VDM Won't Encode to MP3

[adalect]

Well, I fixed up the screenshots so other people can look at them and properly follow through this thread. If they still don't show up, please say so. Anyway... I still have a subtle interest in cleaning up this codec problem of mine...

if you are unsure how a file is decoded open the file in gspot and under "proposed codec solutions and test" you can see how your system is decoding it.

So I open up the original MKV File in GSpot and it said "Render OK. The following combination of filters was used:" but there was no list below it. Strange. This file plays perfectly well on the computer though.

So then I open up the AVISynth Script in GSpot. It says some things I don't understand. As far as I understand, it says the video is not playable. But this is not true: the audio is the real problem. A screenshot is at the bottom.

I hope this helps. Is there an easy way of solving my codec problems? Or should I try to avoid headaches and just stick to what works for me?

[Pinstripes23]

I'm not sure about the first but I'm gonna guess there may be conflict on what decoders are being used cuz of the codec pack installed. Most informed people just install the codecs they need and avoid codec packs. FFmpegsource is most likely working on that file of yours cuz it is using the dll in your avisynth plugins folder to decode that file. You can check to see what codecs are installed in your system through gspot: system-->list codecs and other filters.

When you ran the original mkv file through gpot and used "proposed codec solutions and test" by pressing 1 and 2, did a little video window pop up playing the file? And what player do you use to play mkv files? If it's a player that has internal codecs that could be why it's playing correctly but having problems with avisynth.

As far as opening up the avisynth script through gspot it's kinda pointless as you want to use gspot on your file natively. Avisynth on-the-fly decompresses your file.

I don't know what else to tell you as far as the file you are having problems with. Cuz I downloaded that sample of yours, used directshowsource in avisynth, tested with mpc, and actually used your method by importing it into vdubmod and converting to xvid/mp3. So your method works on my system and all I have decoding the file is ffdshow. So my only recommendation is to uninstall the codec pack and just install the codecs you need, or you can most likely get by on using ffdshow altogether.

[adalect]

When you ran the original mkv file through gpot and used "proposed codec solutions and test" by pressing 1 and 2, did a little video window pop up playing the file?

Yes. It played it perfectly with video and sound.

And what player do you use to play mkv files? If it's a player that has internal codecs that could be why it's playing correctly but having problems with avisynth.

I always use MPC since that's what I was first pointed to when I came for here for help. I believe MPC uses external codecs.

As far as opening up the avisynth script through gspot it's kinda pointless as you want to use gspot on your file natively. Avisynth on-the-fly decompresses your file.

I thought that would figure out any codec conflicts when the original working MKV file gos through AVISynth. Oh well.

my only recommendation is to uninstall the codec pack and just install the codecs you need, or you can most likely get by on using ffdshow altogether.

OK... I will do that soon. I will be looking around for good codecs to use.

[Pinstripes23]

And what player do you use to play mkv files? If it's a player that has internal codecs that could be why it's playing correctly but having problems with avisynth.

I always use MPC since that's what I was first pointed to when I came for here for help. I believe MPC uses external codecs.

Actually mpc has its own internal codecs you can enable/disable (view -> options -> internal filters) and it has an aac audio decoder. One hint to see if it is in fact using its own internal decoder is:

1) play the file
2) while it's playing, in mpc at the top go to play --> filters

And it will list the splitting and decoding chain. Using your mkv file, if the internal audio decoder is enabled it will say "AAC Decoder". When I disable it, it will say "ffdshow audiodecoder".

[adalect]

OK...

So I uninstalled the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

I installed a standalone version of MPC. Then I installed ffdshow. I don't know how, but ffdshow seems to do everything. It worked for the XVID encode I managed to do, and the original MKV file too.

However, I have a problem opening the AVISynth file. When I try DirectShowSource, it gives me an error. At the end of the post is a screenshot.

When I try the second method of FFMpegSouce2, it gives another error. The second screenshot at the bottom is it.

I am messed up right now. I had a solution, but to eliminate the codec problems, I ruined it... How ironic. But I still have hope. So what do I do know?

Another question. I noticed that when that in VDM, I don't have LAME MP3 as an audio compressor to encode to. Does that mean I have to get LAME MP3 installed? I thought ffdshow took care of that.

Also, how is ffdshow not a codec pack? Its control panel seems to deal with so many different formats. Just wondering...

[DarrellS]

Here is a list of Codecs that I use.

AC3 ACM Decompressor
AC3Filter
DivX 3.11 (for decompressing wma in VDub or you could use the DivX audio decoder)
DivX Plus (comes with DivX 6.9.2 decoder and encoder and DivX H264 and DivX AAC decoder and encoder)
ffdshow (only choose file types you can open with existing codecs) I only pick VFW codecs
(Libavcodec for FLV1,Theora,VP3,VP5,VP6,VP6F,VC-1 and WMV9 for WMV1,2 and 3)
FLV Splitter
Haali Media Splitter
HuffYUV (optional) or Lagarith Lossless Video Codec (optional)
LAME ACM codec
QuickTime Alternative
Real Alternative (don't install MPC, install MPC-HC from the link instead)
WMV9 VCM
XviD Codec

I also use Virtualdub 1.9.9 (The new versions allow you to do all kinds of things that older mod versions cannot like Smart Render and using filters in blend mode with the curve editor to perform transitions). Here are the plugins...

MPEG2 (by fcchandler) http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/MPEG2/index.html
WMV (by fcchandler) http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/WMV/index.html
AC3 (by fcchandler) http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/Plugins/AC3/AC3.zip
QuickTime (by tateu) http://www.tateu.net/software/
Flash Video (by Moitah) http://www.moitah.net/
DirectShow (by phaeron) http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=15093&st=0



The reason that I only use the VFW codecs in ffdshow instead of installing everything when I install ffdshow is because it can cause a lot of codec incompatabilities also. Not as destructive as codec packs and easily fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling but easy to avoid at time of install by unticking unneeded file types.

[Pinstripes23]

However, I have a problem opening the AVISynth file. When I try DirectShowSource, it gives me an error. At the end of the post is a screenshot.

You have to install the haali media splitter which are used for mkv files. MPC I think has an internal one so that's probably why you are able to play the file but not open it in avisynth. See if that will work. Also if you plan on opening flv files in avisynth you will need the flv splitter

When I try the second method of FFMpegSouce2, it gives another error. The second screenshot at the bottom is it.

I don't know about this one...I'll have to see. I never tried this way with your file

Another question. I noticed that when that in VDM, I don't have LAME MP3 as an audio compressor to encode to. Does that mean I have to get LAME MP3 installed? I thought ffdshow took care of that.

You need to install the lameacm in order to encode to mp3 with vdubmod. TBH I only use ffdshow as a decoder so I don't even know if it can be used as an encoder to mp3. I have another tool that does that for me though.

Also, how is ffdshow not a codec pack? Its control panel seems to deal with so many different formats. Just wondering...

Well the codec packs like the one you installed are standalone codecs just thrown into together, while ffdshow is a directshow decoding filter. I think for most people who just want playback, they can get away with the combination of mpc and ffdshow. But since you are encoding, using avisynth, etc you will need more than just ffdshow such as the splitters. I have other individual codecs installed in my system but I installed as I needed them and not in a pack. I mention ffdshow a lot only because that's what my system is using to decode your file.

[adalect]

However, I have a problem opening the AVISynth file.

You have to install the haali media splitter which are used for mkv files.

Thanks! That works. However, it's strange: there are 2 Haali tray icons and two ffdshow icons. Of course, the two icons for each are for video and audio individually. I don't think the two are doing the same job though. A quick Google search led me to conclude that Haali "splits" the file for ffdshow to "decode." So essentially, I am not wasting computing power doing the same job twice.

When I try the second method of FFMpegSouce2, it gives another error. The second screenshot at the bottom is it.

I don't know about this one...I'll have to see.

I will try it too. I am not at my computer right now, so the results will come in later. I think Haali will make it work though.

You need to install the lameacm in order to encode to mp3 with vdubmod.

Allright then.

Well the codec packs like the one you installed are standalone codecs just thrown into together, while ffdshow is a directshow decoding filter...

Thanks for your explanation. That clear up my confusion.


Thanks to everybody who has helped me so far.

[adalect]

When I try the second method of FFMpegSouce2, it gives another error.

OK. It works... as long as Haali is installed.

So to conclude (mostly for people in the future with the same problem):

• Codec packs messed up my system
• The conflicts in codec packs make encoding nearly impossible
• One should install only the individual codecs they need
• Haali is needed to "split" MKV files for the codec to decode
• The guys over here are very helpful and patient

So I would like to thank Pinstripes23 for his brilliant help. I would also like to thank DarrellS for his help as well.

And thanks to everybody else who read this thread and tried to help.

[AlanHK]

Also, how is ffdshow not a codec pack? Its control panel seems to deal with so many different formats. Just wondering...

A codec pack is a collection of software from different sources, that someone has made a unified installer for. ffdshow is a single project, (related to ffmpeg) it's very versatile and can cope with many different kinds of media.

Actually, you can use K-Lite's configuration to uninstall any and every codec it includes (as well as some others) and just activate the ones you need. All it does is organise the individual codecs. You can use it, for instance, to install ffdshow, Haali and MPC and nothing else, if that's what you want.

[Pinstripes23]

When I try the second method of FFMpegSouce2, it gives another error.

OK. It works... as long as Haali is installed.

Yea just to confirm I tried it on your file and it works also. It's actually very versatile and can load a lot of formats but I would just use it as a secondary resort and just stick with directshowsource.

[adalect]

I just recently encountered another problem and posted it here: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/319915-VDM-Crashes-with-FFDShow-Encoding?p=1981041 . I thought that would be a good idea to separate the two to keep things simple but apparently it's not helpful. If you guys have any suggestion to my current problems, please read the newer thread and reply there. Thanks!