ffdshow and Decoder Priorities....?

[karnal]

I have a few questions, and people here seem pretty knowledgable:

1. Can anyone point me to a "dummies guide to ffdshow"? I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to even mess with this. I've used it for about 15 minutes now, and it's just annoying me that there's no real good reference for this.... that I know of.

2. Decoder priorities change within windows when you install new DVD decoders - however, I haven't found a spot in WindowsXP that allows me to change the priorities -- without uninstalling the software! Can anyone help me on this end?

Now, these questions may sound like they have absolutely nothing to do with Sage - but they do! I'm attempting to get better video out of my Sage box, but I've hit a wall. I really really like the Intervideo decoder, but it's horrible on left/right pans (combing, flashing). The Sage decoder rocks, but on certain shows (cartoons such as family guy or southpark) the edges of lines are "blocky". For instance, Cartman's head on the bottom looks more like lines than a smooth circle; whereas with the intervideo codec, it's smooth...???

Anyways, I figure if I can get the answer to these 2 questions, then I will be able to "test" around a bit on another box, until I feel comfortable with ffdshow.

In addition, how do I hook up dscaler to ffdshow????!!!

Yes, I'm a newbie to most of this. I didn't realize I'd have to fight tooth and nail to get a decent all-around picture out of a PC hooked up to a tv.

Machine Specs:
Sempron 2600
512MB
250GB
FX5200 Cinema (SVideo Output used)
SageTV 2.2
Streamzap Remote

[something fishy]

For setting filter priorities you can use the Radlight Filter Manager. Sorry I don't have an address but Google will find it. However I have to confess that (assuming I have the install files) I just uninstall any old decoders.

My recommendation if you want to try ffdshow as a deinterlacer is
- download the latest “Celtic Druid” version of ffdshow (Google again) and install it (I have been using the 30 June 2005 build)
- Uninstall all other DVD decoders/software (you won’t be able to uninstall the one that comes with Sage)
- Open the ffdshow video decoder configuration program
- On the codecs page click “MPEG2” and select “libmpeg2” (this will allow ffdshow to decode MPEG2 so you don’t need a separate decoder)
- From the deinterlacing page select a deinterlacer of choice (try the ffmpeg deinterlacer as a first go) and check the “deinterlacing” check box to enable it.
- Close the configuration utility and start SageTV.
- ffdshow should be listed as a decoder in the video decoders box – select it. Keep the sage decoder for audio.
- With sage running in a window watch some TV. An ffdshow icon should appear in the system try. Clicking it will take you to the decoder configuration box and you can change settings on the fly while the video is running.
- Try a few deinterlacing methods and find one that works best for you when Sage is running full screen.
- If you’re happy with the deinterlacing you might want to implement some noise reduction (for poor quality signals) and/or sharpening.
- <note: you can drag the filter names in the white box to the left of the configuration dialog up or down to select the order that they are implemented. Inactive filters don’t matter, but you want “Deinterlacing” to be above “Blur & NR” and “Sharpen” to be last>
- Turn Blur & NR and Sharpen on the same way that you did for deinterlacing. For “Blur & NR” start with “denoise3d” but watch out, this is very powerful. Turn the luma and chroma sliders down to 1 and reduce the time to 2, then increase time incrementally to achieve the degree of NR you want. Too much and face textures will appear wrong (“clay faces”). For sharpen start with “asharp” and start with the “strength” slider all the way to the left and incrementally increase to see the effect in action.

Ffdshow can use either dscaler or avisynth filters but my advice is to become familiar with how it works and stick to its internal filters first. IMO the big advantage of using ffdshow like this is that it is a single program solution and that the settings can be adjusted on the fly.

BTW ffdshow is a CPU hog keep an eye out for the CPU load, as you add filters it can rise sharply.

Hope this helps.

[irishattorney]

Hi, Thanks for the info. I am reading up on ffdshow and trying to learn more of how it integrates with Sagetv. Rhe above info gives info on processing the recorded tv, but how about watching dvd's in sage?

Will sage automatically process Dvd's in ffdshow too? or do you need to get something like zoomplayer first?

I would prefer an all in one sage solution if it works well...

Above you mention selcting libmpeg2, is that instead of nvidea decoders? or???

Also... newbie question... do you set up ffdshow on server and on each client as well?

Thanks for any info...

[blade]

Have you tried the nvidia decoder? I think the majority of people consider it the best decoder available.

I know you were asking about FFDshow; however, I'd suggest trying the trial version of the nvidia decoder. It's a lot simplier to setup and tweak than FFDshow.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by karnal

I have a few questions, and people here seem pretty knowledgable:

1. Can anyone point me to a "dummies guide to ffdshow"? I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to even mess with this. I've used it for about 15 minutes now, and it's just annoying me that there's no real good reference for this.... that I know of.

Asside from the ffdshow FAQ, and the many ffdshow threads on AVS, this is probably the best guide:
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ffdshowdvd_1

2. Decoder priorities change within windows when you install new DVD decoders - however, I haven't found a spot in WindowsXP that allows me to change the priorities -- without uninstalling the software! Can anyone help me on this end?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

But really you shouldn't be bothering messing with decoder merits:

videoframe/dvd_video_postprocessing_filter=
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=

Now, these questions may sound like they have absolutely nothing to do with Sage - but they do! I'm attempting to get better video out of my Sage box, but I've hit a wall. I really really like the Intervideo decoder, but it's horrible on left/right pans (combing, flashing). The Sage decoder rocks, but on certain shows (cartoons such as family guy or southpark) the edges of lines are "blocky". For instance, Cartman's head on the bottom looks more like lines than a smooth circle; whereas with the intervideo codec, it's smooth...???

For video (TV/sage recordings etc) ffdshow WILL NOT HELP YOU. Those sources require good deinterlacing, and I have yet to find anything that can match a Geforce 6 series card, with nVidia's decoders in DXVA mode for that.

Anyways, I figure if I can get the answer to these 2 questions, then I will be able to "test" around a bit on another box, until I feel comfortable with ffdshow.

In addition, how do I hook up dscaler to ffdshow????!!!

That depends on what you mean by dscaler:
You can use Dscaler filters in ffdshow via the Dscaler Filter option
You can use ffdshow after the Dscaler 5 MPEG decoder (like any other decoder)