playing MPEG4 files greater than 2GB

[agk dream]

Does anyone know of a (standalone, hardware) player on the market capable of playing entire MPEG4 files larger than 2GB? I've done a fairly exhaustive search for information about this and turned up the following threads in this forum, among others:

http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-67028.html
http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-76393.html
http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-91869.html

Based on these threads, the tentative conclusion seems to be that no player is capable of it, but the relevant posts are years old. I wonder if the situation remains the same in 2007.

More background: I'm aware of the ISO limitation; I'm asking about large files on UDF file systems (in particular on single-layer DVD-R media). I own a Philips DVP642/37, which seems to have no problem with the UDF file system but be capable of playing only the first 2GB or so of larger files.

[setarip_old]

The 642/37 does appear to be limited to 2Gb filesize for complete playback, even for simple old DivX3.11alpha-compressed .AVIs...

[SeeMoreDigital]

I recommend you look for "network capable" players...

I'm able to play MPEG-4 video with AAC audio stored within the .MP4 container, greater than 2GB. No problems with .MP4 files greater than 4GB either.


Cheers

[agk dream]

Thanks for the reply:

I recommend you look for "network capable" players...

After a bit of searching, the only model I've been able to identify is the KiSS DP-500 (http://hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesnews/news20030812-02.html), released about 4 years ago. Surely there must be others, but Google isn't serving me well finding them. May I ask what model you own?

I'm able to play MPEG-4 video with AAC audio stored within the .MP4 container, greater than 2GB. No problems with .MP4 files greater than 4GB either.

You're referring to large files on DVD media, right? With network-capable players I gather there are other ways to play large files.

Incidentally the DVP642/37 seems to handle MPEG4 video with AAC audio better than MP3 audio, particularly VBR MP3, which tends to desync. I've only used the .AVI container though.

[Jor-El]

I own a Philips DVP5980K/55 with Divx Ultra Certification, HDMI 1080p and USB support. It's equivalent to DVP5982 in the USA and it uses a Mediatek chip

I made a 3.7Gb Xvid avi with xvid_encraw in a NTFS partition, which Gspot identifies as a "multipart avi 2.0". Then I opened this avi with latest virtualdub (1.7.6) and saved as "old format avi" and direct stream copy.

Finally I burned this avi with Nero using UDF format in a DVD-RW

It played without problems the entire feature (2:15 hrs.). I can fast-forward (up to 32x) and rewind.

I think that the problem with avis >2Gb is the use of Open DML with multiple segments and extended indexes, that's why some of this avis stop playing after reaching the first 1Gb segment, the firmware simply don't know what to do with the following segment.

Reading about the avi specs seems that the internal pointers are 32 bits wich means a file limit of 4Gb, but the avi 1.0 limit is 2Gb, so by default, an avi >2Gb is using the Open DML multisegment approach, as tools like aviMuxGui and virtualdub does.

I don't known if an 4Gb AVI 1.0 with a single index and segment is compliant or not, but it works on the Philips!

Later on I used divxmux to add AC3 and MP3 audio tracks, xsub subtitles along with the 3.7 Gb avi 1.0, burned in a UDF dvd, and guess what: It worked! I can switch the subtitles and audio tracks flawlessly. Even the xsubs don't disapear like external vobsubs when you fast-forward or rewind.

I'm a matroska guy, I love the great versatility of this container and his clean implementation (Haali splitter rocks!). But now I'm considering trying the DMF format (Divx Media Format) because is implemented already in the divx ultra certification.

I'm trying to put a basic menu and chapters to the big avi, but is only a matter of time and the right tools (divx media builder by userXP)

My wishes:

1. Matroska support in the Mediatek firmware!
2. Support for 4Gb open DML avis in divxmux to avoid the extra pass with virtualdub

And finally, many thanks for all the doom9 community and the coders of all the great applications that make our days.

(english is not my native language, sorry for the possible mistakes)

[desperado836]

I recommend you look for "network capable" players...

I'm able to play MPEG-4 video with AAC audio stored within the .MP4 container, greater than 2GB. No problems with .MP4 files greater than 4GB either.


Cheers

What player do you use SMD?

[agk dream]

Jor-El: Thank you for the detailed, informative, and thoughtful post! I'd come across some information giving me vague hope in the DVP5982 (since I'm in the US), but what you've written is much more useful!

Oh, and your English is quite clear. Not to worry!

[Mtz]

Burn the created 4GB .divx file on a rewritable DVD. If you'll have "unknown format" after inserting in standalone, change the .divx extension to .avi.

enjoy,
Mtz