>> Yes, but... does any program known to Man actually *play* MPEG-4?
> 
>> I'd use AVI, except that the AVI files Mencoder produces won't play 
>> properly.
> 
>   You are confusing the AVI format, which is a *container* format, with
> a video format, which for example MPEG4 is.

OK, I rephrase: I'd use fully uncompressed AVI, but when I ask Mencoder 
to do that, the result isn't playable with anything except MPlayer.

>   Most current players will play MPEG4 just fine if you have the proper
> codec installed, and a few will play it even if you don't (such as eg.
> vlcplayer).

OK, well if I ever see an MPEG4 file, I'll try it. ;-)

[I suppose I could ask Mencoder to make one - but then how would I know 
if it's really an MPEG4 file?]

>> MPEG-1 may be old and stuff, but it _works_ everywhere.
> 
>   At the cost of looking like crap or being humongous.

Well size isn't too much of an issue for me. Besides, the final image 
will be encoded with MPEG-2 anyway.

[Although actually... Mencoder is doing something strange at me. No 
matter how high I turn up the bitrate, the colours look a tad blocky for 
no apparent reason...]

>>>   mencoder is a tool from hackers to hackers.
> 
>> *sigh* Yes, from reading the "documentation" you do get that 
>> impression... :-(
> 
>   I see nothing wrong with the documentation. You just have to learn to
> read it.

You realise I've spent several *hours* today reading it trying to find 
the information I want, right?

>> Personally I think Virtual Dub is a fine tool, but I'm looking for 
>> something that can *programatically* build and play animations. 
> 
>   I don't understand what you mean by that.

Virtual Dub is nice, but you can only control it using a mouse. I want 
something I can control from the program I wrote.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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