Sony DV Codec

[holdar]

People may not be aware the Sony DV codec for WinXP is available for download. This is for those who own or intended to purchase a Sony camcorder or computer (Sony Tech Support).

My method (YMMV):
Backup your system or create a restore point.
Hide any current DV codecs with the brilliant “VCSWAP.exe” (tools, dvdrhelp.com). Go to Sony Vaio Desktop Support (http://ciscdb.sel.sony.com/cgi-bin/select-software.pl), select one of the systems that support a clean install of WinXP.
R549DS - R558DS
RX280DS - RX480DS

Download and install the following.
WinXP: Sony DV Shared Lib SDV239XP.EXE 09/18/2003

The installer places 27 files in X:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\DVlib. VCSWAP and Virtualdub will now show SONYDV (dvsd) as an installed codec. To remove the files run the installer again. I've used this method with success on three machines, please post your experience.

Someone once described a security utility to me that listed the changes any installer made to your system, I only pretended to listen. If someone has this please post a record of the changes made by this installer.

Note: Whenever people see a lot of downloads available there is a temptation to install them all and trash your system. There is no point in downloading anything with the words, update, upgrade, or driver in the description. Leave the other things alone unless you know exactly what you are doing, or have a lot of time to waste.

[Mac Sidewinder]

Do you know how this DV codec compares with the other codecs listed as far as sharping/softening and does it suffer from the chroma upsampling bug?

Mac

[holdar]

@Mac
Chroma Bug: Downloaded scrollocks test (Decoder Diff sticky) and the Sony codec did not exhibit the chroma bug. Other threads mention the same result, no chroma bug.

Previously had used TRBarrys Renterpolate411 in all my Avisynth scripts, but since the chroma bug is not present maybe I should take it out. I'll have to reread the discussion about DV colorspace ( 4:1:1, vs 4:2:0 and 4:2:2) and its relation to the chroma bug.

Soften/Sharpen: Had not done a comparison in a while so I used Mainconcept 2.31, Sony 2.25, and Panasonic 2.64.1119. 90% of my conversions (VHS to XVCD/DVD) are Black&White and the Sony codec does look different from Mainconcept's. At first I thought Mainconcept was retaining detail, on closer inspection (Virtualdub-Save Image, Photoshop) it just seems to be edge noise. Panasonic and Sony are about the same, and I think “cleaner” than Mainconcept. Panasonic is no longer supported, Sony is definitely the darkest, hmmm.

Misc Rambling: Normally I telecide, use a spatial or temporal denoiser (Dust) for smaller encodes, and Warpsharp(24,1) to retain detail. If the capture is fairly clean I take the Dust step out.

Equip: JVC S9800u w TBC, ADVC-100, Scenalyser

[Video Dude]

ReInterpolate411 has nothing to do with the chroma bug. Reinterpolate411 is useful because DV is limited to 4:1:1 and by converting to MPEG-2 you are using 4:2:0.

To fix the DV chroma bug using AviSynth:
AVISource("C:\file.avi").FixBrokenChromaUpsampling


Reinterpolate411 should be used on all NTSC DV to DVD conversions when using AviSynth, no matter if you have a DV codec with the chroma upsampling bug or not.

If DV codec has Chroma bug:
AVISource("C:\file.avi").FixBrokenChromaUpsampling
ReInterpolate411()
#Other filters

If DV codec has no Chroma bug:
AVISource("C:\file.avi")
ReInterpolate411()
#Other filters

For info on which DV codecs have the chroma bug, you can read this thread:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33526


The Sony DV codec only operates in RGB colorspace. This is a major disadvantage because a color conversion has to be done for some AviSynth filters and input into CCE. Other DV codecs such as MainConcept, Canopus, and even Microsoft allow you the option to also operate in YUY2 colorspace. This will eliminate the need for colorspace conversions and prevent color shifts and clipping as a side effect of the colorspace conversions.

[holdar]

@V Dude
Thanks for clearing up the Chroma Bug/Reinterpolate411 question. I can leave my scripts alone.

Question: How do you determine what colorspace is being output by a codec?

[Video Dude]

To determine the colorspace make this AviSynth Script:
AVISource("C:\file.avi")
Info()

Info will overlay a bunch of clip information text over your video.
Look for the line that says YUY2, RGB24, RGB32, etc.
It will display one of these. This is the current colorspace.
(Remember to remove Info() before you do your final encode, otherwise you will have text over your video)



This is how you change the default colorspace output:

Go into the Device Manager in Windows. Click on "Sound, Video, Game Controllers". Under that select "Video Codecs", and right click and hit properties. Find the codec in the list and view its properties. Somes codecs will have options where you can select the colorspaces. One example that has this is MainConcept. But some DV codecs do not have options.

A second way is with AviSynth:

To Force YUY2 output:
AVISource("C:\file.avi", pixel_type="YUY2")

To Force RGB output:
AVISource("C:\file.avi", pixel_type="RGB24")

If you get an error from AVISynth then it may be that the DV codec can output only one colorspace.

One or two conversions (ConvertToYUY2 or ConvertToRGB24 or ConvertToYV12) is not that bad. The fewer conversions the better. No conversions is best.



Thanks for posting the location of the Sony codec, it is hard to find.

[holdar]

@V Dude
Thanks for pointing me to Avisynth Info(). Here are the Avisynth pixel_type/colorspace/DV codec combinations I found.

Sony (2.25) = RGB24 only
Panasonic (2.64.1119) = RGB24 only
Mainconcept (2.4.4) = RGB24, RGB32, YUY2 (claims UYVY)
Matrox (2.5.0.63) = RGB32 only (claims 24 and 32)

No codec I tested would output YV12

[erratic]

The ffdshow DV decoder can output YV12, apparently.

First you have to enable it in ffdshow's VFW Configuration:
Decoder tab -> Codecs -> DV -> change disabled to libavcodec.

You also have to enable YV12 output:
Decoder tab -> Output -> check YV12.

I don't have any other VFW DV codecs installed and when I open a DV AVI in VirtualDubMod through Avisynth - AviSource("dv.avi").Info() - the ColorSpace is YV12.

[bb]

Be careful with the ffdshow DV decoder, I had some issues with it. E.g. there seems to be something wrong with 16:9 resizing - and there was another glitch which I just don't remember...

bb

[erratic]

The ffdshow DV encoder is even worse. I tried it with terrible results.
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?&threadid=78451
But I rarely work with DV material. As usual I was just experimenting again.

[An10Bill]

I've downloaded the SONY DV shared library, but when I try to install, I get an error (almost at the end) telling me that it can't install because I don't have SONY DV shared library installed (maybe that's why I'm trying to install in the first plase....)

So, I'm not allowed to install this library because it's not installed.

After the error the installation aborts, and the files are deleted.

I copied the files to another location, before clicking away the error, then copying the files back after the installation had ended/and delteted the files, but it seems that the *.dll's can't be reg'ed manually (and it might not have worked anyway)

Anyone else have trouble installing this, or is it just me ?
Can I get these files in another package - or is there some tricks to installation I can try ??

I would really like to have this SONY DV codec, because I have a Sony camcorder, and better results can be exprected with using this codec instead of Canopus's......

Any help appreciated!

--
An10Bill

[holdar]

@An10Bill
I have no other reports of failed installs (that doesn't mean it hasn't happened). Please state your operating system. SDV239XP.EXE will only work on WinXP. It will not install on 98, 98SE, ME or 2000. Also download vcswap (video codec swap) to hide your current DV codec. Did you follow the procedure at the top of this thread? The more information you can give the closer we can get to a solution.

Thanks.

[communist]

IMHO its a total waste of time to get the 'new' version of Sony's DV Codec installed (due to he whole shared libarary crap). Its also no much different than the PanasonicDV or the older version of Sony's DV Codec which could be installed with a few clicks.