[BUG] MPC Ignores AR Metadata in WMV files

[katodevin]

I have noticed that the last few iterations of MPC ignore the aspect ratio metadata in WMV files. I utilize the program WMVARCHANGER to modify the aspect ratio of WMV files. This works properly in Windows Media Player 10 as well as in older versions of MPC. The last few versions of MPC have lost the ability to read this data, and are playing the files in the pre-corrected aspect ratio.

Plz helps.

[katodevin]

Anyone else experiencing this?

[Nicholi]

Could you upload some samples to an offsite location? I don't think doom9 likes large video attachments :P.

[katodevin]

Here's a link to the 1st thing I could find.

http://www.youswap.com/index.php?download_id=fc593cdc-c3de-102a-ad24-000b6a3d2c0b

I dramatically messed up the AR using WMV AR Changer. Should be so skinny that you can't even view it. New windows media player classic plays it normally, without respecting the new AR. Older versions (5+ versions ago) AND windows media player will use the AR dicated by WMV AR Changer.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

[Kado]

You have to use "keep aspect ratio" option! It's under "View=>Video Frame=>Keep Aspect Ratio".
Using MPC HC 1.0.10.0, ffdshow rev1485 (h264 multi-core optimized build), WMV9 and Haali Renderer/EVR Custom Presenter.
There's no need for keep aspect ratio if you use VMR9.
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

[katodevin]

Hi, thanks for the response.

I've tried using the keep aspect ratio option, and it does NOTHING! I'm pulling my hair out here :) I've tried it on 2 seperate computers also.

I have tried switching between VMR 7 and VMR 9.

In case there is a mixup. The AR contained in the metadata is 1 x 5. A grossly incorrect AR that I placed in there for only test purposes. MPC HC 1.0.10.0 does not display this AR of 1 x 5 at all, and displays it at the original encoded AR.

[foxyshadis]

What graphics card and driver do you have? In the end, it's the responsibility of the driver to properly scale the image, and many don't in Overlay, but most that support VMR9 will. I assume you've also tried EVR, if it's available? (Here, with recent ATI drivers on an X1400 and the latest MPC-HT, it gets the right AR in all modes but completely hijacks the system in VMR9/EVR.)

Also curious, what is splitting and decoding the WMVs? A graphedit view might shine some light on it. It's very possible that one or the other is just throwing AR information away, although the microsoft ones don't seem to for me.

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hmmm... This is a strange one.

For testing purposes, try the following: -

Go to Microsoft's WMV HD Content Showcase (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx) web site and download the Stormchasers (IMAX) .WMV sample.

When you play the .WMV sample in MediaPlayer Classic and it will be displayed at the correct aspect ratio.... Which is good!

Then run the afore mentioned .WMV sample thru' VirtualDud MPEG-2 and de-mux the video stream to .AVI. Play the WMV9 in .AVI file in MediaPlayer Classic and it will be displayed at the wrong aspect ratio.... Which is expected!

However, if you run the WMV9 in .AVI file thru' WMV Muxer/Encoder (Final) and re-mux it back to .WMV and then run the .WMV file thru' WMV AR Changer and add the appropriate level of aspect ratio signalling, MediaPlayer Classic displays it at the wrong aspect ratio.... Which is odd!

Hopefully the above makes sense...

[sheppaul]

Probably, to update WMV codec or Window Media Player to the latest version will fix the problem.

[katodevin]

What graphics card and driver do you have? In the end, it's the responsibility of the driver to properly scale the image, and many don't in Overlay, but most that support VMR9 will. I assume you've also tried EVR, if it's available? (Here, with recent ATI drivers on an X1400 and the latest MPC-HT, it gets the right AR in all modes but completely hijacks the system in VMR9/EVR.)

Also curious, what is splitting and decoding the WMVs? A graphedit view might shine some light on it. It's very possible that one or the other is just throwing AR information away, although the microsoft ones don't seem to for me.


Firstly, thanks so much for the help, I really appreciate it.

I am trying this both on a system with intel integrated graphics, as well as a system with an Nvidia 7600gts. They both have the newest drivers.

I have tried overlay, VMR7/9, and EVR, and no matter what, the new versions of MPC ignore the AR metadata. I know the metadata hasn't been "thrown away", because if I view the file in media player 10, or an old version of MPC, the WMVARChanger metadata edit is honored, and the corrected AR is displayed.

What codec is handling the decoding for you when you are viewing the video with the 1 x 5 AR in media player classic? Mine shows WMVideo Decoder DMO.

[katodevin]

Hmmm... This is a strange one.

For testing purposes, try the following: -

Go to Microsoft's WMV HD Content Showcase (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx) web site and download the Stormchasers (IMAX) .WMV sample.

When you play the .WMV sample in MediaPlayer Classic and it will be displayed at the correct aspect ratio.... Which is good!

Then run the afore mentioned .WMV sample thru' VirtualDud MPEG-2 and de-mux the video stream to .AVI. Play the WMV9 in .AVI file in MediaPlayer Classic and it will be displayed at the wrong aspect ratio.... Which is expected!

However, if you run the WMV9 in .AVI file thru' WMV Muxer/Encoder (Final) and re-mux it back to .WMV and then run the .WMV file thru' WMV AR Changer and add the appropriate level of aspect ratio signalling, MediaPlayer Classic displays it at the wrong aspect ratio.... Which is odd!

Hopefully the above makes sense...


I came up with the same results as you.

Additionally, try this..
1) Get Stormchasers.
2) View in Media Player Classic - Correct AR displays.
3) Open Stormchasers in WMV AR Changer
4) Change Stormchasers AR to 1 x 2.
5) Open in Windows Media Player 10. - 1 x 2 AR displays
6) Open in Media Player Classic - 1 x 2 AR does NOT display. Original AR displays.

[clsid]

Perhaps related to the "WM ASF Reader" option in MPC?

[katodevin]

Perhaps related to the "WM ASF Reader" option in MPC?

Toggling that has no effect for me. MIND BOGGLING! hahaha.

But seriously, thanks for all the help guys, hopefully we'll get this resolved.

[clsid]

You could have a look at the source changes between the "old" and the "new" versions to see if there are any WMV related changes.

http://guliverkli.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/guliverkli/trunk/

[katodevin]

You could have a look at the source changes between the "old" and the "new" versions to see if there are any WMV related changes.

http://guliverkli.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/guliverkli/trunk/

Alas, I am not l33t enough to be doing anything digging into source code. I am hoping that this can be brought to their attention as a bug, and corrected in future versions. I <3 MPC otherwise. This is just making viewing a lot of my corrected .wmvs near impossible, which wouldn't be a problem in the first place if people knew how to encode them correctly, but alas, this is not the case.

[foxyshadis]

Have you tried MPC home theater? That essentially is an updated version, since the original has fallen into an indefinite neglect (clsid's patched version aside).

[katodevin]

Have you tried MPC home theater? That essentially is an updated version, since the original has fallen into an indefinite neglect (clsid's patched version aside).

Yes, i have.

I've tried MPC home theatre v1.0.10.0.

Same result unfortunately.