Codecs

[rjc7394]

What codecs do I need to run TMGPenc? A mpeg (1+2) decoder and an mpeg (1+2) encoder and a demux and muxer? There's not much to choose out there: Elecard and Ligos and that's about it, and they're not free. My Moonlight trial ran out and I installed K-lite package which has some Mainconcept and Cyberlink mpeg2 codecs which don't install at all! I installed DScaler, Elecard again and even Lead and TMGPGenc isn't even responding now so I'm at a loss! How does TMGPEnc know where to look for these codecs, they're scattered all over the hard drive?

[mgh]

In the windows registry the codecs have a merit-merit ranges from do not use to most preferred.
Working with the registry itself is very difficult as the ids used are extremely long, You can use a filter manager like
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=RadLight_Filter_Manager
to change the relative merit of codecs for decoding and select the codecs you want used.
Also download graphedit- and use file render to create filter graph-you will know what is being used by direct show-then it is a matter of demeriting and meriting the filters till you have what you want. You will need to reboot for changes to take effect.
The above filter manager maintains a log which is helpful if you want to undo any change.

[Paulcat]

TMPGEnc will read mpeg files on it's own, and will write MPEG1 without any other codecs installed. It will only write MPEG2 if you have paid for it (i.e. TMPGEnc Plus) or if you are still in the 30 day trial period...

Look in the download section on the main site (www.doom9.org) under codecs, there are older moonlight/elecard MPEG2 filters available that will work.

If your source files are AVI or MKV, you will need the appropriate XviD/DivX codecs as you would to play them.

[rjc7394]

Excellent advice! Million thanks! I've been banging my head for weeks. I can see my codecs in GSPOT but I can't get the fine details. I have hundreds of codecs and they are like japanese to me. I can't tell how they got there (i.e. installed with a player) or where they are physically.

[Paulcat]

Some of them are installed along with your OS (assuming you are using windows). Others come with game installations (Like Intel INDEO and some divx decoders). Stay away from codec packs, you get a ton of useless crap and only a few good codecs that you may need!

Personally, I have XviD 1.1 to do all my mpeg4 decoding, ac3filter 1.2 for ac3/dts audio, coreAAC filter for aac audio and vobsub for subtitles...and thats pretty much it except for some matroska stuff..