WMV9 codec update released

[zambelli]

The final version of the v11 codecs has been released:

Windows Media Player 11 for XP (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/default.aspx) - WMP11 for XP includes the most recent builds of all Windows Media encoder and decoder DMOs. Make sure you read the release notes (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/readme.aspx)for troubleshooting, known issues and uninstall instructions before installing the new Player.

Windows Media Format SDK 11 (http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/downloads/default.aspx) - If you don't wish to install the Player just to get the codecs, you can install the WM Format SDK. This includes the WMF SDK runtime which in turn includes the latest codecs. After you install it, you can delete the documentation and code samples if you don't need them.
For more information about WMV9, VC-1 and WVC1, visit http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112634.

If you're a fan of command-line encoding in WME9, I also recommend installing the latest wmcmd.vbs script: http://www.citizeninsomniac.com/WMV/WMCmd_20060825.zip.

[zambelli]

In case you're wondering what has changed in the WMV3/WVC1 encoder since Beta 2, it's fixes for some crashing bugs, VC-1 conformance bugs, interlaced encoding support, and performance improvements for higher complexity modes. The most interesting one is the interlacing fix: Using "VideoType" registry setting now correctly switches between progressive, frame interlaced, field interlaced, and mixed content encoding, and produces VC-1 compliant content - which was not the case in earlier betas.

[crypto]

Thanks for the update.

BTW. Are there any news regarding a Windows Media Video 11 VCM codec?

[zambelli]

BTW. Are there any news regarding a Windows Media Video 11 VCM codec?
I'm fairly certain there will not be any updates to the WMV9 VCM codec. VfW is just too old to be supported any longer. Even x264 moved away from it.

[crypto]

... VfW is just too old to be supported any longer. Even x264 moved away from it.

I know, but VDub has some cool features, like direct stream copy which I really miss in WME9. Maybe a feature like this can make it in some follow-up tool to WME9.

[zambelli]

I know, but VDub has some cool features, like direct stream copy which I really miss in WME9. Maybe a feature like this can make it in some follow-up tool to WME9.
As great as VDub is (I use it regularly), it's somewhat unfortunate that it's keeping VfW alive and breathing life into VCM/ACM codecs. These are legacy technologies dating back to Windows 3.0. They really need to go away.

I agree that a VDub-like tool for ASF (built on WMF SDK, for example) would be nice, but what would be even greater - and would probably benefit way more people - would be a DirectShow-based utility like VirtualDub. Obviously we can't expect Avery Lee to build it all by himself again, but it would be nice to see OSS devs rally around such an effort.

[dohcmark8]

I would like to know if we can expect VC-1 DXvA hardware acceleration being enabled anytime soon?

Or will that require new hardware that supports it?

Thanks.

[foxyshadis]

What do you mean? Purevideo already works on Nvidia cards, and AVIVO supposedly works on ATI.

[dohcmark8]

What do you mean? Purevideo already works on Nvidia cards, and AVIVO supposedly works on ATI.

It only accelerates Main and Simple profile. No Advanced profile acceleration.

[CruNcher]

ehhh AP accelleration works now very fine since the accelleration bug was fixed in WMP 11 beta 2 (VC-1 decoder component i have no player installed) for Nvidia cards i have no problems anymore with VC-1 (H.264 was allready more stable before VC-1 got stable) aelleration on my 7600 GS G73 card (PCIE) both is accellerated fine, takes usage of the CPU to the GPU and allows to a degree higher resolution playback now.

[dohcmark8]

Well, I'm wondering about ATi... since I cant seem to get AP acceleration, but everything else works.

[zambelli]

Well, I'm wondering about ATi... since I cant seem to get AP acceleration, but everything else works.
ATI hasn't implemented AP support for WMV/VC-1 DXVA decoding yet. Only Nvidia has it right now, and it requires 6600 or better (I should actually say "the 6600 chipset or better", since some of their cards with higher model numbers actually use older chipsets).
Nvidia's AP support is pretty good - they handle both progressive and interlaced decoding.

Bottom line: DXVA support exists in the WMV decoder. Now it's just a question of all the IHVs coming online with support in their hardware and drivers.

[dohcmark8]

ATI hasn't implemented AP support for WMV/VC-1 DXVA decoding yet. Only Nvidia has it right now, and it requires 6600 or better (I should actually say "the 6600 chipset or better", since some of their cards with higher model numbers actually use older chipsets).
Nvidia's AP support is pretty good - they handle both progressive and interlaced decoding.

Bottom line: DXVA support exists in the WMV decoder. Now it's just a question of all the IHVs coming online with support in their hardware and drivers.

Thanks for the informative reply.

[tchaikovsky]

thanks zambelli, sp2 required.