ffdshow fails to encode DV?

[phozz]

I'm converting old VHS tapes to digital using a simple USB2 interface that only converts the video to YUY2 but performs no compression. I capture using Virtualdub and am so far having good luck in real-time compression using ffdshow in HuffYUV mode. However, I would really prefer DV, as it is quicker to use during editing (HuffYUV is sluggish as a playback codec). My problem is that I can't get ffdshow's DV encoder to work. Every time I try, I get the following error message:

Cannot start video compression: An unknown error occurred (may be corrupt data). (error code -100)

I have tried many ffdshow versions and Virtualdub versions, including the latest of both (tried latest ffdshow from x264.nl and other sources). ffdshow's codec selector has many options, I've tried many of them and only DV fails.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

-phozz

[bb]

If it hasn't been improved in the meantime, the only recommendation is not to use ffdshow's DV codec.

bb

[pandy]

I have tried many ffdshow versions and Virtualdub versions, including the latest of both (tried latest ffdshow from x264.nl and other sources). ffdshow's codec selector has many options, I've tried many of them and only DV fails.

Anyone have any ideas?
-phozz

Hmm try ffdshow from CCCP codec pack or build from 2005 (if my memory not failed build 20050920) if this not work use a cedocida codec or use MJPEG in ffdshow - personally i prefer MJPEG.

[bb]

One reason why you got an error might be that DV uses a fixed resolution of 720x576 (PAL) or 720x480 (NTSC), respectively. So make sure that you didn't try a different resolution.

bb

[phozz]

One reason why you got an error might be that DV uses a fixed resolution of 720x576 (PAL) or 720x480 (NTSC), respectively. So make sure that you didn't try a different resolution.

bb

You are correct, I was working at 352x576 to capture PAL, as I've read in many places that capturing at 720 width is overkill for VHS. It never occurred to me that DV was tied to a particular resolution. When I capture at 720 the DV codec works.

Thanks for the help,

-phozz

[LocalH]

You are correct, I was working at 352x576 to capture PAL, as I've read in many places that capturing at 720 width is overkill for VHS.
I disagree with that, as when you capture at 720 pixels wide, you're capturing more of the analog signal output by the VCR. 352 wide may give acceptable results or it may not, depending on the source. Capturing at 720 also gives you more pixels to work with, even if you eventually encode to 352.

[phozz]

I disagree with that, as when you capture at 720 pixels wide, you're capturing more of the analog signal output by the VCR.

I've seen for myself that the source tapes have details fine enough to get blurred when capturing at 352 as opposed to 720 - so, I agree with you.

Personally, I find myself wondering why SVCD's width of 480 isn't valid for DVD - it would have made an good compromise between the desire to get as much as possible out of the tape (and I believe 500 horizontal lines is about the maximum) and fitting as much as possible on a disc. Oh well.

Capturing at 720 was giving me trouble due to HuffYUV's relative slowness and high disk usage compared to DV. Now that DV is working for me, I'm using full resolution. The discs I've already done at 352 look fine though, so no harm done.

Thanks for the tips.