Not only DVD player that can play movies and music. Apple iPhone can play them too, if provided with right multimedia file formats. In order to have an appropriate format, there are convertion software available. Which one is the best, read through this article to know the difference.
Formerly, AV player in the family room is usually dominated by a DVD player with a single output MPEG formats. Now, DVD player is also equipped with the ability to play AVI movies and MP3 songs. Later, consumers who do not have a Blu-ray, but want to enjoy High Definition quality impressions, also begin to look for player that supports Matroska (MKV).
In addition there are mobile devices that can play video, like iPhone, PSP (PlayStation Portable), and the latest game console PlayStation 3. Players like this only supports MP4 files with a specific profile with predefined resolution, framerate, and birthrate.
Perhaps, only experts who won't be confused with a variety of multimedia formats. Consumers or users who want to convert a movie or song to be played on the player usually depend on special software to convert to the standard format and profile.
Demands on a complete or all-in-one multimedia converter program is very high. They (converter) must support four standard containers commonly used : MPEG, AVI, MP3, and Matroska. Each multimedia files stored in a container that manages video and audio tracks in it. The format of these tracks may vary. To know the detail of the format, use program analyzer and special identifiers.
Container MPEG for DVD has a relatively simple structure, ie for MPEG2 video and Dolby Audio (AC3) for audio. As for AVI as a classic container for movie on the PC is more flexible. But for the DVD player that supports DivX, AVI file that is compatible with the player, the parameters must follow the rules which tracks the video-oriented Advanced MPEG4 Simple Profile standard (MPEG4-ASP) and has a maximum resolution of DVD (DivX Home Theater).
Popular Encoder, such as DivX and XviD support these formats although they have more XviD settings option. Simply by selecting the appropriate profile in the encoder and disabled Global Motion Compensation, then you have to create a compatible video tracks. As for audio tracks, AVI container provides MP3 and AC3 formats.
MP4: standard mobile devices
Diversity began to emerge in the MP4 container. A popular container for mobile devices allows a series of audio and video formats which also part of MPEG4 standard. A video track must be in a regular MPEG4 or MPEG4 Part 10 (H.264). Devices such as iPod or PSP can play both, but because H.264 offers better picture quality, this is a prioritized format. Parameters for the mobile player encoder is strict. For MPEG4, encoder must use the Simple Profile, whereas for the H.264, Baseline Profile selected. Both profiles have been revoked several amenities (such as B-frames) in order not to burden the resource.
Original audio tracks only support MP4 AAC or MP3 only. It was only since August 2008, MP4 finally started to support AC3 (Dolby Digital). However, these options only found in PCs. Faced with constraints on the MP4, several communities on the Internet develop other container that is Matroska (MKV). This container has no limits. MKV can handle any combination of audio and video, and subtitles that can be considered an ideal container. However, because no official standard, many hardware manufacturers are still delay integrating MKV into the player. Some player that supports MKV HD playback can be seen in www.mkvplayers.com. H.264 and RC3 combination in MKV is not a problem. DivX sees that and includes an H.264 encoder to version 7 of their new DivX. In addition, the DivX plus is a new certification program for DVD players. DivX plus that will be published this year consists of a MKV file with H.264 video tracks
MP3 and the like: the next audio format
If the format of the movie (video) increases, the audio just so simple. In addition to audio CDs which is somewhat old-fashioned enough, MP3 format still dominates. Recent replacement of MP3 format maybe only AAC. Popular iPod player even restrict ourselves to these two formats. This makes all the other formats "neglected". MP3 songs are in the same container is called MPEG AAC in a MP4, M4A usually have the suffix. Today there is HE (High Efficiency) AAC format. This format uses AAC to a more compression technology that is Spectral Brain Replication. In this technology, high frequency don't need to be saved because it would be put together by the decoder during playback. In HE-AAC, 64 kbbps is the normal bitrate, equivalent to 128 kbbps in MP3 and 96 kbbps on AAC. HE-AAC is commonly used on the internet as audio tracks in video flash-efficient place.
After the successful of PC based Warriors Orochi, Koei seems to think that this is a good time to enter into the world of RTK XI (Romance of Three Kingdom) on PC. This is certainly good news for the fans in the PC RTK series. As you might know, the chinese and japanese version of this RTK XI PC is already released about two or three years ago. But last year Koei released the English version of RTK XI PC. For me, this was like a dream come true.
