AVI/XVID playback

[gbeason]

I have a couple of questions which I've searched the forums and wiki for and haven't really found an answer. I'm not using MVP and have a Hauppauge 150 card, and I keep GBPVR updated.

GBPVR doesn't play AVI files (with XVID format) that I've downloaded or gotten from another source. Normally, I have to convert the files to MPEG2, which not only takes time but creates files two or more times larger than the .avi files and just isn't as good a quality video (though acceptable). Yet, in some threads I've read, it sounds like some people are indeed playing either AVI files or XVID formats.

So, to confirm, can GBPVR not play the AVI (XVID) files?

Is there a way to have the smaller file size without dramatically losing the quality?

Thanks.

[gbeason]

I just tried other AVI/XVID files and they played back fine.

Now, my task is trying to condense files that GBPVR records.

[HtV]

You need the right codec(s) to play avi's. You could try ffdshow, plays about everything I think.
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=ffdshow

[sub]

Yeah, GB-PVR plays AVI files just fine, but you need to have the appropriate decoder installed for that specific type of AVI file.

[wtg]

If you install the XVID decoders it should be fine. Just go to http://www.xvid.org and install the decoder.