Codecs and VirtualDub

[botanic]

I am attempting to use VirtualDub-MPEG2 v1.5.1 to tweak some clips I have captured (via WinDV) from VHS tape by means of a Canopus ADVD-100 box. When I try to load the clip into VirtualDub it complains that it "couldn't locate decompressor for format 'dvsd' (unknown)" .... VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable."

Fair enough, I ran the clip through GSpot v2.2.1, and it claimed I had two compatible codecs installed - DV Video Decoder and AVI Draw. It also successfully "Rendered" the clips.

I tried adding each of these as String vales in the registry into HKLM/.../WindowsNT/Current Version/Drivers32 as key "vidc.dvsd". This did nothing for me. Am I missing something obvious?

The clips incidentally play fine in a variety of players, but I particularly want to try out VirtualDub since I haven't too much experience with it other than the occasional format conversion.

Incidentally, why does WinDV split the recording into chunks? I get typically 3 or 4 clips in a one hour capture.

System: XP sp2, P4, ABIT AI7 mobo, 1GB RAM

Thanks
bot

[daamon]

Install the free and very good Panasonic DV Codec - works well with VirtualDub of any flavour...

As for the chunks in WinDV:

1. Set the discontinuity threshold to 0 - this ignores each new clip that's been recorded. 1 means "new AVI for every new clip filmed".

2. Increase the Max AVI size (frames) to XXX.

You can calculate XXX to whatever you want it to be - There are 25 frames per second for PAL, 30 for NTSC. That's 60 x 25 or 30 per minute, 3600 x 25 or 30 per hour.

Based on that, put in an appropriate value. I use 100,000 - just over an hour.

[celtic_druid]

ffdshow also handles the DVSD fourCC, for both VFW and dshow which is the problem with GSpot, it is about playback and was listing installed dshow decoders.

[botanic]

Thank you both, very informative and helpful as usual! Everything now works a treat.

bot