Empirisoft Support

    Welcome to Empirisoft Support
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Video Playback Issues Summary

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    Solutions [Sections]

    Before you begin, make sure you go through the following list:
    1. Be sure to check out our trouble shooting information manual in the MediaLab users guide, located here:
    www.empirisoft.com/medialab/help/trouble_shooting.htm
    2. If you're running a Dell Optiplex and have been experiencing weird 'freezing' issues that none of the suggestions below fix, be sure to contact us over at our support line at support <at> empirisoft.com .

    Before you begin, make sure that Windows Media Player can actually play the video file you have. If it cannot, skip to the 'Downloads' section.

    If you're in need of a solution -IMMEDIATELY- go to section 'C' or 'D'.

    -

    A. Enhanced Video
    B. Downloads
    C. HTML Embedded Video
    D. Youtube
    E. MediaLab and DirectRT 2010

    I. Related Links
    II. Attachments

    -

    If all else fails, you may want to consider converting your video to an alternate format that any of the solutions above can utilize. Video conversion can completed through a variety of programs. Feel free to send us an email if you would like further assistance with how to go about working with this alternative solution.

    You may also want to try taking a look at the following thread:
    www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=4801
    Last edited by Trevor Newell; 05-11-2010 at 09:51 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    A. Enhanced Video

    The enhanced video option can be accessed from the 'Preferences' menu within the main MediaLab window. Here's what the help manual notes about this option:
    "If you check the Use Enhanced Video option under Preferences, MediaLab will use an alternate custom engine that may provide playback for some formats that can not be handled by WMP (e.g., some QuickTime and Real video formats). In general, it is recommended to NOT use this option unless you have to. If you do choose to try this option, it is best to have the latest versions of QuickTime and/or Real Player also installed on your system."
    Quoted From: http://www.empirisoft.com/medialab/help/queitemtype.htm#movie

    It should first be noted that this option isn't necessarily an 'enhanced' option, rather it is 'another option' for video playback. The reason behind why we don't condone or rather advocate the use of this option is because it too has its own set of problems. Below is a list of known issues that will arise when utilizing this system over the base system:
    • Some video files simply won't play. Although this can be said for the regular video playback system as well, the files that both engines seem to have trouble playing differs from one another.
    • Occasionally the plugin has a problem which causes it to not play a video file correctly during its first attempt; however each attempt after plays the video without problem.
      "I ask because some users have trouble with the Enhanced Video option--e.g., hearing but not seeing the first video played in any given session."
      Quoted From: http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=413
    If you're able to play the video file and hear sound with the enhanced video option enabled, you may want to see if allowing the software to play through a file once allows for the file to properly display on the second run-through. A user notes the following:
    "I have found that the best thing is to run the clip once, I run mine as a questionnaire, in MediaLab, it won't show the visual but you will hear the sounds. Then without closing out of MediaLab when the clip is done immediately go to run your experiment. My clip plays every time visual and sound when I do this. I will usually just go back in and delete the file created from running the clip prior to the experiment when my subjects are done."
    Quoted From: http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=2833

    In a few cases running video files with this option enabled causes no problems at all, and can act as an immediate solution to the problem at hand. I would recommend trying the feature out; however if you do so, it would be wise to thoroughly test your experiment before beginning the data collection process.

    As a note: No damage can be done by simply enabling this plugin - to disable it, simply uncheck the menu item.
    Last edited by jarvis24; 11-10-2009 at 04:07 AM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    B. Downloads

    A common solution to this problem is to make sure that your machine has the right codecs to actually play the file. If you do not have the proper codecs installed, you must look for them and then install them. A codec is basically a deciphering tool that video files use to understand how the data a video file contains is to be properly parsed.

    QuickTime: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
    This download allows for QuickTime to be installed on your machine. QuickTime comes with a variety of codecs and plugins that will make it more likely for specific video files to be usable on your machine. Installing QuickTime will also allow for QuickTime videos to be embedded and played back through HTML on your machine.

    QuickTime Codec: http://www.3ivx.com/download/index.html
    This codec should allow for Windows Media Player to play your QuickTime videos properly.

    Windows Media Player
    : http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...r/default.aspx
    This link will help you find the most recent version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player. The most recent version of the player will most likely contain updated codecs, fewer bugs, and have an overall higher chance of playing back your files. Installing Microsoft's Windows Media Player will also allow for embedded WMP files to be played back through HTML.

    Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin: http://port25.technet.com/pages/wind...-download.aspx
    The Windows Media Player Firefox plugin has been included so that users who have chosen to embed their video files inside of an HTML document can playback their files through Firefox as well as IE.

    Please feel free to offer advice on what should also be included within this section.
    Last edited by Trevor Newell; 11-06-2009 at 12:16 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    C. HTML Embedded Video

    The easiest solution to overcome the initial problem is to simply use an HTML embedded video. By embedding your video file into an HTML document, you're allowing for an exterior mechanism to play the file. If MediaLab can't play the file, another program may have more success. By embedding your video file into an HTML file, and then using this HTML file as a stimulus for your experiment, you're allowing for the video file to be played through your internet browser through MediaLab, rather than directly through MediaLab itself. The solution not only allows for the same effect to take place as simply running the video file through MediaLab's video playback mechanism - many more options are opened in the process.

    For example, if you choose to embed your video files, you could technically display multiple video files at once and have them all play at the same time. You can't do this with the normal Movie item-type that MediaLab supports.

    Embedding Manuals
    Quick Time: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/tutorials/embed.html
    Windows Media Player: http://www.mioplanet.com/rsc/embed_mediaplayer.htm

    Video Embedded HTML Tutorial / Examples
    [ copied directly from: http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=654 ]
    Another solution for playing video files, is to create an html file and play them as an HTML item in MediaLab rather than as a Movie item. A sample is attached as a zip file.

    The sample HTML can be modified in any text editor (like the Windows Notepad). Or you can create it from scratch using an empty text file.

    To create the HTML item from scratch:
    Copy the code below into the empty text file and change the name of the video file from "text.wmv" to whatever your video is called (note the name is used twice!). Also note that in this sample, the video should be located in the same folder as the HTML file.

    Code:
    <object type="video/x-ms-wmv" data="test.wmv" width="320" height="255">
      <param name="src" value="test.wmv">
      <param name="autoStart" value="1">
      <param name="showcontrols" value="false">
    </object>
    The above sample works with the Windows WMV format. For MPG and MOV file formats, you can use the following variations:

    MPG
    Code:
    <object data="test.mpg" type="video/mpeg" width="320" height="255">
      <param name="src" value="test.mpg">
      <param name="autoStart" value="1">
      <param name="showcontrols" value="false">
    </object>
    AVI
    Code:
    <object data="test.avi" type="video/x-msvideo" width="320" height="255">
      <param name="src" value="test.avi">
      <param name="autoStart" value="1">
      <param name="showcontrols" value="false">
    </object>
    MOV (QuickTime)
    Code:
    <object classid="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B"
            codebase="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab"
            width="320" height="255">
      <param name="src" value="test.mov" >
      <param name="controller" value="false" >
      <param name="autoplay" value="true">
    </object>
    -

    A variety of additional parameters that you can set on an embedded video can be found here: http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=236

    For an easier, all-purpose embedding code, you can also try:
    www.tizag.com/htmlT/htmlvideocodes.php
    e.g.,
    <embed src="movies\mymovie.mpeg" autostart="true" />
    or
    <a href="movies\mymovie.mpeg">click me to play</a>

    Please feel free to post any additional samples that you may have created that could assist others in working with embedded videos.
    Last edited by jarvis24; 11-10-2009 at 04:06 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    D. Youtube

    Youtube has a nifty feature that most don't know about. The text below best explains this feature:
    "If you go to a link on YouTube, the link is:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[someid#].

    To get to just the video instead of the page, do you just put
    http://www.youtube.com/v/[someid#] for the url?"
    Quoted From: http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=475

    The answer is yes, as seen here: http://www.youtube.com/v/hh6eT_zhmRg
    Original link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh6eT_zhmRg

    If you've already logged into your own account on youtube, you may even be able to do this with private videos; however this has not yet been tested.

    The advantage to this functionality is that you can now simply use an HTML item within MediaLab to play your video file without even including the video file in your stim folder. The video should play back without a problem.

    You can also embed a youtube video into your own HTML document. Doing so allows for even more customization. Fore more information, try embedding your own youtube video, as well as reading up on the following information:
    http://www.google.com/support/youtub...n&answer=57788
    Last edited by jarvis24; 11-10-2009 at 04:01 AM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    E. MediaLab and DirectRT 2010

    Both MediaLab and DirectRT 2010 have eliminated most occurrences of the problem at hand. Upon receiving reports that this statement is not true, we will update this thread (or the software itself) with the appropriate changes.

    Our 2010 lineup is current in its beta form, and is available upon request. An official release will be made sometime next month. More information about our 2010 lineup can be found here:

    DirectRT - http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=2562
    MediaLab - <Not Yet Available>

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    401
    I. Related Links (Some are not listed above.)

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=4801
    How to use the VLC media player to play video files within MediaLab.

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=552 [Solution Found]
    A very helpful, lengthy thread that acts as a previous version of the current thread.

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=728 [Solution Found]
    Video problems in Windows on an Intel Mac

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=739
    MPG videos not playing in MediaLab

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=1146 [Solution Found]
    How to control video within a scale response item?

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=236 [Solution Found]
    A comprehensive list of parameters that can be used to control video files.

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=1389 [Solution Found]
    Make video stop with a key press, record RT? - It should be noted that you can accomplish this using HTML as well.

    http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=241 [Solution Found]
    Bizarre QuickTime codec error?

    To find more related links, use the search function on our forums ( http://www.empirisoft.com/support/search.php ) and make a search for what you're looking for. Typically being vague can help you find the best results, for example; searching for 'Video' will come up with more results than searching for 'Video Errors'.
    Last edited by Trevor Newell; 05-11-2010 at 09:50 AM.

Similar Threads

  1. Video issues re color, size, placement and quality
    By cluiwk in forum DirectRT Older Versions: Troubleshooting
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-23-2008, 11:52 AM
  2. Distorted video playback
    By baker in forum MediaLab Older Versions: General Questions
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-10-2008, 09:06 AM
  3. Voice Response and .WAV Playback Issues
    By bencardiff in forum MediaLab Older Versions: Troubleshooting
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-07-2007, 11:30 AM
  4. Pictures of Faces: Facial Database Summary
    By jarvis24 in forum DirectRT Older Versions: Sharing Area
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-03-2006, 07:29 AM
  5. Pictures of Faces: Facial Database Summary
    By jarvis24 in forum MediaLab Older Versions: Sharing Area
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-03-2006, 07:29 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •