Windows 2000/XP 3dmm playback issue

Will Maltby · 11-18-2001, 03:11 PM

I just thought I'd formally post my lil article on this problem:

Windows XP playback issue

Having been using Microsoft's latest Operating System (Windows XP) for the last month, I've come to notice a crucial problem when playing back 3d movies.

As I've previously calculated, 3D Movie Maker's frame rate when using Windows 95/98/ME is almost exactly 6 fps (frames per second). However, upon watching a few movies in XP, I noticed that sounds weren't syncing properly. Further investigation lead me to realise that XP was actually playing the movies faster than with Windows 95/98/ME.

I created a 700 frame long movie which was just a blank screen, and then timed how long it took to play. The time was 106 seconds. So you do the math and you get a frame rate of 6.6 fps.

This means Windows XP plays movies 10% faster then Windows 95/98/ME.

That's quite a difference and is more than enough to fuck up sound syncronisation in all movies. Let me just put it in real terms. If you were watching say DD in XP, you'd finish watching it after 18 minutes, as opposed to 20 minutes if you were watching on Windows 95/98/ME. That's 2 minutes difference !!!

So how can this be solved ?

Answer: It can't. However, what you will see me doing in the future is releasing 2 versions of all my movies. One for Windows XP and another for Windows 95/98/ME systems. The two versions will be different in that the XP version will be slightly longer so as to cancel out XP's faster playing speed.

The first movie you'll see this with will be my upcoming "Cataclymsic Contentment Preview".

I am also assuming that, since XP is basically Windows 2000 with knobs on, Windows 2000 will have the same problem when playing back movies.

As time goes on, and more people starting using Windows XP, this is going to be an increasingly big issue. I will soon start mentioning in 3dmm.co.uk's reviews what platform the movie was created on, since it will tell people in advance whether or not to expect playback issues.

So to conclude: Anyone who likes to perfect the playback of their movies and likes to do a lot of sound syncing will have to seriously consider this problem. And to solve it they will HAVE to release two versions of their movies.

I just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention, because in a year from now, we'll start hearing people saying stuff like "Uhh, such and such movie's sounds aren't synced properly, how lame".

It's a shame really, because with current low prices for PC hardware, we were just getting away from playback issues relating to people using old slow computers.

Nice Guy Nick · 11-18-2001, 03:13 PM

I take it that is why the cc preview is taking ages.

Will Maltby · 11-18-2001, 03:13 PM

possibly the biggest problem for everyone is if they send their movie to me having made it on Windows 95/98/ME and I watch/review it on my Windows XP system.

It'll play too fast on my computer and all the sound syncing will be lost.

voices are quite likely to overlap as well.

This has happened alot in movies I've watched recently.

Will Cheyney · 11-18-2001, 03:13 PM

Solution: don't get XP.

11-18-2001, 03:15 PM

*wide eyes*

Genius.....

*points at maltby*

Will Cheyney · 11-18-2001, 03:16 PM

No Nick. Will has said that the reason the preview hasn't been released, is that he hasn't added minor details.

Will Maltby · 11-18-2001, 03:16 PM

Well actually no it isn't Nick.

I had to go home specially the other week to get on my brother's computer to fix my CC preview for the Windows 98 version.

Even though the preview isn't finished, I have the scene lengths sorted so I know how to cut it for the 2 different Operating systems.

My brother has since installed XP himself so that's the last time I can actually do that.

But CC won't be out for a long while yet so I don't have to worry about it for a bit.

Nice Guy Nick · 11-18-2001, 03:16 PM

yeah wait a few years for a faster version but watch 3dmm movies on an older version

Xclexski · 11-18-2001, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Will Cheyney
Solution: don't get XP.

Exactly. Because Macs are better.

Will Maltby · 11-18-2001, 03:17 PM

Windows XP fucking ownz though.

It makes you realise what abig heaving piece of shit 95/98/ME are when you use it.

Seriously, it's wonderful and there's no way in hell I'd go back.

11-18-2001, 03:18 PM

*boots cheyney*

hows that for a solution....?

biatch

Prof Spaz · 11-18-2001, 03:32 PM

this topic really sums up how old movie maker is and how desperatly a patch is need

travis could you make a wee proggy to sync o/s versions?

11-18-2001, 03:44 PM

Open loads and load of programs to slow your computer down !

Evan · 11-18-2001, 04:12 PM

I just got XP and it rocks!! SO anyways I sat down to watch MOS 2 preview and damn! I saw the diffrence cause it ran shite on my cmputer 'specially with windows 98/me and now it looks better...So I am happy...

Thrik · 11-18-2001, 04:33 PM

Xp is really, really good.
Sexy, too. I'll prolly only download Will's movies now, unless other directors can be arsed to make 2 versions :]

11-18-2001, 04:43 PM

I hate Windows XP.
I got me a pirated version and installed it on my old computer. (I usually use my new one)
Now, it looks really neat and nice and I liked it at first.
But then I realized that it deleted half of my fucking games!!!
All those hours spent on Diablo II...
All my Sim families which I loved so much...
Gone. Forever.
*gets teary in the eyes*
Now, if this wasn't bad enough already, the games it DIDN'T delete (like 3dmm, thanks god. At least I got to keep my chain movie) don't work on that PC anymore.
They give me errors.
My Castle Wolfenstain demo doesn't work on it anymore.
FUCK FUCK FUCK.
About the only thing that works is a Max Payne demo.
Argh.
So, yeah.
I'm not happy with it.

11-18-2001, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Simpson
Open loads and load of programs to slow your computer down !

That's not such a bad idea, actually.
Hey, maybe out friend Travis can make an application to slow 3dmm down, and XP users can use that?

11-18-2001, 04:46 PM

thats cos pirates made your version, they are dumb.... mwhahahahahaha
bwahahahaaa

Xclexski · 11-18-2001, 04:49 PM

Xclexski's Kick Ass Idea

My friend wants XP, so I'm going to download it and put it on a disc, and MAKE HIM PAY FOR IT!!!!!!! HAHAHA ROFFEL. Then when he installs it, I'll go over his house and try it out and see if it is good or shit!!!!!!! MEH=GENIUESE!!!!!!!!!!

Ultralisk · 11-18-2001, 05:04 PM

BR, I feel the same thing as you...

all wars and battles in StarCraft....

all the money spent...

all deaths of the war...

all asses kicked...

EVERYTHING LOST FOR CHANGING MY FUCKING HARD DRIVE!!!!

Will B-R · 11-18-2001, 05:25 PM

Let's hope there is a fix

11-18-2001, 07:25 PM

duz this not apply to windows me?

Will B-R · 11-18-2001, 07:57 PM

probably not windows me was just a cheap rip off of winxp and win98.

Will Cheyney · 11-18-2001, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xclexski

Exactly. Because Macs are better.

Xclsexy - you are now a GOD

Scatterbrain · 11-18-2001, 08:16 PM

........

11-18-2001, 03:11 PM	#1
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160	Windows 2000/XP 3dmm playback issue I just thought I'd formally post my lil article on this problem: Windows XP playback issue Having been using Microsoft's latest Operating System (Windows XP) for the last month, I've come to notice a crucial problem when playing back 3d movies. As I've previously calculated, 3D Movie Maker's frame rate when using Windows 95/98/ME is almost exactly 6 fps (frames per second). However, upon watching a few movies in XP, I noticed that sounds weren't syncing properly. Further investigation lead me to realise that XP was actually playing the movies faster than with Windows 95/98/ME. I created a 700 frame long movie which was just a blank screen, and then timed how long it took to play. The time was 106 seconds. So you do the math and you get a frame rate of 6.6 fps. This means Windows XP plays movies 10% faster then Windows 95/98/ME. That's quite a difference and is more than enough to fuck up sound syncronisation in all movies. Let me just put it in real terms. If you were watching say DD in XP, you'd finish watching it after 18 minutes, as opposed to 20 minutes if you were watching on Windows 95/98/ME. That's 2 minutes difference !!! So how can this be solved ? Answer: It can't. However, what you will see me doing in the future is releasing 2 versions of all my movies. One for Windows XP and another for Windows 95/98/ME systems. The two versions will be different in that the XP version will be slightly longer so as to cancel out XP's faster playing speed. The first movie you'll see this with will be my upcoming "Cataclymsic Contentment Preview". I am also assuming that, since XP is basically Windows 2000 with knobs on, Windows 2000 will have the same problem when playing back movies. As time goes on, and more people starting using Windows XP, this is going to be an increasingly big issue. I will soon start mentioning in 3dmm.co.uk's reviews what platform the movie was created on, since it will tell people in advance whether or not to expect playback issues. So to conclude: Anyone who likes to perfect the playback of their movies and likes to do a lot of sound syncing will have to seriously consider this problem. And to solve it they will HAVE to release two versions of their movies. I just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention, because in a year from now, we'll start hearing people saying stuff like "Uhh, such and such movie's sounds aren't synced properly, how lame". It's a shame really, because with current low prices for PC hardware, we were just getting away from playback issues relating to people using old slow computers.
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160

11-18-2001, 03:13 PM	#3
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160	possibly the biggest problem for everyone is if they send their movie to me having made it on Windows 95/98/ME and I watch/review it on my Windows XP system. It'll play too fast on my computer and all the sound syncing will be lost. voices are quite likely to overlap as well. This has happened alot in movies I've watched recently.
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160

11-18-2001, 03:15 PM	#5
Posts: n/a	wide eyes Genius..... points at maltby
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 03:16 PM	#7
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160	Well actually no it isn't Nick. I had to go home specially the other week to get on my brother's computer to fix my CC preview for the Windows 98 version. Even though the preview isn't finished, I have the scene lengths sorted so I know how to cut it for the 2 different Operating systems. My brother has since installed XP himself so that's the last time I can actually do that. But CC won't be out for a long while yet so I don't have to worry about it for a bit.
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160

11-18-2001, 03:17 PM	#10
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160	Windows XP fucking ownz though. It makes you realise what abig heaving piece of shit 95/98/ME are when you use it. Seriously, it's wonderful and there's no way in hell I'd go back.
Will Maltby Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 160

11-18-2001, 03:13 PM	#2
Nice Guy Nick Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 116	I take it that is why the cc preview is taking ages.

11-18-2001, 03:13 PM	#4
Will Cheyney Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 5,063	Solution: don't get XP.

11-18-2001, 03:18 PM	#11
Posts: n/a	boots cheyney hows that for a solution....? biatch
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 03:32 PM	#12
Prof Spaz Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 276	this topic really sums up how old movie maker is and how desperatly a patch is need travis could you make a wee proggy to sync o/s versions?
Prof Spaz Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 276

11-18-2001, 03:44 PM	#13
Posts: n/a	Open loads and load of programs to slow your computer down !
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 04:12 PM	#14
Evan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 5,819	I just got XP and it rocks!! SO anyways I sat down to watch MOS 2 preview and damn! I saw the diffrence cause it ran shite on my cmputer 'specially with windows 98/me and now it looks better...So I am happy...
Evan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 5,819

11-18-2001, 04:33 PM	#15
Thrik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 2,242	Xp is really, really good. Sexy, too. I'll prolly only download Will's movies now, unless other directors can be arsed to make 2 versions :]
Thrik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 2,242

11-18-2001, 04:43 PM	#16
Posts: n/a	I hate Windows XP. I got me a pirated version and installed it on my old computer. (I usually use my new one) Now, it looks really neat and nice and I liked it at first. But then I realized that it deleted half of my fucking games!!! All those hours spent on Diablo II... All my Sim families which I loved so much... Gone. Forever. gets teary in the eyes Now, if this wasn't bad enough already, the games it DIDN'T delete (like 3dmm, thanks god. At least I got to keep my chain movie) don't work on that PC anymore. They give me errors. My Castle Wolfenstain demo doesn't work on it anymore. FUCK FUCK FUCK. About the only thing that works is a Max Payne demo. Argh. So, yeah. I'm not happy with it.
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 04:46 PM	#18
Posts: n/a	thats cos pirates made your version, they are dumb.... mwhahahahahaha bwahahahaaa
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 04:49 PM	#19
Xclexski Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,961	*Xclexski's Kick Ass Idea* My friend wants XP, so I'm going to download it and put it on a disc, and MAKE HIM PAY FOR IT!!!!!!! HAHAHA ROFFEL. Then when he installs it, I'll go over his house and try it out and see if it is good or shit!!!!!!! MEH=GENIUESE!!!!!!!!!!
Xclexski Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,961

11-18-2001, 05:04 PM	#20
Ultralisk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 43	BR, I feel the same thing as you... all wars and battles in StarCraft.... all the money spent... all deaths of the war... all asses kicked... EVERYTHING LOST FOR CHANGING MY FUCKING HARD DRIVE!!!!
Ultralisk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 43

11-18-2001, 05:25 PM	#21
Will B-R Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,294	Let's hope there is a fix
Will B-R Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,294

11-18-2001, 07:25 PM	#22
Posts: n/a	duz this not apply to windows me?
Posts: n/a

11-18-2001, 07:57 PM	#23
Will B-R Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,294	probably not windows me was just a cheap rip off of winxp and win98.
Will B-R Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,294

11-18-2001, 08:16 PM	#25
Scatterbrain Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 8,564	Cool.............................................. ................................ ........