DivX and xVid codec

[cheerful]

I've uninstalled both DivX and xVid codec from my XP SP3 PC (WMP 11 installed).

Both types of video can still be played. MPC-HC shows MPC Video Decoder (see below). How do I find out which codec is being used?

Thanks

====
Filter : MPC Video Decoder - CLSID : {008BAC12-FBAF-497B-9670-BC6F6FBAE2C4}

- Connected to:

CLSID: {CEA8DEFF-0AF7-4DB9-9A38-FB3C3AEFC0DE}
Filter: C:\tmp\video.avi
Pin: Video 0

- Connection media type:

Video: DivX 5 512x368 29.97fps 1632Kbps

AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {30355844-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_VideoInfo {05589F80-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 63231
cbFormat: 88

VIDEOINFOHEADER:
rcSource: (0,0)-(0,0)
rcTarget: (0,0)-(0,0)
dwBitRate: 1632945
dwBitErrorRate: 0
AvgTimePerFrame: 333667

BITMAPINFOHEADER:
biSize: 40
biWidth: 512
biHeight: 368
biPlanes: 1
biBitCount: 24
biCompression: DX50
biSizeImage: 1130496
biXPelsPerMeter: 0
biYPelsPerMeter: 0
biClrUsed: 0
biClrImportant: 0

pbFormat:
0000: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0020: b1 ea 18 00 00 00 00 00 63 17 05 00 00 00 00 00 ±ê......c.......
0030: 28 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 70 01 00 00 01 00 18 00 (.......p.......
0040: 44 58 35 30 00 40 11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 DX50.@..........
0050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

[jagabo]

"MPC Video Decoder" is MPCHC's internal Divx/Xvid decoder.

[cheerful]

They play fine in WMP as well. So there has to be other codec then. How can I find out?

[jagabo]

Disable MPCHC's internal Divx/Xvid decoder:

View -> Options -> Internal Filters, Transform Filters (box)...

Restart it, play a file with it, and see what decoder is in use. ffdshow maybe?

[cheerful]

Disabled that, and it still plays.

[Placio74]

MPC Video Decoder (and other filters from MPC) is also available as a standalone filter.

They play fine in WMP as well. So there has to be other codec then. How can I find out?

Use Gspot:
Proposed Codec Solutions and Tests > MS A/V > 1
or GraphStudio (Render Media File... option).

MPEG-4 ASP video with DX50 FourCC can be decoded by DivX, Xvid, 3ivX, ffdshow, decoder from MPC, decoder from Nero, ...

[jagabo]

You can see what filters are in use while playing in MPCHC. Right click on the video window and hover over Filters. You'll get a menu of filters currently in use. Select one for more properties.

[cheerful]

Tried GSpot first. It can tell the video is DX50 and codec is installed. But it won't show what codec is in used.

GraphStudio worked, showed me Intervideo MPEG-4. Uninstalled WinDVD and now it won't play in WMP, only in MPC-HC. Strangely, even with all MPEG-4 internal filter disabled, it still plays fine in MPC. The only thing is it show MPC Decoder (low merit)

What does this low merit thing mean?

Thanks!

[jagabo]

Each filter has a "merit" -- a priority. When there are multiple filters that can decode a video the one with the highest merit is used. You can use filter editors to change merits, disable filters, etc: FilMerit, Radlight Filter Manager, DirectShow Filter Manager. GSpot also has a filter manager under System -> List Codecs...

[Placio74]

... and now it won't play in WMP, only in MPC-HC. Strangely, even with all MPEG-4 internal filter disabled, it still plays fine in MPC. The only thing is it show MPC Decoder (low merit)

If required decoder is not installed in system, MPC uses its internal (even if it's 'disabled').
So... actually it is not disable internal decoder, but a change to a lower priority - it seems that can't be completely off internal filters/decoders.


BTW
Some other video players can show used DitrectShow filters (like MPC), for example BS.Player or Zoom Player.