Codec cleaning (again!)

[Jorge_O]

Hello,
I've looked at other threads on the subject and none solved my problem.
Over the yrs, I've installed/updated/removed many codec packs and other video SW.

Now my PC (Win XP SP2) won't play VOB files in WMP (it will in MPC, for instance).
Gspot shows that the Cyberlink video/SP decoder is used in the MS AV solution.
VDubmod also won't accept MKV files (other SW, like FAVC will)

Is there a way to clean up and reset all this mess?

Thanks for any help.

[clsid]

The fact that WMP doesn't play VOB files is not codec related. Temporarily rename the file to .mpg and it will most likely play just fine. Just another example of the strange behavior that WMP sometimes exhibits.

[Jorge_O]

You were right about .VOB and WMP.
But I had to change Cyberlink's merit from normal to unlikely for WMP to play it as MPG (used RadLight filter manager).
Now GraphEdit shows MPV decoder is in use.

Any other suggestion?

[stax76]

Suggestion for what? You say GraphEdit shows MPV, assuming you mean GraphEdit renders the file, where is the problem then? Please try to explain much more detailed and cleaner.

[Jorge_O]

According to the Codec Tweak Tool, there are 165 direct show filters, 4 ICM Class Managers, 5 ACM Class Managers, 25 codecs, 33 DMO.
Many of the filters are MERIT_DO_NOT_USE.

As per my first posting, the merits are not in the best grade - I had to change the merit of the Cyberlink so WMP would play a vob renamed file.

I'm looking for a tool/suggestion to be able to remove all unneeded filters/codecs and keep only the ones really needed - and with the right merits.

I used to have K-Lite (was uninstalled), installed CCCP. I fear all these filters/codecs may be handicapping the video behavior of the PC.

Edit - MeGui also wasn't working with VOBs before I changed the Cyberlink grade.

[Dark Shikari]

Most of those filters are probably built-in Windows filters; you don't want to touch those.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I used to have K-Lite (was uninstalled), installed CCCP. I fear all these filters/codecs may be handicapping the video behavior of the PC.
Get MPlayer or VLC Player and never have to worry about "Codecs" again :D

[Jorge_O]

I have both of them - plus Zoom (if that helps...) :)


But see my edit above about MeGui - one has to worry about them liking it or not!

[LoRd_MuldeR]

But see my edit above about MeGui - one has to worry about them liking it or not!

You could try setting up the DirectShow filter graph manually in GraphEdit, save the graph as .GRF file and load the .GRF file via DirectShowSource() ...

[stax76]

I don't see how MeGUI needs any dshow with VOB files, it demuxes/decodes using DGMPEGDec and NicAudio.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I don't see how MeGUI needs any dshow with VOB files, it demuxes/decodes using DGMPEGDec and NicAudio.

That definitely is the preferred way, but DirectShowSource() should work too...

[Jorge_O]

I don't see how MeGUI needs any dshow with VOB files, it demuxes/decodes using DGMPEGDec and NicAudio.

If that's how MeGui is supposed to work, there's something fishy over here.
I can't find DGMPEGDec in C: and NicAudio is inside a zip archive in the update_cache subfolder.
There's a dgmpgdec zip archive in the update cache. Could it be this one?

And is it OK to be inside of the zip archive?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

That is only the update cache. The binary actually used be MeGUI should be located at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\megui\tools\dgindex\DGIndex.exe

You can download DGMPGDec here:
http://neuron2.net/dgmpgdec/dgmpgdec.html

Note that "DGDecode.dll" must be located in your Avisynth Plugin folder in order to make MPEG2Source() work...

[clsid]

Filters with merit MERIT_DO_NOT_USE are harmless. They won't get used unless an application explicitly wants to use them. This method is often used by applications who register filters for private usage only.

Furthermore, as Dark Shikari already said most of the filters/codecs that you have installed belong to Windows. You should not touch those. The Codec Tweak Tool has the ability to hide the stuff that belongs to Windows. That should help to give you a clearer picture of what has been installed by other applications.

A low merit for the Cyberlink filter is not really a problem, as long as there are no similar decoders installed. In your case it is Gabest's MPEG-2 decoder (Mpeg2DecFilter.ax) that was installed by CCCP. Disable that filter because you don't need it.

[Jorge_O]

Thanks for your patience, guys.

- Is it ok for the NicAudio file to exist only inside a zip archive?
- "DGDecode.dll" is in the AviSinth folder.
- DGIndex.exe is where it's supposed to be.

But then, MeGui didn't open a VOB before I changed the Cyberlink...:confused:

- Mpeg2DecFilter.ax can't be found in C; (and I search for hidden files too).

[check]

In a normal install, it should be located here: C:\Program Files\Combined Community Codec Pack\Filters\Mpeg2DecFilter.ax
If it's not there, reinstall with the Gabest MPV decoder option unticked.
In your case it is Gabest's MPEG-2 decoder (Mpeg2DecFilter.ax) that was installed by CCCP. Disable that filter because you don't need it.Just a note that with recent CCCPs, this filter is installed with about as low a priority as you can get. It should never have a higher priority than other MPEG2 decoders installed.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

If you use DGIndex to index your VOB file and then use DGDecode aka "MPEG2Source()" to load the index file (.d2v) in Avisynth, then DirectShow will not be used at all! Hence no DirectShow filters will be required. Also DirectShow filters can not influence the behavior of DGIndex/DGDecode in any way, because there simply is no relation. Only using DirectShowSource() in Avisynth will incorporate DirectShow and therefore depend on suitable DirectShow filters. In that case you will need a splitter (Source Filter) as well as a decoder (Transform Filter) ...

[Jorge_O]

Mpeg2DecFilter.ax is where it's supposed to be - but search won't find it. Windows mysteries!
It's merit is 00500001, higher than unlikely - 00400000. Should I lower it?

Re DGIndex and DGDecode, I use MeGui - I will have to look at the generated scripts (I'm still a noob at scripting).

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Again: Mpeg2DecFilter.ax (or any other DShow filter) is of no importance for DGIndex/DGDecode.
So what do you want to do? Do you want to use MPEG2Source(), this is DGIndex/DGDecode, or do you want to use DirectShowSource() ???

I'd highly recommend to use DGIndex/DGDecode for MPEG/VOB files. If you do that, there is absolutely no reason to worry about DShow...

[Jorge_O]

LoRd_MuldeR

Thanks for your help.

This thread started since, as I could not play VOB files in WMP, I assumed there was something wrong with my filters/codecs. And there was - I had to change the merit of the Cyberlink.
And I just posted a comment (as this wasn't the adequate forum) that MeGui, that wasn't creating scripts for VOBs before, started creating them after the merit change.
So, for reasons completely unknown to me, MeGui was using DShow filters, and not it's internal ones.
I don't even know how to specify a filter to MeGui - it just decided not to work when Cyberlink had a high merit.

Perhaps I should start a new thread in the Avysinth or other forum?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

So, for reasons completely unknown to me, MeGui was using DShow filters, and not it's internal ones.
MeGUI does not have any "internal" Codecs, it's simply a front-end. It calls other programs to do the actual work, but it doesn't do anything itself ;)

But MeGUI incorporates Avisynth, which again can use various sources, such as DirectShowSource() or MPEG2Source().
While DirectShowSource() can open almost any kind of media, as long as the required DirectShow filters are installed, MPEG2Source() is limited to MPEG/VOB files.
Nevertheless MPEG2Source(), this is DGIndex/DGDecode, offers the most reliable way to handle MPEG/VOB files and includes many advanced features.
Furthermore the DGDecode.dll comes with the required MPEG-2 decoder "built-in", so no external Codecs are required/used!