[streaming] Re: WMP and VLC streaming (transcoding bug)

[Simen Thoresen]

> So - my question remains - is there a VLC configuration that is able to 
> transcode and stream to 'any' WMP9 and -10 (preferably others as well) 
> install?
> 'Any', in this case meaning that only the codecs bundled with it, or 
> available on Microsofts automatic download-service are used.

Hi All,

I think I have some more information on this. From an off-list 
discussion with Viktor, I've learned that WMP9 /can/ read 
MMS/ASFH-streams created by VLC, and I've started wondering if the issue 
may be with the transcoding and not the streaming as such.

I've been using the same vlc command line with three different files 
(one a 'xvid'-encode of the Finnish 'Star Wreck' movie, a 'mp4' version 
of an Archive.org documentary, and the last an MPEG1-version of the same 
movie.

My current vlc-command line is

vlc  --loop ~simentt/media/operation_ivy.mpg ':sout=#transcode{ 
vcodec=WMV1,vb=200,scale=0.5,acodec=mp3,ab=64,channels=2}:duplicate{ 
dst=std{access=mmsh,mux=asfh,dst=:8080}} :sout-all'


What I found, was this;

When using the original file, the Star Wreck DivX, WMP10 plays the 
stream without any issues, and WMP9 tends to render the stream as just 
an horizontal line.

When using the 'mpeg1' file, both WMP9 and WMP10 play the movie, 
apparently correctly (I just checked this, so I have not had much time 
to experiment yet).

When using the 'mp4'-file, WMP10 /crashed/, right after buffering. The 
first frame was rendered, but the movie never really started playing. 
This was reproduced twice. Interestingly, also my VLC Win32 (v8.5 
official)-client just terminated instead of playing it.

Again, this is with a Dag Wieers build of VLC 8.4 running as the server.

When feeding the Official Win32 8.5-build with the 'mp4'-file and 
streaming it to 'localhost', WMP10 does /not/ crash, but renders the 
file correctly.

What I've learned - There is a transcoding-bug in VLC, at least for the 
8.4 build I've been using. When transcoding the 'xvid'-file, the 
video-part of the stream is not renderable by WMP9, while it is for 
WMP10. When transcoding the 'mpeg'-file, the video-part is renderable by 
WMP9 as well as for WMP10. When transcoding the 'mp4'-file, the stream 
crashes both WMP10 and VLC.

Files used;
http://www.archive.org/download/operation_ivy/operation_ivy_256kb.mp4
http://www.archive.org/download/operation_ivy/operation_ivy.mpg
http://www.starwreck.com/media/switp/star_wreck_in_the_pirkinning_subtitled_xvid.avi


I hope this is of use for the other people on the list and the forums 
who have had similar problems.

I'll continue experimenting with this to see if a fresher VLC-build will 
fix my problems, or yield further information.

Yours,
-S
-- 
Simen Thoresen, Wulfkit Support, Dolphin ICS
http://www.tysland.com/~simentt/cluster

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