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kevinmedina
July 23rd, 2007, 02:27 AM
SOLUTION: Video Playback Problem in Compiz-Fusion
I was searching high and low for a solution to a video playback problem while running Compiz-Fusion:

While running Compiz-Fusion, I wouldn't be able to see any video play while either moving the window, viewing desktops in expo, 3d cube, or any other cool effect for that matter; instead I would see a blue screen, including when viewing in full screen. After days of trying out all sorts of different things, I found the final solution! It is from Gremlinzzz, written in this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=480357

* GStreamer (The default video player in Ubuntu, totem-gstreamer, and any video player that is based on the gstreamer backend)
o Open a terminal and type "gstreamer-properties". Press Enter.
o Click the Video tab.
o Under Default Video Plugin select "X Window System (No Xv)".
o Click Test to verify that video playback is working (you should be able to see the standard TV testing colour stripes).
o Click Close

* VLC (VLC is not installed by default; you need to search in the package manager, then install)
o Start VLC and click on Settings, then Preferences.
o Expand Video and then expand Output modules. You will notice several options for output device.
o Select the item Output modules, and notice the checkbox at the bottom right that says Advanced options. Check the box, and now you have the option to select a different output device.
o Pick X11 video output
o Click on Save and you are set!

* MPlayer (Mplayer is not installed by default)
o Start Mplayer
o Right-click on the screen and select Preferences
o Select the Video tab and under Available Drivers select "X11 (XImage/Shm)"
o Click Save and restart the program for the setting to take effect.
+ Some users reported that MPlayer may not be able to show videos in full screen.

* Xine
o Start xine
o Click File, then Configure and then Preferences
o In experience_level select "Master Of The Known Universe" so that all available settings are visible.
o Select the tab for video.
o Under Driver select "xshm".
o Restart xine.
+ The same process enables Totem that has the totem-xine backend configured.
---

I'm posting this because this solution isn't advertised as being one for the blue screen problem that many people experience with Compiz Fusion but never find the solution to. I'm going to post this in a variety of other forums where I've found the problem posted. I hope this helps!!!!

guillefar
July 26th, 2007, 03:48 AM
Nice post, it help me to solve a problem: when I rotate the cube the video that I was playing stops. I try with mplayer using the method above, and work very nice..
But the problem remains with the Kaffeine player (mi favourite). Anyone knows how to configure it properly?
I have a ubuntu gutsy (with compiz-fussion, of course).
Thanks!

eneru
August 19th, 2007, 12:30 AM
about mplayer, i prefer to use X11/xv :)
the video is black when you try to rotate the cube or etc., but otherwise it works fine and at least works in full screen. Your solution doesn't work in full screen for me (ATI with free drivers) and is always a little bit transparent, even though it's cool to see the image when rotating the cube or etc. :P

vadi
August 23rd, 2007, 07:39 PM
Thanks a ton, this fix worked for VLC and Totem.

Iscin
August 23rd, 2007, 08:29 PM
Fantastic! I have had this problem for a very long time now. You're like a guardian angel :D.

Laughing Man
August 25th, 2007, 05:28 AM
Odd, this usually works for me (and totem-xine worked for me on my laptop). But when I tried doing the same thing on my desktop for totem-xine (I also have xine installed and switched to the xshm) and Compiz Fusion can work with it (window preview, scale, expo, etc..).

But Totem-Xine which should use xine's configuration doesn't work. The window is black until I mouse over it.

Caracalla
November 5th, 2007, 09:03 AM
Thanks a lot, why is this not in the FAQ?

loonyphoenix
December 24th, 2007, 02:56 PM
I solved the full screen mplayer problem by editing /etc/mplayer/mplayer.conf

# Enable software scaling (powerful CPU needed) for video output
# drivers that do not support hardware scaling.
# LoonyPhoenix: default "no".
zoom=yes

djdoo
January 27th, 2008, 04:27 AM
My suggestion:

For good fullscreen video use for ATI and nVidia cards XV or openGL drivers for Xine and Mplayer (-gl2 for mplayer) and for intel ones use XvMC (xxmc driver in Xine).

In order not to get flickering when fullscreen check the box at CompizConfigSettingsManager->General Options->Unredirect Fullscreen Windows

Jim

shedal
March 27th, 2008, 06:16 AM
Prompt how to be with a tv tuner? A same problem. I use the program tvtime. What in it it is necessary to adjust? (ubuntu 7.10)

adamk
March 27th, 2008, 08:06 AM
Sorry, but I don't believe it will work properly with tvtime. xawtv might work with the -noxv option though.

Adam

djdoo
March 27th, 2008, 09:18 PM
Prompt how to be with a tv tuner? A same problem. I use the program tvtime. What in it it is necessary to adjust? (ubuntu 7.10)

You can use this setup under Device Section:
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
Option "TexturedVideo" "off"

This will provide you YUV2 video mode and tvtime will work unless you use an IGP which only can enable XV through TexturedVideo and the 3D engine who can currently only support YUV and YV12 video modes. Have in mind that video won't blink only under fullscreen...

Always remember to run this as root after the changes:
aticonfig --input=/etc/X11/xorg.conf --tls=1
in order to make amdpcsdb to record your changes and apply them when X is restarted!

GothPanda
April 18th, 2008, 01:12 AM
Okay, this fixed everything except for totem, and I've got an interesting problem with it...

It only works in full screen. I changed it to Xshm, but still, only works in full screen...