Why this poor playback - except VirtualDub?

[terrypin]

I made an AVI of screen activity with CamStudio. VirtualDub plays it at its original quality. Yet in all of my other players (VLC, WMP 9, BS player, KM Player, MediaPlayer Classic, etc) it's poor. Here are respective screenshots:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/terrypin999/PlayQuality-VDub.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/terrypin999/PlayQuality-VLCOthers.jpg

Why this difference please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[minidv2dvd]

use gspot or mediainfo on the avi and post a screenshot of it's specs here.

[jagabo]

You're using MJPEG or HuffYUV with the "Swap Fields" option. Disable the field swap.

[terrypin]

Thanks both. Here's the GSpot screenshot:



--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jagabo]

Invert the "swap fields" option in your MJPEG decoders. Your "bad" image with the fields swapped back into the correct place (residual noise is from of the low quality JPEG image you uploaded):

[terrypin]

Thanks jagabo. Can you give me a clue as to how I do that please?

I've also now realised that my choice of MJPEG from the drop-down list in Camstuio > Options > Video Options was made unthinkingly. (It just happened to be set to that, since my last use month ago.) So presumably I could re-run the captuer with a 'better' choice of codec from the long list:

Camstudio Lossless
Cinepak
DivX 6.8.3
ffDshow
Helix
Helix YV12
Intel IYUV
Intel Indeo 4.5
Lagarith Lossless
MPEG4-v3
MS Video1
MSU capture
MSU lossless V1.2
Microsoft MPEG--4 V3
Microsoft MPEG-4 V1
Microsoft MPEG-4 V2
Morgan Multimedia M-JPEG V3
Xvid MPEG-4

Any of those I should focus on please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[jagabo]

Thanks jagabo. Can you give me a clue as to how I do that please?

In the MJPEG encoder/decoder settings dialog there should be a "swap fields" option. I don't know which one your using so I can't give specific details. Note that VirtualDub uses VFW decoders, media players will use DirectShow or built in decoders. Here's the PicVideo MJPEG config dialog with the option marked:

I've also now realised that my choice of MJPEG from the drop-down list in Camstuio > Options > Video Options was made unthinkingly. (It just happened to be set to that, since my last use month ago.) So presumably I could re-run the captuer with a 'better' choice of codec from the long list:

Camstudio Lossless
Cinepak
DivX 6.8.3
ffDshow
Helix
Helix YV12
Intel IYUV
Intel Indeo 4.5
Lagarith Lossless
MPEG4-v3
MS Video1
MSU capture
MSU lossless V1.2
Microsoft MPEG--4 V3
Microsoft MPEG-4 V1
Microsoft MPEG-4 V2
Morgan Multimedia M-JPEG V3
Xvid MPEG-4

Any of those I should focus on please?

If you want very clean caps of desktop stuff like your samples you should try HuffYUV (not in your list) or Lagarith. HuffYUV is faster. Use them in RGB mode for the cleanest compression. MSU losses is very slow, if I recall correctly. These don't give much compression for real world video though. For real video MJPEG is usually a good choice. Divx at it's fastest settings with all I frames is as fast and clean as MJPEG.

[terrypin]

Here's the 'Quick Config' dialog. Do you mean I should checkmark both those boxes labelled 'Invert Field Order'?



Edit: Meanwhile I tried that and was pleased to see a big improvement in all players - except VLC 0.9.9
At present VLC is my default AVI association, so reckon I'll change that. (What do others use, BTW?)

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK[/b]

[jagabo]

VLC uses its own internal decoders, not installed DirectShow decoders. I don't know if VLC's MJPEG decoder has a swap fields option. I took a quick look but didn't see one.

I use VLC on occasion but my main player now is MPCHC. MPCHC has many internal decoders but doesn't seem to include MJPEG. It can also use DirectShow decoders so you should be OK.