VirtualDub CPU Utilization (AVI Playback)

[stahlhart]

Does anyone else have a problem with this application being a huge CPU hog when playing back .AVI files? Or is an XP2500 not enough processor for the job? WMP has no issues with the same files.

Is the fact that these are uncompressed .AVI (i.e. large files) a factor?

Seems as though I can smooth out the playback a little bit if I shrink the window to the point that the full resolution of the .AVI is partially obscured. But CPU pegging at 100% in all cases causes audio stutter.

C.K.

[jimmalenko]

I find that it performs badly when playing back DV AVI files, and I get the stuttering audio also. Then again, being a player isn't it's forte, so I can live with that. It is awesome for everything I need it for, and I edit ads out of my TV caps by vision and not by audio.

[vhelp]

What directshow driver version/build do you have installed on your OS ??

Lets call it DS. Anyways.

This is have a dramatic effect on playback (if the sw player calls directshow
instructions) during playback.

I have Windows 98, and when I have dS.5 installed on it (due to situations
that require my re-installing the OS - I do this often) and then I proceed
to play back DV files (mjpeg too) I get studders or it chokes or it slowmotion
plays.

But, when I upgrade to DS8.x or DS9x, it plays smoothly in any software
player.

I would suggest to experiment with differen DS.X version installs, until
you get the one that plays your DV files smoothly. There may be other
factors involved that hampers your given setup, and you may never be able
to play it smoothly. But, I play just about everything on my

AMD XP1800+ (w/ bugs and all) and things play fine - speed'wise.. unless
I go and change things - which I constantly do

If you play it inside PDVD, it will play smooth, becuase PDVD uses it's own
propriate engine - maybe buffers or overlay is involved - I'm just guessing.

-vhelp 3374

[stahlhart]

jimmalenko:

Yes, that's exactly how I've been treating/approaching it as a result. I've been having pretty good luck editing video visually using the same approach as you. Sometimes I've noted that television broadcasts are a little bit sloppy as far as audio for an ad starting a little sooner than the video -- which sometimes results in a fragment of the audio from the ad that was edited out being left behind -- but I can usually correct this by editing the audio separately afterward with a .WAV editor (I'm really old school here, using CoolEdit 96 ).

vhelp:

Really dumb question: how do I determine which version of DS I'm running (is it tied to the version of DirectX installed?), and how is it added/removed?

I have a DirectShow tab under DirectX in Control Panel (I'm running W2k SP4 w/DX 9.0c, BTW), but this only has a slider for debug output level, which is currently at the lowest possible setting. Can versions of specific DirectX files reported in DXDiag be used to determine which version is installed?

Thanks to both of you for the responses...

C.K.

[vhelp]

This is a hard question to answer. One reason why, is because there is
no single DX app (that I am aware of at this present time) that can be
used to tell you exactly which version you have ( I'm under 98 ) and
when I run a previous DX.diag tool to seek out version info, it will
give me the prev ver (even though I upgraded to a higher one) and the
problem with this approach, is that *if* you don't know what you last
installed, you won't know which version DX.diag tool to use
This has ben a problem w/ my given OS setup. I don'tk know how it is
or might effect you under another OS, (ie, your w2k)
.
Maybe there is an actual util app that can read in any DX (DS) driver
version.. I'm unaware of them at the moment ..so, I'm going by my
experience when seeking DX version info.

There is another screw I left out.

With respect to my DV endeavors (mostly capture applications) I have
hacked the drivers. This may have an effect on my DV playback. Again,
under my 98 OS version. Depending on how I hack certaine driver files,
my DV playback (including capture playback) performance will vary, from
one install to the next. When I re-install WIN98, everything gets all
screwy, and I have to find my place again. I usually record my findings
and settings and things, but in this case w/ DV, I have not, though I
do remember some things with a little futzing around.

Have you tried playing your DV through PDVD yet ??

..my DV files (type-1, and type-2) play smooth, w/ no issues)

-vhelp 3378