Virtualdub Compression Brightness Problem

[ZZen]

Seems all my videos compressed in Virtualdub have this grey overtone to them or over brightness, has no one else ever noticed this problem? I have virtual dub 1.8.8 most settings default, using x264 codec and xvid codec both give greyness any way to fix it?

For a fast example, drag a video in virtualdub, click Video,Color Depth click Decompression format 4:2:2 planar YCbCr (YV16) and hit Ok, its the 3rd one up from the bottom, see this grey overtone it gives? It looks exactly like how my compressed videos turn out, i tried to change the color output seeing if the greyness would not show up in the compressed video but it ends up gray anyways. (some wont let me encode a video if i choose them, i didn't try all of them yet).

Normally decompression is Autoselect, Output 24 bit RGB, my videos end up slightly greyish.

In sony vegas i don't get this grey effect

Anyone know why this is or how to fix it. thanks

[poisondeathray]

How are you determining they are "greyish"? ie. what software and decoder for playback? (i.e. is this a playback issue or an encoding/settings issue?) Does it appear "grey" in the output preview window as well? Maybe post a small sample

What was your input format? Any filters used? Post your exact steps & settings used.

[ZZen]

Played in VLC or WMP they look bit grayish or over bright, yet the source video uncompressed looks perfectly normal in those players.

In virtualdub they look completely normal too, that little color change option i mentioned was just to give you all a quick easy example of how my encoded videos look. Not sure if it will work for you

The steps are drag a video in, no filters everything default and just encode with x264 or xvid default settings, both give the same gray result

i don't know my decoder

[poisondeathray]

"Grey" or "over bright" are 2 completely different things.

Again, what is your source format? (e.g. MPEG2, DV-AVI, png sequence etc...)

Can post a small sample of the source, and output?

[jagabo]

All you are seeing is the different proc amp settings for video overlay, DirectX, and the Desktop. Turn off the DirectX setting in VirtualDub and your black level will darken. Options -> Preferences -> Display -> Use DirectX For Display Panes (off). Save. You might have to exit and restart.

VirtualDub uses the standard rec.601 matrix for converting YUV to RGB and back. I think Vegas uses a pc.601 matrix by default. I don't know if Vegas uses DirectX/Overlay for display.

VirtualDub does not screw up levels when encoding.

[ZZen]

jagabo you said Adjust the graphics card's video overlay settings. Putting the brightness to 0% contrast to 100% works nicely, how come changes there don't effect source xfire/fraps videos btw?

Are you saying the directx change should make the encoded videos look normal?

Seems they look normal if rendered in vegas anyway, even without changing graphic card settings

[redwudz]

Overlay and most video card settings have no affect on encoding or on a video file itself. It's just for display. Most video cards have two separate settings. The regular setting will affect the Windows display, brightness, etc. The overlay will only affect playback with a player that uses overlay. It's most often used with a secondary display.

[Pancolart]

Same problem here. Video seems OK in Virtualdub, but result, no metter what compression codec i use - black becomes grayishblack.

[jagabo]

Same problem here. Video seems OK in Virtualdub, but result, no metter what compression codec i use - black becomes grayishblack.

Adjust your video overlay proc amp settings in the graphics card's setup applet from Control Panel.
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic366909.html#1958687