WMP Weirdness

[Gurm]

So I'm watching WMV9 encoded videos - in fact, the first 3 seasons of "Coupling" from the UK.

Anyway, my issue is that every once in a while, WMP9 seems to "speed up" for a second, for no reason. This often cuts out dialogue. Everything goes REALLY FAST, and then back to normal. Happens once every... half hour or so.

It's not the file, as it doesn't happen in the same place.

I wonder what could be causing it?

- Gurm

[az]

I think this is caused by some kind of "mis-alignment" between the audio and video parts of the file.. don't know if there's anything you can do, though.

AZ

[Wombat]

Something else taxing the computer? The "going really fast" thing is usually what happens when a video player knows it has to be at x:y:z, but the closest key frame is a couple seconds before that, so it has to start at the key frame, then renders the deltas as fast as it can.

[Gurm]

Not that I know of. 'Course I'm watching videos at the time and not really paying attention to the rest of the system, so I suppose it's POSSIBLE that something else is firing off at the time.

- Gurm

[Evildead666]

i get it with avi's sometimes also. its very annoying during a fight scene with Jet Li.....

Haven't found what does it, but its not every video, the ones that have problems, i try to play back in winamp, or BSplayer or the one that comes with DivX 5.05...one of them will usually accept it without too much trouble.

[Gurm]

Yeah. It doesn't even do it in the same spot every time. I can rewind it and play again, or back up to just before that spot, and no problem. It's pretty frustrating, doesn't SEEM to be system resource-related.

I think WMP is just really poorly coded.

- Gurm

[Rob(QG)]

The codec and even the player used don't seem to make much difference as far as I can tell - I mostly use Zoomplayer. Wonder if it is more a DirectShow "feature".

BTW, what do you think of Coupling? Did it ever get aired in the US? I reckon it is one of the funniest British comedies in a very long time.

[Wombat]

There's an American version of Coupling. It apparently sucks.

[Rob(QG)]

Originally posted by Wombat
There's an American version of Coupling. It apparently sucks.

Heh, heh, I can imagine - I still remember the US version of Dear John. Not that the Brits are much better - anyone remember Russ Abbot in the British version of Married with Children

[Gurm]

The British "Coupling" airs here on BBC America.

The American "Coupling" sucks. They re-use EVERYTHING from the British version, but inexplicably cut certain funny jokes. The characters are pale American stereotypes that mimic their British counterparts.

In the US version:

- Steve is insecure and slightly neurotic, in addition to being substantially physically smaller - he's a short guy.

- Patrick is ... an ****ole. Instead of being a funny, slightly dim womanizer, he's just an ****ole. They even change his lines to make him MORE of an ****ole.

- Jeff is... absurdly neurotic. I mean, he is in the British version. But in the British version he seems like the kinda scary friend that everyone has, who's waaaay to into porn and loves women but freezes up. In the American version he's just... a complete loser weirdo troll.

- Sally is stupider, and more airheaded.

- Jane is less "flaky" and more "retarded".

The characters are flat, the only actor who doesn't TOTALLY suck is the one who plays Susan. *sigh*

It comes across as less sexy/funny and more "dick 'n' fart joke".

- Gurm

[az]

The british coupling (only watched the german translation, though - with skips IN THE FILES ) is one of the funniest TV shows I know.

AZ

[Taz]

Originally posted by Rob(QG)
...anyone remember Russ Abbot in the British version of Married with Children

No, thankfully

Yep Coupling was pretty funny, I'm surprised it wasn't more popular than it was

[Gurm]

Taz,

From all indications, it is. It's going into its fourth season now, and if the web site is any indication, it's hugely popular.

- Gurm

[Brian R.]

Gurm - Where did you get your Coupling files?

[Gurm]

Bit Torrent, of course.

First three seasons in relatively high quality WMV format.

- Gurm