************************************************************************* S3(R)/Xing(TM) Native-MPEG(TM) Driver Version 1.1 ************************************************************************* INTRODUCTION ************************************************************************* The S3/Xing Native-MPEG software decoder brings a new level of video quality to the PC. Native-MPEG eliminates the need and expense of specialized MPEG playback hardware while providing a level of audio and video quality superior to software codecs such as Cinepak(TM) or Indeo(TM). Using Native-MPEG, you can play full screen, full motion MPEG video files with synchronized audio on your Windows PC. Native-MPEG can operate in any resolution supported by the graphics accelerator subsystem. While Native-MPEG will operate in 256 color graphics mode, image quality will be improved if the color depth of the graphics driver is set to 64K or 16.7M colors. The MPEG video window can be stretched or shrunk to any arbitrary size within the performance limits of the graphics/video accelerator. Synchronized audio playback is accomplished through the host system's sound board or motherboard audio codec. Audio sample rates and modes are user configurable for optimum playback performance. The Native-MPEG software decoder supports the popular new VideoCD format (.dat files), also known as "White Book," linear CD-i movies, also known as "Green Book," Karaoke CDs, OM-1 interactive titles and multiplexed MPEG files containing audio and video (.mpg files). Playback of RealMagic interactive titles and encrypted MPEG files is not supported. MPEG video files can be read from either a CD-ROM or hard disk. Native-MPEG supports both the Media Control Interface (MCI) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 2.0 specifications enabling simplified control and playback of MPEG movies ina wide variety of popular Microsoft Windows applications such as Word(TM) and PowerPoint(TM). ************************************************************************* HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ************************************************************************* HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: * A 486/DX2 is the the minimum speed host CPU. A Pentimum P5-90 or faster is optimal. Performance, as measured by the number of displayed frames per second, will scale with the CPU's processing power. * Minimim 8MB of system memory. 16MB of system memory is optimal. * S3 graphics controllers Trio32(TM), Trio64(TM), Vision864(TM), Vision964(TM) is minimal (no hardware color space conversion or scaling support). S3 multimedia controllers Vision868(TM), Vision968(TM) is optimal (color space conversion and scaling supported). * Minimum of 1MB video memory. 2MB or more of video memory is preferred. * An 8-bit or 16-bit sound card or a motherboard audio codec * CD-ROM XA-compatible player - 1X transfer speed is minimal; 2X or faster is optimal. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: * Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups(TM) * Video for Windows 1.1E (includes Media Player 2.0) * S3 Windows driver or other vendor equivalent: - Vision868 and Vision968 drivers (Version 1.4b6 or later) - Trio(TM) and Vision964 drivers (Version 1.3b8 or later) - Vision864 driver (Version 1.3b7 or later) - S3 DXP display driver * A .WAV-compatible sound board driver * Video files for playback must be in compliance with the MPEG-1 standard =========================== * SYSTEM.INI Files Changes =========================== The setup will modify SYSTEM.INI as follows: - in the [mci] section: CDIVideo is set to MPEG110.DRV - in the [mci] section: MpegVideo is set to MPEG110.DRV ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... =========================== * WIN.INI Files Changes =========================== The setup will modify WIN.INI as follows: - in the [Extensions] section: mpg is set to mplayer.exe /play ^.mpg - in the [Extensions] section: dat is set to mplayer.exe /play ^.dat - in the [Extensions] section: mpv is set to mplayer.exe /play ^.mpv - in the [Extensions] section: vbs is set to mplayer.exe /play ^.vbs - in the [Extensions] section: vid is set to mplayer.exe /play ^.vid - in the [mci extensions] section: mpg is set to MpegVideo ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [mci extensions] section: dat is set to MpegVideo ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [mci extensions] section: mpv is set to MpegVideo ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [mci extensions] section: vbs is set to MpegVideo ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [mci extensions] section: vid is set to MpegVideo ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [mpeg110] section: mpeg110path is set to the user-specified destination path =========================== * CONTROL.INI Files Changes =========================== The setup will modify CONTROL.INI as follows: - in the [drivers.desc] section: MPEG110.DRV is set to [MCI] Native-MPEG(TM) Driver ** If you choose to add a new driver, Native-MPEG Driver is replaced by Native-MPEG Driver N where N = 1,2,3,... - in the [Userinstallable.drivers] section: MpegVideo is set to MPEG110.DRV ** If you choose to add a new driver, MpegVideo is replaced by MpegVideoN where N = 1,2,3,... ************************************************************************* Native-MPEG(TM) File Contents ************************************************************************* This release consists of the following components of Native-MPEG: - MPEG110.DRV - Native-MPEG MCI Driver, an MCI device driver for playback of MPEG files within the Windows environment. This driver was developed in compliance with Microsoft Corporation's "MPEG Command Set for the Media Control Interface (Part #098-37538). Native-MPEG provides the basic playback capability used by multimedia applications that control "MPEG Video" devices. - MPEGVID.DLL - Native-MPEG Video driver. - MPEGAUD.DLL - Native-MPEG Audio driver. - DCIMAN.DLL - DCI (Display Control Interface) Manager driver developed jointly by Microsoft Corporation and Intel Corporation. After a successful installation, you can use MCI-compliant applications to play MPEG files. Native-MPEG should be used with Microsoft Corporation's Media Player 2.0 (11/19/93 or later) from Video for Windows 1.1E. ************************************************************************* PLAYBACK MEDIUM ************************************************************************* While playback of MPEG files from either a CD-ROM drive or from a hard disk is supported, most MPEG files you will encounter will be stored on CD-ROMs as .mpg files or on VideoCDs as .dat files. Because playback of MPEG files stored on a compact disc is generally 20-25% slower than playback from a hard disk, you may prefer to transfer small MPEG files to the hard disk to improve playback performance However, since MPEG files are typically very large, storing numerous video files on the hard disk is often not practical. =============================================== To play an MPEG file from the CD-ROM: =============================================== * In Windows, open up the Program Manager window * Select the "Run" command from the Program Manager's "File" menu. * Click on the "Browse" button to select an MPEG file from the CD-ROM (change the Drives to the D: drive or your CD-ROM designated drive). * Click on the OK button to launch Media Player and play the selected MPEG file from the CD-ROM. ================================================== To play an MPEG file from the hard disk: * FOR OPTIMAL PLAYBACK * ================================================== * Copy the desired MPEG file from the CD-ROM to your Software MPEG destination directory by typing: COPY D:\[desired MPEG file] [destdir] * In Windows, open up the Program Manager window * Select the "Run" command from the Program Manager's "File" menu. * Click on the "Browse" button to select an MPEG file from your hard disk in the Software MPEG destination directory. * Click on the OK button to launch Media Player and play the selected MPEG file from the hard disk. ************************************************************************* ===================================================== To play an MPEG file using Media Player: ===================================================== * Launch Media Player. * Select the "Open" command under the File menu or the "Native-MPEG 1.1..." menu item under the Device menu. * Choose an MPEG file to open. * Click the PLAY button to play the file. ===================================================== To play a CD-i movie from the CD-ROM: ===================================================== * Insert a CD-i movie disc into your CD-ROM drive. * Launch Media Player. * Select the "Native-MPEG CD-i Movie Driver 1.1" menu item under the Device menu. * Click the PLAY button to play the file. ===================================================== For more detailed information on playing MPEG files, please refer to the Native-MPEG User's Guide. ===================================================== ************************************************************************* You can also create icons in a Program Manager group specifying the .*.MPG file (on your hard disk or the CD-ROM) in the Command Line to facilitate running Software Mpeg files within the Windows environment. To do this: * Choose "New" from the Program Manager's "File" menu; the "New Program Object" window appears; * Select the "Program Group" radio button and click the "OK" button; the "Program Group Properties" window appears; * Type: Software MPEG in the Description field; click on the "OK" button; a Software MPEG Program Group window appears; * Choose "New" from the Program Manager's "File" menu; the "New Program Object" window appears; * Select the "Program Item" radio button and click the "OK" button; the "Program Group Properties" window appears; * Click on the Browse button to select an MPEG file from the hard disk or the CD-ROM; click the "OK" button; * Type descriptive text in the "Description" field; click the "OK" button; a Media Player icon will be created which you can double-click on to launch Media Player and play the specified MPEG file. ************************************************************************* To Adjust Viewing Characteristics of the MPEG files ************************************************************************* * Use File|Open and/or Device|MPEG Decoder to select an MPEG file. * From the Device menu, select "Configure..." to launch the configuration dialog box. DCI SUPPORT: ============ By default, the "Use DCI if Available" option is active. When this option is disabled, the S3/Xing Native-MPEG(TM) Driver will not use the capabilities of the DCI. ** Due to the significant benefits of using the DCI, you should disable this feature only in very rare situations (e.g., you want to perform video playback tests in DIB mode or demonstrate the performance with and without DCI). RATE CONTROL: ============= When Rate Control is ON, the S3/Xing Native-MPEG Driver plays the loaded MPEG file at normal speed. If the driver cannot maintain the frame rate, it skips video frames and gives priority to playing audio. When Rate Control is OFF, the S3/Xing Native-MPEG Driver ignores the frame rate, displays every video frame, and disables audio playback. The rate at which frames are displayed is determined by the speed of your PC and the nature of the MPEG file being played. ** Since rate control insures proper video playback speed, you should disable this feature only in very rare situations (e.g., you want to perform a frame-by-frame scan of the file). AUDIO: ====== The sample rate options (11kHz and 22kHz) specify the rate at which the S3/Xing Native-MPEG Driver decodes the MPEG file. The audio playback mode options (Stereo and Mono) specify the decoding mode of the S3/Xing Native-MPEG Driver. Mono-encoded files will always be decoded in Mono mode. ************************************************************************** Controlling the Appearance of the Media Player Video Playback Window ************************************************************************** The Media Player window consists of a menu bar, a track bar, and the following control buttons: - Play/Pause button - Stop button - Seek to Home button - Page Left button - Page Right button - Seek to End button - Mark In button - Mark Out button The menu bar provides four main command menus: * File Menu - to access and close files * Edit Menu - to copy a media sequence to the Clipboard and paste it into another application * Device Menu - to select or configure a device * Scale Menu - to modify the scale unit (Time/Frames) for the track bar Media Player also provides an abbreviated form of its controls which includes the track bar and the Play/Pause and Stop buttons. ====================================================================== To toggle between the abbreviated display and the normal Media Player display: ====================================================================== - Double-click on the title bar of the Media Player window (in normal display) or the title bar of the abbreviated form of the playback window (in abbreviated display). Refer to the Microsoft Video for Windows User's Guide for more information about Media Player.