AssFilterMod - DirectShow subtitle renderer (v0.4)

[Blitzker]

Hello!

For a while, i searched for an alternative to XySubFilter and when i found AssFilter by alexmarsev, i decided it was what i wanted to use. I had no idea on how to work with Directshow and this was a good learning material. So here it is, my first shot at forking a project and modifying it.

AssFilter is an Open-source DirectShow subtitle renderer based on libass and the SubRenderIntf interfaces. Like the well known XySubFilter, AssFilter don't render the subtitles on the video. It instead communicate directly with the video renderer to send the subtitles. This process allow the video renderer to do what it wants with the subtitles.

Here is some screenshot comparisons between AssFilterMod and XySubFilter:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/175218
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/175219
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/175220

New features and bug fixes:

• Added the Settings and Status tabs
• Added support for SRT subtitles
• Works with built-in video renderers in MPC-HC
• Fix crash when the subtitle track is changed
• Use latest versions of libraries
• Auto-loading of external subtitles

General Settings:



Note: Only subfolders of the currently playing media file folder can be used.

SRT Settings:



In the Custom Tags edit control, you can enter Ass Tags and customize your SRT subtitles the way you want.

Ex: If you want your subtitles to be BOLD, enter {\b1}.

External Subtitles Font Folder is only used for external subtitles. You can use those fonts for both ASS and SRT subtitles.
Note: The {FILE_DIR} tag can be used to specify the folder of the media file.

Important notes:

• All tags that you use in the Customs Tags will overwrite the default settings.
• Settings are saved in the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AssFilter
• Only subtitles (ASS and SRT) subtitles are supported.

Requirements:

Visual Studio 2015 Redistributables https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down....aspx?id=53840
Visual Studio 2017 x32 Redistributables https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=746571
Visual Studio 2017 x64 Redistributables https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=746572
Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (32 and 64 bits)

Changelog

v0.4
- add: System tray icon
- add: Selection of external subtitles in context menu of tray icon
- add: Open settings by left click on the tray icon
- add: Use of fonts in External Subs Fonts folder for SRT subtitles
- add: Libass is built with harfbuzz support
- add: Support of font ligatures
- add: Option to disable auto-load of external subtitles
- fix: Auto-load of subtitles with unicode characters
- fix: Auto-load of SRT subtitles on a different codepage than en_us
- Settings page is now split in two: General Settings and SRT Settings
- Add support for Visual Studio 2017
- Use my fork of libass
- Update libass asm building tools : Now use nasm instead of yasm

Downloads

https://github.com/Blitzker/assfiltermod/releases

Nightlies

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/w1w...s/AssFilterMod

[nautilus7]

Hi, thanks for the filter. Any plans to make an avisynth plugin, something similar to masksub() filter in vsfilter plugin.

[amayra]

thanks for your hard work and i was thinking about is just time to update this old renderer

[Jamaika]

Excuse me, I not quite understand. Is it a newer version V5.00 the subtitle ASS with new features?

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by nautilus7

Hi, thanks for the filter. Any plans to make an avisynth plugin, something similar to masksub() filter in vsfilter plugin.

No, sorry. I don't have any plans to work on a avisynth filter at the moment.

Originally Posted by amayra

thanks for your hard work and i was thinking about is just time to update this old renderer

Originally Posted by Jamaika

Excuse me, I not quite understand. Is it a newer version V5.00 the subtitle ASS with new features?

No, its a DirectShow subtitle filter (like XySubFilter) that you can use with a media player (like MPC-HC, MPC-BE) to display .ASS and .SRT subtitles. But if such a new specification of the ASS format is made available in libass, AssFilterMod will support it.

[ashlar42]

Hi! Really nice to see some new development on this front (subs filters). A couple of questions:

1) Speedwise how does it compare to XySubFilter?

2) How does it work in relationship with madVR? Is it capable of moving subs in black bars of 2.35:1 content, for instance?

Thanks a lot.

[lion09503]

Hey @Blitkzer

Thanks for the hard work.

I was just wondering about this.

Originally Posted by Blitzker

Only subtitles (ASS and SRT) muxed in MKV files are supported.

Does this mean that it does not auto-load subtitles that have the same name as the video file? xy-vsfilter and xysubfilter both support this feature.

I also want to know whether it works together with madvr as @ashlar42 has asked.


EDIT: I'd like to report a bug that I just found. Here's a screenshot of the issue.

http://prntscr.com/bexazz

Filters currently loaded:
- AssFilterMod
- Default DirectSound Device
- madVR
- Audio Switcher
- LAV Video Decoder
- LAV Audio Decoder
- LAV Splitter
- File Source (Async.)

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by ashlar42

Hi! Really nice to see some new development on this front (subs filters). A couple of questions:

1) Speedwise how does it compare to XySubFilter?

2) How does it work in relationship with madVR? Is it capable of moving subs in black bars of 2.35:1 content, for instance?

Thanks a lot.

Hello!

1) Can't really say, but since its based on libass and its still actively developed, there is good chances that its more optimized than XySubFilter. But to be honest, i've yet to find subs that make both of them lag. If you have heavy subs that are making XySubFilter or AssFilterMod lag, let me know!

2) I've implemented basic support for moving SRT subs on my dev pc. There is a build of this version if you want to test it: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/w1w...s/AssFilterMod

Originally Posted by lion09503

Hey @Blitkzer

Thanks for the hard work.

Originally Posted by lion09503

Does this mean that it does not auto-load subtitles that have the same name as the video file? xy-vsfilter and xysubfilter both support this feature.

I also want to know whether it works together with madvr as @ashlar42 has asked.

I don't support auto-load yet, but i plan to eventually work on this feature. No ETA though.

Originally Posted by lion09503

EDIT: I'd like to report a bug that I just found. Here's a screenshot of the issue.

Do you happen to have Internal Subtitle Renderer selected in Options -> Output? This is what i get too when its selected and AssFilterMod is used. I've submitted code to mpc-hc to add AssFilter to the renderers available in the combo box so this won't happen if AssFilter is selected. In the meantime, you can just select an (**unavailable**) subtitle renderer in the list and the subs won't double like that.

[lion09503]

Originally Posted by Blitzker

Hello!

1) Can't really say, but since its based on libass and its still actively developed, there is good chances that its more optimized than XySubFilter. But to be honest, i've yet to find subs that make both of them lag. If you have heavy subs that are making XySubFilter or AssFilterMod lag, let me know!

2) I've implemented basic support for moving SRT subs on my dev pc. There is a build of this version if you want to test it: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/w1w...s/AssFilterMod







I don't support auto-load yet, but i plan to eventually work on this feature. No ETA though.


Do you happen to have Internal Subtitle Renderer selected in Options -> Output? This is what i get too when its selected and AssFilterMod is used. I've submitted code to mpc-hc to add AssFilter to the renderers available in the combo box so this won't happen if AssFilter is selected. In the meantime, you can just select an (**unavailable**) subtitle renderer in the list and the subs won't double like that.

I see. Thanks for the fast reply. I'll wait until mpc-hc includes it. Might I also suggest raising a ticket to mpc-be?

[huhn]

madVR is complaining that the subtitle renderer is outdated.
there are some issues with madVR and this subtitle renderer.
but i guess this error should be fixed first.

i guess the SubRenderIntf.h is not up to date.
the newest version is from 2015-10-10.
madshi.net/SubRenderIntf.h

Originally Posted by Blitzker

1) Can't really say, but since its based on libass and its still actively developed, there is good chances that its more optimized than XySubFilter. But to be honest, i've yet to find subs that make both of them lag. If you have heavy subs that are making XySubFilter or AssFilterMod lag, let me know!

there should be more than enough that will make them lag.
do you have any way to test these renderer at UHD?

i will provide some samples "later" hopefully this weekend.

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by huhn

madVR is complaining that the subtitle renderer is outdated.
there are some issues with madVR and this subtitle renderer.
but i guess this error should be fixed first.

i guess the SubRenderIntf.h is not up to date.
the newest version is from 2015-10-10.
madshi.net/SubRenderIntf.h

Thanks, this is now fixed. What was weird is that i do use the latest SubRenderIntf.h and that message wasn't there with debug builds.

Originally Posted by huhn

there should be more than enough that will make them lag.
do you have any way to test these renderer at UHD?

i will provide some samples "later" hopefully this weekend.

Sadly, i don't have access to an UHD screen. Samples would be nice to have so i can do some "stress testing".

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by lion09503

I see. Thanks for the fast reply. I'll wait until mpc-hc includes it. Might I also suggest raising a ticket to mpc-be?

I will eventually open a ticket to mpc-be but i first need to fix an issue between its internal matroska splitter and AssFilterMod.

[huhn]

Originally Posted by Blitzker

Sadly, i don't have access to an UHD screen. Samples would be nice to have so i can do some "stress testing".

the problem is more that this renderer is always rendering in the output resolution.

xy subfilter has an option to render at native video resolution.

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by huhn

the problem is more that this renderer is always rendering in the output resolution.

xy subfilter has an option to render at native video resolution.

Yes, i'm aware that there is still much to do. I just started working on this so options like theses will eventually be implemented.

I'm still working on a priority list for features and it would be nice if people state what they think is more important to add first.

[huhn]

i think most people would be happy with full madVR support for all the subtitle related feature it offers.
and of cause support for all major subtitle formats. DVD subtiles what ever the name is, pgs, ass and srt.

[ashlar42]

Rendering at output resolution is particularly relevant for me. Seeing 720p quality subs when watching on a 1080 screen is terrible. I can't imagine how bad they must look on a 4k screen.

Thanks for working on this. I wish you all the luck possible on this project.

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by huhn

i think most people would be happy with full madVR support for all the subtitle related feature it offers.
and of cause support for all major subtitle formats. DVD subtiles what ever the name is, pgs, ass and srt.

There is a basic support for movable subtitles (SRT) already implemented but full madVR support is of course the goal.

As for DVD and pgs subtitles, and not sure about that. AssFilterMod is based on libass for the rendering of subtitles and supporting those bitmap formats would
need major work. I won't say no for now but its surely not gonna be soon.

Originally Posted by ashlar42

Rendering at output resolution is particularly relevant for me. Seeing 720p quality subs when watching on a 1080 screen is terrible. I can't imagine how bad they must look on a 4k screen.

Yes, the 720p or 1080p subs rendered at 4k can indeed look bad. The problem is that rendering them at 4k require much more processing and can make more complex subtitles lag. Implementing native video resolution would avoid that lag at the cost of reduced quality.

Originally Posted by ashlar42

Thanks for working on this. I wish you all the luck possible on this project.

Thanks, its a fun project to work on!

[Q-the-STORM]

Originally Posted by Blitzker

Yes, the 720p or 1080p subs rendered at 4k can indeed look bad. The problem is that rendering them at 4k require much more processing and can make more complex subtitles lag. Implementing native video resolution would avoid that lag at the cost of reduced quality.

Just let the user decide...
default on Output resolution with the option to switch to native resolution... though a lot better would be output resolution and custom resolution...

most people have a 1080p screen and probably have enough processing power to always render at 1080p, so most people will be fine with output resolution...

people that have a UHD screen and don't have enough processing power will then have the option to set custom resolution...
you could either let the user set each value themselves, or just make various options... 720p, 1080p, 1440p and 2160p should be the most popular options...

[rock]

hi, thanks for this project.
Could you add git number to about page for nightly build?
Also, I wish you could put latest dev build link to op so they can be found easily. thanks

[Blitzker]

Originally Posted by rock

hi, thanks for this project.
Could you add git number to about page for nightly build?
Also, I wish you could put latest dev build link to op so they can be found easily. thanks

Done on the latest nightly