Low brightness in videos, help!

[Macolio]

I have an old PC. The monitor has been at max brightness for a few years now, and the screen is very dark, so I resort to "gamma adjuster" tools to raise it to an acceptable level. I formatted recently to do a clean XP reinstall, and reinstalled my players and codecs (Media Player Classic, CrystalPlayer, and Xvid) only to find out that the brightness is very low.

The videos have the same brightness my computer would have if I didn't raise the gamma with software tools. MPC's Brightness setting in Options has zero effect on the image, and as for CrystalPlayer, I can improve the brightness and raise the contrast, but the image is really ugly when done custom.

It wasn't like this before I formatted, so I don't understand what's going on. I use the same gamma adjust tools, the same players, the same codecs. I was wondering if anyone here could give me any tips. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I tried installing fddshow, it didn't do anything. What is it supposed to do?

[flaninacupboard]

The video being played back will be an overlay, these sometimes have different controls to your normal desktop ones. is there any options anywhere to change overlay settings? (can't remember what the Voodoo control panel looked like now!)

Alternatively, buy a new monitor!!

[Meta-Machine]

Hey there

Before spending money on a new monitor you should check out Monitor Calibration Wizard (http://www.hex2bit.com/products/product_mcw.asp). I'm using it for some games that doesn't have gamma correction and for video/movies that isn't supported by FFDShow.

You mentioned FFDShow yourself - but said it didn't help. I'm not sure if you're using it right then ... so here goes:

First of all - after installation - go through your startmenu, find ffdshow and choose configuration. Then in the Tray & dialog settings it's a good idea to have Show tray icon enabled. That way you'll be able to see if ffdshow support the movie you're playing.

Second thing to do, is to choose Picture properties (and of course enable it, not only selecting it) - then increase your gamma, and press OK. Then start playing a movie and you'll be able to see the difference, if the files is supported by ffdshow. I'm not sure exactly what formats ffdshow support, but I know for sure you wont get it to work with MPG/MPEG files.

Hope you'll be able to use this 8)

[John James]

Did you try to increase the brightness in media applications such as the Media Player and the WinFast PVR?

I've done it myself as the videos can be too dark to see on the monitor. Even the personal video recorder settings for capturing I can increase the brightness there.

Otherwise increase the old monitor's brightness to the maximum or get a new monitor.

[devinemi83]

WMP 9 has a brightness setting. I use it all the time for dark divx movies.