*.divx files

[weaver4]

The new .DivX files include all of the features of avi except it supports subtitles (no hard coded) and chapters. I was wondering if any player (except the DivX player) was capable of executing these features when using a *.divx file.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

AFAIK .divx files are just AVI files with a "wrong" extension, so they can be associated with DivX's own player. You should be able to rename them to .avi safely. But I might be wrong. I never use such stuff...

[weaver4]

You are kind-of right. You can rename them .avi files and they will play video and sound correctly, but when you do that you loose the streams for subtitles and chapters.

Here is a nice matrix of various containers. You can see the differences between avi and divx containers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_container_formats

[LoRd_MuldeR]

While in previous generations video encoded with DivX was analogous to video formats such as MPEG-2, in its 6.0 generation the new DivX Media Format is analogous to media container formats such as Apple's QuickTime. In much the same way that media formats such as DVD specify MPEG-2 video as a part of their specification, the DivX Media Format specifies MPEG-4-compatible video as a part of its specification. However, despite the use of the ".divx" extension, this format is simply the AVI file format by another name. The methods of including multiple audio and even subtitle tracks involve storing the data in RIFF headers and other such AVI hacks which have been known for quite a while, such that even VirtualDubMod supports them. Of course, the traditional method of creating standard AVI files is still supported.

Ergo: The .divx files are nothing but AVI files, only with a different (wrong) file extension.
The AVIs made by DivX use some common AVI hacks, but those can be found in "normal" .avi files too.

[weaver4]

I did not know that! Regardless these hacks are well defined to hold subtitles and chapter information in a specific way. Is there any player (other than the DivX player) that will take advantage of these hacks?

[numaios]

There are a lot of standalone players, like KiSS or LG, that can read those multiple audio and subtitle tracks muxed in DivX Media Format. I don't know if BSplayer supports them.

The AVIs made by DivX use some common AVI hacks, but those can be found in "normal" .avi files too.Have you seen any AVI file with selectable subtitles or menus? I think that the common AVI hacks mean other thing, like muxing VBR MP3 in AVI, or using B-frames with AVI, not muxing subtitles or chapters or menus.

[weaver4]

I am looking for a player like mpc, vcl, mplayer or something like that that will take advantage of the DivX chapters and subtitles. I already have a SAP that will play the take advantage of the .divx format.

[foxyshadis]

For what OS? The Divx player is available to Windows and Mac, and I think that's the only one with support for .divx extensions. Doubt there's anything for linux, unless you can run the Divx player in Wine.

[weaver4]

For what OS? The Divx player is available to Windows and Mac, and I think that's the only one with support for .divx extensions. Doubt there's anything for linux, unless you can run the Divx player in Wine.

Windows

[Chudz]

I thought that VLC does chapters and subtitles? Does it not support them in .DivX?

[KoD]

DivX is a proprietary format. It might not be supported in players others than those made by DivX Inc themselves.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I thought that VLC does chapters and subtitles? Does it not support them in .DivX?

As said before, .divx files are "hacked" AVI files and they should be renamed to .avi anyway.
Chapters are not intended by the specifications of the AVI format!
So no player that "correctly" implements AVI support, will ever be able to read chapters from AVI.
Of course DivX's Player supports their own hacks, but I doubt any other player does.
There are other hacks for AVI, like B-Frame support, that have wide support in software players...

BTW: Is the Splitter used by DivX's Player a standalone .ax file or is it built-in?
In the first case you might be able to use it in other DShow based players.