How do I get the HuffUV codec into Pinnacle Studio 9

[fwbaumann]

Help, I need to figure out how to get a lossless codec such as Huffuv into Pinnacle Studio 9 or Ulead 8. I insereted it into windows XP and it is availavle. The codec doesn't show up in my video editors. Do I have to put the dll somewhere into the program files?

Also, what happens if I have a Huffuy clip (captured in Virtual dub) and import it into Studio 9 or Ulead? It probably will play and edit, but without the codec installed will I really screw up the quality when I add filters and convert to DVD?

Fred

[pijetro]

The codec doesn't show up in my video editors.

Not familiar with your software, but try removing and reinstalling Studio8..
If huffy is registered with XP, then there isn't a reason why any decent .AVI editor shouldn't work.

It probably will play and edit, but without the codec installed will I really screw up the quality when I add filters and convert to DVD?

Nope, without the codec, you can't do anything..
As far as the Codec's concerned, your quality will suffer most likely at the hardware leve, and/or encoding stage..
The codecs themselves shouldn't cause the problems...

Good luck!!

[winifreid]

If what you want to know is how to install a codec, you right click on the .inf file and then left click on install.

[fwbaumann]

I clicked on install and the codec went into windows. It shows up on one of my editors, but not on the menus for Ulead 8 or Pinnalcle Studio 9. Is it installed but not shown?

[ggrussell]

You just aren't understanding WHEN the codec is being used. It won't be under any part of the 'menu', but when you create a video file.

Ulead VS8
Load your project
Select SHARE
Then CREATE VIDEO FILE
CHOOSE CUSTOM
In the 'file save as' , choose Microsoft AVI for the HUFFY codec
Goto OPTIONS, last TAB will give you the option to select the codec


I can tell you right now that it isn't worth the trouble. I had installed one of those shareware codec paks and had nothing but trouble with all my video software including MS MEdia player. Huffy maybe 'lossless', but I can't tell any difference between it and DV AVI. I've had nothing but haedaches trying to use those freebie codecs. I'll just stick with the ones that came with my purchases.

[pijetro]

fwbaumann wrote:

Is it installed but not shown?

If you've got playback on the timeline, then it's installed..

ggrussell wrote:

I had installed one of those shareware codec paks and had nothing but trouble with all my video software

I'll take that comment with a grain of salt..
.AVI with DV compression is fine, but many people don't have the hardware for this..
.AVI with Huffy compression, is the next best thing to capturing interlaced video..
Another note..Huffy is primarily a capture codec. Playback sucks, but the encoding results are fantastic...

[fwbaumann]

I really want to thank you for your help. You are right about not understanding, as I'm retired and new to this game. But I don't feel alone. Even the computer nerds (I wear my nerd badge proudly) don't fully understand all the ins and outs.

I did notice file size changes, for example the YUY2 had 200meg, Huffy was 100 meg, and the Microsoft window was 50 meg for the same 10 second clip. I just don't want to throw away quality because multiple recompressions are necessary. ( have to add audio and vidio filters to even rescue these old videotapes.) I notice the file size changes and assume I'm loosing data when they shrink. The YUY2 doesn't seem to work well in Adobe as I get a greatly reduced output file. I guess I'm just fat fingering the save options.

One real problem I have is Soundsoap and the standalone only works with AVI / quicktime and I was hoping to find a lossless codec that is compatable with my editors, quicktime and the soundsoap. The standard codecs in quicktime are too lossy to use. Suggestions would be appreciated.

[fwbaumann]

Excuse my ignorance but what is AVI with DV compression? How does it differ from YUY2? Can it be recompressed (maybe more than once) without severe consequences?

[pijetro]

Alright nerdy boy, here it goes..
.AVI is windows media.
.MOV (quicktime) is Mac's version..

They are both containers for video. Within these containers lye compression factors (codecs)..

Every codec has advantages, and disadvantages.
To add to this, there is a colourspace, in which all of this is played back, and/or captured.
They are RGB, and the YUV family..
For capure, editing, and conversion, stick to the YUV family..
RGB taxes the system too much during capture..

Depending on the hardware/software, and final output, everything has its place in the video world.

[pijetro]

I did notice file size changes, for example the YUY2 had 200meg, Huffy was 100 meg, and the Microsoft window was 50 meg for the same 10 second clip.

The first one is totally uncompressed, but encode time rocks..
Huffy is still using the YUY2 colourspace, but adding a slight compression. Manageable nowadays with larger H.D.D.
DV is great because the filesize stays relatively small, but quality, and playback on the timeline are fantastic..

Trust me, the three aforementioned should create fantastic results, assuming the orginal footage is good enough quality..
Don't get caught up in compression and quality loss..

The largest factor in quality loss is re-compressing to different codecs unnessecarily..

[sacajaweeda]

huffYUV is great if you have he disk space. PicVideo MJPEG set at 19 is a good alternative if you don't have the space. It's also a lot less taxing on your system than huffYUV is. Less dropped frames, etc.

[fwbaumann]

Pijetro... Thanks, I only wish I were a nerdy boy, It's been too many years and I'm a retired nerdy grandpa. Nerdyness doesn't go away with age, but what the heck most of us are quite well to do and some of the others...well maybe not so well to do.

You cleared up the mov/avi problem. (I only wish I had bought a mac instead of a windows thing...oh well we live with our errors)

I guess this is almost an unresovable problem in that soundsoap was written for the mac and later released for XP only. (Lord, I hate XP)
All my editors Pinnacle, Ulead and the version of Adobe I have are windows based. The Soundsoap ad proudly displays it will work with AVI files, but when you try to clean anything of value the quicktime window pops up and says not supported format and there is a blank quicktime screen. Soap cleans the AVI better that anything I've ever seen. (It learns the noise and removes just that), however, when attempts to save the cleaned AVI are made it will not save. I'm thinking that since there is no compatable codec this is causing the save problem. I see no way out of this delema as Soundsoap support has been very quiet on this issue.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Fred

[dj4monie]

Ive been using WMV codec for the captures I have done and using the S-Video in on my AIW card the results are excellent. Of course that's a Direct TV signal too.

I have wanted to try different codecs but so far I haven't seen a reason to try others until I get the additional disk space to try some out. Right now Im content with this and the Divx codec as I'm trying to make my captures good enough for playback online without the quality suffering or creating a huge file.

I'd love to see a back to back Huffy and all the other codecs to compare image quality to file size.

[codecpage]

With Studio9, there is a checkbox "show all codecs" with the codec selection. Maybe that's missing.
Anyway you may not really need Huffyuv. The PIC Mjpeg codec that comes with Studio9 yields excellent results at high Q settings and the files are way smaller.
A comparison is at my DVD page under resolution tests, or you jump directly there :
http://www.codecpage.com/DV.html#Anker22512

Cheers

[pijetro]

however, when attempts to save the cleaned AVI are made it will not save.

Are you saving as a PCM audio or an .AVI??
There's just got to be a way to do this..

I can forsee the Quicktime hanging up, since it might not recognize the .AVI codecs, but I thought PCM audio was universal??