DivX Codec 4.02 ============================ Version: 4.02.1 README file updated on: 2001-10-19 (c) Copyright DivXNetworks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "DivX" is a trademark of DivXNetworks, Inc. Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Introduction 2. Installation instructions 3. DivX encoding and decoding 4. Known issues 5. What's new in the DivX codec Introduction ------------ The DivX(tm) codec v4.01 is the latest and greatest release of DivX, the best compression technology for high-resolution movies. The DivX codec (short for COmpression-DECompression) is becoming the standard for high quality video over IP networks because it hits the sweet spot between superior visual quality and small file size. With a broadband connection, you can download a full-length feature film in the time it takes to have a pizza delivered! THIS INSTALLER WILL _NOT_ INSTALL THE PLAYA. IF YOU WANT THE PLAYA, YOU SHOULD VISIT DIVX.COM AND DOWNLOAD THE FULL DIVX 4.0 INSTALLER. Installation instructions ------------------------- To install the DivX codec, you should follow the following simple steps: 1. Copy the installer program (DivX4CodecInstaller.exe) to a location on your hard drive (e.g., C:\temp). 2. Run the installer program by double-clicking on the deainstaller.exe icon. 3. Follow the instructions of the installer program to install the DivX Codec. 4. Done! The CODEC should be installed in your Systems directory. **What files are installed?**: The DivX Codec installer will install the following files on your system: * divx.dll (DivX Codec) * divxdec.ax (DivX Decoder Filter) * Help.chm (DivX Help File) * README.txt (This README file.) * License.txt (License agreement for the CODEC.) **Uninstalling the DivX Codec**: To remove the DivX Codec from your system, you should use the "Add/Remove Programs" control panel in Windows. To this by selecting "Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs" from the Windows Start menu. In the listbox that is presented to you, choose "DivX 4.0 Codec" and click "remove." DivX encoding and decoding -------------------------- How do I use this thing? Please refer to the Help File included in the installer. You can find the help file in Start -> Programs -> DivX -> DivX Codec -> Help Known issues ------------ Please send submit all bugs to http://www.divx.com/feedback. What's new in the DivX(tm) codec -------------------------------- **Features of DivX 4.0:** * Improved decoder performance * Higher encoding performance, almost 4 times faster than previous versions * Multi-pass encoding and 2 different variable bit rate modes * Improved visual quality * Highly scalable codec from 16x16 to 1920x1280 (i.e. HDTV). All even integer dimensions are acceptable * Support for popular encoding/editing applications * Plays all DivX content **Change Log:** -- Changes since 4.01 -- * Fixed more problems with decoding 3.x * Increased Encoding Performance * New Post-Processing/Deringing Algorithm. Very noticeable improvement in video playback quality. * Fixed known AMD related bugs. * Minor MPEG-4 Compliance changes. -- Changes since 4.0 -- * Fixed more problems with decoding 3.x * Incompatibility of codec with Vidomi encoder * Incorrect bitrate achieved during capture in '1-pass' mode with AVI_IO capture application * A few bugs in decoder implementation MPEG-2 inverse quantization ( not really used now, but necessary to claim that decoder is 100% compliant with MPEG-4 simple profile ) * Slightly improved accuracy of RGB->YUV MMX/SSE conversions * Increased version number ( 4.0 -> 4.01 ) * Some cleanup in help file, topic 'deinterlacing' * most important: hopefully fixed problem with some DivX 3.11 clips fading to green between keyframes. -- Changes since beta 3 -- * Fixed more problems with decoding 3.x * Removed last SSE instruction from YUY2->YV12 MMX conversion function * Added sanity checks for log file contents * DirectShow filter was not applying brightness/contrast/saturation settings when starting playback * Reverted DirectShow filter overlay operation to beta2 style due to reports about decreased performance on some computers * Fixed few problems in 2-pass VBR ( sorry guys! ) * Fixed memory leak at highest postproc levels * Fixed bug with coding as 'skipped' macroblocks that differ only in chrominance * Fixed buffer overflow in decoder * Purple areas were appearing sometimes near right edge of picture ( bug in encoder ) * Added support of log file format version 2 ( should add minimal ability for external programs to control 2nd pass ) * Encoder assumes that 1 kbps = 1000 bits per second * Crash with YUY2 output, height=16*x+2, width!=16*x * More fixes for decoding 3.11 with non-16*x dimensions -- Changes since beta 2 -- * DivX decoder registered itself for 3.x formats even if user answered 'No' when installing * Found one more bug in 3.x decoder * Fixed problem with quality loss when encoding at height not multiple of 16 and low resolution * Fixed crash when encoding on Pentium II / Celeron machines ( accidentally introduced in beta 2 ) * Fixed noise problems in playing 3.x content * More accurate 2-pass VBR * Rearranged controls in encoder config dialog -- Changes since beta 1 -- * DivX DirectShow filter was not working on Windows NT 4.0. * Encoding was broken at very high bitrates. You would receive scrambled picture if you tried to encode either in quality-based VBR at quality level >=95% or in two-pass VBR at bitrates roughly higher than 1500-2000 kbps. * Decoder was crashing in some cases on Pentium II / Celeron machines ( a few SSE instructions were accidentally put into MMX YUV->RGB conversion routines ) * Decoder was crashing with postproc level 6 or 7 and 16*N < height <= 16*N+8. * Fixed one obscure DivX 3.x decoder incompatibility issue. * DivX decoder filter was crashing when used by BSPlayer ( http://bsplayer.cjb.net ) * There was a parameter in encoder settings, which was called 'crispness' in config dialog and 'frame dropping' in help file. It causes a lot of confusion. * In the help file, on the page about postprocessing, there was a duplicating paragraph, written in slightly different ways. * 'About' dialog box of the codec showed an unreadable character after the word 'DivX'. On machines with installed Russian it is a 'TM' sign, but there are lots of machines out there which do not have Russian fonts :-) * Added brightness, contrast and saturation sliders. * Encoder now stores its settings in the registry. For information about commercial licensing please email licensing@divxnetworks.com