Why can't I have MTK/Simga *and* ESS compatibility?

[Gothor]

My primary concern is that I'll be able to play my AutoGK-encoded .AVIs ten years down the line. Right now I have an ESS-based DVD player, but what if it breaks down and I wind up with an MTK/Sigma-based DVD player?

I've never understood why AutoGK makes you choose between two possible chipsets. Why not a third option, that sacrifices quality (I'd assume) in exchange for guaranteed compatibility with whatever I throw at it?

(Looking this over, I realize I sound kind of... whiny. My apologies. I'm honestly just curious why I have to choose between 'em. *sheepish grin*)

[weaver4]

If your player breaks down you will probably buy a unit that had a much better chipset than either of these two (these are real old chipsets). And any new chipsets will play either or none of these.

[Gothor]

Wait, new players might not play either ESS or MTK/Simga?

Goodness.

Now I want a, "High Compatibility for Just About Everything" setting even more. O_o

[weaver4]

You missed my point.

The ESS and MTK/Simga compatibility checkboxes restrict the features that the codec will use when encoding. No new chipset have these restrictions. So all new chipsets will play videos that were made with either chipset checked or with both of them unchecked. So if you have made files with either of these checked they will play just fine in the future, with all new chipsets.

[celtic_druid]

ESS is the "High Compatibility for Just About Everything" setting. Something encoded with ESS should playback on all ESS, MTK, Sigma and even SunPlus (if working at all) based players.

[Gothor]

Thank you, Celtic Druid. :)

This is why I love AutoGK. It's a "one click" program, but so full-featured, you can learn something new every day.

Merry Christmas!