How can I tell if ESS has been incorporated?

[Frankensmith]

Is it possible to view a partial .avi file (encoded with AutoGK) and determine if it was encoded using ESS compatibility? This COULD (of course) be a group of personal, family videos sent by someone to me!!!!!

NOTE: I don't want to detail my question further as ChickenMonger' (with his massive 14 posts since Apr. 2005), the 'forum detective' may find something 'politically incorrect' in any further detail I may add.

Thanks for any 'practical' info ...

FS

[manono]

...with his massive 14 posts since Apr. 2005

Isn't that a little bit of the pot calling the kettle black, since you have 11 fewer posts in 2 years longer time?

Anyway, to put you out of your misery; as far as I know, there is no one app that will tell you if an AVI was encoded using the ESS chipset option. After all, of the millions of AVIs encoded, how many do you think used AutoGK, and of those AutoGK encoded ones, how many would have used the ESS chipset compatibility option? Many AVIs that never went through AutoGK, ESS option or no, play just fine in your player.

There is, however, a way to tell with near certainty if your AVI will play in a Philips DVP-642. Install both GSpot and MPEG4 Modifier, and follow this guide:

http://www.jarnot.com/twiki/bin/view/Public/DVP642LisaBsAVIGuide?skin=print.pattern

You'll be able to check for and possibly fix anything that may trip up a 642, with one possible exception. Sometimes XviDs that play in a 642 might play the complex scenes (fast camera movement, explosions, crowd scenes, anything with lots of action/movement) with stutters or short pauses. Neither GSpot nor MPEG4 Modifier will tell you if you've got bitrate spikes that might trip up the 642. About the only way to know is to burn to disc and test. I've read that burning to DVDR rather than CD makes it easier to play these kinds of scenes.

http://moitah.net/
http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

I'm answering in the belief that others may also find the information useful. Please, Frankensmith, in the future be more careful about what you post and how it's worded.

[BigDid]

Hi,

To continue in the same spirit and with the same goal as Manono :) ,

You cannot get, afterwards, an info with "made by AGK with the ESS option" but you can guess correctly.

Use avinaptic http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=123076 on the problematic avi. If it tells you in the -generic info- made with "VirtualDubMod 1.5.4.1(build 2178...)", that rev is used by AGK.

I will also tell you in the -About mpeg4 encoding- the quant type (Cqm) used; if "H263" appears, the ESS option was used. In that section you will also know if Qpel/Gmc was used; these options are usually bad for old SAP.

Did

[Frankensmith]

Thank you, gentlemen. I'll peruse the links provided.

I believe the section on looking for the H263 (in quant type used) 'seems' to be what I'm looking for. At least, that would appear to be a practical starting point.

Sorry about the previous 'negative atmosphere' - I thought I had worded my question appropriately; and was somewhat startled at the 'warning'. I understand the rules and will be more attentive in my future inquiries or responses. ~ and I promise to never digitally stick my tongue out at, or virtual moon, that Chickenmonger guy :-)

Thanks again for the practical info. Hope these links give me the knowledge base I need in order to 'read' source video better.

FS