MPEG2 Codec for SVCD from #Celine_Dion - EFnet - IRC Channel   www.celinechannel.com

INFO
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.m2v is the extension for MPEG2. All .m2v files are SVCD.


INSTALLATION
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Ligos.LSX.MPEG-2.decoder.v4.0.exe is video/audio decoder for MPEG2 files. 
Run it, there is three options selected by default, keep them all enabled. 
Press Close. Press OK.
You can easy uninstall any of these decoders:
go to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs, 
and find "Ligos LSX MPEG Video Decoder v4.0".
Decoders removed completely, leaving no garbage at your Windows/system32
folder.
You can configure Ligos decoders when playing MPEG2 with Windows Media Player 6.4:
select File -> Properties -> Advanced, properties of Ligos decoders.
I recommend Windows Media Player 6.4 for viewing MPEG2 files,
another acceptable choice for player is Windows Media Player 9.0,
but it have more glitches and not so functional controls,
so use it only if you want playlist feature or these nasty skins.
IF YOU WANT NICE ICONS 
----------------------


Choose a .m2v file and Right-click and select "Open With...",
select "Windows Media Player" and write "MPEG2" as "description for files of this type".
If you want to use WMP 6.4 under WinXP, then click "Browse"
and choose player's exe file by yourself.
Usual path for WMP 6.4 is Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe
Usual path for WMP 9.0 is Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
After this quit windows media player.
Start explorer (start->Programs->Accessories->Windows Explorer) and
select Tools->Folder Options, go to "File Types" and go down to the
M2V extension. Select it and choose "Advanced". Press "Change Icon..."
and write "quartz.dll" and press return. Select some icon that you like
to have for m2v-files, for example the magneta movie-camera-icon.
Press OK. Press OK again. Press Close. Done!
INFO ABOUT THE CHOICE OF DECODER
--------------------------------


If you are interested why Ligos decoder has been choosen for MPEG2 playback, then read further.
There is many MPEG2 decoders on the market, so choosing the best one is tough task. 
I tested tons of decoders, from: Apple, BlazeDVD, Canopus, Cyberlink, Darim, Elecard, 
Etymonix, Fraunhofer, HonesTech, InterVideo, Ligos, MainConcept, Matrox, MbyN, MediaMatics, 
MGI, Nanocosmos, Sonic, VaroVision, WIS, Xing.
Several versions of each decoder, so that was really tons of them.
All decoders have been tested at both Win98SE and WinXP Pro with WMP6.4 and WMP9.0.
For each decoder I check few things:
Rewind capability   (at some unproperly done releases, there are lots of them)
Correct resize feature   (many decoders leave 2 big black areas up and below video)
Playback performance   (at DVD films and DVDR releases)
Quality of picture   (at some really blocky vids)
There is only one decoder who pass first three checks without any problem - Ligos LSX, 
its not perfect of course, because quality is not the best: 
its too blocky when compared with reference quality decoders - Sonic Cinemaster and Intervideo. 
But quality is acceptable, so this decoder is a winner.
Elecard 2.0 decoder pass first two tests, but when playing DVDR releases it start skip frames and make audio desync.
Almost all other decoders have problem with rewinding of video.
Some decoders dont work at all.
