Having probs with the video mask feature...

[Protocol]

Hey peeps,

I've been having an issue with the video mask feature and was wondering if anyone has experienced the same or had any suggestions.

I'm masking the project and the video displayed so that it looks like a video playing in an old TV set. Unfortunately, the project mask works great, but on some systems, the video (although masked beautifully), doesn't display. I can hear it, but the video doesn't show up.

First things first, the video file format is wmv and it plays fine on the system alone (double-clicking the source file and playing it in WMP), just not in the project. It also plays well on some systems inside the project, but not all.

Any suggestions?

I've tried leaving the autostart function off in the video settings, putting a 500 millisecond delay, then playing the video (just in case it was a video-loading issue), but it doesn't seem to correct the issue.

I'm sure this has happened before and that there's a good reason or at least a good work-around, but I haven't been able to find an existing solution in the forums.

Thanks again, folks!

Protocol

[rhosk]

wmv has a few output options (WM 8, 9, 10 etc...). If you're in control of the video, I would output to the lowest common denominator (Windows Media 7). Maybe check dependency for WMP 9/10 (wmv works mostly on XP systems).

wmv is STILL not the way to go if you want cross-platform compatability. You should consider mpeg-1.

[Protocol]

Thanks Rhosk,

The problem doesn't seem to be with the codec in that the video seems to play fine on the system when accessed alone (when you play the file directly - without AMS).

It only seems to have problems with the mask function. Almost as if it were a layer problem?

Any ideas? Thanks again Rhosk!

Protocol

[Gabis]

I have run into similar problems playing a video through a browser-plugin and playing it from the player directly. Never have figured out why.

[rhosk]

It's because of the "ActiveX" that's installed, not really a codec issue per-se. I believe (not sure) that DirectX plays a part as well. Just not the expert when it comes to all of that. I know enough to be dangerous :D

That's actually one of the things I was going to recommend was to try/implement in a web object. You would achieve the same effect -- as AAMOF, you have a lot more control over the [video] parameters in general. I'm really doubting that it's a mask problem. Try an mpeg-1 video (magnolia.mpg, I believe) to see if you still have the symptoms.

[Worm]

You might try using:


Window.SetMask(Video.GetProperties("Video1").WindowHandle, "Autoplay\\Images\\YourMask.jpg", true, 16711935)


in the On Preload or On Show event to see if you get better results rather than the video objects built in masking.