Inserting MPEG-2 Video - Resolution Question

[mcp6453]

I need to create a PP presentation that includes slides that are MPEG-2 video.
When I tried to do this a couple of years ago, the quality of the video was not
good. It looked as if PP was rendering the video to a lower resolution. The most
likely answer is that I was doing something wrong.

Here is a sample of the sequence:

Text slide -- click to advance
Text slide -- click to advance
Video - MPEG-2 - plays automatically - click to advance
Text slide - click to advance

What is the proper way to insert an MPEG-2 video as a slide? The presentation
will be shown on a very large screen, so it is important to maintain the highest
video quality available. The resolution of the video files is 720 by 480 at
"medium" resolution (4MB/Sec?)

 

[Michael Koerner]

Might want to look here for a solution http://www.playsforcertain.com/

--
Michael Koerner
MS MVP - PowerPoint


I need to create a PP presentation that includes slides that are MPEG-2
video.
When I tried to do this a couple of years ago, the quality of the video was
not
good. It looked as if PP was rendering the video to a lower resolution. The
most
likely answer is that I was doing something wrong.

Here is a sample of the sequence:

Text slide -- click to advance
Text slide -- click to advance
Video - MPEG-2 - plays automatically - click to advance
Text slide - click to advance

What is the proper way to insert an MPEG-2 video as a slide? The
presentation
will be shown on a very large screen, so it is important to maintain the
highest
video quality available. The resolution of the video files is 720 by 480 at
"medium" resolution (4MB/Sec?)

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

I would like to do the same. My Video Camera is a Standard Definition Hard
Drive Video Camera, and saves MPEG2 .mpg files. They play in Windows Media
Player just fine (with the Cyblerlink DVD Audio/Video 5.3 Codecs). They also
play just fine in the Microsoft Embedded Media player (mplayer2.exe) as I was
encouraged in another post to ensure my .mpg's played in that, as PowerPoint
(2003 SP3) uses that player, not Windows Media Player 9/10/11.

However, I too, like you after "Inserting Movie from file" only see a black
windows. If I right click on the object in PowerPoint and select Play Movie
from the context menu, it just blinks and nothing.

It seems odd to me that PowerPoint (2003 SP3) is unable to support
functional media sub-systems. A WMV file inserts as needed, but does not
offer the clarity I am looking for.

Anyone with some insight, or whom has succesfully been able to include an
MPEG2 video into their powerpoint, please chime in.

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi

Try creating a folder directly on your C drive (e.g. C:\presentation),
moving the ppt and mpeg files there, then re-inserting the video. Does that
help? If not, have a look at www.playsforcertain.com - I believe there is a
demo you can try to see if it fixes the issue.

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

Great suggestion. No dice. I created SPLLGN.ppt in C:\ and inserted
C:\SPLLGN.mpg into the presentation, and still just a black window, with only
a quick blink of white if/when you try to play the video in PPT, or Show the
Presentation.

I'm just not interested in 3rd Party. I want M$ to confirm they either
support MPEG2 in PPT or not. I can just convert to a media format that works
if that's the case.

Has anyone ever used MPEG2 video's in a powerpoint?

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hmmm. I'm no video expert I'm afraid. Strange that it will play in the mci
player but not PowerPoint. Don't suppose your video camera software adds DRM
does it?

Just found this: http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=3818 that suggests
MPEG2 only work on Vista. Again, I'm surprised that it works in the mci
player if that is the case. If you can send me a short video I can check it
here (on XP and Vista). lucyATaneasiertomorrowDOTcomDOTau

And I want to say 'codecs' but again, I don't think it would play in the mci
player if codecs were an issue. Perhaps you could convert to another format?

Sorry to not be more help.

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au

 

[Austin Myers]

The thing is, lots of MPG videos do follow the exact standard for MPG. The
issue is that eh PowerPoint (MCI Player) is very picky and expects
everything to follow the standard if the file doesn't, it doesn't play.

You may want to give PCFMedia and PFCPro a try (free trial, no limitations.)

www.playcsforcertain.com




Austin Myers
AT&W Technologies

www.playcsforcertain.com
Creators of PowerPoint add-ins

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

Maybe this will be informative, in terms of if "it's fixed in Vista". I have
Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit with Office Professional 2007 on another
system. Same MPEG2 video plays in Media player (with sound), and plays in
"mplayer2.exe" (MIC) with sound (Although there appears to be no difference
in these interfaces on Vista). In WMP11 the Video File Properties only show
a "-" next to Audio and Video Codec. Leading me to believe it's using Native
Vista Ultimate MPEG2 decoding.

However; in Powerpoint 2007, while the MPEG2 Video plays; there is no sound.

My 3rd Party Video/Audio Codecs installed on this PC (WMP Support Page) are
listed below.

Why does Powerpoint have to use some other video rendering than WMP? Isn't
this kinda duplicating work between Windows and Office development?

*** Windows Media Player Technical Support Information ***
MPEG/DVD Filters
Type Name Binary Version
video "MainConcept (Adobe2) MPEG Video Decoder"
video Microsoft MPEG-2 Video Decoder msmpeg2vdec.dll 11.0.6001.7000
video Ulead MPEG Video Decoder uldsmpeg.ax 1.0.0.85
video Ulead DVD Video decoder 2 ulDVDVideo.ax 2.0.0.33
video CBVA DMO wrapper filter cbva.dll 6.0.6001.18177
audio "MainConcept (Adobe2) MPEG Audio Decoder"
audio Microsoft MPEG-1/DD Audio Decoder msmpeg2adec.dll 11.0.6001.7000
audio Ulead MPEG Audio Decoder ulDVDAudio.ax 2.0.0.57
audio Ulead DVD Audio decoder 2 ulDVDAudio.ax 2.0.0.57

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

I'm sure the MPEG-2 Video's I'm using "follow the standard". I'd be curious
if there was a way to demonstrate or investigate otherwise.

I'm not looking for 3rd Party Software. I've spent the extra money on
Microsoft Products (for an entire campus), I believe I have a right to an
answer that explains the circumstance. Especially with Video taking the
technology market by storm, and Flash Video gaining considerable market share.

What am I to say to my users why they cannot integrate MPEG-2 into Powerpoint?

 

[Lucy Thomson]

Hi

OK, so we're moving way, way beyond my technical expertise here (if I find a
video won't do as it's told on my first attempt I just chuck it through
PFCPro and then I win but I understand you not wanting to have to
install a non-MS product). But here are some thoughts:

- what are you using to get the video from the camera to the computer?
Manufacturer's software or something else?
- I believe some video software adds DRM and this could be the root of the
problem
- It may be worth running a codec analysis tool (I've used gspot in the past
but I think it's mainly for .avis) - list here:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/codec-video-identifiers
- you could try adding it is a WMP object

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au

 

[Pia Bork]

MPEG2 can have two different types of audio: one can be played via the
MPEG1-decoder, the other can't. So I guess your video uses the second one:
AAC Advanced Audio Coding. My guess is that one of the DVD-decoder you have
installed (either Ulead DVD Video or Microsoft MPEG-2 Decoder) brings the
DVD-codec for the MCI-Player as well but not the capability of playing AAC
for MCI.

--
Mit vielen Grüßen
Pia Bork

MVP PowerPoint
http://www.ppt-faq.de

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

To reitterate. I have no problems with the MIC or WMP. Only Powerpoint.

As for video import, as mentioned I have a hard-drive video camera,
therefore I use the Microsoft Camera Wizard to import my .mpg files. Or, I
manually browse the camera storage, and copy the files over in Windows
Explorer.

 

[ECTS_Tech_Mgr]

Not sure how DRM could apply. Wouldn't WMP, or the MIC show DRM enabled in
the properties of the media file it's playing?

 

[Lucy Thomson]

The DRM was just a thought as I can't see why the video would play in
mciplayer but not powerpoint.

Feel free to send me a small vid and I'll see if I can come up with any
other ideas. I can also test the XP/Vista theory.

Lucy

--
Lucy Thomson
PowerPoint MVP
MOS Master Instructor
www.aneasiertomorrow.com.au