Opening flv in VD 1.7.7?

[Yobbo]

Hi, I have FLV Input plugin by Moitah (here (http://www.moitah.net/misc/FLVInputDriver-0_3_0.zip)) and have popped it in my VDub folder but still can't open flv video?

Where exactly do I put the plugin files? Do I just use the ".vdplugin" file? What about the other folder full of other stuff?

Thanks.

[Zach]

In VirtualDub's install directory, you'll need to create a new directory entitled Plugins32--note the "32." Once created, throw the plugin into there. :)

[LoRd_MuldeR]

So far I always used the sub-folder called "plugins" (without ...32) and it worked for Filter plugins as well as Input plugins.

Also note that you will need to install a recent version of ffdshow (ffdshow-tryouts) in order to open FLV files in VirtualDub.
The FLV input plugins only adds support for the FLV container, it does not contain the required video decoders!
Hence you will need suitable VFW Codecs for the video formats that are used in FLV files (Sorenson H.263 and On2 VP6).
That's where ffdshow comes into play...

[Zach]

Well, fccHandler's MPEG-2 plug-in has to be in Plugins32, or so says his readme.txt file, so that's where I have always put all these new, pseudo-experimental (my term, not the author's :p) media plug-ins (mpeg-2, flv, and wmv).

Based on your assertion, I moved them to the "normal" plugins directory, and yes, as you say, they all still load fine.

I guess ffcHandler should revise his readme.txt file, eh?


Edit: Also, why didn't you clarify this in your other thread about these new plugins? I was specifically told to create a Plugins32 directory (link (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1056493#post1056493)).

[Yobbo]

Thanks, but still problems!? I put FLVInputDriver.vdplugin into "plugins" folder (VirtualDub-1.7.7), and I installed latest ffdshow with just the "flv" and "VP3/4/5/6" formats enabled, correct?

VirtualDub will open a flv but preview is black screen, and up comes an error message - "The decompression codec cannot decompress to an RGB format. This is very unusual. Check that any "Force YUY2" options are not enabled in the codec's properties."

Well I'm at a bit of a loss here, maybe you can help me?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Thanks, but still problems!? I put FLVInputDriver.vdplugin into "plugins" folder (VirtualDub-1.7.7), and I installed latest ffdshow with just the "flv" and "VP3/4/5/6" formats enabled, correct?

VirtualDub will open a flv but preview is black screen, and up comes an error message - "The decompression codec cannot decompress to an RGB format. This is very unusual. Check that any "Force YUY2" options are not enabled in the codec's properties."

Well I'm at a bit of a loss here, maybe you can help me?

Install latest ffdshow-tryouts from this location:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=173941

And make sure you enable "FLV1" and "VP6F" Decoders in the ffdshow "VFW Configuration" dialog.
Enabling those decoders in the DirectShow (Video Decoder Configuration) dialog doesn't help for VirtualDub.
VirtualDub is using VfW :)

[foxyshadis]

Also ensure that the RGB modes in the ffdshow output panel are checked.

[Yobbo]

This is ridiculous. I've done all you've suggested, still no go. I give up. Thanks tho', guys.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

This is ridiculous. I've done all you've suggested, still no go. I give up. Thanks tho', guys.
Don't give up that fast :)

The fact that VDub opens the FLV file at all means that the FLV plugin properly installed.
So the problem seems to be on the decoder side.
In your case I'd check all the ffdshow-tryouts options again, and remember to use the "VFW configuration" ;)

Last but not least, make sure you use the latest version of the FLV plugin.
I'm using v0.3.0 and it works fine so far with the latest ffdshow-tryouts and VDub v1.7.7 ...

[Yobbo]

Thanks, Lord Mulder. I can confirm that I am using the latest FLV plugin, the latest ffdshow tryout, and the latest VDub 1.7.7.

I must be doing something wrong with the ffdshow install. I have uninstalled & reinstalled, being careful to enable JUST the "flv" and "vp" formats in the VFW config. Nothing else is enabled, neither audio or video (I don't want ffdshow taking over everything). I have also enabled "Force RGB" check option.

But still no luck.

Not sure where else I can go from here. But thanks again all the same, for your help & suggestions!

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Well, enabling additional Video Formats won't hurt ;)
Make sure at least "FLV1", "VP6" and "VP6F" are set to "libavcodec" on the "Decoder" tab in "VFW configuration".
And also make sure that under "Output" all the "RGBxx" modes are checked...

[Yobbo]

Nah this is a joke. I want to smash my computer to bits.

EDIT: Forget that, I got it working. :P

Operator error, of course. I was missing a step in the ffdshow configuration process.

Thank you for all your help, I appreciate your patience!

[squid_80]

Re plugins vs plugins32: the 32-bit build of virtualdub will look for plugins in "plugins32" then "plugins", the 64-bit build will look in "plugins64" then "plugins". The idea is to keep the plugins for the two architectures in separate places so there is no confusion over which build they're for.

[sumpm1]

EDIT: Forget that, I got it working. :P

Operator error, of course. I was missing a step in the ffdshow configuration process.

Tell us how you got it working, so people can solve this in the future.

[Yobbo]

I simply hadn't enabled "FLV" and "VP6F" in ffdshow's VFW Configuration ("Video Encoder") dialog.

So, just click on Decoder tab up the top, then click on Codecs at the top of the list, and you will get a list of codecs. All mine are disabled except, as I said, FLV and VP6F.

Prior to this, I had just enabled FLV and VP6F in the "Video Decoder" configuration box.

Just on an aside, I have achieved OK results with converting Youtube clips to dvd-res avi, using SmartDeblock and SmartDenoise & lanczos3resize in VirtualDub. However, I just used Avidemux with it's built-in flv support, it's deblocker and denoiser, and the quality was even better (IMO). It also can spit out ready-made mpeg2. A very good program worth exploring!

[TCmullet]

I simply hadn't enabled "FLV" and "VP6F" in ffdshow's VFW Configuration ("Video Encoder") dialog.

So, just click on Decoder tab up the top, then click on Codecs at the top of the list, and you will get a list of codecs. All mine are disabled except, as I said, FLV and VP6F.

Prior to this, I had just enabled FLV and VP6F in the "Video Decoder" configuration box.
Please forgive the stupidity here. Haven't used Vdub in a couple years. I now need to decode FLV. I've installed the ffshow. But I can't figure out how to do the things you've suggested.
1. How do you enable "FLV" and "VP6F" in ffdshow's VFW Configuration ("Video Encoder") dialog? (There's no "enable" button or anything resembling it.)
2. How do you enable FLV and VP6F in the "Video Decoder" configuration box? (Likewise, there's no clue on THAT screen either.)

[TCmullet]

Discovered my own solution. In Decoder tab, Decoder column, there's a dropdown that's invisible until you click on the word "disabled" for the FLV1 format. Doing that for FLV1 and VP6F, and changing "disabled" to "libavcodec" allowed my Vdub to work!

Interesting problem. I wanted to see what the "file information" is for this my first FLV opened. The function doesn't return anything at all. I wonder why.

[willy wong]

hey will that work in VDUB MOD too?...or will it only work in Vdub..

[mgh]

virtualdub latest versions only

[willy wong]

no VDUB MOD huh bummer...maybe i should try VDUB then thanks for the answer

[SaferSephiroth]

Hi. I too have been having trouble with flv's. they'll play fine in mpc (have ffdshow), but as for vdub or avisynth, I get an error message telling me that it either "Cannot determine file type" (vdub) or "DirectShowSource: Could not open as video or audio" (avisynth). I had previously been able to do this before reformatting, but now...

Would be most appreciative of any and all help.

[Placio74]

hi. i too have been having trouble with flv's. they'll play fine in mpc (have ffdshow), but as for vdub or avisynth, i get an error message telling me that it either "Cannot determine file type" (vdub) or "DirectShowSource: Could not open as video or audio" (avisynth). i had previously been able to do this before reformatting, but now...

would be most appreciative of any and all help.
You have installed FLV Splitter?
FLV Splitter and ffdshow is required to play FLV in DirectShow players (WMP, ...).
MPC have build-in internal FLV Splitter.

DirectShowSource in Avisynth require just filters (splitter and decoders) required to play by DirectShow.
ffdshow it's 'only' decoder.

Latest VirtualDub can open FLV, but... with FLV input plugin and FLV1 + VP6F support in ffdshow VfW.
VirtualDub not use DirectShow filters (exclude DirectShow input plugin) and require VfW codecs for video and ACM codecs for audio.

Well, "play fine in mpc" it's not relate to VirtualDub.

[SaferSephiroth]

:p Yes, forgot to mention flv splitter. That is installed. Also, though MPC has its own internal splitter, it will only natively decode flv4s not flv1s, hence ffdshow.

Ok, what I should have said is: I can't open flv in vdub using avisynth. Whenever I try i get the error "DirectShowSource: Could not open as video or audio" yada yada yada "An object or name was not found". I don't know what I have done wrong because I am certain that all settings are correct. I never had this problem before reformatting.

Again, any and all help is appreciated.

[Placio74]

What's exactly You have installed versions Avisynth, FLV Splitter and ffdshow?

What's Your Avisynth script?

Can You play FLV's in typical DirectShow player (example WMP)?

Check in GSpot, what's DS filter's used to decode FLV's.
Proposed Codec Solutions and Tests > MS A/V > 1

[SaferSephiroth]

Your inquiry as to my script convinced me to double-check it. That's when I saw my mistake: DirectShowSource("C:\~\my.flv,resize it") instead of DirectShowSource("C:\~\my.flv",resize it). :eek:
After having used avisynth so much for personal projects and for friends, I feel so foolish for making such a simplistic error. :o

:thanks: Thanks for your help.

[shae]

Has anyone tried Moitah's FLV Input Plugin 1.1? On his site it's listed as the first public release, and that it requires VD 1.8.

Trying it on VD 1.7.8 I get "Out of memory" when opening an FLV. I thought the input plugin protocol that was introduced with v1.7 was left unchanged?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Has anyone tried Moitah's FLV Input Plugin 1.1? On his site it's listed as the first public release, and that it requires VD 1.8.

Yes, I use the FLV Input Plugin v1.1 with VirtualDub v1.8.0 and it works fine so far.

Take care that you'll need a suitable VfW Decoder for FLV1/VP6 too. I use latest ffdshow-tryouts for that...

[shae]

Yes, I use the FLV Input Plugin v1.1 with VirtualDub v1.8.0 and it works fine so far.Thanks for the confirmation. I should've checked v1.8. Testing just now, indeed it works, unlike v1.7.8. It's a bit odd that the old (and apparently not officially public) version(s) of the plugin worked with 1.7 and this one doesn't, particularly with 1.8 being an experimental branch.

[Placio74]

Unofficial changelog ;)

1.1.0
It adds an extended options dialog where you can disable VFR->CFR padding, set it to automatic (default), or specify a target framerate.
It should work in Windows 9x again (_wfopen, oops) but still supports Unicode filenames in NT (forgot to mention I added that in 1.0.0).
Also, in addition to the maximum synch error, the median and average synch error is now displayed.
1.0.0
I finally finished a new version of my FLV input plugin . It requires at least VirtualDub 1.8 because it uses the new VBR audio support. I added code to insert drop frames to help maintain constant framerate; this actually works great for the majority of variable framerate files I've seen (i.e. originally constant framerate but the encoder skipped some duplicate frames; it's not designed or tested for videos with mixed framerates). I also implemented the File Information window. Enjoy!
0.3.0
I implemented TimeToPositionVBR/PositionToTimeVBR based on the audio tag timestamps. It seems to work pretty well, maybe I'll just leave it like this, but I'm not sure yet. Also, PCM audio might work with this version, but I don't have a FLV file to test it with (only have one .flv with PCM but there's no video stream). The synch in most files is pretty good now. I did spot one file that was quite a bit off but it isn't a problem with the audio, rather because the framerate of the video was variable.
0.2.0
... it supports MP3 audio (the vast majority of FLV files) but the synch will probably be messed up until I can code it properly.
0.1.0
There is no audio support yet but I will be working on it tonight. It uses the FourCC "FLV1" for H.263 and "VP6F" for VP6, so you need a decoder to handle those. ffdshow-tryouts contains both, be sure to enable them in the VFW configuration.

[shae]

That's interesting, thanks. :) Where did you find it?

VBR apparently worked before, so it's an odd decision to only run on the experimental build rather than the main/stable one. Well, maybe a future version... (or maybe VD 1.8 will become the main branch by then.)

[Placio74]

... Where did you find it? ...
VirtualDub forum.

... VBR apparently worked before, ...
In VD, before 1.8? Not (exclude test builds).

BTW
From some reasons i'm use unofficial VD 1.8.1 (test builds - until recently RC).

[shae]

... VBR apparently worked before, ... In VD, before 1.8? Not (exclude test builds).Not saving perhaps, but opening of AVIs+VBR MP3s, and FLVs using v0.3 of the plugin. That would suffice for some uses.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Not saving perhaps, but opening of AVIs+VBR MP3s, and FLVs using v0.3 of the plugin. That would suffice for some uses.

Maybe VBR audio in FLV files didn't work before VDub v1.8.0 and you just never used any FLV files with VBR audio ;)

If VDub v1.8.0 added support VBR audio through input plugins and Moitah decided to implement that feature in his plugin, I think that is a good idea :)

[Placio74]

BTW
About VirtualDub 1.8.1/stable
1.8.1/stable was ready last week, but I was unable to upload it due to a SourceForge problem and I've been completely slammed with work this week. Please keep pounding on the last test release and report anything you find; otherwise I'll try to release this weekend.
:D

[Placio74]

Well...
SourceForge's upload works again, so 1.8.1 is now out. There are no changes from the last release candidate.

Build 29808 (1.8.1, stable): [June 15, 2008]
[features added]
* The 'run as job' setting is now saved in the Save AVI dialog.
* Added distributed job queue mode.
* Added bob and non-interlaced field display modes to render preview.
* Added new test video mode: interlaced cube.
* Added option to run video compressor in a separate thread for better dual
core/SMP performance.
* YCbCr resampler is now SSE4.1 optimized.
* Added command-line switches for minimizing/maximizing the window on
startup and setting process priority.
* AMD64: The threshold, grayscale, levels, logo, and brightness/contrast
video filters are now available.
* Plugins: Fixed bugs with and raised size limits for serialized input
plugin options data.

[bugs fixed]
* Fixed cases where the crop/letterbox to aspect ratio options in the resize
filter were broken.
* Fixed another rare crash when exiting filter list dialog.
* Fixed Postpone and Delete buttons in job control dialog sometimes not
updating when a job state changes.
* Fixed swapping of AVI superindex and subindex settings.
* Fixed bugs with cropping in filter chain with YUY2 or UYVY formats.
* Mouse wheel scrolling with Shift held down (by key frame) now works
properly.
* Fixed infinite loop when attempting to convert a pal8 source to 4:2:0
YCbCr.
* The initial load of AVI files is now faster over a network.
* TARGA files are no longer written all black when 32-bit RGB output is
used.
* Added workaround for "image not in Y or YCbCr format" errors when reading
JPEGs from a RAZR V3 phone.
* Deleting a filter in the filter list no longer causes the checkboxes to
desync from the actual filter enable states.
* AVI: Files with truncated hierarchical AVI indices no longer result in
"missing 'movi' chunk" errors and can now be recovered.
* DV: Fixed decoding issue that resulted in some lost blocks.
* DDraw: Fixed occasional crash when another application forces full-screen
mode.
* Capture: Fixed crash in OpenGL screen capture mode related to occlusion
query based frame dropping.
* Capture: Fixed hang on shutdown when exiting with OpenGL screen capture
mode active.

[regressions fixed]
* Fixed crash when a script specifies arguments for a video filter that
doesn't take any.
* Data rate was reported incorrectly for the video stream in the status
dialog.
* Fixed audio display.
* Fixed crashes and decompression errors with paletted video.
* Filter preview no longer shows bogus frames when previewing a filter chain
with edits on the timeline and no frame rate changing filters.
* Filters: Codec-friendly alignment works in resize filter again.