Luma problem after megui encode.

[Space Hopper]

Hi guys.
Been a good while since ive posted anything, or been involved in the encoding scene for that matter.

Im having a problem with my megui encodes.
I've looked around, but not been able to find any info on it.

Anyway, pictures speak louder than words (snapped from media player classic 6.4.9.1).
Before encode (avs script):
http://i42.tinypic.com/e5sqx5.jpg
After encode (mp4 file):
http://i42.tinypic.com/mbr4uq.jpg

As you can see, the colors get washed out, and Im not sure why.

My avisynth script:
DGDecode_mpeg2source("D:\House Rip\HOUSE MD season1 disc1\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_0.d2v", info=3)
ColorMatrix(hints=true, interlaced=true, threads=0)
Load_Stdcall_Plugin("D:\Encoding Tools\megui\tools\yadif\yadif.dll")
Yadif(order=0)
#crop
#resize
FluxSmoothST(7,7) # Medium Noise
__film = last
#__t0 = __film.trim(4, 1200)
__t0 = __film.trim(4, 63233)
__t0

It seems to happen with both xvid and x264.
I've tried disabling colormatrix, didnt help.

I thought it might be one of these insider-things forum dwellers knows all about. ;)

[poisondeathray]

Rule out a playback/renderer issue. I bet renderer was set to vmr9 (renderless) which is required for taking ss. Try overlay mixer.

To double check, you can open it up in vdub, or avsp.

EDIT: you might want to check the software playback subforum, here is a related post
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=143689

[Space Hopper]

Thanks for the suggestion poisondeathray. :)

Overlay produced the same result.
As did the vdub test.

Thing is, Im making these encodes for xbox360/ps3 streaming, and the colors are washed out there too.

Its pretty wierd... :)

Ps. opening the mp4 in MP11 gives a slightly darker picture, though still nothing like the original.

[poisondeathray]

Hmm that's odd. It definitely looks like renderer issue to me. How did you take the 1st screenshot? (through avsp? or MPCHC?) What decoder are you using for playback? And there is nothing in your script that would suggest changing the levels...

Maybe you can post a sample of the source and encoded clip?

[Space Hopper]

Thanks again poison. :)

I took the first picture by opening the avs in MPC, and using the save image feature in MPC.

I'll try to see if I can supply a piece of the source and end result.