Importing FFV1 into After Effects

[vidphil]

I have a bunch of old AE project files that reference FFV1 encoded videos from when I was doing a lot of capturing with VirtualDub back in 2014.

When I try to load the files, my current version of After Effects (2020, v17.0.1) can no longer play the files. It can load the avi files, but they just show up as solid red.

I tried installing ffdshow, but it didn't work.

A google search pointed me at a paid plugin, which lists FFV1, but it's $90!
https://www.autokroma.com/Influx

I know I can transcode the videos, but it I don't want to have to hunt down all the individual video files and convert just to be able to view the AE projects. Does anyone know if there's a better solution?

[ProWo]

Read this
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/407368-FFV1-exporting-in-Adobe-Premiere-Pro#post2670582

[vidphil]

Read this
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/407368-FFV1-exporting-in-Adobe-Premiere-Pro#post2670582

They mention this plugin which is $80
https://www.voukoder.org/

Thanks for the suggestion, but not sure if I want to pay that much at the moment.

[jagabo]

Be sure you enabled both the VFW and DirectShow ffv1 decoders in ffdshow. Also make sure you installed the correct bitnes -- 32 bit for 32 bit editors, 64 bit for 64 bit editors.

[vidphil]

Be sure you enabled both the VFW and DirectShow ffv1 decoders in ffdshow. Also make sure you installed the correct bitnes -- 32 bit for 32 bit editors, 64 bit for 64 bit editors.

Yes, I have the 64bit version installed for Windows 10, and FFV1 appears to be enabled in the configuration window.

[Attachment 86494 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86495 - Click to enlarge]

In the DirectShow control section, it only showed options for excluding applications. I checked that After Effects is not on the list.

[Attachment 86496 - Click to enlarge]

[jagabo]

You are looking at the DirectShow settings. You need the VFW (Video for Windows) section. There is another FFV1 setting there.

[vidphil]

You are looking at the DirectShow settings. You need the VFW (Video for Windows) section. There is another FFV1 setting there.

Aha! That was it. VFW was unchecked by default when I initially installed:

[Attachment 86502 - Click to enlarge]

I reinstalled with VFW enabled, and the FFV1 .avi files are playing in After Effects now.

It's been a while since I've had to mess with this stuff. Thanks for pointing it out!

[Ven]

I have the same problem.
I've encoded the file using VirtualDub, and it shows black screen(or empty file) in After Effects.
I did the same thing, reinstalled the ffdshow - still nothing.

I cannot even find the per-application option in VFW configuration

[rgr]

You can encode to H265 lossless mp4, but this particular encoding in VDub2 is broken.

[Ven]

I don't think 2019 version can handle H265,
And to be honest, I don't really trust mp4 format.
It always has RGB-YUV color spaced messed up after conversion, and quite often zero frame is broken or out of sync, and few more surprises.
The worst case scenario for editing, VFX or chromakey.
AVI or MOV are much more handy for me to work with.

Don't get me wrong, MP4 is good to share a video with a friend, or send your finished work to a client, but I can't call it the best choice as intermediate format during editing and compositing.