ffdshow and SAR/PAR

[dinolib]

I'm testing x264 SAR (sample aspect ratio) option to produce anamorphic encodes.
I've noticed that while mplayer can reproduce the movie resizing it according to SAR, mplayerc with ffdshow(latest cvs)+haali splitter movie isn't resized and maintain 1:1 PAR.

Do you know if this is a ffdshow bug (and and when/if it will be fixed) or I've to change something in the settings? Does exist a workaround?

Thank you!

[yaz]

u set 'use overlay mixer' on the output panel and dragged the 'overlay aspect ratio' to 'default' on the resize panel, didn't u ? this way i have perfectly (re)sized ouput from my x264 anamorphic encodes w/haali splitter and w/ffdshow.

the bests
y

[dinolib]

Yes, I use overlay mixer (mplayerc options) and checked no pan&scan (reset) and video frame (keep aspect ratio, touch inside, override a/r default) in the view menu of mplayerc.

Yes, ffdshow 'overlay aspect ratio' is on default (but the resize filter was disabled. I've tried to enabled it, but no changes).

May be there's another trick...

[dinolib]

Ok, I got it!
I've disabled "Use overlay Mixer" check box in ffdshow output panel...

Now it works!

yaz, thanks for the hint

[yaz]

actually, i do the opposite ;) vmr9 in mpc (it's needed for subtitling) but om in ffdshow (it's needed for maintaining correct ar in any(!) stream handled by ffdshow). i prefer this because i use ffdshow as a 'general' decoder.

the aspect ratio panel in ffdshow (lower part in resize) is always active ! it's strange but true. just try to play w/it wout activating. it drove me mad while i figured it out :)

the bests
y

[LoKi128]

I cannot for the life of me get ffdshow to display the AR correctly! I encoded a video with the SAR option in x264. I then muxed it with the audio. The resulting file, when played with mplayer, shows:

Movie-Aspect is 2.35:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
VO: [directx] 720x352 => 828x352 Planar YV12

But playing with ffdshow (thru MPC) it just does not want to resize! I have tried making the "Use overlay mixer" box checked, gray with check and unchecked but none of the settings have ANY effect in the output resolution of the video.

I have all of the options (post, sharp, etc) disabled for these tests. Any tips? What are the requirements to enable AR resizing on ffdshow? AFAIK, the AR information is in the x264 stream and not in the MP4 container, since YAMB did not ask for it.

Thanks!

[yaz]

@loki128
see my post above (#2). x264 anamorphic encodes made by megui play fine w/haali splitter + ffdshow + mpc (set as outlined above)

however, i run into some more trouble regarding resizing a/o aspecting at the weekend. it seems as if ffdshow were the weakest link in the chain. must investigate further.

the bests
y

[Isochroma]

ffdshow is just a load of trouble for anything not using 1:1 AR. I've tested it using many configurations, and it will not respect AR for embedded values in MP4 or Matroska container values.

Advice: don't use it! Use the nero decoder (do a search for videodecoders in emule) by MindPhaser. This is the only codec pack that I know of which contains the Nero AVC decoder (also decodes divx, xvid) and is the only decoder besides HFYU which outputs correct levels on YV12.

Otherwise, you can use the native decoders (xvid, divx) and the AR will function properly. ffdshow is just a mess!

[bond]

Isochroma, i have no problem here with anamorphic resize and ffdshow

must be your fault ;)

[leowai]

ffdshow works perfect for me too. If you got embeded subtitle, make sure you update the VSfilter to latest version (VobSub v2.36). I experienced a black screen using v2.33.

[yaz]

... Use the nero decoder (do a search for videodecoders in emule) by MindPhaser. This is the only codec pack that I know of which contains the Nero AVC decoder (also decodes divx, xvid) and is the only decoder besides HFYU which outputs correct levels on YV12 ... would u be more specific, pls ? what and where to search for ? i tried to search for some combinations of your terms but no result. is it a codec pack, or what ?

actually, i have problems w/xvid in avi. the correct ar is shown sometimes, but other times not. no clue, why ? mp4 and mkv plays fine.

the other issue is how to replace mpc's subtitling w/fddshow's (so, switch off mpc's subtitling and switch it on in ffdshow somehow) however, it's ot here. sorry

the bests
y

[Isochroma]

you can find it on eMule, just search for "videodecoders". It contains several other codecs besides the Nero decoder. The size is 2.39mb. Current versions are 18e and 19b (if you can find it!). The language is some weird foreign unicode, but the codec list it obvious and readable.

I now use the Nero decoder for everything except WMV3, though it does have slightly higher CPU usage. You can also install NeroVision Express, which will install the decoder on your system.

After you install, make sure it is the preferred decoder filter in MPC or whatever player you are using. Then, do some comparison screenshots and note how the output colors are full dynamic range, unlike ffdshow/xvid codec/divx codec/wmv3 decoder. This is not related to overlay/vmr btw. All rendering modes will give you the same results (provided you've calibrated the hardware overlay brightness control to match vmr).