Windows Media Player problems

[jarvis24]

A few questions:

1. What format is the video and what program was used to create it?
2. Are you playing the video full screen? If so, does the same thing happen if you play it at a smaller size?
3. Does the same problem occur with other video clips or is it just these?
4. When it cuts out can you hear the video playing?

[mac]

Thanks for your help
1) The videos are Windows Media Player Files, they were created by Windows Movie Maker.
2) Yes I am playing the videos full screen, but I have tried small screen too and the problem persists.
3) I have tried different WMP videos and the problem still occurs. Eg I have tried the sample video file that is provided with WMP.... same problem. The strange thing is that sometimes the files work and sometimes they don't - doesn't make sense to me!!
4) Yes I can still hear the video playing. It shows the image briefly, then cuts out and I can only hear audio.
Thanks!!!

[jarvis24]

When you say you tested them, safe to assume on the same machine?

If so, send me a copy of your exp and que files (via support@...) and I'll take a look at them.

[mac]

Hi,
I have sent you an example questionnaire file (to support e-mail address), all individual files have the same problem so I have just sent one example.
Thanks!

[jarvis24]

Got it. Try this super-simple test questionnaire. It's basically an instruction screen followed by a movie with no parameters at all. That's it. This will simply help us rule out any explanations that have to do with the content of your experiment.

To test it, rename one of your .wmv clips "test.wmv" and put it in the same folder with this que file (after unzipping it!). Run the clipTest.que questionnaire and see if the test clip plays ok or if you get the same problem as before.

[mac]

Thanks..
I ran the test file as you said to and the some problem occurred, intermittent play but audio intact.

[mac]

Hi there,
I have discovered some more clues to the problem that might help you work out what is going on!

The first time I run a questionnaire after starting MediaLab the video file doesn't seem to work. However if I cancel out of the questionnaire (by pressing Alt right arrow), and then run the questionnaire again (without exiting MediaLab in between) the videos seems to work thereafter.

BUT if I open MediaLab afresh, and try to run the questionnaire, the video won't play. If I let the questionnaire file run its course (without pressing Alt right arrow), and then play the questionnaire file again, the video still doesn't work.

It seems as though the video will be able to play, but only after I have cancelled out of the questionnaire using Alt right arrow, and this needs to be done WHILE A VIDEO IS PLAYING.

Anyway hopefully this might give a clue to what is going on, but I'm not sure, I have tested out this theory a few times, but it is also possible that playback is working randomly and I am just seeing patterns when there aren't really any!

Also - another way to get the video to show up once it has started but the screen is black is to put another program window (ie internet browser) over the top of the MediaLab screen, and then take the other window away again. THis can only be done if Medialab is being played in a small screen (for my experiment I would prefer to have the MediaLab window at full size).

Can you make any sense of all this?? Thanks.