Helix YV12 / I420 / IYUV VfW Codecs

[Midzuki]

@ Karl: :thanks: for the attention.

Now, why not let Videohelp archive the Helix YUV codecs?
Also, free-codecs d0t com still has the "outdated" version 1.2 only.

[karl_lillevold]

Thanks, I will look into putting it on Videohelp. I will not use free-codecs since they are distributing (other) copyrighted codecs without permission.

[WorBry]

Is there, by any chance, a 64-bit variant of the Helix YUV codecs?

Reason I ask is that I am evaluating some dual 32/64-bit lossless VFW codecs and would like to include testing with a 'decompressed' YV12 avi source clip prepared from footage in various compressed YV12 formats (HDV, AVCHD etc).

Using Helix YV12 to encode the 'decompressed' YV12 avi clip(s) in VirtualDub is not an issue. The problem is that one of the benchmark tools I am using (CLI based) requires a standalone/accessible vfw decoder/server. Obviously, Helix YV12 serves that purpose for 32-bit testing; the consideration is what to use for 64-bit?

If there is not a 64-bit Helix variant, I suppose x64/x86 XviD could be an option (haven't tried it yet), but I don't particularly want to install an XviD codec suite just to get at the YV12 decompressor.

[Boulder]

How about mencoder/ffmpeg with piping?

[WorBry]

Sorry, having no experience with FFMPEG piping, I'm not sure how that would be applied in this context - unless you are suggesting using FFMPEG as the benchmark testing environment? - If so, because:

.....one of the benchmark tools I am using (CLI based) requires a standalone/accessible vfw decoder/server.

The developer of one of the codecs has included a tool (in 32/64-bit flavors) that measures intrinsic compression and decompression speeds, as well as compression ratios, using the AVIFile API directly, so excluding disk I/O overheads. Converting the various YV12 clips to decompressed YV12 would provide a standardized avi source for the compression studies.

Edit: No bother - XViD_x64 YV12 decompressor does the trick. Still, if there is a 64-bit Helix variant, it would be useful to know.
Edit2: And (of course :rolleyes: ), there's also 64-bit FFDShow using Uncompressed (Encoder)/Raw(decoder) - sometimes I make my life unnecessarily complicated.

[karl_lillevold]

I have made available an updated package. See first post (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=56972).

Changelog
SE by MLJ (2014/09/22):

Updated .INF based installers for all versions of Windows.
Updated and new README information.
IYUV codec included (modified from I420).
Fixed Problems with Empia Capture Drivers in the new INF-File
Re-packaged and tested on 16 different configurations.
Both 1.2 and 1.3 included as some capture cards work better with 1.2.


Thanks to MLJ for providing this update!

Download: Helix YUV Codecs SE (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1226388/Helix_YUV_Codecs_SE.7z)
A decompressor supporting 7-Zip is required, e.g WinRAR or 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org/).

[Mick]

Hi Karl,
wow, thanks a lot. This finally replaces the stubborn Intel IYUV Codec from Windows and works great ;) How come there are still older versions circulating on other Websites and not using this one ?

Cheers

Mick

[karl_lillevold]

Hi Mick : I am afraid I don't have time to try to contact all the websites having copied and now distribute the older version and get them to update. In most cases these sites don't provide contact information.

For most users the old version works without any issues. The new and improved installer works better for advanced users, in particular those with capture and editing requirements, and/or running older OSs.

Similarly, MLJ tells me there are certain rare situations in which older NLE software requires the Windows bundled IYUV codec for some reason or other. He has therefore made available a version without the Helix IYUV codec (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1226388/Helix_YUV_Codecs_no_IYUV.7z).

[karl_lillevold]

forclip informed me that if using a renderer with RGB32 output, for example VMR-9, for higher than HD resolutions (e.g. 2560x1440) the Helix YV12 converter will cause a crash. I investigated this and found that when I created version 1.3 and allowed up to 8192x8192, I failed to notice that the assembly coded YUV to RGB color converters written in 1996 are hard-coded with a 2080 pixel wide limit. Back then no one foresaw resolutions would ever need to be higher :S

All I can do at the moment is add this information to the thread, as I am unable to make any modifications to the assembly code, nor in fact build the projects due to build system incompatibilities. If staying in the YUV domain, the converters work fine up to 8192.

[Mick]

One should also consider that every Hardware responds differently when it comes to RGB32 with Alpha Channel. Intel handles RGB32 different to ATI, Matrox and NVidia for example with DVS Boards. Also, it's not the best manner to change Color spaces and Codecs like Underwear during a Production.

The oldest Rule for rendering is: "Never change the Codec. If the Source is DV, MJPEG or what ever, stay with it until the Project is done to prevent re-rendering your Material to uphold the Quality."

Does "Smart Rendering" or "Intelli-Rendering" ring a Bell to anyone ? ;) These Options where integrated to uphold the Quality and to prevent a re-rendering, even in VirtualDub :)

Cheers

Mick

[karl_lillevold]

2015/08/15: New version "HelixRC" by MLJ
Download: HelixRC3 (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1226388/HelixRC3.7z)

Thanks to MLJ for providing this update!

Changelog

RC3 1.2/1.3 by MLJ (2015/07/23):

-Modified I420 Codec for IYUV Colorspace (same as I420) and added the "iyuvvfw.dll" Codec for both Versions.
-The IYUV Codec stays now in 12 Bit and does not upscale to YUY2 anymore to other 12 Bit Codecs.
-The IYUV Codec now reports itself as "Helix IYUV 420 Codec" instead of "Helix IYUV YUV Codec".
-Fixed decoding Intel I420/IYUV Videos (32/64 Bit) with the Helix Codecs and works both ways now for encoding and decoding.
-Fixed decoding Drastic YCbCr I420/IYUV/YV12 Videos (32 Bit) with the Helix Codecs and works both ways now for encoding and decoding.
-Fixed decoding Arksoft IYUV and ATI YV12 Videos (32/64 Bit) with the Helix Codecs for encoding and decoding.
-Fixed Problems with Empia/Afa/SynTek and other Capture Drivers.
-Fixed Problems with Osprey/ATI/Matrox/Intel/Aurora/DVS and other popular Videoboards.
-Solved minor Problems with HonesTech HDV Encoder, MainConcept, Craaft Cinema, Cinegy, Microsoft and Pegasus encoders.
-Solved Problems with the FourCC Codec install Order in the Registry.
-Solved Problems with DirectX, Direct Draw, Active Movie, Direct2D, Direct3D and OpenGL FourCC Mapping from I420 to IYUV. (Conforms now to the Microsoft White Paper for YUV Formats in Windows)
-The new INF-File restores the native 32 Bit Windows Codecs if the Helix Codecs are uninstalled and removed from the System.
-Other 64 Bit Codecs for I420/IYUV/YV12 are no longer replaced by the Helix Codecs and can co-exist now with the Helix Codecs.

Download: HelixRC3 (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1226388/HelixRC3.7z)

[VempX]

Thanks for this.
It's very helpful for me.

[karl_lillevold]

MLJ has been so kind as to provide another update to the Helix YUV codecs. Thanks!

Download: HelixRC3 (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1226388/HelixRC3.7z)


The Changelog is as follows:
Changelog RC3: (Update Version with IYUV Codec)
1.2 / 1.3 (08/02/2016)
Modified I420 Codec for IYUV Colorspace (same as I420) and added
the "iyuvvfw.dll" Codec for both Versions.

The I420 Codec upsamples to YUY2 if the IYUV codec is selected and
is meant to work this Way.

The IYUV Codec now reports itself as "Helix IYUV YUV Codec" again
instead of "Helix IYUV 420 Codec".

Fixed decoding Intel I420/IYUV Videos (32/64 Bit) with the Helix
Codecs and works both ways now for encoding and decoding.

Fixed decoding Drastic YCbCr I420/IYUV/YV12 Videos (32 Bit) with
the Helix Codecs and works both ways now for encoding and decoding.

Fixed decoding Arksoft IYUV and ATI YV12 Videos (32/64 Bit) with
the Helix Codecs for encoding and decoding.

Fixed Problems with Empia/Afa/SynTek and other Capture Drivers.

Fixed Problems with Osprey/ATI/Matrox/Intel/Aurora/DVS/Aja and
other popular Videoboards.

Fixed Problems with the Phillips MoviePlus and PixelPlus Drivers.

Fixed Problems with LogiTech and other Webcam Drivers.

Solved minor Problems with HonesTech HDV Encoder, MainConcept,
Craaft Cinema, Cinegy, Cyberlink, Microsoft and Pegasus encoders.

Solved Problems with the FourCC Codec install Order in the Registry.

Solved Problems with DirectX, Direct Draw, Active Movie, Direct2D,
Direct3D and OpenGL FourCC Mapping from I420 to IYUV and conforms now
to the Microsoft White Paper for YUV Formats in Windows.

The new INF-File restores the native 32 Bit Windows Codecs if the
Helix Codecs are uninstalled and removed from the System.

Other 64 Bit Codecs for I420/IYUV/YV12 are no longer replaced by
the Helix Codecs and can co-exist now with the Helix Codecs.

The Helix Codecs can now co-exist with the Drastic Codecs if the User
installed the Drastic YCbCr Codecs and the Helix Codecs afterwards.

Note:
If you install the Helix Codecs first and afterwards the Drastic Codecs
then the Helix Codecs are DISABLED ! Remember, first the Drastic Codecs
and THEN the Helix Codecs.

Other Fixes:
The Problem with the original EXE-Version was, if the User removed
the Helix Codecs from the System the original Codec for I420 was
not restored and has been fixed in this Release.

[karl_lillevold]

Hello again, MLJ has provided another update to the Helix YUV codecs (Dec 2016). Thanks!

I have updated the 1st post in this thread with the archive's ReadThis.txt (with some edits to make it fit within the forum's 16,000 character post size limitation). The download link is the same as before.

[CruNcher]

Hey karl :)