ffdshow development #2

[Shirokuu]

A problem on the new version,ffdshow-20050607, while mpg files are played pink and green lines are displayed.
Problem stops when mpeg1 codec is changed to libmpeg2 from libavcodec.
Also, in post-processing I think there's a problem too.
When automatic quality control is checked the preset power changes all the time from the best you chose to the one before it(if you choose seven it jumps back and forth between 7 and 6 and if you chose 4 it jumps from 4 to 3 and back all the time). - this haven't occured on the last version.

I think this is a feature not a bug. I have seen the quality slider jump left to right during playback in other versions as well. I reason it's exactly what 'automatic quality control' should do. It throttles the postprocessing power down when the framerate drops below a set mark and throttles it back up when scene complexity is less. It's especially noticable when you select 'spp' with 'automatic quality control' enabled. (Well it's on my not-too-fast computer.)

[ExtraEye]

I know what it's supposed to do
but if I disable the automatic quality control the video doesn't get stuck.
Also note that if I select 7 and it ALWAYS falls down to 6 and back, when I select level 6 shouldn't it stay stable on 6? not to mention, shouldn't it stay stable on 3??
I hope I got my point through, I am pretty sure this is a problem in the build but for now use this feature while automatic quality control is unchecked.
I'm using mplayer's postprocessing and the latter never had this problem for me.

[Shirokuu]

I wasn't fully able to reproduce your problem with mpeg-1 playback. What i DID notice was that libavcodec needs a bit more processor power to decode a mpeg-1 stream than the libmpeg2 decoder library. Postprocessing with the automatic control setting enabled with libavcodec couldn't keep up with the framerate so the slider jumped left to right from 5 to 7, while postprocessing with libmpeg2 was able to keep the slider almost all the time on the 7th setting. Apparently libavcodec takes up so much processing time there is not enough left to dering chroma and luma (on my computer).

I could't reproduce the green lines while using libavcodec though. I used an mpeg1 compliant stream.

But the strange thing is that the 'automatic quality control' seems to overrule the slider in a sense that it even keeps downthrottling the quality settings even when it's set to level 2 or 3. It probably has to do with the postprocessor, because it also occurs in both libavcodec as well as libmpeg2.

[ExtraEye]

yes well switching over to libmpeg2 did solve the problem for me.
I don't really know much about how ffdshow works but I still think the automatic quality control feature is broken.
Like you said, it changes the level of the quality without any good reason, always.
It's a shame because this feature really helps alot on spp deblocking.

[Shirokuu]

I remember there was one build where 'automatic quality control' kept the framerate for 'SPP deblocking' around 25 fps for proper viewing. On my machine the only way to use SPP while mainting a decent framerate is to disable deringing both luma and chroma manually.

[Leak]

I remember there was one build where 'automatic quality control' kept the framerate for 'SPP deblocking' around 25 fps for proper viewing. On my machine the only way to use SPP while mainting a decent framerate is to disable deringing both luma and chroma manually.

Ummm... the "quality" setting for SPP doesn't work like for the other postprocessing methods; while the same slider is used and the checkboxes get checked accordingly, all the slider does is set the amount of processing the SPP deblocker does; each notch up makes it calculate twice as much.

The only deringing option would be the "soft threshold" setting...

np: Chris De Luca And Peabird - Deadly Wiz Da Disko (Deadly Wiz Da Disko)

[Shirokuu]

Ummm okay, you were right. The slider controls the amount of times the DCT blocks get smoothed and averaged. And i remember it doubles with every tick.

:stupid:

[bob0r]

1: start\run\programs\ffdshow\Video decoder configuration\Codecs\Raw video\disabdled (found by: LigH)
2: run ffdshow-20050607.exe\language-ok\"title of ffdshow installer": ffdshow-20050510 (found by: maska)

It seems celtic_druid indeed can use his vacation (but the first is probably not his fault, hehehe)

I myself use ffdshow only to decode H.264 video.
I tested some x264 video i encoded with 8x8dct and they all work great.
Please note for proper .mp4 splitting of the x264 8x8dct file you need an older version of MatroskaSplitter.exe (if you use this), The build from 14 april 2005 i have put online too.

Great works and i hope in the future they will fix all your mpeg1/svq3/typo and other problems!

:thanks:

[celtic_druid]

2 comes from me changing the name of the exe after compiling rather than changing the var in the nsi script.

I actually did a new installer, with the correct title, but then it isn't worth updating all the mirrors just for that is it?

[Liisachan]

I actually did a new installer, with the correct title, but then it isn't worth updating all the mirrors just for that is it? Upto you ;)

[bob0r]

2 comes from me changing the name of the exe after compiling rather than changing the var in the nsi script.

I actually did a new installer, with the correct title, but then it isn't worth updating all the mirrors just for that is it?

Not worth it, as long as you aware of it, and won't do it again! bad celtic_druid, bad!

I am sure more ffdshow builds will come, we shall see the typos fixed then.

People who have real issues with ffdshow are probably thinking: WHAT THE "4 stars" are they talking about! :D

[maska]

Don't forget that option to create shortcuts in Start Menu is also missing in the last build. ;) :D :)

[dinolib2]

Do you know if H.264 deblocking in postprocessing options works fine?
Shold it improve SSIM? I've made few tests and it seems to lost 0,1 points.
Is it right?
I asked because with XviD postprocessing gains some points.

thanks

[Sharktooth]

h.264 has it's own deblocking (inloop filter), so enabling postprocessing is not properly a good idea.

[DeathTheSheep]

Ah. Very interesting indeed.

As for the direct .asf output, how is this possible? I mean, with WMV9 encoding, there is an option for direct .asf output, but where do the frames go? The output tab has no .asf option!

[Ajaja2005]

I try to encode mpeg1/2/4 video with ffdshow-20050607 in "one pass - constant bitrate" mode (for ex. preset "Libavcodec DVD PAL")" (TV-tuner capture). If "Maximun bitrate" in "Ratecontrol" is not equal 0, than ratecontrol don't work :(
Bug?

[dinolib2]

h.264 has it's own deblocking (inloop filter), so enabling postprocessing is not properly a good idea.

ok it's true... why, then, a specific H.264 deblocking option in the latest ffdshow?

[Sharktooth]

It's a sort of choice for enabling or disabling inloop filter when playing back h.264.
However the default is ok.

[bob0r]

Don't forget that option to create shortcuts in Start Menu is also missing in the last build. ;) :D :)

Did you mean ffdshow-20050607.exe ?
Because its working fine here, maybe you hit NEXT too fast twice.
Try uninstall ffdshow and delete the directory ffdshow from program files.
Also manually delete the ffdshow dir/shortcuts from start menu (to see it does work just fine)

If it indeed does not work, provide more information like your Operation System and other system info.

[LotharZ]

Selecting "Info & Debug" option with a movie playing, ffdshow freezes (and the whole movie obv).

Anyone with same problem?

Running Win2003+ffdshow-20050607

[Liisachan]

no problem on my Win2k
http://subforge.s116.xrea.com/ffdshow.png

[iron2000]

ffdshow-20050607 causes slow playback on a Xvid video I have.
The characters are like moving at half speed but sound goes fine.
(Picture slower than sound)

But it plays another Xvid video without smudging.

Xvid seems hard to please.

[maska]

Did you mean ffdshow-20050607.exe ?
Because its working fine here, maybe you hit NEXT too fast twice.
Try uninstall ffdshow and delete the directory ffdshow from program files.
Also manually delete the ffdshow dir/shortcuts from start menu (to see it does work just fine)Oops! :o I see only now the new build has modified the option of creating shortcuts, it's the last step to do before clicking Install.

[Sharktooth]

patched the cabac typo in ffdshow libavcodec: http://www.webalice.it/f.corriga/misc/libavcodec_ff.7z (it fixes the x264 rev254 playback)

[bob0r]

@celtic_druid
libavcodec needs updating again after x264 revision 254, where there was a typo in cabac. Please stick around when libavcodec is updated.
Sharktooth's .dll file works here.
Don't know if that can be included or you have to wait for an official libavcodec update.

@ffdshow developer (milan)
When i uninstall the latest ffdshow by celtic_druid, ff_realaac.dll does not get delete from the ffdshow dir.
Also start\programs\ffdshow is not removed.

Also this typo "start\run\programs\ffdshow\Video decoder configuration\Codecs\Raw video\disabdled" (found by: LigH)


Good luck and please give us x264 playback pleasure!!

[celtic_druid]

Sure it can be included. Just thought it would be quicker to have a working version of libavcodec available until I update ffdshow and easier for me if someone else did it.

[bob0r]

Sure it can be included. Just thought it would be quicker to have a working version of libavcodec available until I update ffdshow and easier for me if someone else did it.

Ok cool when will the new version be online? ;)

[Sharktooth]

i updated libavcodec dll as you can see... so, relax... :)

[Mc Onyx]

I have a question about encoding with X264 in FFDshow, is there a way to encode 2pass, because in settings i only have option to choose 1pass quantizer, or 1pass constant bitrate, there is no 2pass option, like in Xvid...
This is the first time i tried to use FFDshow for encoding, rather than decoding, thank you...

[G-Slide]

ligh> thx, haali's splitter works !!! :thanks:

I've discovered ffdshow+ avisynth 2 days ago... and i use this call :
Import("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\LimitedSharpen2.avs")
LimitedSharpen2(ss_x=1.0,ss_y=1.0,Smode=4,aSharpS=0.4,aWThresh=0.99)

it's slow (3400+ my computer), but it's weird cause it's faster on AVC videos than DVD's... :eek: it was supposed to be contrary... anyway, do you know a good call to use on DVD and .mp4 avc ?

[bob0r]

i updated libavcodec dll as you can see... so, relax... :)

I can't relax, i hate installing 400 files just to watch/test a video.
For testing the file is cool, but people want to test x264, not ffdshow :P

The more people are interested the less chance x264 will DIE :scared:

;)

[bob0r]

https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=471489&aid=1217036&group_id=53761
Resolution: Fixed

https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=471489&aid=1217034&group_id=53761
Resolution: Fixed

https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=471489&aid=1217032&group_id=53761
Resolution: Fixed

I did bug report via: http://ffdshow.sf.net/
quote of one of the emails by Milan Cutka (milan_cutka):
Thank you for reporting this. Two bugs in four lines of nsis
script - what a shame :(

:D i guess celtic_druid isn't the only one needing a vacation, hehehe

Good work ffdshow team (Milan) glad to see the bugs gets fixed soon, hope celtic_druid can do one last compile before he leaves ;)

[celtic_druid]

I wouldn't say that I need a vacation.
Apparently this weekend is a long weekend to. No one ever tells me these things.

Yeah, I just did a cvs checkout so I have the updated nsi script.

[Sharktooth]

since sourceforge bugtraking system gone nutz heres the ffmpeg and x264 cabac fixes for ffdshow:

http://www.webalice.it/f.corriga/misc/ffdshow/ff_cabac_fix.diff
http://www.webalice.it/f.corriga/misc/ffdshow/ff_x264_cabac_fix.diff

[Sharktooth]

New FFDShow build is up.

[Liisachan]

Thanks as always, celtic_druid :)

http://m17n.cool.ne.jp/freeware/mpc/
http://subforge.s116.xrea.com/freeware/mpc/

[bob0r]

Good work celtic_druid, i hope we can use this version for a while now :D

Also i noticed:
ffdshow-20050527.exe 2.30 MB (2,421,859 bytes)
ffdshow-20050607.exe 2.84 MB (2,981,024 bytes) <-- quite a lot bigger
ffdshow-20050609.exe 2.37 MB (2,485,305 bytes)

So now we got 3 ffdshow fixes (+ maybe more in latest cvs) libavcodec.dll updated AND we have the right size file again.
Also i could enjoy 2 hours of the sun today, what more could a man want? :eek:


P.S.
mirrored \/

[celtic_druid]

20050527, ffdshow.ax = MSVC7.1
20050607, ffdshow.ax = ICL8.1
20050609, ffdshow.ax = MSVC7.1

This is the reason for the size difference.

[TheShadowRunner]

I just though of an enhancement for the ffdshow Audio codec that would be awesome : decoding QDM2 audio via the QT "hack" that both mplayer and VLC use : placing qtmlclient.dll and quicktime.qts in the windows\system folder.

If this is doable then we could have FFDshow video dec to decode SVQ3 and the FFDshow Audio dec decode QDM2 and adios ressource-hungry-slow-as-hell Quicktime Player!!

Well, 0.5US$
Later,

TSR

[DeathTheSheep]

Yeah, QT sure is one heclc of a slow loader. I think that idea is definatly useable! I'm surprised that no one had thought of this before. :D

[Revgen]

I went to bob0r's site and tried to download ffdshow-20050609.exe, but I ended up downloading ffdshow-20050610.exe instead.

What's new in this version?

[Didée]

Just to have it mentioned:

ffdshow's Huffyuv coder seems to have the same buffer problem/bug that older versions of original Huffyuv codec had - exception if a compressed frame gets bigger than the input frame.

Today I had the codec die on decoding an extremely complex frame (much detail plus tons of mpeg artefacts) it had codec before.

Unless this gets fixed, ffd-Huffyuv is not safe to use.

[celtic_druid]

No idea what ffdshow-20050610 is.

http://mirror05.x264.nl/celtic_druid/ffdshow-20050611icl.exe
http://mirror05.x264.nl/celtic_druid/ffdshow-20050611msvc71.exe

ffdshow with ICL8.1 came out even bigger this time. Not sure what kind of a speed difference there is between ffdshow.ax ICL8.1 and MSVC7.1.

[Liisachan]

fix for that huffyuv thing?
mirrored anyway...
http://subforge.s116.xrea.com/freeware/mpc/
http://m17n.cool.ne.jp/freeware/mpc/
ffdshow-20050611.exe = ffdshow-20050611icl.exe
and
ffdshow-20050611msvc71.exe

FYI, betanews (randomly?) picked up 20050609 yesterday
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/FFDShow_MPEG4_Video_Decoder/1054056131/1

[celtic_druid]

Once again. Is the problem present in mencoder or ffmpeg? Because it is possible that it is a libavcodec bug or it could be just ffdshow.

[Liisachan]

Um, I just wondered "Whoa, yet another new build...! What was changed? Maybe a fix for that huffyuv thing posted above?"
I guess the answer is no and it's not like I personally need that fix either.

Thanks again for your dedicated work.

[LigH]

If you would like to check for yourself, you may use any source (even a looped still) and gradually add more and more random noise:
LoadPlugin("BlockBuster_2.5_WarpEnterprises.dll")

function SquareNoise(clip c, int dev)
{
return BlockBuster(c, method="noise", detail_min=1, detail_max=100, variance=dev*dev/10)
}

Animate(v, 0, v.Framecount-1, "SquareNoise", 0, 100)
I once used such a function for codec quality comparisons.

[IgorC]

FFDSHOW(11 of june) Audio Decoder has a bug with reproducing 3gp HE-AAC2 .Audio codec http://home.cwru.edu/~bes7/db_EnhAACPlus_1.2.zip . It's not correct just rename 3gp to mp4 but foobar plays fine.
First time it plays just fine but if press STOP in Media Player Classic and return to play it sound changes from stereo 44.1 khz to mono 22Khz and SBR part of HE-AAC isn't decoded.

Audio sample with clear Stereo sound http://sr2.mytempdir.com/50107

Graphedit doesn't show nothing strange :
sample.mp4 (Audio out) -> In FFdhsow audio decoder Out -> Audio input pin (rendered) Default direct show sound device

Bug appears only during playback of audio files. As sound track to video file it plays fine.

[iNFO-DVD]

Does anyone ever get a problem with NERO whilst ffdshow is installed?

If I'm writing a DVD (data) with one or more AVI files whilst ffdshow is installed NERO either locks up or crashes.

It's to do with the preview that NERO insists on doing when you select an AVI via the 'ADD' button.

My friend also gets the same problem. Is there any fix for this?

[celtic_druid]

Maybe you should try faad instead of realaac.