Ffdshow

[rjc7394]

I don't know what FFDSHOW is. I've read about it more than once, it's been installed on my PC for a while. I don't have anything enabled, so what's decoding my video for me? Is there a guide to show you how to configure it? How come XviD is one of the choices for decoding DivX? I have no idea how to configure the left side of the decoder with all of the filters, etc.

[unskinnyboy]

I don't know what FFDSHOW is. I've read about it more than once, it's been installed on my PC for a while.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ffdshow
I don't have anything enabled, so what's decoding my video for me?
So you installed ffdshow, but deselected all the codecs it proposed to decode, during installation? If you did, then it is not ffdshow which is decoding your video, but something else. Render your video file in GraphEdit, and it will show you exactly which decoder is decoding your file (if it is ffdshow, it will say "ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder").
Is there a guide to show you how to configure it?I don't know if there is a good one, but do you need a guide for something as simple as this? If you want ffdshow to decode any format, just set the 'Decoder' against the format name to 'libavcodec' -> Apply -> OK. Done.
How come XviD is one of the choices for decoding DivX?XviD and DivX are both MPEG-4 Part 2 ASP codecs and one will play the other. Of the 2, people tend to have mostly XviD installed and if XviD is set to decode all MPEG-4, it will decode DivX too.
I have no idea how to configure the left side of the decoder with all of the filters, etc.OK, this part requires a bit of know-how, mainly about what each filter does and about the parameters for each filter and is beyond the scope of a single post. Most of the info about them you will get if you search this forum. But if you are confused about anything in particular there, ask (after you have searched and read, that is). But unless you plan to apply filters on your video real-time, don't worry about that part.

[foxyshadis]

It's a combination video decoder and filterer. The various filters on the side are methods of fixing or improving video during playback; typically you would only use post-processing and maybe sharpening unless you know what you're doing and a video has specific needs.

[mike_lee]

I use it to fix color problems with various clips, I have presets if a video is too red, or too dark, or washed out. For starters open ffdshow from program files, select video decoder configuration, and under codecs set raw video to all supported. here is an example preset

mze.com/express.ffpreset

when the page opens, select all the text (ctrl +A then ctrl +C)
open notepad and paste this info into the txt file, save it as expample.ffpreset (make sure it doesn't have a txt extension)

open ffdhow, under image settings chose "new from file" select this new preset.

right click the ffdhow icon in your tray (the same tray the clock is in) and click on the preset, see how it changes your video. If you want to tweak the preset double click the ffdshow icon and change "picture properties"

[rjc7394]

On one AVI Graphedit says "MPEG43 decoder DMO". On another it says "FFDSHOW". Which decoder is MPEG43? How come one decoder isn't doing all the work? And how is HUFFYUV different from FFDSHOW? They are both decoders, right? Should I have only one of these active on my PC?

[Awatef]

I never heared about a "DMO" decoder, so I can't tell you where it came from.
About Huffyuv, it's a lossless codec. Which means, it can compress anything without quality loss (whatsoever). This is good for TV captures for example.
FFDShow is rather a multi-purpose all-in-one solution for encoding/decoding (especially for the latter). To put it simply, if you wanna play any video file you may have without worrying about codecs, you install FFDShow and configure the "Codecs" page so that everything is enabled.

[unskinnyboy]

On one AVI Graphedit says "MPEG43 decoder DMO". On another it says "FFDSHOW". Which decoder is MPEG43? How come one decoder isn't doing all the work?
Eeek. That sounds like Microsoft MPEG-4 V3 (MP43) codec. Get rid of it. Why one file of yours got decoded by this and another got decoded by ffdshow will depend on how those files were encoded. Open them in GSpot and check.

I never heared about a "DMO" decoder, so I can't tell you where it came from.
DMO = DirectX Media Object.

Similar to DShow filters, but using COM (Component Object Model).

[rjc7394]

I unregistered (it wouldn't let me change the merit to "do not use") three Microsoft video compressors MPEG-4 in Radlight Filter Manager and I tried opening Graphedit and I got a message "Directshow Core Components failed to initialize" and wouldn't open. Now nothing will play in Realplayer but plays in VLC. Is the Windows Media Encoder codec pack essential for XP? Part of the pack is damaged when I tried to repair it. And GSPOT crashed when I tried to look at the codecs, it said "Directshow crashed". I'm going to try and reinstall the Windows Media pack and see if that works.

[unskinnyboy]

Your DShow filters don't seem to be registered in the Windows registry. Try installing the latest build of ffdshow with its default settings. Don't change anything. Then retry.

[foxyshadis]

You might need to reinstall directx, it sounds like you unregistered a little more than just the mpeg-4 compressors. (Was it quartz.dll? That's the directshow dll.) If you remember what they were at all, you can always reregister them.

[rjc7394]

I unregistered MPEG4 V2-V4 ir50_32.dll codecs (none were quartz.dll) and I don't know how to reregister them. I hit the Radlight "Register" button and it opens up a window and asks me for a Directshow filter.
When I look at a file in GSPOT the video (AVI) and audio portions now say "disabled" (even though I'm encoding an XviD right now). Does Windows Media Codec pack contain any Directshow codecs? Do I need the Windows Media pack if I'm going to use WMP or Realplayer? I don't know which Windows Media codecs I need and don't need, there are so many of them.
I'll probably wipe all my codecs off my PC and reinstall them. I used K-lite codec pack which no one seems to like but I've had success with. Thanks for your help.

[unskinnyboy]

Did you even read all the replies?

ir50_32.dll is Intel Indeo video codec. Why did you uninstall that? I believe without that your graphic card won't work. (more info (http://www.auditmypc.com/process/ir50_32.asp))

Don't install crap like Windows Media Codec pack (??!), K-Lite codec pack or whatever pack. Not mentioned before, but if I were you, I'd get rid of WMP and RP too (2 bloated pieces of software). Just install ffdshow. Or if you need XviD for encoding anyway, just use it for decoding too. Then you don't even need ffdshow.

Last, but not the least, instead of directly unregistering individual DLLs (unregistering DLLs don't delete the DLLs themselves + you may end up unregistering needed stuff too), see if you can uninstall the codecs/codec packs.

[mike_lee]

If you can tell me how to remove DirectX Media Objects I'll be in your debt. I've been asking in various threads for weeks making a pest of myself, they slow my PC to a crawl. (WMV9)

[rjc7394]

quartz.dll is still on my PC. I only unregistered Microsoft MPEG4 ir50_32.dll and that did something to my PC. I restored my PC and now Realplayer works.

Don't you need WM codecs to decode WMVs? And to encode WMV->MPG? FFDSHOW will decode all WMV types?

[mike_lee]

I'm not sure how it works, but i think the DMO files are a little different from the normal filters.

windows media video decoder and WMvideo decoder DMO both decode your wmv file, but windows always uses the DMO versions, thus producing an unneeded hit on your CPU (we are talking 30% range on a P-4 3000)

[foxyshadis]

All wmv decoding is done through DMOs. The DShow filter is just a wrapper around the DMO for apps that can't speak DMO. So if you do remove the DMOs you'll lose all wmv decoding capability (except whatever buggy decoding ffdshow provides).

If you do want to experiment, just get radlight filter manager. But be prepared to system restore, or at least remember so you can reregister.

[rjc7394]

I'm not sure how it works, but i think the DMO files are a little different from the normal filters.

windows media video decoder and WMvideo decoder DMO both decode your wmv file, but windows always uses the DMO versions, thus producing an unneeded hit on your CPU (we are talking 30% range on a P-4 3000)

Is it normal for MPEG4 DMO to decompress a file (via .d2v) in Virtualdubmod?

What all's included in the Windows Media 9 (or 10) Codec Pack? They don't tell you that. There are so many Microsoft codecs that's it's impossible to tell what you need and don't need. And Microsoft has nothing to with with Directshow codecs?

[mike_lee]

All wmv decoding is done through DMOs. The DShow filter is just a wrapper around the DMO for apps that can't speak DMO. So if you do remove the DMOs you'll lose all wmv decoding capability (except whatever buggy decoding ffdshow provides).

If you do want to experiment, just get radlight filter manager. But be prepared to system restore, or at least remember so you can reregister.

Thanks for that. I just don't understand why wmv takes so much processing power.

I never had any trouble with radlight, but apparently people do have lots of problems, in fact you can screw things up so badly only a reinstall will help. I suspect they are in too much of a hurry and don't think clearly. Should you be one of those "hands on" type people (you are the guys who create and invent stuff) Remember this - You can reinstall Windows XP without loosing any data or the need to reinstall applications. But you have to find a guide first, at that time just remember to search "reinstalling Windows XP. Don't just stick your copy of windows in the cd-rom.

[foxyshadis]

Takes a lot of processing power just because their decoding isn't very optimized at all. I think most of their optimization work goes into hardware instead. If ffdshow ever gets a not-buggy VC-1 decoder I'll never use WM codecs again.