Opening .flv in VirtualDub ?

[GMaq]

Hi
On my former computer setup I used FLV Extract to open .flv's in VirtualDub with ffdshow installed. I have since reloaded my system and have the same software installed and can no longer open .flv files in VirtualDub. I am using ffdshow with .flv enabled, VirtualDub MPEG-2 and FLV Extract. I know I can use AviSynth but I want to use the MSU Smartdeblock and NeatVideo filters and have no interest in using the VDub filters in Avisynth. Before I could frameserve VirtualDub .vdr's to Avisynth and send my .avs files to my Encoder (MeGUI). I'd like to do the same thing except I can't even get the .flv's to open in VDub. Am I missing something obvious?? As always time and help appreciated!

[GMaq]

Ahhh Yes!
Figured it out, must have flv1 enabled in both the directshow and vfw config dialogs. If you enable it during installation it doesn't enable it in vfw by default.

[Perplexer]

Hmm, are you actually loading *.flv files into VirtualDub or are you saying you are first extracting the video stream (to an *.avi) and then opening that in VirtualDub ? If so, how to you put audio and video back together ? Or are you always saving as some other video format after you're done ?

[GMaq]

Perplexer,
I use FLV Extract to split the file and import the Video as FLV avi. I then convert and normalize the split .mp3 audio to .wav so I can import it into VirtualDub (I wish it'd just import as .mp3). I then do my filtering, deblocking etc and start the VirtualDub frameserver. Lastly I open the frameserved .vdr file in AVSP (an Avisynth Text Editor) add any Avisynth filters if needed and save the file as a .avs file. Then I open the .avs file with the encoder (Usually WinFF or 3GP iPod Converter). Most encoders should be able to open the .avs files, some will even open the .vdr files (TMPGEnc.)

This is a very convoluted process that I only use for really hard to find or rare footage, but it does work well especially with Flash Video.

[Alex_ander]

Gabest flv splitter + AviSynth (DirectShowSource); both MSU Smart Deblocking and NeatVideo work in AviSynth.

LoadVirtualDubPlugin("path\VirtualDub\plugins\MSU_SmartDeblock_0.8.vdf","MSU_Smart_Debl ocking", 0)
LoadVirtualDubPlugin("path\VirtualDub\plugins\Neat Video.vdf", "NeatVideo",0)
DirectShowSource("path/video.FLV", fps=...)
ConvertToRGB32.MSU_Smart_Deblocking(1, 1, 1, 1)
NeatVideo()

[GMaq]

Alex_ander,
Thanks for the script, I know there are several ways to use AviSynth and VirtualDub plug-ins together, I haven't gotten around to learning them all yet but this script is a great start since NeatVideo and MSU are two of the most common ones I use. I still sometimes prefer VirtualDub's UI, but that's just a matter of preference. Thanks Again!

[shokan22]

I've got fccHandler's FLV plugin in a Plugins32 folder in the Virtual Dub folder on my desktop. In ffdshow in the VFW configuration dialog, I have all FLV and Flash items with libavcodec enabled. YouTube Flash videos still will not open, or any Flash video for that matter. (fccHandler's WMV plugin works for me btw)

Someone in this thread says: 'Figured it out, must have flv1 enabled in both the directshow and vfw config dialogs. If you enable it during installation it doesn't enable it in vfw by default.'

What does that mean? Where in ffdshow is the Directshow part that needs enabling?

Thanks.

(WinXP Pro SP3)

[davexnet]

FFdshow comes with a config program for VFV, Dshow and DXVA (if you install it). You can find it in the FFDshow program group.

[shokan22]

FFdshow comes with a config program for VFV, Dshow and DXVA (if you install it). You can find it in the FFDshow program group.

IN ffdshow program group I see:

Audio decoder configuration
DXVA Video decoder configuration
Homepage
Uninstall ffdshow
VFW configuration
Video decoder configuration

I have libavcodec enabled under VFW configuration for FLV1, VP3, VP5, VP6, VP6F.

Which other one in the program group is referred to by 'Figured it out, must have flv1 enabled in both the directshow and vfw config dialogs. If you enable it during installation it doesn't enable it in vfw by default'?

[lordsmurf]

"Flash" videos are often H.264 now, not On2 VP6.
The FLV plugin for VirtualDub is only for the On2 VP6 files.

You'll need another importer for H.264 / MPEG-4.

[Gavino]

The FLV plugin for VirtualDub is only for the On2 VP6 files.

No, the latest one from fccHandler also supports H.264/AVC.
http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/FLV

You also need a VfW decoder for H.264/AVC.
If using ffdshow: in its VfW configuration, enable H.264/AVC in the list of codecs (set decoder to "libavcodec").

[shokan22]

The FLV plugin for VirtualDub is only for the On2 VP6 files.

No, the latest one from fccHandler also supports H.264/AVC.
http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/FLV

You also need a VfW decoder for H.264/AVC.
If using ffdshow: in its VfW configuration, enable H.264/AVC in the list of codecs (set decoder to "libavcodec").

Thanks very much. VP6 Flash videos do open now. AVC format Flash videos do not, though. I notice in ffdshow > VFW configuration > Codecs > H.264/AVC > Supported FOURCCs/remarks: H264, AVC1, X264, VSSH (incomplete), DAVC, PAVC, ffmpeg-mt is multithreaded libavcodec (experimental)... and wonder if the info in these remarks gives a reason for not being able to open AVC format Flash videos.

[poisondeathray]

Maybe something is different about your FLV's ?

Where are they from?

What does mediainfo (view=>text) say about them ?

FFMpegSource2 with avisynth should be able to open most FLV's

[shokan22]

Maybe something is different about your FLV's ?

Where are they from?

What does mediainfo (view=>text) say about them ?

FFMpegSource2 with avisynth should be able to open most FLV's

Example of a YouTube video that won't open in Virtual Dub, named "What the Stuarts Did for Us" from which I've selected a few items in Media Info that look pertinent:

General >
Format : Flash Video
Overall bit rate : 531 kbps

Video >
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format Profile : Main@L2.1
Format Settings : CABAC : Yes
Format Settings, Reframes : 3 frames
Mixing mode : Container profile=Unknown@2.1
Bit rate : 394 kbps
Resolution : 24 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.085
Stream size : 64.8 MB (74%)

I don't know anything about Avisynth. I'll check it out.

[poisondeathray]

How did you download this from youtube? What method? Is it possible that it might be corrupted / partially downloaded?

Do you have the URL ?

If video plays in MPCHC , very likely you can open it with .avs and ffms2 in vdub

[shokan22]

How did you download this from youtube? What method? Is it possible that it might be corrupted / partially downloaded?

Do you have the URL ?

If video plays in MPCHC , very likely you can open it with .avs and ffms2 in vdub

Downloaded with Ant Video Firefox addon (which always seems to download everything fine):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8qTeM8kFhY

As I say, all AVC Flash videos do not open in VDub (as far as I know so far), VP6 does.

I don't know what MPCHC is but I'll go try it.

[davexnet]

I downloaded your vid (the 480p version) and it opened fine using the FLV plugin mentioned above.
I also had the FFDshow VFW config / codecs/ H264 set to ffmeg-mt.

[jagabo]

I downloaded your vid (the 480p version) and it opened fine using the FLV plugin mentioned above.
I also had the FFDshow VFW config / codecs/ H264 set to ffmeg-mt.

Same here, 360p and 480p versions. Though in my case x264vfw was doing the decoding.

[poisondeathray]

You can try installing x264vfw , it might help

It's a few extra steps to use avisynth method, but it will open cut flv's that even vdub's plugin won't open

[shokan22]

You can try installing x264vfw , it might help

It's a few extra steps to use avisynth method, but it will open cut flv's that even vdub's plugin won't open

I installed Avisynth. Am I right in that I need to run a script that would have a name something like FLV2AVI? because I don't see one like that at:

http://avisynth.org/warpenterprises/

(I installed x264vfw. Didn't work)

[poisondeathray]

You have to create a 1 line script
http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page#New_to_AviSynth_-_start_here

1) Install Avisynth

2) Download ffms2 plugin (place the .dll and .avsi in the avisynth/plugins directory to autoload)
http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/

3) Open a text file, write the following, replacing directory path/filenames to match, save it, then rename .txt extension to .avs . If the avs file is in same directory as video, you don't need to specify path

FFMpegSource2("PATH\video.flv", atrack=-1)

4) Open that .avs file in vdub

[shokan22]

2) Download ffms2 plugin (place the .dll and .avsi in the avisynth/plugins directory to autoload)
http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/

At the ffms page, it says :

"Versions and variants

If you're confused by all the different variants, here's a small explanation:

-Vanilla (no suffix): standard 32-bit version. If you don't know what you want, you want this."

I run XP Pro SP3 32 bit.

Which of ones at the following page (linked from ffms page) is the "vanilla" variant without a suffix that I would need? They all have suffixes.

http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/downloads/list

[poisondeathray]

Yes, the vanilla one, the 2nd last one on this page

http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/downloads/list

http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/downloads/detail?name=ffms-2.17.7z&can=2&q=

[shokan22]

Yes, the vanilla one, the 2nd last one on this page

http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/downloads/list

http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/downloads/detail?name=ffms-2.17.7z&can=2&q=

Oh, right, that one doesn't have a suffix. Thanks. I'll be giving this a whirl tomorrow, definitely new territory for me.

[jagabo]

If you're going to be using ffMpeg2Source() a lot you can use a batch file to make your AVS scripts. For example I have one called AVS-ffMpegSource2.bat that contains:

 echo ffMpegSource2("%~d1%~p1%~n1%~x1", atrack=-1) > "%~d1%~p1%~n1.avs"

Drag and drop any video file onto that batch file and it will create an AVS script with the same base name as the video file, in the same folder as the video file. If you put the batch file in your SendTo folder you can right click on any video and select SendTo -> AVS-ffMpegSource2.bat.



For example, if you have a video in: "D:\Video Files\My Video.flv", right click on it and select SendTo -> AVS-ffMpegSource2.bat, you will get the script in "D:\Video Files\My Video.AVS". In XP the SendTo folder is in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\SendTo. Bat file attached (in ZIP archive).

You can name the batch file anything you want. I have several batch files for creating AVS scripts so I name them like the above so they all appear together in the SendTo menu (they're automatically sorted). XP supports folders in the SendTo menu so you can further organize your batch files by putting them in folders. Unfortunately, Win7 dropped folder support in the SendTo menu.