Which DV codec????

[pijetro]

I wanna open a DV in VDub, but am only allowed to use a Video for Windows codecs. My Ati can capture DV flawlessly, but it's direct show.

Any links or how to on capping DV thru Vdub???? The tools on the left don't help me (specifically the Panasonic DV). I can't figure out how to install it. Any suggestions?????

thanxxxx

[Dragonsf]

Use the Adaptec DV codec.It's free and works with VDup.
BTW:which ATI card can make DV?

[pijetro]

It's the Radeon 64mb ddr. Unless I'm mistaken it's the DVIDEO (Ddraw) codec under the Control Panel>multemedia>video codecs.

I believe when I right click over the file with AVI information (thanx AVIinfo), it says DVsd. (I'm at work now, so it's a bit fuzzy).....Plays fine in media player.

If I'm correct, my Ati analogue capture converts to DV, using it's proprietary codec. I was always under the impression that I needed a device like a camcorder or Canopus converter to change to DV....

thanxxxxxxx

[Dragonsf]

If I can believe ATI's info on the Radeon 64 DDR:

Video capture and TV/VCR-output support (optional features)
Radeon™ uses ATI's RAGE THEATRE™ companion chip for high quality video encoding and decoding.
Capture MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 full motion video at 720x480 30 fps resolution
Grab still images from VCRs or camcorders with composite input
Use video-out to connect your PC to TV or VCR for recording
Create and edit professional-looking home videos using MPEG-2 video capture. Transfer them to CD and to watch on your DVD player. (Ulead Video Studio software required)

There is no mention of DV compression, just mpeg-1 and mpeg-2.AFAIK, for DV compression you need dedicate dHW (external like DCR/HDB or DAC 100) or special DV Capture card.
On the other side, the FOURCC is dvsd, that is the adpatec FOURCC DV codec. (on my PC at least, also MC uses this FOURCC).
Confusing, isn't it!?

[pijetro]

Haha, quite confusing.....

As far as the literature goes, you can cap in MPG 1or 2, but you can also cap in .AVI. Different codecs can be used. The ones bundled with ATI are standard issue and pretty lame. When I installed Huffy, the card recognized it (alleluya), but you can't choose a custom frame size. That's why I went the VDub way, (thus the Video for Windows Codec needed). Now that I'm gonna play around with Adobe Premiere, I thought it would be better to use a DV codec (until I get a camcorder).

Thanx for pointing me in the right direction. As far as the FourCC goes, is the Dvsd the same one that's on DirectX8.1???

Thanxxxx

[Dragonsf]

I don't think so.Why?I'm using the HDB as DV capture.If I want to use VDup to work on any of these avis, I had to install the adaptec codec.
AFAIk the DX8.1 codec is for play only.
Question: have you ever tried to capture an avi with the DV codec from your card at full frame size and rate?Normally you need a dedicated card to capture DV in real time.

[pijetro]

Yes, I tried 740x480 with no probs. As far as Camcorders go, they're just spitting binary data. I'm under the impression that Premiere's internal codec wraps around this data during capture, and that DirectX dv codec allows for playback.

I guess there's a chance that through Nimo, or another accidental way, that I've loaded the DVsd codec into Ati's software, but I doubt it. I don't think it's a big issue for ATI to have this codec installed on board. Considering the fact that the ATI can compress to JPEG's from an .AVI, it wouldn't surprise me that you could simply convert to DV. I'm no mathemetician, but it seems that Jpeg compression seems a lot more difficult to convert, compress and spit out.

When I get home, I'll load Adaptect DV (if I can find it), and if I can capture through Vdub, then it will confirm that my ATI 64mb ddr vivo card can also convert to DV.........

I'll have to search around a bit more, but there should be a special section in this forum dedicated to the confusing world of DV format.....

thanxxxx

[Dragonsf]

If you can't find the adaptec codec pm me.I can send it.It's really hard to find!
The biggest problem with DV is the amount of data.The CPU has to capture, compress and transfer the data at the the time.Even direct transfer from the DV device (allready compressed), brings my machine to it'slimits.Yes, DV is a lot easier to compress, but AFAIK can only be done inreal time with special HW.Usinf Vdup for compression is 3 times the play ing time.

[yg1968]

You shouldn't install more than one DV codec. The codec that you install will be used for type 2 DV avi. If you use type 1 DV avi, you can use the built-in directshow MS DV codec (which is built-in Direct X 8.1). Vdub uses type 2 DV avi files.

[fingernailX]

Analog to DV can be done easily with enough cpu horsepower. I have the canopus, MainConcept and Panasonic DV codecs, 2.8 ghz cpu and a bt878 card. I capture with IUVCR and virtualdub and my experience is the built-in MS DV codec capturing type 1 with IUVCR looks the best against all advice and forum posts. MainConcept Mpeg encoder and CCE take the type 1 no problem but you can convert the type 1 to type 2 to use in virtualdub. I open the type 1 in Tmpgenc, save the wave out to a file and then open the type 1 avi in virtualdub which recognizes the video but not the audio. I then use the wav audio option to bring the audio file saved by tmpgenc back in. For me, its faster than converting the whole file to type 2 and uses up less space.

[pijetro]

Okay yg1968, I have no probs with what you say, and that's what dragonsf is helping me with by mentioning the Adaptec DV codec. I'm assuming I'm already capping with, or playing back with the DirectX DV codec that won't open in Vdub. What I originally asked for was a type 2 video for windows compatible codec.(thanx again dragonsf), that I can open up in Vdub. I had read a page in where it's fine to have a type 2 codec installed along with the DirectX type 1 codec, just as long as there's not another type 2 on the system.

FingernailX, as far as converting a type 1 to type 2, the convertor didn't allow for it. Something about not being a type1 file, and Vdub complaining that it's a Direct Show codec, and wants a Video for Windows.

I might be leading you guys down the wrong path, but I'm pretty sure it's a DV capture (dvsd). If not, then I'll just use the adaptec DV for capping and opening in Vdub (cross my fingers). Eventually I'll be capping in Premiere with my handy-jim-dandy camcorder so it probably won't make much of a difference which codec I use in the future....

Dragonsf. Thanx, until I install adaptec DV, and try capping in Vdub, I truly won't know, and you might be right about requiring a DV type device to launch with. I won't know 'till i try..

[yg1968]

I meant that you shouldn't have two vfw DV codecs but you can have the directshow MS codec and a vfw DV codec. Sorry for any confusion. Here the explanation by Microsoft of Vfw and directshow DV codecs (And type 1 and type 2 DV avi files):

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/tech/stream/vidcap/dvavi.asp

I found this webpage which seems to have the Panasonic DV codec, the Adaptec DV codec and the Sony DV codec.

http://dshow.narod.ru/

Some of these codecs are also included in the ACE codec package. I don't recommend installing all of the codecs from the ACE codec package but the setup allows you to select the ones that you need.

http://www.divx-digest.com/software/acemega_codec.html

P.S. I am not sure if this helps concerning your dvsd question but here are the registry entries that are created when you install the Panasonic DV codec:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\drivers.desc]
"pdvcodec.dll"="Panasonic DV Codec"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32]
"vidc.dvsd"="pdvcodec.dll"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\MediaResources\icm\vidc.dvsd]
"Driver"="pdvcodec.dll"
"Description"="Panasonic DV Codec"

[darkelf]

Have been doing alot of capping with older codecs, a little unsure about DV. According to the DV standard, DV resolution is 720x480/576?

The data that is pulled via Firewire to your puter from a DV-cam/Canopus AVDC-100 should be this resolution by definition, so no problems.

What about using the DV codec with a different resolution? I have a card that maxes out at 352x240, which I've set aside in a machine to do VHS archiving. I've been using Huffy, which works very well. However the file size is getting to be a hassle. I have DirectShow drivers, so I can use iuVCR if I need to in order to utilize a DV codec.

Am I also correct that VDUB will not *capture* using a DV codec? Even the adaptec version? I know you can edit Type2 DV files with VDUB, but I'd REALLY like to cap with it too.

Any field testing on this from anybody? The file size difference between Huffy and DV seems appealing, and the codec appears fairly robust. I haven't had luck with MJPEG, and am hoping that DV will work better, even though they are both somewhat lossy.

thanks,

-elf

[fingernailX]

IuVCR can capture to both DS DV Encoder and vfw DV codecs ( I have used both Panasonic and Main Concept). Only the DS DV Encoder has an option on the configure panel for less than 720 x 480 but they are grayed out on my system. VirtualDub allows me to select the Panasonic or Main Concept (depending on which is active in my registry) or the Canopus which has a non-dv-std four cc ("cdvc"), at least as I have installed it. In all cases I have set the capture resolution to 720 by 480 NTSC. I'm not sure you can capture with any of the codecs at a smaller resolution but I honestly haven't tried.