SOLUTION: Video Playback Problem in Compiz-Fusion

[kevinmedina]

SOLUTION: Video Playback Problem in Compiz-Fusion
I was searching high and low for a solution to a video playback problem while running Compiz-Fusion:

While running Compiz-Fusion, I wouldn't be able to see any video play while either moving the window, viewing desktops in expo, 3d cube, or any other cool effect for that matter; instead I would see a blue screen, including when viewing in full screen. After days of trying out all sorts of different things, I found the final solution! It is from Gremlinzzz, written in this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=480357

* GStreamer (The default video player in Ubuntu, totem-gstreamer, and any video player that is based on the gstreamer backend)
o Open a terminal and type "gstreamer-properties". Press Enter.
o Click the Video tab.
o Under Default Video Plugin select "X Window System (No Xv)".
o Click Test to verify that video playback is working (you should be able to see the standard TV testing colour stripes).
o Click Close

* VLC (VLC is not installed by default; you need to search in the package manager, then install)
o Start VLC and click on Settings, then Preferences.
o Expand Video and then expand Output modules. You will notice several options for output device.
o Select the item Output modules, and notice the checkbox at the bottom right that says Advanced options. Check the box, and now you have the option to select a different output device.
o Pick X11 video output
o Click on Save and you are set!

* MPlayer (Mplayer is not installed by default)
o Start Mplayer
o Right-click on the screen and select Preferences
o Select the Video tab and under Available Drivers select "X11 (XImage/Shm)"
o Click Save and restart the program for the setting to take effect.
+ Some users reported that MPlayer may not be able to show videos in full screen.

* Xine
o Start xine
o Click File, then Configure and then Preferences
o In experience_level select "Master Of The Known Universe" so that all available settings are visible.
o Select the tab for video.
o Under Driver select "xshm".
o Restart xine.
+ The same process enables Totem that has the totem-xine backend configured.
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I'm posting this because this solution isn't advertised as being one for the blue screen problem that many people experience with Compiz Fusion but never find the solution to. I'm going to post this in a variety of other forums where I've found the problem posted. I hope this helps!!!!

[ayoli]

yay, that helped me, thx

[PaulRay]

I just wanted to second that big thank you! I thought I'd tried everything, but these solutions solved the problem perfectly.

[NiceGuy]

Originally Posted by kevinmedina + The same process enables Totem that has the totem-xine backend configured.

Not quite true... The version of totem-xine which ships with gutsy (I haven't tried other versions) has it's own config file, xine_config, which you need to edit. This can be found in the .gnome2/Totem/ in your home folder.

Just find where it says:

# video driver to use
# string, default: auto
#video.driver:auto

and change it to:

# video driver to use
# string, default: auto
video.driver:xshm

[TeagueSterling]

Thanks for the tip Kevin.
I was not even able to open totem before this. To make the change in xine I had to temporarily load with a different drive by running

xine --video-driver xshm

I believe.
In order to get this to work with Totem in Feisty, I had to make this change manually in

~/.gnome2/totem_config

to get it to work. It was the same change NiceGuy noted above for Gusty, but in a slightly differently location.

Thanks Again!

[DutchKillerBee]

When I set the video playback to xshm my cpu is running constantly at 100 % when wachting a movie in full screen mode
When using the auto option only 25% but off course a blue screen when moving Totem.
I'll stick to the auto option
Just my 2 cents....

[narx]

thank goodness i found this thread..

been poking around for a week to find out how to make vlc work in compiz..

finally got it!! thanks man..

but now there is another problem, video quality is a little bit slack and there are sometimes delay in frames...

any idea?

thanks guys.

[wnwek]

Worked for me! Thanks!

Configuration: Ubuntu 7.04 Dell Latitude D520 512 MB RAM Intel Duo (Compiz Desktop Effects enabled)

[msundman]

It isn't really a realistic solution to use xshm. Or, well, it will show the video, but it will look worse than a baboon's behind (and eat 300-500 % as much CPU).

[juamez.]

I noticed that while X11 output in VLC gives certainty of watching the video ouput, it kind of disables (am I right?) the postprocessing that is usually done on mpeg4 encoded files, and makes it look really pixelated when maximized or in full screen. I would like another solution where this is not the case. Also the cpu usage is indeed quite high when the X11 output method is used.