YV12 problem, AviSynth, DGIndex, and VirtualDubMod

[Video_Bill]

I'm a real newbie. I have spent many hours searching the different forums for a clear explanation and more importantly, a solution, for the following problem. It deals with the YV12 codec which I've read quite a bit about - unfortunatley, the discussions get too technical or they are incomplete.

I'm using AviSynth 2.55, DGIndex, and VirtualDubMod 1.5.10.

My process is:

I open a vob file in DGIndex. I then "Save Project" to the DGIndex folder as "myvob.d2v". I then open VirtualDubMod. When I try to open the myvob.avs file I get:

"Couldn't locate decompressor for format 'YV12' (unknown). VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video...Only 'Direct stream copy' is available for this video."

I read the Avisynth Usage > YV12 FAQ thread several times, and I just don't understand. I downloaded MPEG2Dec3.dll and put the file in AviSynth, DGIndex, and VirtualDubMod folders and added the line:

loadplugin ("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\MPEG2Dec3.dll")

to the myvob.avs file and tried to open the avs file again with VirtualDubMod. It says:

Avisyth open failure:
MPE2Source: couldn't open file
(C:\Program Files\DGIndex\myvob.avs, line 3)

My current avs file includes the following:

loadplugin ("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\DGdecode.dll")
loadplugin ("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\MPEG2Dec3.dll"
mpeg2source ("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\myvob.d2v")

I need some help. Thank you.

[manono]

Hello, and welcome to the forum-

VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video

Have you installed a codec, such as XviD or DivX?

You don't need the loadplugin ("C:\Program Files\DGIndex\MPEG2Dec3.dll" line (which is missing a final ")"), as DGIndex uses the DGDecode.dll.

[Video_Bill]

Thank you for the reply.

Under #2 of the post by Wilbert:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37276

It states the MPEG2Dec3.dll will support YV12 which is why I used it. However, the post also states that basically what I have now (AviSynth, VirtualDubMod) should support YV12. So, are you saying I need to download XviD or DivX? If so, exactly where do I put these codecs? Which one is better, in your opinion?

I searched for XviD and found a couple of places that have XviD codecs dll files that I downloaded (one is in a zip file, the other is an executable file (both just on on my desktop at this point).

http://www.soft32.com/download_2781.html
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?xvid

I also found xcidcore-1.1.0-beta1.zip which is a program. Is this what I need instead?

http://www.xvid.org/downloads.html

I know this is real basic for you, and I REALLY appreciate your help.

[manono]

Hi-

That YV12 FAQ was written back when you did need the MPEG2Dec3.dll for earlier versions of DVD2AVI. DVD2AVI has since evolved into DGIndex, which comes with and requires the DGDecode.dll. There's more information in the opening part of the DGMPGDec (DVD2AVI) F.A.Q. (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87809)

Get XviD here:

http://www.koepi.org/

Install it and you should then be all set to open your AviSynth script files (I think).

[Video_Bill]

So, let me see if I understand....

MPEG2Dec3.dll is not needed for DGIndex, and DGIndex (version 1.2.1 is what I have) uses DGDecode.dll which, apparently, is supposed to be able to decode YV12. So why do I get the message I originally posted?

I loaded AviSynth on my computer first, followed by DGIndex so I don't think it is a problem of not having the proper files/codecs available.

The link you posted to koepi.org is the home page which has other links - one is to the Xvidcore-1.1.0-beta0.exe which is apparently the same file I have in the zip file on my desktop - is that the program (230 files in the zip folder) I need to run, or is there just a dll file I need (see links from my previous post)?

I found this link:

http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

for an executable file that appears to be from Koepi.

Do I really need XviD, and if I do, why (given that AviSynth and DGIndex are supposed to be able to handle YV12?)
If XviD is needed, is it the program, executable file, or just the dll file that I need?

[Wilbert]

You need DivX/XviD decoder for VDub's preview. At least if AviSynth delivers YV12 to VDub. If you add ConvertToYUY2() at the end of your AviSynth script you don't need it.