How Do I Remove Gridlines From Movies?

Does 16 bit color make Ubuntu faster?

As for the lines, it's probably because you are watching 24bit video in 16bit. It's having to compensate somewhere. Apparently VLC can use the X11 driver to do video if you set it. I've never done this but look in the VLC preferences under video-output modules and change it to X11. No guarantee this is what you need to do but it's worth a try.

Hi, Jim. Yes, the 16 bit color seting makes my ubuntu faster than using 24 bit.

You mentioned that I should change the video output modules for vlc. But, I'm not using vlc. I'm using totem. And under totem, I don't see any way I can change the video to correspond to 16 bit under its preferences. What do you think I must do now?

I saw a script for doing the same thing in Totem, but I don't remember where. It was a moderately lengthly process and it's much easier in VLC. I would just install and use VLC. I find it to be a much better movie player anyway. If you absolutely have to use Totem then the only solution I am aware of is the script I saw but can't fine. Sorry.

Jim, thanks for at least giving me some hope on a script floating somewhere in cyberspace. I'll find it somehow. I really don't like vlc because it's got a separate control as a window floating around in addition to the player itself. I don't want more space taken up on my desktop. I'll coinsider vlc only if there's a way to remove that extra window.

After a bit more searching I've discovered that you may have to use totem-xine to do this. The file you need to modify is in ~/.gnome2 something (sorry, I lost it). I'll keep searching but that should get you a bit closer.

With respect to vlc, do you have the most recent version? I'm running 8.04 and vlc has no separate control window - at least not that I see. It opens with a control bar along the bottom. I know mplayer has an extra window for controls but I've not seen that with vlc. If it exists it may just be a setting.

I'll keep searching for the totem info but for whatever reason I can't find it atm.

Jim, thanks for keeping tabs on this. If you find it, I'll be so damn happy.

Okay, back on the computer I originally used to search I found some stuff in the history (dang useful that history). It seems you need to edit

~/.gnome2/Totem/xine_config

and change (and maybe uncomment)

video.driver:auto

to

video.driver:xshm

This may or may not work. I don't have or use totem-xine so I can't test and installing xine messes up other stuff. If you are not using the xine option then this won't work. I have no idea if there is an option for non-xine totem.

Not to push you into anything, but I really think it would be worth checking out vlc. It's a darn nice media player and will play stuff that totem chokes on. I use both with vlc being the preferred one but sometimes it's nice to have options. However, I've never seen anything that would run in totem but not vlc but I see the opposite (runs in vlc but not totem) all the time. I'd encourage you to at least give it a try. It doesn't seem to have the extra window issue you refer to (that's mplayer I think).

Anyway, good luck. I think I'm out of ideas on this one.

Thanks Jim. I'll take another look at vlc and in the meantime, I'll also look into xine to see if that solves this issue. Thanks.

Jim, I installed totem-xine but I couldn't find the xine-config file in which to edit it.

Hi Jim. I hope you looked at the 2 replies above that I posted. In addition to these, I did install vlc and I got a few issues with it that I'm hoping you can help me out with. They are:

1) How do I configure it the video modules in the preferences under X11? I went to that feature and I I don't know how to set it properly.

2) The sound is delayed 4 seconds after a movie plays. How do I fix that?

3) Is there any way to remove the status bar below and control bar on top?

4) Video quality isn't as good as in Totem. Is there any way to set the quality?

With respect to the xine config, you may have to just create the file if it doesn't exist. I'm sorry but I don't much more about it.

For your vlc questions:
1- This is what I came with after a bit of digging. No guarantee it's actually what you need to do. Go to settings - preferences - video - output modules and change video output module from default to X11 video output. You have to check the advanced options box to see it. There may be some additional code needed in the X11 subtab but I'm not sure.

2- I've never seen this before but you might check http://www.videolan.org/doc/faq/en/index.html#id242504. There is also an audio desynchronization compensation option in settings - audio but you have to check the advanced options box to see it.

3- there are several options that I've never really played with but if you right click the video and select switch interface to "skins 2" you can separate the controls and have just a video window but to be honest I really don't know what that is for. There are probably other options as well. Of course in full screen mode that all goes away too.

4- Can't help here. I tried a few different videos in both Totem and vlc and they looked exactly the same to me. I'm using a hi-res monitor and 24 bit color depth. Since you changed color depth that may have something to do with it or maybe it's dependent on the source.

Hey, Jim, thank you so much for your instructions, you're the man! The sound issue was resolved. And, I got vlc to work perfectly under 16 bit color depth, as per your instruction. VLC looks like a better candidate than totem. I got 2 questions:

1) Is it possible to somehow, whether to editing a file or doing so in preferences, to customize keyboard shortcuts. For example, in full screen mode, in order to go fast forward, I got to press Alt and the arrow key. Can't I just manipulate it to only click the forward key without the Alt key? This is very important to me.

2) Also, I know I touched upon this in my prior post, but in clicking 'skins 2' I'm able to separate the control window from the player. Is it possible to somehow attach this window under the player?

Glad it's working out.

1- under system - preferences there is a hotkeys option that should allow you to modify which keys do what. Other than that I'm not aware of any other settings.

2- I actually don't know much about the skins option. I just started playing with it today to try and answer your question. There is some info here though http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php as well as skins to download.

Thanks Jim Hutchinson, that solved my question.

Jim, you solved my question, but I got one small issue that I need your help with. I downloaded a skin for VLC. The only way I can view the skin is to do so manually. How can I get the skin to view automatically in place of the default skin?

Glad I could help and that the original problem is fixed.

As for the skins question I'm not really sure. I put the skins I downloaded into ~/.vlc/skins2 and was able to load the skin; however, I am unaware of any way to make a new skin the default. To be honest, that is really more a VLC question to which I don't have an answer. You might get better support if you were to open a new question about VLC and skins.

Hey, I just thought of something, tried it and it worked. Open up the edit menu option by right clicking on the apps menu on the top panel. Navigate to the VLC entry. Right click it and select properties. Change the command box to say

vlc -I skins2

And close. Now when you launch VLC it will launch in skin mode and default to whatever skin you chose. I didn't do much other than try this so I don't know if there might be any downsides but it seems to work and should be fine.

Thanks jim for your answer. I got it working.

Hi, Jim. Actully, my system runs faster under 16 bit than under 24 bit, so I'll stick with 16 bit. Going back to 24 bit means a slower system. I know, because I've tried. In the settings, I've chosen 'Video extension video output' over 'X11' as the preferred video output module. 'Video extension video output' gives me great quality video at full screen. But, when I minimize the size of the window, the quality sucks - I get grid lines that are annoying, even at 16 bit. What do you suggest?

And to be honest with you, I'm getting tired of constantly reconfiguring this system. I'm now looking for alternatives to ubuntu, like leopard. Seriously.

Any OS requires you to set it up the way you like unless you happen to just love it out of the box. Leopard is cool but if you don't like anything good luck changing it. Using 3rd party tools can be a pain. Also, Leopard only runs on a mac so you will also be buying a new computer which in itself will solve many of your issues. There are ways to force Leopard onto non-apple hardware but it's not legal and doesn't work well anyway.

As for your video issues, I don't know if there is one solution that will meet your needs. It's clear from your other questions that your hardware may not be as powerful as you need. For example, on most systems changing depth has little to no effect on speed. Your best solution is probably to use different apps for different purposes. Use Totem when it works well, use VLC for different videos. Try mplayer for other uses. That is the beauty of Ubuntu - you can use lots of different tools to get the best of each and never have to pay for any of them.

Jim, I appreciate your input but again, if ubuntu is purported to be a 'miracle' system, an alternative to XP, then I shouldn't have to keep installing a myriad of apps to satisfy one need. Doing so would be illogical and going against the grain. When I installed ubuntu, I did so with the mindset of a "fire and forget" approach, which is the common theme propagated by many users. The issues I'm encountering ARE NOT supposed to happen in ubuntu.

One question I do have on vlc is, under video output module, I got it set to 'X11 video output'. My ideal setting is 'XVideo extension video output'. But, when I enter that setting, I get blue grid lines when playing movies in a minimized window. The gridlines go away in full screen. However, I'm not going to keep watching movies in full screen all the time. Do you know of a way to edit whatever file necessary to play this setting with no problem?

Ubuntu isn't a miracle system. It's just an alternative that has the benefit of being free and open source. For many people that makes it better than the proprietary options even if it takes more effort to get it working right. Most often one app will do the job. Totem is a fine video player as is VLC. One of them should meet your needs but if not then you have options. That is a good time. On a mac you just have iTunes and if you don't like it you are kind of out of luck. On Ubuntu you have choice. Some people don't like choice which is why it comes set up the way it is. For those who want or need options they exist. It's the best of both worlds.

If you want Ubuntu to just work then you will probably need to buy a computer designed for Ubuntu. Chances are your computer has a little "designed for windows" sticker. Ubuntu can often do fine on a "designed for windows" system but not always. That is not Ubuntu's fault - it's the fault of the hardware makers for not sharing their specs. You are right that your issues are not supposed to happen but that is only the case with supported hardware. Chances are something in your system is not as friendly as it could be. If everything is supported then with a clean install it would all work just fine. My system is supported (because I built it that way) and at install I don't have to do anything. I do install the nvidia drivers for improved performance but I don't have to as it still works but I like my wobbly windows and rotating cube.

From what I can gather I don't see why you are having these issues since intel graphics is well supported. However, you have clearly been making changes to fix things and maybe you have also introduced problems as well. Since I don't have enough info that is just a guess but a possibility.

As for the vlc issues I'm afraid I don't know. It works for me as is and I've never messed with the various driver and output options. I still think a fresh install is a good idea but that is up to you. If you do, make sure to back up.