# Frequently Asked Questions

## Development

How do I create a proper patch for MPlayer?

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How do I translate MPlayer to a new language?

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How can I support MPlayer development?

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How can I become an MPlayer developer?

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Why don't you use autoconf/automake?

We have a modular, handwritten build system. It does a reasonably good job, so why change? Besides, we dislike the auto* tools, just like other people.

## Compilation and installation

Compilation fails with an error and gcc bails out with some cryptic message containing the phrase `internal compiler error` or `unable to find a register to spill` or `can't find a register in class `GENERAL_REGS' while reloading `asm'`.

You have stumbled over a bug in gcc. Please report it to the gcc team but not to us. For some reason MPlayer seems to trigger compiler bugs frequently. Nevertheless we cannot fix them and do not add workarounds for compiler bugs to our sources. To avoid this problem, either stick with a compiler version that is known to be reliable and stable, or upgrade frequently.

Are there binary (RPM/Debian) packages of MPlayer?

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How can I build a 32 bit MPlayer on a 64 bit Athlon?

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During 'make', MPlayer complains about missing X11 libraries. I don't understand, I do have X11 installed!?

... but you don't have the X11 development package installed. Or not correctly. It's called `XFree86-devel*` under Red Hat, `xlibs-dev` under Debian Woody and `libx11-dev` under Debian Sarge. Also check if the `/usr/X11` and `/usr/include/X11` symlinks exist.

## General questions

Are there any mailing lists on MPlayer?

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I've found a nasty bug when I tried to play my favorite video! Who should I inform?

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How can I make a screenshot?

You have to use a video output driver that does not employ an overlay to be able to take a screenshot. Under X11, `-vo x11` will do, under Windows `-vo directx:noaccel` works.

Alternatively you can run MPlayer with the `screenshot` video filter (`-vf screenshot`), and press the s key to grab a screenshot.

What is the meaning of the numbers on the status line?

Example:

    A: 2.1 V: 2.2 A-V: -0.167 ct: 0.042 57/57 41% 0% 2.6% 0 4 49% 1.00x

`A: 2.1`

- audio position in seconds

`V: 2.2`

- video position in seconds

`A-V: -0.167`

- audio-video difference in seconds (delay)

`ct: 0.042`

- total A-V sync correction done

`57/57`

- frames played/decoded (counting from last seek)

`41%`

- video codec CPU usage in percent (for slice rendering and direct rendering this includes video_out)

`0%`

- video_out CPU usage

`2.6%`

- audio codec CPU usage in percent

`0`

- frames dropped to maintain A-V sync

`4`

- current level of image postprocessing (when using `-autoq`)

`49%`

- current cache size used (around 50% is normal)

`1.00x`

- playback speed as a factor of original speed

Most of them are for debug purposes, use the `-quiet` option to make them disappear. You might notice that video_out CPU usage is zero (0%) for some files. This is because it is called directly from the codec and thus cannot be measured separately. If you wish to know the video_out speed, compare the difference when playing the file with `-vo null` and your usual video output driver.

There are error messages about file not found `/usr/local/lib/codecs/` ...

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How can I make MPlayer remember the options I use for a particular file, e.g. `movie.avi`?

Create a file named `movie.avi.conf` with the file-specific options in it and put it in `~/.mplayer`. Also see the manpage about `-use-filedir-conf`.

How can I run MPlayer in the background?

Use:

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## Playback problems

I cannot pinpoint the cause of some strange playback problem.

Do you have a stray `codecs.conf` file in `~/.mplayer/`, `/etc/`, `/usr/local/etc/` or a similar location? Remove it, an outdated `codecs.conf` file can cause obscure problems and is intended for use only by developers working on codec support. It overrides MPlayer's internal codec settings, which will wreak havoc if incompatible changes are made in newer program versions. Unless used by experts it is a recipe for disaster in the form of seemingly random and very hard to localize crashes and playback problems. If you still have it somewhere on your system, you should remove it now.

How can I get subtitles to appear on the black margins around a movie?

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How can I select audio/subtitle tracks from a DVD, OGM, Matroska or NUT file?

You have to use `-aid` (audio ID) or `-alang` (audio language), `-sid`(subtitle ID) or `-slang` (subtitle language), for example:

    mplayer -alang eng -slang eng example.mkv
    mplayer -aid 1 -sid 1 example.mkv

To see which ones are available:

    mplayer -vo null -ao null -frames 0 -v filename | grep sid
    mplayer -vo null -ao null -frames 0 -v filename | grep aid

I downloaded a movie off a P2P network and it doesn't work!

Your file is most probably broken or a fake file. If you got it from a friend, and he says it works, try comparing md5sum hashes.

I'm having trouble getting my subtitles to display, help!!

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MPlayer dies with

    MPlayer interrupted by signal 4 in module: decode_video

Don't use MPlayer on a CPU different from the one it was compiled on or recompile with runtime CPU detection OUTDATED CONTENT REMOVED

When I try to grab from my tuner, it works, but colors are strange. It's OK with other applications.

Your card probably reports some colorspaces as supported when in fact it does not support them. Try with YUY2 instead of the default YV12 (see the TV section).

While playing a movie it suddenly gets jerky and I get the following message:

    Badly interleaved AVI file detected - switching to -ni mode...

Badly interleaved files and `-cache` don't work well together. Try `-nocache`.

## Video/audio driver problems (vo/ao)

When I go into fullscreen mode I just get black borders around the image and no real scaling to fullscreen mode.

Your video output driver does not support scaling in hardware and since scaling in software can be incredibly slow MPlayer does not automatically enable it. Most likely you are using the `x11` instead of the `xv` video output driver. Try adding `-vo xv` to the command line or read the video section to find out about alternative video output drivers. The `-zoom` option explicitly enables software scaling.

I've just installed MPlayer. When I want to open a video file it causes a fatal error:

    Error opening/initializing the selected video_out (-vo) device.

How can I solve my problem?

Just change your video output device. Issue the following command to get a list of available video output drivers:

    mplayer -vo help

After you've chosen the correct video output driver, add it to your configuration file. Add

    vo = selected_vo

to `~/.mplayer/config`

I have problems with `[your window manager]` and fullscreen xv/xmga/sdl/x11 modes ...

Read the bug reporting guidelines and send us a proper bug report. Also try experimenting with the `-fstype` option.

How can I use dmix with MPlayer?

After setting up your asoundrc you have to use `-ao alsa:device=dmix`.

I have no sound when playing a video and get error messages similar to this one:

    AO: [oss] 44100Hz 2ch Signed 16-bit (Little-Endian)
    [AO OSS] audio_setup: Can't open audio device /dev/dsp: Device or resource busy
    Could not open/initialize audio device -> no sound.
    Audio: no sound
    Starting playback...

Are you running KDE or GNOME with the aRts or ESD sound daemon? Try disabling the sound daemon or use the `-ao arts` or `-ao esd` option to make MPlayer use aRts or ESD. You might also be running ALSA without OSS emulation, try loading the ALSA OSS kernel modules or add `-ao alsa` to your command line to directly use the ALSA audio output driver.

When starting MPlayer under KDE I just get a black screen and nothing happens. After about one minute the video starts playing.

The KDE aRts sound daemon is blocking the sound device. Either wait until the video starts or disable the aRts daemon in control center. If you want to use aRts sound, specify audio output via our native aRts audio driver (`-ao arts`). If it fails or isn't compiled in, try SDL (`-ao sdl`) and make sure your SDL can handle aRts sound. Yet another option is to start MPlayer with artsdsp.

I have A/V sync problems. Some of my AVIs play fine, but some play with double speed!

You have a buggy sound card/driver. Most likely it's fixed at 44100Hz, and you try to play a file which has 22050Hz audio. Try the `resample` audio filter.

How can I get rid of A/V desynchronization while seeking through RealMedia streams?

`-mc 0.1` can help.

## DVD playback

What about DVD navigation/menus?

MPlayer should support DVD menus nowadays. Your mileage may vary.

What about subtitles? Can MPlayer display them?

Yes. See the DVD chapter.

How can I set the region code of my DVD-drive? I don't have Windows!

Use the regionset tool.

I can't play a DVD, MPlayer hangs or outputs "Encrypted VOB file!" errors.

CSS decryption code does not work with some DVD drives unless you set the region code appropriately. See the answer to the previous question.

Do I need to be (setuid) root to be able to play a DVD?

No. However you must have the proper rights on the DVD device entry (in `/dev/`).

Is it possible to play/encode only selected chapters?

Yes, try the `-chapter` option.

My DVD playback is sluggish!

Use the `-cache` option (described in the man page) and try enabling DMA for the DVD drive with the `hdparm` tool.

I copied a DVD using vobcopy. How do I play/encode it from my hard disk?

Use the `-dvd-device` option to refer to the directory that contains the files:

    mplayer dvd://1 -dvd-device /path/to/directory

## Feature requests

I'd like to seek +/- 1 frame instead of 10 seconds.

You can step forward one frame by pressing .. If the movie was not paused it will be paused afterwards (see the man page for details). Stepping backwards is not currently implemented, but note that you can make small seeks using the `-hr-seek` functionality.

## Encoding

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