W3Exchange / DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

mux · 2006-09-27 01:17:07

Encoding m2t to 3gp (Sony), using both mp4 and xVid and experimenting with bitrates. I need to force 320x176 widescreen so have been using directshow (checking 16:9 doesn't help, my k800i stretches it to 320x240 anyway). It was working perfectly.

But not any more. Checking Direct now fails for 3gp (mp4 or xVid). Without it, it converts no problem - except i can't watch the results on my phone.

The only things I've done to the PC since have been a command line regsvr thing to stop video previews in Windows Explorer, and also shifted a few gigs of files out of My Documents. Both of those were because Explorer was getting unstable in my huge video folder.

I've also installed another DVD-authoring program, but not used it. Still got 140 gig of HDD left and nothing much else using the RAM.

Any ideas why Direct has died on me?

UPDATE: Direct still works fine encoding a wmv file into a 3gp.

Last edited by mux (2006-09-27 03:47:32)

96crypt_mod · 2006-09-27 03:56:44

mux wrote:
The only things I've done to the PC since have been a command line regsvr thing to stop video previews in Windows Explorer

Here is the key to your problem.

DirectShow uses your PC ActiveX filter resources. Every file that you manage
to play with WindowsMediaPlayer means that you have the appropriate
ActiveX filter for the used codecs installed and registered on your PC.

Take for instance the m2t file, in order to be played correctly on WindowsMediaPlayer, it
requires an MPEG-II splitter (to split the video from the audio), an MPEG-II video decoder, an AC3 audio decoder.
If one is missing, you won't be able to play the file correctly (in Directshow mode).
If one is missing then SUPER(C) can't handle this file anymore in the "Use DirectShow" mode.

Some players like SUPER(C), VLC.. can still play those files as they DO NOT need any
DiretcShow filter for playing the different type of codecs, they rather use their own resources.

The fact that you used regsvr32 to unreg some .AX/.DLL files means that you have
taken out from the DirestShow list of supported codecs, some elements used to
properly handle the m2t file. You need to reg it back!

Fortunately, SUPER(C) can re-encode many formats in both modes, with and without "Use Directshow",
So even if you don't have an installed ActiveX filter or if registering is broken, you can still re-encode the file with SUPER(C) by unchecking "Use Directshow".
However, some specific features requiring "Use Directshow" like the customized sizing or others won't work anymore.

Cheers

mux · 2006-10-02 17:23:02

Hi Mr Crypt,

I reversed that regsvr command but Super still won't encode .m2t files with directshow checked. This is into any format.

The windows explorer video preview is definitely back on (and works fine), so the system is (should be) as it was. Tried rebooting.

I've got a couple of m2t-specific programs which came with my camcorder, so surely my PC has the ts, AC3, etc codecs in there somewhere?

Any thoughts before I try System Restore? Reinstall Super and the JVC software maybe?

Also, the renaming m2t to ts and doing the auto-lossless conversion to VOB didn't quite work. It judders, with no sound (at least, that's on VLC player).

96crypt_mod · 2006-10-03 03:09:53

mux wrote:
.......but Super still won't encode .m2t files with directshow checked.

If you enable "Show Hints" with the right click Menu, then you hover the mouse
over the "Use DirectShow" box, you may see the hint:
..if you can play a file with Windows Media Player, it means you can encode it with SUPER(C) (using DirectShow mode)

You need to check whether you are able to play the m2t file with WMP on your PC,
that's the best way to verify if you have the appropriate ActiveX filters installed and registered.

As for the rendered VOB file, it has to be played on VOB players like WinDVD or PowerDVD, even SUPER(C) must be able to play it.

Otherwise, SUPER(C) can still re-encode m2t to VOB, without DirectShow, as I mentioned earlier..

BTW, do not try re-installing SUPER(C), it's totally useless.
If anything wrong with the installtion, SUPER(C) won't start anymore.

mux · 2006-10-03 10:22:40

Hi Mr C,

Nope, WMV won't play .m2t - but then again, it never did! That's the main reason I use VLC player. Super was still happy to use directshow though. It worked fine - I've got stuff recoded with it playing happily on my k800i phone at 320x176 (widescreen).

No idea where those Active X filters have gone. I'll try a system restore to when it definitely worked.

Without directshow checked, I can't make it force widescreen with 3gp (mp4 or XviD) and it stretches the video vertically (the phone display is 320x240, the .m2t is 720x576 but 'true' 16/9.) Various other formats - mpg, avi, etc - are no problem.

Seeing as it's dropping from 19000 to under 400 bitrate anyway, can I transcode m2t into something else first, then into 3gp, and thereby force the 16/9?

(BTW, It was the automatic, lossless ".ts to VOB" (free aspect) that VLC won't play properly - though I confess I've given up with VOB files. None of my DVD burning programs will open them anyway, so I'm sticking with AVC/AAC, all bitrates maxed, and then converting them into DVDs. Slow, but it looks pretty good.)

96crypt_mod · 2006-10-03 12:41:21

mux wrote:
Nope, WMV won't play .m2t

As you can see, using GraphEdit you can exactly visualize the used DirectShow filters needed to open/play an m2t file.
On this PC, a Moonlight MPEG-II Demux is used to split Video and Audio
A Moonligtht MPEG-II Video Decoder plays the video stream
A Moonlight Odio Dekoda (Audio decoder) for playing the audio stream (MPEG/AC3/WAV).

Note that the 3 Moonlight DirectShow filters are NOT free, you need to buy them
in order to install them.
What you see with GraphEdit can be played on WMP.

mux wrote:
No idea where those Active X filters have gone

They didn't go anywhere, installing other DirectShow filters for the same codec, may cause codec conflict.

mux wrote:
I'll try a system restore to when it definitely worked

Before restoring, let GraphEdit list for you all the available installed filters on your PC..

mux wrote:
None of my DVD burning programs will open them anyway

That's normal, DVD standards has limited the maximal Video Bitrate to 9700 Kbps
The lossless ".ts to VOB" gives a VOB with 19000 Kbps (outside limits)
In this case you may try to check the "VOB DVD Compliant .ts to VOB" to drop the
Video Bitrate to an acceptable DVD compliant value.

mux · 2006-10-03 14:43:47

So THAT's why no bitrates can be above ~9700!

Output container of "VOB (.ts to VOB)" won't have it; checking DVD compliant causes an error. BUT... using the non-automatic output container "VOB DVD compliant", which lets me select 25fps, 720x576, 16/9 and 9792 bitrate works perfectly!

Thanks Mr C. Just one last thing: AC3 or mp2 audio? The m2t files are mp2 to begin with (48k, 384) but they are mainly speech and massive bitrates are not that important.

Basically, if skimping on the audio can improve the video (like it does with 3gp), I'll do it. If it makes no difference, I'll stick with whichever is best.

ARGH! Update: The converted VOB files now play beautifully, but DVDit 6 still won't recognise them. Tried dropping video to 9264 and audio to 192 mono, but nope.

Last edited by mux (2006-10-03 15:09:35)

96crypt_mod · 2006-10-03 14:55:14

mux wrote:
if skimping on the audio can improve the video (like it does with 3gp), I'll do it.

If audio quality isn't of primary importance, you may switch to mp2 as it "eats" less
CPU resources than AC3 when encoding and when playing.

mux wrote:
Update: The converted VOB files now play beautifully, but DVDit 6 still won't recognise them

This one:
http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/download/tda16.html
http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/download/tda20.html
have been tested with SUPER(C) VOB files.

Cheers

#1 2006-09-27 01:17:07

DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

#2 2006-09-27 03:56:44

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

mux wrote:

#3 2006-10-02 17:23:02

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

#4 2006-10-03 03:09:53

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

mux wrote:

#5 2006-10-03 10:22:40

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

#6 2006-10-03 12:41:21

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

mux wrote:

mux wrote:

mux wrote:

mux wrote:

#7 2006-10-03 14:43:47

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

#8 2006-10-03 14:55:14

Re: DirectShow stopped working for some reason. It was fine yesterday

mux wrote:

mux wrote:

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