GraphStudio -> Avisynth -> GraphStudio again?

[elmuz]

Hi all,
I was wondering how to combine together these two software... I searched around the web for tutorials or guides, but I haven't been lucky. As far as I understood:
- GraphStudio is a good option to configure and control audio and video decoding, right?
- Then Avisynth can open .grf via DirectShowSource, and you can edit your video as much as you like, right?
- Would be nice to encode your edited video via GraphStudio again, so shall I import .avs in a 2nd grf project?
Is is correct? Do you think is a good way to process video content? How to link properly two softwares?
Any suggestion to learn more?
Thank you in advance.

[pandy]

use ffdshow

[elmuz]

In which step?

[pandy]

inside ffdshow there is section avisynth - any script can be pasted to this section and used - but i see no sense to stick with graphedit - it can be useful only is some special cases (mostly crippled Microsoft wmv files) but at first try to use avisynth natively with embedded and external filters - also encoding from avs can be easier (however usually as a separate stage for audio and separate for video so somewhere at the end additional multiplexing stage must be used).

[elmuz]

inside ffdshow there is section avisynth - any script can be pasted to this section and used

I saw it... but I can't understand why it's useful... what's the difference between paste them code and then save it as .avs, rather than generate directly an .avs from a notepad sketch?

also encoding from avs can be easier

I liked the GraphStudio layout, where everything is rapresented as flowcharts... it would be funny encode each stream with graphic blocks and mux together without needing script or other GUI..
Would it be possibile?

[poisondeathray]

It should be possible, but you wouldn't go through graphstudio twice - apply the avisynth filters through the ffdshow box as mentioned above. It would be much easier and faster using scripts and other software

also not all encoders or filters are directshow based (you don't have access to everything through graphstudio or directshow)

[elmuz]

Ok, sounds like I'm not going that way anymore... I will still use VDM/Avidemux/StaxRip and feed them with avs files... as always..

[poisondeathray]

were you just attracted to the pretty little boxes

what specifically were you looking to improve ? there might be other options to do it

directshow (in avisynth or through graphstudio) , IMO, isn't a good way to encode - it can lead to many problems, especially when using temporally based filters. It's not necessarily frame accurate so you can get sync issues and frames in the wrong order, bizarre artifacts when used with some filters

[pandy]

You can use graphedit - ffdshow can open avs and serve - avs can call grf then it should meet Yours conditions but poisondeathray explain why graphedit can be less usefull than direct avs encoding. i like graphedit to but using graphedit for everything sometimes is not most efficient way to solve problems.

[elmuz]

were you just attracted to the pretty little boxes

That's exactly what happened!

what specifically were you looking to improve ? there might be other options to do it

My workflow generally is:
StaxRip opens file -> Restore/editing stuff in Avisynth box inside StaxRip -> encode mp4 (x264/aac)
If I don't want mp4 I go for AVS ProxyGUI and feed it into Avidemux...

I really sux in demuxing command lines so that I need StaxRip/AVS ProxyGUI doing it for me. You know, steps are different for every format...
When I saw GraphStudio graphically calls demuxers and renders I exepected to find it simplier...
What I am looking for is an avisynth "preset/script" which demuxes videos in a proper way (consider its format) so that I just need to write filters and editing and load this .avs into a compressor which can sees video (filtered) and audio (filtered)...
Don't know if I've been clear enough.

Maybe AVANTI could it be an alternative, but it encodes only with ffmpeg (right?), or AVE Visual Editor?

[pandy]

so ffdshow must be used as a processor - separate for video and audio inside graphedit - simply add a join with graphs - paste in graphedit avs script.

[poisondeathray]

were you just attracted to the pretty little boxes

That's exactly what happened!

what specifically were you looking to improve ? there might be other options to do it

My workflow generally is:
StaxRip opens file -> Restore/editing stuff in Avisynth box inside StaxRip -> encode mp4 (x264/aac)
If I don't want mp4 I go for AVS ProxyGUI and feed it into Avidemux...

I really sux in demuxing command lines so that I need StaxRip/AVS ProxyGUI doing it for me. You know, steps are different for every format...
When I saw GraphStudio graphically calls demuxers and renders I exepected to find it simplier...
What I am looking for is an avisynth "preset/script" which demuxes videos in a proper way (consider its format) so that I just need to write filters and editing and load this .avs into a compressor which can sees video (filtered) and audio (filtered)...
Don't know if I've been clear enough.

Maybe AVANTI could it be an alternative, but it encodes only with ffmpeg (right?), or AVE Visual Editor?

Yes, different sources are usually treated differently for best results

For example, you wouldn't feed a DVD source through directshow or graphedit. You would use DGIndex for most consistent results

If you have multiple sources, you can create batch scripts and batch encode with various tools to speed things up

Also not all sources need to be demuxed, some you can leave in container and handle audio/video multiplexed

A good visual tool is avsp. (push f5 for preview) . You can compare different scripts in multiple tabs (shift bewteeen them with number keys) , there are sliders for control, programmable macros

[themaster1]

Does anyone have a clue how to make Graphstudio working with my card cos i haven't ! There is no manual out there

So far i made this:


When i click on "properties > capture" i see isConnected=False
I have to picture, nothing

[pandy]

connect source to input of the card (this orange block have to inputs - one for video, second for audio - you need to connect signal source - it is additional block)

[themaster1]

Yeah i found out now (i have video+audio) the only thing is how to encode in mpeg2 with intervideo codec
Here's where i'm at:


And what i wanna do:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5144/hdtvanalogintervideorecord7bq.jpg

There is a slight problem though, i have a 320x240 picture it seem ( i want 720x480 ), what filter should i use for that ?

Edit: i found the solution for saving in mpeg: right click in Output1 (intervideo multiplexer) + insert file writer

Now only the problem of size 320x240 > 720x480 remain

[themaster1]

When i check the properties of my card "Cinergy 250 pci Bda Analog Capture" the frame size (320x240) and audio sample rate (32khz) are locked (i can't edit) not sure if that's normal.I'd need to edit that manually or something to get 720x480 and 44khz. This card can go up to 720x576 so there is no reason.I don't know for the sound though .

[pandy]

Some DS filters not allow to pass parameters through DS but they use separate application - try to replace video encoder by ffdshow encoder.

[themaster1]

The video encoder is at the end of the chain and to me the problem is located at the root (capture card).If i use ffdshow i'm affraid it'll do a (320x240) x 2 resize.Not good enough

[pandy]

Ok, I see your point - but it can be difficult to force capture on different resolution - try to make your graph simple as possible - remove all preview, tea, smart tea etc.
AFAIR preview can force on some drivers fixed resolution 320x240. Can be difficult anyway to achieve final results as expected. Maybe use some application that allow to select resolution - even VLC should work.
Instead DS try something mentioned VLC.

[themaster1]

Any idea what virtualvcr use to resize the video to 720x480/576 ? It's working fine there

[pandy]

I know, so this is my point - some filters can't be forced from graphedit to use particular parameters but if they launched from app they are working OK.

[themaster1]

Yeah your point is pointless.
I found the solution right click on either one of the two video ouput for "cinergy.. Analog capture" (capture or Preview) and then choose the frame size.
But, the problems arise when there is a Preview (VMR9) so i have to remove that (= no preview) to capture 720x576. For the sound though it still is 32khz and the audio codec,namely Intervideo convert it to 44khz/48khz

Now what's excellent with this software (graphstudio) is that i can record with mainconcept mpeg2 encoder which is better than intervideo, the odd part is that i must use the intervideo multiplexer at the end of the chain cos the mainconcept multiplexer work bizarely (i can't add it in the chain)

graph:


result:

[pandy]

My point is still valid - on some drivers you can't force required video format and resolution also color type can't be selected - everything is passed down to filter by dedicated apps.

BTW - frame rate should be 25.0 not 29.7 for PAL/SECAM in Europe.