miniDVD that should play on ANY computer

[Andra]

<sorry, I had NO idea where to post this>

Hi there,

I'm working at a small multi-media company, and I'm thinking about making miniDVD's for clients who want an highquality example of a commercial or something. But what I was wondering is: is it possible to get a miniDVD playing on a PC or MAC that hasn't got any DVD-software installed. I'm thinking about a small barebones-player that doesn't need installing.
I don't know wether such a program exsists. And ultimately I would need one for PC and one for Mac, and both as small as possible so you would have more space for the videofiles.
And does anyone know wether mac as an equivalent of autorun.inf?

I hope you can help!!

Yours,
Andra

P.S.
Is there ANY way to get a miniDVD to play on a stand-alone player aswell, or should I just keep on dreaming?

[bilu]

it probably could be done, using Linux mplayer.

There is a windows port and an OSX port too.
Runs from command line, includes all codecs needed.
No support for Classic though <:/

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/design6/news.html

And since you can do it MPEG-2 this way there's a chance you could make a standalone-compatible version as well :)

Bilu

[Atamido]

I am assuming that by miniDVD you mean 8cm DVD+R disk.

That solution would work great for the PC or MAC. However they would not play on a stand alone also.

To play in a stand alone you should be able to burn it like a regular DVD to have it play there. While this would play fine in a stand alone box, it would require DVD software to be installed on a PC or MAC.

[bilu]

Would it be possible to generate a DVD structure that would include Linux, MacOSX and Windows ports of MPlayer as auto-run? That would still be standalone-compatible?

Something like a boot CD from Movix or Geexbox, but with a DVD structure.

Bilu

[MfA]

You can put extra data for computers on the DVD which a standalone player will just ignore right? How about just putting copies of mplayer for PC and MAC in the "DVD Others" zone with some shortcuts to play the movie?

Dunno if autorun is possible, dunno where in the directory structure DVD-Others files go ... or what Mac's use for autorun for that matter.

[mf]

1) miniDVD officially means a 100% legit DVD structure on a CD. So no single-size DVDs.
2) if you want to have it play anywhere, you might be better off with something like MoviX. The only problem is you'd need bootable data for both x86 and 68k, and it'd need to still be compatible with standalones.

[joshyg2]

ok, if you want to achieve miniDVD (that is DVD files / file structure on a normal CD-R) playback on any Windows based PC without pre-installed software, heres what you do:

1 . encode the video, and create the proper DVD structure (VIDEO_TS folder etc).

2 . create a new folder called MPLAY

3 . download Media Player Classic from:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/media_player_classic.cfm

4 . unzip the .exe file into the MPLAY folder and rename it to MPLAY.EXE

5. create a new text file and rename it to AUTORUN.INF and put in the root folder in the DVD structure.

6. edit AUTORUN.INF and enter the following:

[autorun]
OPEN=MPLAY\MPLAY.EXE /dvd

then save and exit

7. Burn those files with the rest of the DVD onto a CD-R using the miniDVD profile on Nero 6 or use another program.

thats it, when the CD is inserted into any computer (unless autorun is disabled), a player will launch and start playing the files.

[mf]

Originally posted by joshyg2
ok, if you want to achieve miniDVD (that is DVD files / file structure on a normal CD-R) playback on any PC without pre-installed software, heres what you do:

1 . encode the video, and create the proper DVD structure (VIDEO_TS folder etc).

2 . create a new folder called MPLAY

3 . download Media Player Classic from:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_players/media_player_classic.cfm

4 . unzip the .exe file into the MPLAY folder and rename it to MPLAY.EXE

5. create a new text file and rename it to AUTORUN.INF and put in the root folder in the DVD structure.

6. edit AUTORUN.INF and enter the following:

[autorun]
OPEN=MPLAY\MPLAY.EXE /dvd

then save and exit

7. Burn those files with the rest of the DVD onto a CD-R using the miniDVD profile on Nero 6 or use another program.

thats it, when the CD is inserted into any computer (unless autorun is disabled), a player will launch and start playing the files.
1) Will only work on windoze PCs
2) If you extract the 2kxp version only NT-based machines can play it
3) If you extract the 98me version unexpected problems may arise on NT-based systems

[joshyg2]

sorry, my bad

I assumed Windows based PCs (sorry I know read the rules - dont assume)

yeah, ok if your company uses Windows, then use that method, and I dont think many problems will arise if you use the Win98/ME version on NT based OS's.

Who is using Win98 or ME anymore. Come on move on with the times.

oh yeah, if your business is using Linux, use mplayer.

[bilu]

Read it again :)

He wants PC and MAC, optionally standalones.

No Linux mentioned. Mac was mentioned.


Bilu

[joshyg2]

sorry

[adam]

{edited}

I seem to have a habit of asking moot questions lately. Nevermind, I found my answer.

[smok3]

Originally posted by joshyg2
4 . unzip the .exe file into the MPLAY folder and rename it to MPLAY.EXE

5. create a new text file and rename it to AUTORUN.INF and put in the root folder in the DVD structure.

6. edit AUTORUN.INF and enter the following:

[autorun]
OPEN=MPLAY\MPLAY.EXE /dvd

then save and exit

7. Burn those files with the rest of the DVD onto a CD-R using the miniDVD profile on Nero 6 or use another program.
questions:
a) iam looking for a similar solution for pc only playback, from what i read some rare standalones can play minidvd as well, will this mplayer addition break the compatibility with them?
b) bit offtopic, what would be the simplest way to author a 4.5 Gb dvd on my pc and then transfer the authored files to another pc with dvdburner, that is with the use of several cds?

[ukb007]

1. Forgive me for sounding dense. I think mini-DVD is when you burn DVD-quality video on an ordinary CD-R. In that case, wouldn't the number of discs required to transfer my 2-hour DVD movie be too many ? (As a matter of fact, that's the primary reason for enthsiasm on DivX)

2. My Nero 6.0.0.0 has a provision of making a mini-DVD. It doesn't anywhere have an option for making a DVD. I'm not sure it can burn blank DVD writables. The help file says since procedure for burning a DVD is similar to burning a CD, no separate help is provided for that. ...(Yes, there's an apologetic question in this paragraph)

3. Please provide me with a link to read more on mini-DVD.

Thanks.

[Wolfman]

AFAIK mini-dvd refers to a dvd-structure authored on CDR rather than a DVD-r. SO this can include full dvd resolution 720x576 BUT can also include 1/2D1 356x576 also. This is also minidvd and can be authored in DVD author packages. However many standalones simply recognise cdr media as Non-dvD. The advantage of 1/2d1 is that you can fit up to an hour of video per CDr (maybe even more with tweaking). With divx you can fit a 2 hour movie on one cdr.

[ukb007]

I am not sure I understand your post entirely. You have written about a resolution 356X576 - surely you mean 576X356 ? I thought convertion was to put the breadth first, and then height.

And what is 1/2 d1 ?

Can you tell me in plain terms how I can put my vobs totaling 2 hours of video on a CD-R in mini-DVD form. Better still, give me some links.

Regards.

[Wolfman]

You can NOT gtee 100% compatibility with anything you do. See this site or else www.dvdrhelp.com search the guides for minidvd. The whole process is explained. Or use divx. 1/2d1 is dvd-video with a resolution of 356x576 rather than a resolution of 720x576 (referred to as full d1) Also 1/4d1 is dvd-video with a resolution of 356x288 (also referred to as cif). 1/2d1 resolution is equivalent to cvd, but Cvd's can be burnt as a non-standard svcd, in mode2/xa to gain extra space that would otherwise be used for error correction on the cdr. You want 100% comptibility between PC or Mac and any standalone Dvd player?? can't be done!

[ukb007]

When the wolf calls, why, I find that even I do scream, too.

Thanks and regards.