though- that I'm going to miss.

Thanks everyone, this thread has been immensely informative.

[scampthedog]

with the xbox 360 played xvid files. Save a lot of hassles.

[jerry36]

convertxtodvd is one of the best program to convert your avi movie to DVD, give it a try.

[enter8]

Update: my Philips DVP642, which, for the last month has been playing everything I've thrown at it, has died- It was about 1 year old, which, from the reviews I've read, seems par for the course.

I'm debating whether or not to get a new Philips (or another brand of DivX player) or use the S Video out on my video card and play movies from my computer.

Playing movies from my computer would be ideal (no outlay for cds/dvds and no new DVD player every year or so), but I'm running into two, imo, big obstacles.

1. The problem with playing AVIs on my computer is that the sound is almost always out of sync in both WMP and Media Player Classic. I'm about to try out other player software, such as powerdvd and vlc, and hopefully that will help, but I'm thinking my sync issues are codec related, something that, from my current perspective, seems a little complicated. Ideally, rather than getting a PhD in codecs (gspot, re-encoding etc.) I'd like to track down player software that allows for tweaking of the sync on the fly. Has anyone encountered one that could do that?

2. The additional HTPC issue that I'm running into is that my TV only takes coaxial, so I have to run the video through my VCR, which only takes composite. I've seen some cheap S Video to composite adapters, but I'm not sure I trust them. Anyone have experience with these?

At the moment, I'm kind of floundering amongst these choices

1. I can get an S video to composite cable from Hong Kong for $2.50 shipped (and about 3 weeks shipping time). My local radio shack has them for $24. $24 seems like a lot, especially when I can get a DVD player for a little more and I don't have to worry about codecs/software testing. Not to mention that radio shack sucks and I'd prefer not to give them my business.

2. Walmart has a newer model philips for $40 and a Magnavox DivX for $37.

3. I'm also considering contacting philips and mailing my broken player in to get it fixed.

4. There's a few DIY DVP642 fixes floating around the web that I'm trying out to see if I can fix my player.

5. Circuit city has the DVP642 for about $40. $10 more will give me a 2 year plan. Most of the time I scoff at plans, but for a DVD player that tends to die after a year (or even less) this may be worthwhile.

6. I have a 20" LCD Monitor that I'm considering putting where my TV is and watching movies on that, but... I kind of want it for my daily computer use, AND I'm not sure what kind of quality it's going to give me (although my present ancient TV coax/vcr/composite/dvd player setup couldn't get much worse). The other aspect of a 20" widescreen monitor is that, compared to my 20" TV, I gain about an inch of height watching WS movies, but... for fullscreen stuff, I lose about an inch and a half.

As you can see, my options are a bit overwhelming and nothing's really jumping out at me. The biggest problem is that I'm dead in the water AVI movie watching wise and the thought of going back to convertxtodvd and it's 2 hour encoding times/stress on my cpu doesn't appeal to me in the least. From here on out, I'm done with encoding.

Any thoughts?

[HelenaP]

Well, I am not as familiar with converting movies (or the different players out there, though I have heard of the Philips) as I am with music related apps, I can only offer one suggestion;

From past experience, specifically related to our computer purchased from Circuit City, I would suggest not getting their extended warranty.

If you google Circuit City and the track record of them honoring their extended warranties, you will not find favorable things being said (I think I have it bookmarked, but it's buried somewhere).
Our experience was horrid and I cringe everytime my husband orders/purchases anything from them (even though it's all been small stuff since our pc purchase).

All IMHO.

p.s. I am ill, so please excuse any typos, babbling, etc....

[enter8]

Okay, then *crosses circuit city off the list*

That's very helpful Helena. And I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I hope you get better soon.

[CCSDUDE]

@enter8 - google up "KiSS' brand players http://www.amazon.co.uk/Media-Player-Recorder-Ethernet-Connectivity/dp/B000O517QM/

this is just one of their current lineup and they all support a very fluid open-source update system based on a fairly powerful encode/decode chip

it's more like an RISC processor (straightforward decoder) but it's not hard coded to preform functions like a typical mpeg2 decoder chip so it can be updated to support tons of codecs as well as encode straight to mpeg2 and maybe xvid/avc/ect in the future

the HTPC setup is only worth it if your current system was built or bought in the last 2 years so unless you already have a video card with svid or composite out in the system it wouldn't be wise to go that route

personally I'd suggest you deal with pc viewing for now while you save up 5-800 bucks to round out a nice pc/htpc package with the following

diy LCD projector for under 400 with a straightforward 5.1 coaxial or optical out soundcard to a decent 5.1 setup

http://www.lumenlab.com/diy/ - check out the main page if diy builds are out of the question (no clue how good their inhouse projector is so research)
http://www10.epinions.com/Yamaha_HTR_5930 - very solid unit for the price

speakers
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635 - powered sub that puts all the crap you see at circuit city/bestbuy/ect to shame for much less

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-680 - 4x surrounds 1x center setup that'll clock in just shy of the yamaha's peak output (in other words never go above 70-80% of the amps output to avoid blowing a driver)


if you wanna toss in a screen instead of using a white wall or making your own from shit found at home depot (check lumen labs forum for ideas on building your own) add on another 100-200 for a nice grey da-lite brand pull down screen (lcd projectors lack a bit of contrast for the lumen output so you need a darker screen to get the deep blacks sharp instead of grey)

all together you stand to spend under a g for a system that will faithfully reproduce 120 inch+ images 'n gut rattling sound

I'd go for the diy method even if it's a challange for you as lamps for commerical projectors can be extremely expensive or downright hell to find while a diy rig can easily use all the common metal halid security lights sold at hardware stores for under 20 bucks vs 200+ for a specialized projector bulb

if you got any questions feel free to PM me