madVR - high quality video renderer (GPU assisted)

[Sunspark]

Try using Mitchell-Netravali Anti-Ringing for both chroma and luma.. it does hide some artifacts and is a little bit on the softer side.

You can also turn off both "change dither for every frame" and "use colored noise" in the dithering section. Pairs well with ordered dithering.

The above is what I use actually (though sometimes just for the chroma and let the panel do image scaling for certain material), and works well with IGPs. If you're looking for an oil painting effect, you need to put more thought into it.. NGU isn't meant for that purpose.

[huhn]

This conversation has made me think again what would really be the best setup for a soft (but not blurry) image, which I'm after as I very much dislike any amount of graininess. I've been using NGU AA with reduce ringing artifacts (and reduce dark halos), reduce compression artifacts at 7 medium (with chroma also) and soften edges at 3. Would it be better to use Jinc, as it only upscales without doubling? Or does it give overall worse image quality (and if NGU AA is problematic, then compare it to NGU Soft)? It has less sharpness, but also slightly more aliasing and ringing, and no amount of hide source artifacts. Then again, it wins clearly on "other artifacts", whatever they are. Are there also other things to consider (naturally my monitor is at zero sharpness and I'm also using Philips' noise reduction at maximum)?
there is no problem with ngu AA there is a problem with NGU AA for chroma.

hrll madVR is incapable of rendering a UHD BD correctly and will intertionally place the chroma in the wrong spot because it is hard coded to see everything as mpeg 2 chroma which an UHD BD does not use.

none of the NGU scaler are capable of ringing they are all completely ringing free that's just how these scaler work they don't ringing stuff like lanczos or bicubic does ringing because that just how they work and this is still unrelated to the anto ringing filter oyu can actived this just trys to remove source ringing and not ringing added by scaler.

graininess is only there if it is in the source the scaler does not really care the NGU scaler simply work better with grainy source but they will not add it no scaler does. nothing in madVR is really able to take care of grain without destroying the image.

[Amuat]

Thank you both for your input!

You can also turn off both "change dither for every frame" and "use colored noise" in the dithering section. Pairs well with ordered dithering.

What if I want to hold onto error diffusion 2, is it still wise to disable those, and also have ordered rather than random dithering in LAV video decoder settings? And why not colored noise? Luma is practically always prioritized over chroma, so wouldn't it make more sense to have less luma noise rather than chroma noise, or is the logic different here?

[huhn]

https://slow.pics/c/BhLRXVXy
nothing to talk about and this is 6 bit.

[Sunspark]

@Amuat The options exist because not everyone likes the same thing, from what you wrote you have preferences, so it's worth exploring the options for your tastes. I don't use the EDs because they use more power and it's not clear to me the results are worth it over OD. MadVR doesn't pay attention to what LAV is set to (only the decoded video formats, the rest is for other renderers), so it's whatever you have set in MadVR. As for the logic, it depends also on media.. if you watch anime for example, you might care about not having coloured noise present from the dither pattern because anime uses a lot of flat surfaces. It just depends. We're not talking about huge differences here. I know it's easy to get overwhelmed by the # of options, and it can certainly be time consuming playing with them. MadVR is good for compulsive tweakers. :)

[Amuat]

Also another question concerning chroma: is it more important to have chroma on high quality in the image upscaling section than on the chroma upscaling section?

[huhn]

the image upscale section is close to irrelevant as long as it is not set to none where in some cases it will ruin the image sadly you can't force madVR to use for example NGU low all the time.

[belzibi]

But first thing first:

Let say - w10 - monitor 1440p (2560x1440@170Hz@8bit@freesync) - mpc_hc_x64 + madvr (madVR_MaxQuality settings) - nvidia.

Then - through nvidia control panel - I will enable Dynamic Super Resolution -> @3840x2160 (2.25x DL)...

What will happen if I will play 4k movie through mpc-hc and mad_vr ?
Will it gain like a better quality or worse, compared to native 1440p?
Definitely it consume more power.
But...
Is there a point to do this?

Second thing - I wander if that kind of setup (DSR@3840x2160) will trick Amazon Prime app to play 4k?

[Asmodian]

Will it gain like a better quality or worse, compared to native 1440p?

Worse quality. The driver scaling will destroy madVR's dithering. With a 4K movie madVR would scale the chroma to 4K, convert to RGB, and dither the output to the display bit-depth. Then the driver would downscale the video with whatever DSR uses.

Depending on settings madVR will do exactly the same process scaling to 1440p directly, except using whatever downscaling methods you think look best and have the GPU power for, at higher bit-depth, and with a high quality final dither to the display's bit-depth.

It is never helpful to do anything to the video after madVR. DSR is useful for games because they render to a higher resolution, but the video data is always the same. madVR preserves more information from the 4K video when scaling 4K to 1440p than DSR does when scaling madVR's 4K output to 1440p.

[e-t172]

I would like to mention a project that may be of interest: videojitter - the video cadence measurement toolbox (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=185247)

Apologies for the shameless plug. I believe many people on this thread may be interested by this tool given madVR discussions often revolve around things like frame drops/repeats and other cadence issues. videojitter can be used to help detect and diagnose those.

[Perenista]

I am having another strange issue with a lossless file generated from a Blu-ray source (this time).

Not sure if there's something wrong with my MKV or it's madVR related.

This is what I am seeing, if I try to skip to another moment of the file. And I may not spot this during a scene every single time (when skipping)

https://i.postimg.cc/q0q0XJ6C/ISSUE.jpg

If I let the content running (no skipping), not seeing anything wrong. This indicates to me there's a flaw in this MKV (since others don't show me the same), but it's something I can't say what is REALLY causing it.

MediaINFO data:

https://pastebin.com/zX6iUA3m

MPC-BE x64 1.6.11
Filters currently loaded:
- Default DirectSound Device
- madVR Renderer
- ffdshow Audio Processor
- LAV Video Decoder
- Audio Switcher
- MPC Audio Decoder
- MPC Audio Decoder
- MPC Audio Decoder
- MPC Matroska Source

Could this be:

- A defective Blu-ray disc;
- Something went wrong while converting the disc to MKV, probably needs to rip again (MAKEMKV / AnyDVD got more updates since then);
- Some improper config from MPC-BE and/or madVR
- The file was damaged internally, while it was stored in the HDD/SSD

[Emulgator]

4 slices, decoded only 1..2 lines each and then stuck ?
Doesn't have to be madVR.
I would suggest to eliminate by switching to a different renderer, and so on.

[Perenista]

4 slices, decoded only 1..2 lines each and then stuck ?
Doesn't have to be madVR.
I would suggest to eliminate by switching to a different renderer, and so on.I glimpsed the same problem using VLC, too. You can only spot it if you keep fast-forwarding or "rewinding" the movie, until the flaw can be seen. And it may not happen every single time you try this.

What exactly went wrong with this MKV? Was it a wrong conversion, like the sample (captured from VHS) I mentioned before, with the pink tone all over it (while looking fine in VLC)?

I am ignorant about the technical bit...

[mclingo]

Feels like something to do with hardware rendering under graphics card I found issues in the past if certain versions of amd drivers wear when skipping i'd see corruption. Switch to software rendering in lav filter and see if he stops.

[huhn]

this is very unlikely to be a rendering issue this should be decoding.

a sample and steps to reproduce should be all that is needed to confirm the issue fixing hardware decoding related issue is a different story. but is this a remux we talk about or do we talk about a lossless encode?

so try the lavfilter or mpc.be thread. if you report this to be please use the internal filter.

[mclingo]

Yeah I actually meant Decoding not rendering.

[Amuat]

I've managed to get almost what I want with a combination of strong reduce compression artifacts, which comes free as part of NGU sharp and deals nicely with the noise on the background, which is where it really is a problem when it is a problem, and adaptive sharpen, which compensates for the now too blurry foreground without really messing with the background. The result is a kind of a noise masking depth of field effect, but the problem is that there are just too many unnatural artifacts with adaptive sharpen. So my question is this: is there an external filter that does the same thing better, as the other internal sharpening options revert the denoising of the background, or is the task just impossible?

[huhn]

you should look for a denoiser shader.

if some details survive the "deblocking" then yes any sharpening filter should catch on. that'S what they do try to find luma details and make them more visible noise is part of this.

[Amuat]

Alright huhn, thanks! A while back when asking about different sharpening options someone said that SuperRes is not really a sharpener, but nevertheless that's what it basically seems to do, and I found that it's actually the best of them all, the most natural one. It's also the costliest, at least with linear light and anti-ringing on, but I think it's worth it when you need to sharpen videos with lower resolutions (and yes, I've been talking about rather softening the image here, but that's only the case with videos that have a decent resolution).

So can someone explain what is actually the technical difference between SuperRes and "proper" sharpening options? Is the former just multiplying pixels while the latter ones apply some sort of superimposition on top of the image based on an algorithm, or what's going on?

[huhn]

superres is a upscale refiner so it make a scaler sharper removes issues from it and such. using the correct scaler with it is important if for example ngu sharp is used with it you will end up with very counter productive results.

[GCRaistlin]

MPC-HC ... + madVR ... = no cursor in fullscreen mode
That is the case with [x] Display pointer trails on Pointer Options tab in Mouse Properties (Control Panel).

[Flavio61]

Hello, last night I updated madVR to the latest version (204) and I "played" a bit with the HDR configuration (I only changed that part). Since I made this update the system works well with several movies (I tried Aquaman, HP and the Goblet of Fire and others) only with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald I have a very dark screen and I don't see the image. I hear the sound but the image is barely visible on the screen. For playback I use PotPlayer. If I change the video render in PotPlayer everything works so the problem is using madVR. This is the configuration of madVR:

https://i.postimg.cc/JhSPhZhf/Screenshot-2024-01-27-111244.png

What can I do?

[Selur]

'display peak luminance (nits): 108' seems seem too low on a non-hdr monitor I would expext a number around 300 to be normal. -> try inclreasing that to 300 or whatever your monitor is capable.

[huhn]

that would make the image even darker.
having a to low peak nit is like lowering the gamma.

without a sample no one can actually tell.

[Flavio61]

I try 'Display Peak Luminance (nits) until 500 without results. This the madVR OSD:

https://i.postimg.cc/3xgV436S/Screenshot-2024-01-27-161629.png

[huhn]

don't use DXVA2 native decode for anything. unlikely to fi it. and still no sample to reproduce the issue.

[Perenista]

Having problems with madVR:

- Using Windows 11 and RTX 3060.
- HDR is disabled for my Acer XV280K-B monitor, which uses 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz.

Whenever I open a UHD/4K lossless MKV file, it seems the entire monitor image goes darker and gray (?), flickering once. Is that a failed attempt to enable HDR?

I reseted madVR settings (using the installation directory BAT), but that didn't help.

So I have to watch everything now with the MPC Video Decoder.

What should I do to fix this? It wasn't like that before. And my NVidia card uses the latest drivers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/htpc/comments/10o79t6/disabling_hdr/

This thread seems to suggest this is some sort of conflict between these cards and madVR, to a point we can NEVER disable HDR.

When I try to open one of the 4K files, this is what it says:

MPC-BE x64 1.6.11
Filters currently loaded:
- Default DirectSound Device
- madVR Renderer
- ffdshow Audio Processor
- LAV Video Decoder
- Audio Switcher
- LAV Audio Decoder
- LAV Splitter Source

The problem also affects MPC-HC. The entire monitor goes gray.

A few configs:

LAV: https://i.postimg.cc/z5fz3fRw/LAV.jpg

MPC Video Decoder: https://i.postimg.cc/YMGtfyRh/MPCV.jpg

Note: all internal filters (from MPC) were disabled.

madVR stats:

https://i.postimg.cc/sy2TLktD/MADVR.jpg

P.S. Following this (read below) didn't help, either: https://www.reddit.com/r/htpc/comments/p0idoi/windows_11_mpchclavmadvr_hdr/

-Update: fixed it.
Uninstalled K-Lite fully.
Rebooted to be safe.
If using Nvidia Studio drivers, switch over to Game Ready, as these include Win 11 support.
Reboot to be safe.
Install K-Lite. Do some basic config.
Fixed. (hopefully!)

[Pulstar]

https://media.overclock3d.net/2023/09/AMD-Fluid-Motion-Frames.jpg

With AMD's FMF out of beta, I've been trying to get it to work with madVR. I mean it works but it doubles my refresh rate's FPS which is a huge drain on the GPU. Perhaps someone can think of a workaround

[Sunspark]

You want the soap opera effect? The easiest way to do that would be instead of computing it on your computer, would be to have the output go to a television set to the interpolate frames setting, motionflow or whatever name the brand has chosen.

[Drybonz]

I got a notification message today, overlaying my MadVR test build, asking me to update my build. I'm on test build 204, which seems to be the most recent I can find. Is there a more recent version?

[ryrynz]

I got a notification message today

204 is the latest

[Drybonz]

204 is the latest

Thanks for the reply. Any way to disable this update notification?

[Siso]

Thanks for the reply. Any way to disable this update notification?

Not at all.

[Manni]

204 is the latest

Not anymore, 205 was posted today (possibly just after your reply), and it will work for 6 months from now :)

[Siso]

The new build flickers like crazy with hdr to sdr via pixel shaders...

[huhn]

reporting that here is a waste of time if the build is the reason for that.
try the bug tracker there is more and more stuff that is broken.
try to switch deint on or of try to change the deint mode and such.

[Manni]

The new build flickers like crazy with hdr to sdr via pixel shaders...

There is no change in the new build, so it’s probably your settings. Look at the settings in the experimental thread and make sure you have settings that don’t cause flicker. It’s very easy to cause a lot of flicker with the wrong settings with any of the experimental builds.

[Betroz]

Hey guys :)

Any advice here to enhance the image?

[Amuat]

When installing K-Lite Codec Pack, in the installer the option to boost the middle range of audio to clarify speech is ticked by default, but I didn't want to mess with the audio so dropped it. But on the other hand, it does bother me somewhat that music and effects tend to be too loud compared to speech, so can anyone tell me what changes I should make to test it out, without having to install everything all over again?

[Sunspark]

Madvr doesn't handle audio. That's to do with your player's audio settings, windows loudness equalization, or the settings in lav or whatever else.

[clsid]

It adjusts center mix level in LAV Audio Decoder.

You can also find this option in Codec Tweak Tool.

[ddjmagic]

I've recently upgraded my HTCP from an old Windows 8.1, GTX 1050Ti with MPC-HC and MadVR (unsure of the versions) - all was working fine HDR/SDR.
I now have a fresh Windows 11, RTX 3070 and the latest MPC-HC from here and MadVR Beta 205, I've matched the settings in MadVR (using HDR passthrough setting)
HDR works fine, it switches my TV and Windows 11 into HDR mode, then when playback is completed it swiches it back to SDR mode.
The issue I'm having is with SDR content, when I playback any SDR content the TV and Windows are switched into HDR mode and everything is washed out.
Is there anyway for SDR content to be left as is untouched? I don't want it to go into HDR mode.
This worked previously but I haven't touched anything in years, so there might be something I'm missing, any help is appreciated.

[Blight]

ddjmagic:
Are you sure it's it switches to HDR mode for SDR and not that your graphic driver or video decoder is set to output a limited range? (there's a setting for this both in the GPU driver settings and sometimes in the video decoder codec).

[huhn]

madVR doesn't care about this part like ranges in codecs it usually get's limited range from the decoder just as it should be.
the adjust video colours settings are also ignored by madVR.
the range settings for the HDMI signal are surely something that could be amiss

it also shouldn't be able to enter HDR mode with SDR files...

[brazen1]

I can't seem to figure out the right madVR combination to adjust the color and gamma tab for brightness, contrast, saturation and hue for a few HDR titles I will make a special profile for.

SDR adjusts and applies fine - that isn't a problem. Using HDR, I can adjust the settings but they don't have any affect.

I'm using a panel, not a PJ.
madVR 113
Passthrough HDR to display selected.
This display is already calibrated selected.
Send HDR metadata to the display is checked. If unchecked, the picture is too dark to see barely anything.
Enable gamma/transfer function is pure power curve 2.20.
Auto FSE is not enabled.

[tp4tissue]

Guys, how do you check if passthrough HDR "metadata" is working or not? Does this metadata tell the TV to tonemap to either p3 or 2020? Is there a tool to spoof this ?

Is 442.74 nvidia still the last recommended fully working driver?

[huhn]

the first line in the OSD.
display "framerate" (HDR api(if missing SDR) GPU output settings)

if metadata is not send to the display madVR will not engage HDR.
yes i know i'm pretty sure that's not your question.

in passthrough is always saying it is bt 2020.

Does this metadata tell the TV to tonemap to either p3 or 2020?
possible this is not needed meta data but it could be send and used.

Is there a tool to spoof this ?
a HDfury Integral can and many other.
some AVR will happily show you too.
also some TVs can show this information.

if you can poke the GPU driver about that i wouldn't know how sorry.

551.46 works fine for me but i'm not affected by the majority of issues reported by nvidia users in the first place. i don't think this information is worth much.

[tp4tissue]

Thanks Huhn. So at no point will nvidia tell the TV in passthrough to go p3 correct?

[huhn]

yes should count for all 3 vendor. the signal will always be seen as bt 2020 and the metadata can say the mastering display is DCI P3.

you can also use the custom gamut option to turn it to DCI P3 but the driver should still report bt 2020.

[ddcbsmj]

hello, how do you update the installation to a newer version? I installed this in my computer a long time a go with v0.92.17
i downloaded madVRhdrMeasure205 and overwritten the files in my v0.92.17 installation and then I ran install.bat again.
however, when I open MPC-BE options, when I display madVR properties it still shows madVR v0.92.17
thanks for your help.