MPlayer FAQ

Q: SDL output doesn't work or compile. Problem is ....
A: It is tested with SDL v1.1.8 (probably runs on 1.1.7)
It does NOT work with 1.1.6, 1.1.5 1.1.4 1.1.3 1.0.4 etc, don't ask.

Q: I am still having trouble compiling with SDL support. gcc says something
about "undefined reference to `SDL_EnableKeyRepeat'" What's now?

A: Where did you install the SDL library? If you installed in /usr/local
(the default) then edit the top level config.mak and add
"-L/usr/local/lib " after "X_LIBS=" Now type make. You're done!

Q: I have problem ... with the SDL driver.
A: It's very experimental & buggy code, and it's UNSUPPORTED by us.
Please do NOT report bugs or ask features relating to SDL.
But you can improve it, and send us patches!

Q: It doesn't compile, and it misses uint64_t inttypes.h and similar things...
A: Copy DOCS/inttypes.h to MPlayer directory (cp DOCS/inttypes.h .)
try again... if fail, contact me.

Q: I have Pentium III but ./configure doesn't detect SSE
A: Only kernel versions 2.4.x supports SSE (or try latest 2.2.19 or newer)

Q: fullscreen option (-fs) and/or -xy doesn't work with x11 driver (-vo x11)
A: x11 driver doesn't support scaling, and it can't change screen resolution.
Yes, I know that it should be but I have no time to write software
scaling routines and experiencing with XVidMode extension...
You can do it yourself, just press ALT,CTRL,- or ALT,CTRL,+ simultaneously,
see X-server docs for details.

Q: audio goes out of sync playing .avi file
A: try with -bps or -nobps option
if still bad, send me (upload to ftp) that file, I'll check.

Q: what is the meaning of numbers in the status line?
A: see:
A: 2.1 V: 2.2 A-V: -0.167 ct: 0.042 57 41% 0% 2.6% 0
- A: audio position in seconds
- V: video position in seconds
- A-V: audio-video difference in seconds (delay)
- ct: total A-V sync correction done
- frames played (counting from last seek)
- video codec cpu usage in percent (for mpeg it includes video_out too!)
- video_out cpu usage for avi, 0 for mpg (see above)
- audio codec cpu usage in percent
- dropped bad frames (mpg only)
Most of them are for debug purposes, and will be removed soon.

Q: Why is video_out cpu usage zero (0%) for mpeg files?
A: It's not zero, but it's built in into codec, so can't be measured separated.
You should try to play the file using -vo null and then -vo ... and check
the difference to see video_out speed...

Q: OpenGL (-vo gl) output doesn't work (hangup/black window/X11 errors)
A: your opengl driver doesn't support dynamic texture chanegs (glTexSubImage)
it's known not to work with X 4.0.x DRI drivers and nVidia's binary shit.
it's known to work with Utah-GLX and Matrox G400 card.
it will not work with 3DFX cards because the 256x256 texture size limit.

Q: I have G200/G400, how to compile/use mga_vid driver?
A: read INSTALL and README...

Q: What's XMMP? (it's XMMS or XMPS but mispelled?)
A: It's a new project, see http://frozenproductions.com for details.

Q: There are error messages about file not found /usr/lib/win32/....
A: Download & install w32codec.zip from *our* site
(avifile's codec package has different DLL set)

Q: It wants to load l3codeca.acm, but I don't have such file.
A: You should use w32codec.zip from our site, instead of avifile's pack!

Q: ...... works with avifile/aviplay while doesn't with MPlayer
A: MPlayer != avifile
The only common thing between these players is the Win32 DLL loader.
The codecs (dll) sets, syncronization, demultiplexing etc is totaly
different and shouldn't be compared.
If something works with aviplay it doesn't mean that MPlayer should do
it and vice versa. You should contact me, I'll fix the bug!!!

Q: Indeo 3.x/4.x movies are viewed upside-down!!!?
A: It's a known bug (really it's a bug/limitation of the DLL codec)

Q: Indeo 3.x,4.x video doesn't work at 32bpp resolutions (16,24 bpp are ok)
A: It's a known bug (really it's a bug/limitation of the DLL codec)

Q: I've got 'MPlayer interrupted by signal 11' in module audio_setup or
decode_audio.

A: It's a damaged file with bad mp3 audio stream. Try it with -afm 4

Q: It aborts with signal 11 playing a file with IMA-ADPCM audio.
A: This codec isn't yet supported!

Q: Are there rpm/deb/... packages of MPlayer?
A: You can make a .deb package for yourself, check DOCS/DEBIAN .
There are .rpm packages at
ftp://ftp.pld.org.pl/test/i{3,5,6}86/
and/or
ftp://ftp.pld.org.pl/PLD-1.0/i{3,5,6}86/PLD/RPMS/
NOTE: MANUAL COMPILATION _ALWAYS_ GIVES BETTER PERFORMANCE AND SPEED !

Q: Are there any mailing lists on MPlayer?
A: Yes! See README on how to subscribe them!

Q: I've found a nasty bug when I tried to play my favourite video!!
Who should I inform?

A: Inform the MPlayer-users mailing list about your problem. *ALWAYS*
read the README about what information we NEED to identify your problem.
Use the developers addresses (specified in AUTHORS) only if you want to
flame, or want to ask for a date. ;)

Q: During 'make', MPlayer complains about X11 libraries. I don't understand,
I DO have X installed!?

A: ...but you don't have the X development package installed. It's called
XFree86-devel* under RedHat, and xlib6g-dev* under Debian.
Also check if the /usr/X11 symlink exists (this can be a problem on
Mandrake systems). It can be created with the
ln -sf /usr/X11R6 /usr/X11
command. Also check the /usr/include/X11 link :
ln -sf /usr/X11R6/include/X11 /usr/include/X11
Your distribution may differ from the Linux Filesystem Standard.

Q: I have problems playing files with ... codec. Can I use'em?
A: Check CODECS, if it doesn't contain your codec, contact us.

Q: What about DGA driver? I can't find it!!!
A: ./configure autodetects your DGA driver. If -vo help doesn't show DGA, then there's a problem with your X installation. Try ./configure --enable-dga

Q: Ok, -vo help shows DGA driver, but it is babbling about permissions! Help me!
A: It works only if running as root! It's a DGA limitation. You should become to root (su -), and try again.
Another solution is making mplayer SUID root, but its NOT RECOMMENDED!
'chown root /usr/local/bin/mplayer'
'chmod 750 /usr/local/bin/mplayer'
'chmod +s /usr/local/bin/mplayer'
Now it works as a simple user, too.

Q: The fsdga driver doesn't work with my xyz.avi file. Why is that?
A: Because it only works with MPEG. (yet)

Q: When using Xvideo, my Voodoo 3/Banshee says:
X Error of failed request: BadAccess (attempt to access private resource denied)
Major opcode of failed request: 147 (MIT-SHM)
Minor opcode of failed request: 1 (X_ShmAttach)
Serial number of failed request: 26
Current serial number in output stream:27

A: Your driver is old, update it.

Q: When using Xvideo, I can't play DivX avis with my Voodoo 3/Banshee ! It says:
...
Xvideo image format: 0x32315659 (YV12) planar
Xvideo image format: 0x30323449 (I420) planar
...

A: Your driver is old, update it. The new driver also supports YUY2 required for DivX.