ffdshow and Radlight filtermanager

[jphhughes]

ffdshow and Radlight

I am using ffdshow within Sage to try and get a better TV picture for my WinTV USB2. As you know one of the key issues is knowing what video codec the system is using. I tired using Radlight filter manager as suggested here but just don't seem to be able to get it to work. I have searched here and Radlight forums but don't se a simple FAQ or help file for using filtermanager. I did try highlighting the sonic video codec to try and give it a higher merit value, change the value merit and then press set value after which I get and error message that the merit value could not be changed. I then tried highlighting the sonic filter and using the register feature which did give a confirmation that the dll was registered. But I could still not get the merit value to change for the sonic codec. Any suggestions help would be appreciated.

By the way I did get ffdshow installed and selected in SageTV and can see the OSD when I select livetv in Sage. However when I check on the codec being used by the system by using WMP properties it says that ffdshow is the codec being used. So based on what I have read this should show the sonic codec correct? Thanks again.

[stanger89]

Try this, download Graphedit, then drag a sage recording into it. It will build a graph with the default decoders/renderers and it will be easy to see what decoder is being used.

[jphhughes]

Stanger89, that for the suggestion. I will give that a try. However my main objective is to be able to select the codec of choice. So that is why I was trying to use Radlight filtermanager. Initially the codec showed as Indeo whihc I believe is a Intel codec. So again what I would like to be able to do is set the Sonic codec as default and after testing it if I don't like what I see set it back to indeo. Thanks again for you help.

[stanger89]

Man that's giving you some really strange codec, Indeo isn't an MPEG2 decoder, and IIRC you have MPEG2 disabled in ffdshow, so neither one of them should be showing as your decoder.

[jphhughes]

sorry stanger89 I thought your were the Radlight filtermanager expert but I see its kny3twalker. Hopefully he will answer my filtermanager question. Thanks

edit google search returns this:

Indeo XP for Windows

As an option to meet the needs of those Windows (all versions) users who require Indeo codecs, Ligos has created an enhanced bundle of the Indeo codecs called Indeo XP for Windows. Indeo XP includes Indeo Video version 5.2, as well as support for older Indeo-based applications. The features include the following:

Optimization of the Indeo Video 5 scalability feature
A wavelet compression algorithm that improves visual quality over previous versions of Indeo
Better compression at all levels of video quality than previous generation codecs
Playback performance enhancements including smoother, interpolated "zoom by 2" playback
Indeo XP also includes the legacy codecs Indeo Video 3.2, Indeo Video 4.5, and Indeo Audio 2.5
For all Windows OS from Windows 95 to Windows XP
Indeo XP is available for purchase and download through our electronic store for $14.95.

[kny3twalker]

I am not sure why it will not let you change the merit of sonic decoders

have you tried to at least get the properties screen to come up?

and are you sure you had it highlighted?

it may be easier to uninstall the sonic decoders

go to the common folder delete all the sonic files
and reinstall it

make sure it is the most current version of the sonic decoders whether DVD decoder pack or cineplayer

also cineplayer has its own folder and does not use the common files folder in the program folder

reinstall it and the merit should be back to normal then adjust the merit

you can also unregister the direct show filter being used and see if that helps

maybe sonic would be the next in line as default decoder

[jphhughes]

First thanks for your reply and help. After reading your reply I experimented some more and its seems that if you highlight a codec and you press the properties page in some cases (not all) you will get a property page. If also seems that in those cased you can change the merit value of that codec, but again not in all cases. Now in the case of Cineplayer I do not get a properties page when I press the button. So is there something you need to do to insure that you get a properties page . Also what exactly does the register function do..

By the way when I used the register feature on cinplayer I did point to the common folder and the dll for video in that directory. So perhaps this was wrong. I will check out the other folder you suggested tonight, I am not currently on the machine that has cineplayer installed. Also I purchased the Sonic DVD decoder pack ($15) as I believe was suggested somewhere in the manay threads I read. Thanks

[stanger89]

Just curious, have you tried using graphedit to see what decoder is default? You might not need to change anything.

[jphhughes]

I have downloaded it but not used as yet. I will try and make it a point to give it a go tonigh. Thanks

[jphhughes]

Stanger89 Graphedit report the following on the video file from the Sage directory:
Input Ligos MPEG splitter branches to Video xformin Ligor MPEG Video Decodeer to xformout FFDshow MPEG 4 Video Decoder to VMR input0 Video Renderer. The audio branches to xformin MPEG Audio Decoder to Xformout to Audio input pin (renderer) default direct sound device.

So I would guess the default codec is Ligos yes?

[stanger89]

Yup, I'm trying to remember what that decoder comes with.

So when you're trying to change the merit of the Sonic decoder, is Sage running? Try it without Sage running.

Also, you'll probably want to change the merit of the Ligos decoder to something like normal if it's higher than that.

[kny3twalker]

registering and unregistering allows you to disable and enable directshow filters

most of the time they are registered already and you can unregister them if wanted

when you click once on the sonic cinemaster video decoder then click properties

you get no pop up?

you should
I still say uninstall and delete anything related to the sonic DVD decoder pack and reinstall it

[jphhughes]

Just to make sure we are talking about the same codec The sonic cineplayer is labeled:

CinePlayer (tm)DVD Decoder Pack it shows a control Panel version of 2.5.00.0138, Video decoder 2.5.03.0806, Audio Decoder 2.5.03.1266.

Also the only files I can find are under the common folder-sonic shared-Cinemastervideo.dll also CinemasterAudio.dll

[jphhughes]

Sorry Guys my mistake I was trying to change items under the heading of Video Compressors. Then the Light turned on I realized I should be under the Direct SHow Filters and once this knuckel head got that right it works.