These are a few decoders available for download (digital-digest.com) - these are usually the basic dll files needed to allow media player to decode & play mpg2 &/or DVDs. You can also look into the videolan project on the web - their client is free and plays back DVDs on your PC. And, some DVD software includes a mini-version of DVD player software that you can distribute with your DVDs; this doesn't require any installation or anything on the part of the DVD viewer. If you're doing DVDs & not DVD on CD, I've never seen a retail DVD player that didn't come with software.

RE: mpeg2 itself, if you can encode to mpg2, you should be able to decode it. RE: the codecs in general, there's the mjpg1 (often just written mpg or mpg1) that saves each frame and is used mostly for editing -- what you'd usually use in an NLE like Vegas, unless you're doing hi-end stuff or capturing/editing DV.

There's also a version more properly called mpg1, which can be though of as an earlier version of mpeg2 -- like real media, winmedia etc., this features higher compression by not saving every frame. As you'd guess, 2 is better then 1, 4 is better then 2. However, if you're creating a DVD, for now you're limited to mpg2; mpg1 can be used with the VCD & SVCD format discs.

As far as built-in suport goes, please be careful -- can't really assume someone has anything installed nowdays, or that it's the correct version. If you're burning video onto a CD, check out the above site for the routines & autorun apps they use with DIVX (*similar* - many will say better - to mpg4 & winmedia) to check if the codec's installed & either warn or install the necessary stuff.

mike

So can the MPEG2 decoder be plac ed into the DVD?

>>So can the MPEG2 decoder be placed into the DVD?

Yes, though it normally will have to be installed on the viewers PC, and you "should" use something that's freeware or licensed for that use. You should also be polite, and at least ask the user before you install something that may overwrite settings on their PC.

If you are burning a DVD, no need since everyone who has a DVD drive on their system has something like windvd or power dvd to read them & stand alone players have no need.

If you're doing DVD on CD, with vob files and such, then some DVD authoring apps let you place a limited player on the CD for other computer users in a way that doesn't interfere with the basic DVD setup. 2 programs I know of are SpruceUp & DVDit! - I don't know if the version of windvd they use could be made to work with DVD's authored elsewhere, & you'd want to read the licensing stuff to see if it was legal to do so. When you use this setup, it does work out pretty cool (especially when the system is at work & you can't install anything), but I have seen a few systems where it didn't work.

If you're using winmedia or realmedia etc., read their docs but I don't think it's any huge deal to include the player install prorgam on your CD.

It can get trickier is if you want to use autorun software that starts when the CD is inserted, checks for the proper software, then offers to install it if needed - or at least tells the viewer that it's on the CD. There are pro apps out there, a lot of published CDs use flash, & checking out the autorun software at digital-digest.com, you'll find some stuff that although tailored for DIVX, might work with a little tweaking for most anything else.

mike

For business card CD's (mini CD's)that would be used for, lets say an actress who want to distribute them and have them play on virtually everyone's computer that she hands them to what would you recommend. I have done them using Macromedia Flash, but I am not sure if that is the best way.

John

videodentist: let me get back to your first post. A PC needs two things to play a DVD--the DVD player device, and software that understands what's on the disk. The two most popular players for PCs are WinDVD and PowerDVD. They basically turn your PC into a player very similar to the one you probably have at home by your TV.

The DVD format uses MPEG2, which is a more sophisticated successor to MPEG1. An MPEG1 decoder is part of your Windows setup already. Installing an MPEG2 decoder won't play your DVD per se, because a DVD contains an elaborate structure that is much more than just a bunch of MPEG2 files.

BTW an MPEG1 image is roughly comparable to VHS tape in quality. For many purposes this may be plenty good enough. But if you want broadcast-quality video then MPEG2 is the way to go.

Thanks Richard,

That info really helps. I guess the answer is to burn it as MPEG 2 and hope people have the resident palyers on their PC.

Hi John,

Don't know if I can give you an idea or two or not...

I'm not sure how a Flash projector file (or much else) plays on MACs, & a lot of creative types have MACs - it's relatively simple to burn a dual format CD. A Flash file embedded in an HTML page would work of course, assuming everyone has the flash player installed, but I'm unsure how this would go over in a corporate environment - those I'm familiar with don't have flash & don't allow installations of anything.

IN a PC only environment I'd definitely consider something like Autoplay Media Studio which doesn't need anything to run. If you need MAC compatibility, there might be something similar that is dual platform - products like demoshield come to mind.

mike