[solved] can't get arcsoft to interface with anything (except eac3to)

[lexor]

Hi guys. I can't seem to get ArcSoft decoders to work in anything (even dragging dts track to ArcSoft's TMT results in error about missing decoder). In defiance of all odds, however, eac3to works just fine with it... :confused:

I wanted to get the ac3 and dts decoders to work in MPC, but after I disabled ffdshow and built in MPC splitters ArcSoft decoders didn't load, instead the disabled MPC dts decoder loaded with a tag "low merit", so I think it just loaded as a fail safe.

At this point I'm on the second day of the 15 day trial on version that were tested in eac3to thread and declared working (and going by eac3to reaction, it does appear to "work" somehow).

I'm not quite sure how to proceed from here. All suggestions welcome.

[rica]

Q1) Are you talking about dts (core) ?
Q2) Are you trying to open just audio file (dts) with TMT?

[lexor]

Yes to both (but I also tried audio in mkv). Well in future I'd like it to play back the newer formats as well, but right now I'd settle for good old ac3 and dts playback I have from old DVDs.

[rica]

You can not open standalone audio files with applications.

Madshi's source filter is capable of doing this like eac3 file and dts/ac3 source filters.

You can use a graph like this:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2984/dtsrq5.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dtsrq5.jpg)

best

[rica]

BTW, you can use MPC-dts/ac3/dd Source (standalone) filter since it's perfectly works with DTS-HD as well:

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1916/dtshded7.th.png (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dtshded7.png)

[lexor]

Built in dts support in mpc produces popping/static on playback, which is why I was using ffdshow before this. I'm not sure what the purpose of creating graphs is, I know I can do that, but I don't want to do that for every file I'm going to play. I want ArfSoft to replace ffdshow seamlessly (as I believe it does for other people).

[rica]

OK, here you are:

This graph is not created by myself; it's the one running behind MPC HC:

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3237/lexor01mi1.th.png (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor01mi1.png)

As you know ordinary container source filters; neither Haali nor MPC internal source filters, never connect to an unpacked raw file.
So this is what you should do;
first of all register standalone mpc dts/ac3/dd source standalone filter and make these arrangements and enjoy.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/8885/lexor01sx9.th.png (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor01sx9.png)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/102/lexor03zw4.th.png (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor03zw4.png)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5183/lexor03fj5.th.png (http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor03fj5.png)

[lexor]

Oh sorry, I think I misinformed you as to the extent of my problem. It's not just the raw files, all of my avi/mkv/etc made from DVDs that contain original track (either ac3 or dts) when played don't connect to ArcSoft decoder. Everything exactly the same as it was, only I installed ArcSoft and disabled ffdshow. I did add ArcSoft as external decoder.

[rica]

Lexor, is this what you are looking for:

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6884/lexor04hn6.th.png (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor04hn6.png)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3289/lexor05eb3.th.png (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lexor05eb3.png)

[lexor]

NVM, I'm a n00b, problem solved. I went into the External Filter tab and changed ArcSoft's merit form some custom number that it had to "prefered" option. Works like a charm.

Thank you for your time and effort.

/Edit: you replied as I was typing this, yes that is what I wanted and that is what I now have.

[rica]

Just enjoy,
cheers :)


edit: "behind the screens" section has always been my favourite over the main movie; this is why i always go around the graph things :)
and GraphSudio is my default player...
BTW, thanks to Lexor as i've discovered mpc dts source filter while i've been living issues with orbitlee's dts/ac3 source filter in DTS HD raw audios like intermittent audio output
:thanks:

[TripleH]

BTW, you can use MPC-dts/ac3/dd Source (standalone) filter since it's perfectly works with DTS-HD as well:

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1916/dtshded7.th.png (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dtshded7.png)

With this method, how can you verify that Arcsoft Audio Decoder HD is decoding the whole DTS-HD info and not just the DTS-Core ?

[rica]

With this method, how can you verify that Arcsoft Audio Decoder HD is decoding the whole DTS-HD info and not just the DTS-Core ?

I can't verify; any advice?

[rica]

My sample out.dts is a DTS-HD and opened with:

mpc-dts/ac3 source > mpc-mpa decoder > default DS device

and

mpc-dts/ac3 source > arcsoft audio decoder hd > default DS device

Compare them:

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/6379/final01sg8.th.png (http://img385.imageshack.us/my.php?image=final01sg8.png)


http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1926/final02oq4.th.png (http://img385.imageshack.us/my.php?image=final02oq4.png)

[xkodi]

rica, those screenshots don't proof anything, because on the Audio Input pin of the "Default DirectSound Device" the audio is already uncompressed PCM, plus nAvgBytesPerSec is calculated as:

nAvgBytesPerSec = nSamplesPerSec*wBitsPerSample*nChannels/8

on the first screenshot:

nSamplesPerSec = 48000

wBitsPerSample = 16

nChannels = 5

that is why:

nAvgBytesPerSec = 48000*16*5/8 = 480000

on the second screenshot:

nSamplesPerSec = 48000

wBitsPerSample = 24

nChannels = 6

and thus:

nAvgBytesPerSec = 48000*24*6/8 = 864000

so, if on the first screenshot you set "PCM Output" to "PCM 24 bit" and "DTS Decoder Settings" -> "Decode to Speakers" to "3 Front + 2 Rear" you will get 864000 for nAvgBytesPerSec. so, you can't be sure that the DTS Core or the DTS-HD extension is decoded using such comparison.

[rica]

xkoi, you are right but this time you can never listen the audio as it is intermittent while the core dts (taken from the same m2ts source) is working very well with the same filters.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4128/xkodija1.th.png (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=xkodija1.png)

So do you think there is a way to understand ?

[xkodi]

So do you think there is a way to understand ?

yes, there is a way, but it is a little complicated:

instead of "Default DirectSound Device" in the graph use Dump filter (dump.ax) to save the output of Arcsoft decoder to file, for example let's call that file "dump.raw", then convert dump.raw to WAV using sox:

sox -r48000 -t .raw -c 6 -3 -s dump.raw dump.wav

after "-r" you put the correct sample rate, "-c 6" means 6 channels and "-3" means 24bit, use "-2" for 16bit.

then using eac3to convert the DTS-HD file and the DTS core from that DTS-HD file to WAVs:

eac3to file.dtshd dtshd.wav
eac3to file.dtshd dtscore.wav -core

compare dtshd.wav and dump.wav using hex editor (you can use for example hexworkshop), if dtshd.wav and dump.wav are the same, then DTS-HD extension is decoded, if not then compare dtscore.wav and dump.wav, it they are the same, then DTS core is decoded.

[rica]

yes, there is a way, but it is a little complicated:


A little? :confused:

Why not we dump both file (core and HD) extracted by eacto and compare them; i think decoded HD must be huger than core, agree?

[xkodi]

Why not we dump both file (core and HD) extracted by eacto and compare them; i think decoded HD must be huger than core, agree?

no, because if the DTS core and the HD extension have the same number of channels and same bit depth, then the decoded HD extension is equal in size to decoded DTS core, because of the reason we've already discussed:

nAvgBytesPerSec = nSamplesPerSec*wBitsPerSample*nChannels/8

however, if the DTS core and the HD extension have different number of channels, what you are suggesting is some kind of proof, but again it doesn't proof that the decoded file is correct (i.e. bit-perfect). for example, i have a lot of DTS-HD MA tracks that are decoded bit-perfectly by eac3to with Arcsoft, but the same tracks decoded in GraphEdit again with Arcsoft are not bit-perfect that is because eac3to is using Arcsoft, but is doing the things different than when GraphEdit is used.

[rica]

Then i have to do my homework :)

[rica]

Xkodi, can't we use "wav dest" + "file writer" instead of dump and sox?

[xkodi]

Xkodi, can't we use "wav dest" + "file writer" instead of dump and sox?

don't know, never used them.

[rica]

Ok, here it's not working.

So, i made the files from the beginning.

First file out.dts (DTS-HD) 1.98 GB

eac3to\eac3to.exe "F:\HITMAN_F4\BDMV\STREAM\00002.m2ts" 4: "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\out.dts

Second file coreout.dts (core) 0.99 GB

eac3to\eac3to.exe "F:\HITMAN_F4\BDMV\STREAM\00002.m2ts" 4: "C:\Users\Rica\Desktop\coreout.dts" -core

I extracted wav files from the source audio files:

First dtshd.wav from out.dts

eac3to v2.57
command line: eac3to\eac3to.exe "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\out.dts" "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\eac3to-output\dtshd.wav
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTS Hi-Res, 5.1 channels, 1:34:15, 24 bits, 3072kbit/s, 48khz
Decoding with ArcSoft DTS Decoder...
Writing WAV...
Creating file "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\eac3to-output\dtshd.wav"...
Caution: The WAV file is bigger than 4GB.
Some WAV readers might not be able to handle this file correctly.
eac3to processing took 6 minutes, 48 seconds.
Done.
Second coreout.wav from coreout.dts

ac3to v2.57
command line: eac3to\eac3to.exe "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\coreout.dts" "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\eac3to-output\coreout.wav"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTS, 5.1 channels, 1:34:15, 24 bits, 1536kbit/s, 48khz
Decoding with ArcSoft DTS Decoder...
Writing WAV...
Creating file "C:\Users\rica\Desktop\eac3to-output\coreout.wav"...
Caution: The WAV file is bigger than 4GB.
Some WAV readers might not be able to handle this file correctly.
eac3to processing took 5 minutes, 58 seconds.
Done.

In creation of those wavs, Arcsoft dts decoder has been used by eac3to:

Decoding with ArcSoft DTS Decoder...
Writing WAV...

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/234/dtshdsp6.th.png (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dtshdsp6.png)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/3893/coreoutfn9.th.png (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=coreoutfn9.png)

So we understand dtshd is a real dtshd and the core is the real core; no problem with the source files.

I think the comparison of those both wav files should be enough since eac3to is using the same decoder while creating the output wavs?

Hexeditor:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4563/hexuc8.th.png (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hexuc8.png)




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