Graph error in converting AVI to WMV

[David1105]

When trying to encode the famous "ruby.avi" or "skiing.avi" to WMV, the graph is created:

Source (ruby.avi) -> AVI Splitter -> AVI Decompressor -> ffdshow raw video filter -> "File Writer"

The problems with this graph in GraphEdit are:

1. When using "WM ASF Writer" for "File Writer" and clicking on "Play" button, GraphEdit shows an error:

"The graph can't play Unspecified error (Return code: 0x80004005)"

2. When using "File Writer" from "qcap.dll", the same error as in 1.

3. When using the "Dump" filter for this "File Writer", it plays and outputs a WMV okay. But there're two strange things with the output WMV file: a. The WMV file is very large, compared to original AVI video size. b. This WMV can't be played by Windows Media Player.


What puzzles is using the similar graph, another input AVI file is "correct" encoded to WMV...

Is the above graph wrong in general for such a purpose?

Is the problem of the WMV too large due to a missing mux filter? If so, which mux filter should be used here in the above graph?


Thanks!

[JohnnyMalaria]

You say "what puzzles is using the similar graph, another input AVI file is "correct" encoded to WMV..." - how are they different? Is the video format different?

It would help you to insert a smart tee after the AVI Decompressor and render the "preview" pin to a window - that way you'll be able to see if the video part of the AVI stream is being decoded or not. When you insert it, connect the ffdshow filter to the "capture" pin and, for the "preview" pin, right-click and choose render to build the video renderer chain.

[David1105]

You say "what puzzles is using the similar graph, another input AVI file is "correct" encoded to WMV..." - how are they different? Is the video format different?

At least, MediaInfo tells one output wmv IS a WMV file. And Windows Media Player can play it back.

A 1.90 MB AVI file is converted to a 25.1 MB WMV file doesn't seem right to me...

It would help you to insert a smart tee after the AVI Decompressor and render the "preview" pin to a window - that way you'll be able to see if the video part of the AVI stream is being decoded or not. When you insert it, connect the ffdshow filter to the "capture" pin and, for the "preview" pin, right-click and choose render to build the video renderer chain.

I did this and decoding seems okay with "Video Render" play back the video. However, the wmv file captured from the capture pin is still not playable by WMP.

[JohnnyMalaria]

What happens if you try Windows Movie Maker to convert the AVI files to WMV?

It would be interesting to see if you get the same problems and large file sizes.

[crypto]

The "WM ASF Writer" needs to be configured with a profile and that's what you can't do with just using Graphedit. I wrote WMVMuxer, which just does what you are trying to do, but allows to select a profile. You can attach GraphEdit to it and arrange the graph like you want.