Looking for a video player

[0sync0]

I need support for the following video types:
wmv, divx, dvd, mkv

The player has to have a fullscreen mode. While in fullscreen mode I need infinitely variable video scaling.

I need the ability to go forward and backward in small increments - ideally by using the scroll wheel on the mouse.

The last thing I can think of is the ability to pass AC3 sound to the digital audio out.

 

[dpaanlka]

QuickTime Player + Perian + Windows Media Components for QuickTime

 

[0sync0]

Does it do infinitely variable video scaling? Since I don't have any qt files I can't test it.

 

[0sync0]

I just got my first Mac today. Before starting this thread I assumed there are a lot of video players available for the Mac. After doing some searching I get the impression that there are actually only a few.

 

[dukebound85]

theres always vlc too

 

[0sync0]

I already tried vlc. You can't change the video size in full screen mode and scrolling through the video is clunky.

 

[MisterMe]

I need support for the following video types:
wmv, divx, dvd, mkv

....

Cellulo 2.0.2 is a QuickTime-based viewer that optionally uses the mplayer engine.

There are also two separate ports of MPlayer OSX.

 

[0sync0]

I installed Cellulo and Perian but I still can't get any of my files to play.

I download tv shows on a daily basis from around the world. Having to constantly import them into a library would probably get tiring.

 

[tardinha]

as do we all, and they all work in Quicktime+Perian+Flip4Mac or VLC

maybe you're using some wacky video formats?

 

[0sync0]

I can get them to work in vlc and some are now working in qt. But I don't like either of those players.

 

[Eraserhead]

Which players do you like?

 

[Consultant]

wmv -> Flip4Mac (quicktime codec), or VLC Player
dvd (you meant the TS folder?) DVD Player or VLC Player
mkv -> VLC Player
divx -> (quicktime codec), or VLC Player
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/resources/components.html

See any patterns?

OR just get / encode MP4 version of the files.

 

[steveza]

VLC - haven't found anything that it doesn't play yet. It even plays video from damaged or partially downloaded files.

 

[Whorehay]

VLC - haven't found anything that it doesn't play yet. It even plays video from damaged or partially downloaded files.

Same here. but my files never get too exotic.

 

[0sync0]

Which players do you like?

I like Zoom Player and TheaterTek on the PC. But that's probably not what you meant.

Cellulo might ok if it didn't make me import videos into its library in order to watch them.

 

[Eraserhead]

What's wrong with Quicktime/DVD Player/VLC though?

 

[0sync0]

wmv -> Flip4Mac (quicktime codec), or VLC Player
dvd (you meant the TS folder?) DVD Player or VLC Player
mkv -> VLC Player
divx -> (quicktime codec), or VLC Player
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/resources/components.html

See any patterns?

The pattern I'm seeing is that I should probably stick to using the PC for HTPC.

 

[Eraserhead]

^^ You haven't explained what you actually want from a player. Why do you like the Windows programs you have named and why is Quicktime so useless?

Most players on the Mac use the Quicktime engine or have their own good one like VLC/mPlayer so you aren't just limited to 3 programs.

 

[0sync0]

What's wrong with Quicktime/DVD Player/VLC though?

They don't resize video in fullscreen mode.
Quicktime is ok for scrolling thru video but VLC is poor.
QT and VLC have a terrible front end for picking which videos to play.

 

[Eraserhead]

1) Quicktime: Quicktime Menu>Preferences>Full Screen

3) You can use iTunes if you want or FrontRow.

 

[0sync0]

1) Quicktime: Quicktime Menu>Preferences>Full Screen

I mean they don't resize the video while in full screen mode. Cellulo is the only Mac player I've seen so far that does this.

 

[dpaanlka]

I mean they don't resize the video while in full screen mode. Cellulo is the only Mac player I've seen so far that does this.

Why do you want to do that?

 

[0sync0]

Why do you want to do that?

Many videos don't look good scaled to full screen. Those videos look good at a size that is somewhere between actual size and full screen. The best size varies with each video.

I want to do that while in full screen mode because this is for home theater use. So I only want to look at the video and not the application. When scaled down there will be black bars around the video.

 

[dpaanlka]

Well, in that case...

When playing a movie in QuickTime Player, hit Command + F for full screen. While in full screen, hit Command + 1 to view the movie at it's original size, Command + 0 for half size, and Command + 2 for double original size.

 

[0sync0]

Well, in that case...

When playing a movie in QuickTime Player, hit Command + F for full screen. While in full screen, hit Command + 1 to view the movie at it's original size, Command + 0 for half size, and Command + 2 for double original size.

Those options are too limiting.