Advise on Which Codecs to Install(video editing/encoding)

[LastQuestion]

So, well, I had some issues with x264 encoding that I couldn't find a solution to, so, I clean installed W7-64. I had installed K-lite, and, well even though I have no idea what caused the issue I had I'd just like to avoid any potential issues that are known to be caused by codec packs. I used a codec pack because I don't know what codecs I actually need in my situation.

My needs aren't 'normal' otherwise I wouldn't have any questions(or be here). To get to the point I'm capturing gameplay via FRAPS and a Black Magic Intensity Pro(Mjpeg). I then edit those in Vegas Pro 12, render out with Lagarith, and encode with Xvid4PSP 6.0 H.264 into an MP4 with AAC-LC. I also use Staxrip to encode the FRAPS videos to mp4 as soon as possible. I'll always try to use the original FRAPS video for projects, but that won't always be possible.

I'm still learning many of the fundamentals of NLE's, encoding, and codecs and have been able to find most of the information I needed. However, it seems as soon as you add 'codec' to a search there's nothing but spam for codecs packs and people asking what they need to play MKVs. Tiresome to sort though.

So far I gather I'd probably be best suited with ffdshow, but I don't know why, whether it's just enough, overkill, or insufficient for all my needs. Any kind of feedback here would be welcome.

[poisondeathray]

You don't need to install any codecs for the workflow you're doing (except for fraps, and BM codecs if you're using the Intensity Pro)

You don't even need lagarith - you could use debugmode frameserver for example

[LastQuestion]

You don't need to install any codecs for the workflow you're doing (except for fraps, and BM codecs if you're using the Intensity Pro)

You don't even need lagarith - you could use debugmode frameserver for example

Really. I thought I'd need at least need something to decode the AVIs, or for previewing content in MPC. Also, Xvid4PSP 6.0.4 doesn't support frameserving, though it's coming for .5. Also couldn't get it to work with Stax.

Edit: Just made sure I was remembering why i was certain I needed additional codecs. Ran Stax and tried to import a FRAPS file like normal, I a prompt to "Please download and install one of the following YV12 decoders:
-> ffdshow (recommended)
->XviD
->Helix".
Clicking on one of them directs to their respective download pages.

I also just realized that since I won't be installing K-lite I'd have to install MPC-HC and, you're supposed to do something with LAV filters to get it working as well as K-lite has it. There was a link to a guide for it that I glanced over on the Doom9 ffdshow thread. Another topic altogether for another thread I suppose.

[poisondeathray]

Unless you're doing something else you didn't describe, the AVI's that you will be using will be decoded by fraps and BM codecs respectively.

MPCHC includes all codecs and splitters you need for general use (no system codecs need to be installed, and MPCHC doesn't need to be "installed" either - you can get a "portable" version) Or you can use other players like VLC, SMPlayer which also include all codecs without need for installing anything - this way you don't mess with system registry

Debugmode should work with xvid4psp , staxrip or any other program that uses avisynth on the backend

If you "install" some of those programs like staxrip or xvid4psp - I think some of them will actually require you to install ffdshow or some of them install stuff anyways in the package. Some of them like ripbot check to see if prerequisite programs/filters are installed they won't work otherwise. The way around this is to not use them - learn to use x264 CLI

Installing a few things like ffdshow , lav splitter won't destroy your computer. They're pretty safe . But strictly speaking you don't need them for your workflow

[El Heggunte]

Apologies for the off-topic, but
what's the point of linking a Doom9 image to a Doom9 URL whose access is denied to nearly everyone

http://forum.doom9.org/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1601194

.......

[LastQuestion]

Unless you're doing something else you didn't describe, the AVI's that you will be using will be decoded by fraps and BM codecs respectively.

MPCHC includes all codecs and splitters you need for general use (no system codecs need to be installed, and MPCHC doesn't need to be "installed" either - you can get a "portable" version) Or you can use other players like VLC, SMPlayer which also include all codecs without need for installing anything - this way you don't mess with system registry

Debugmode should work with xvid4psp , staxrip or any other program that uses avisynth on the backend

If you "install" some of those programs like staxrip or xvid4psp - I think some of them will actually require you to install ffdshow or some of them install stuff anyways in the package. Some of them like ripbot check to see if prerequisite programs/filters are installed they won't work otherwise. The way around this is to not use them - learn to use x264 CLI

Installing a few things like ffdshow , lav splitter won't destroy your computer. They're pretty safe . But strictly speaking you don't need them for your workflow

I installed FRAPS already and Windows Media Player can play my FRAPS files, so the codec must be working? I don't know if Stax can frameserve, I couldn't get it working. The author of Xvid4PSP said the program won't support Frameserving(among other desired features) until 6.0.5. I suppose since Stax extracts into a folder instead of installing that this prompt is the "installation" of ffdshow. I'll install Xvid4PSP 6.0 and see how it behaves when importing a FRAPS file, will try a BMIP Mjpeg as well for it and Stax.

I just really need to get back to work so I'm kind of paranoid about getting the config right to avoid something like this happening again. I'm almost a week behind on projects and I have a great deal of researching and learning to do on other topics so learnign x264 CLI is a task I'd be hard-pressed to make time for. I'd also like to be able to help some of my friends who want to do game capture and there's no way they'd be able to learn x264 CLI.

[LastQuestion]

Apologies for the off-topic, but
what's the point of linking a Doom9 image to a Doom9 URL whose access is denied to nearly everyone

http://forum.doom9.org/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=1601194

.......

I didn't catch that. Thanks for bring it up. I've edited it out.

[poisondeathray]

[I don't know if Stax can frameserve, I couldn't get it working. The author of Xvid4PSP said the program won't support Frameserving(among other desired features) until 6.0.5. I suppose since Stax extracts into a folder instead of installing that this prompt is the "installation" of ffdshow. I'll install Xvid4PSP 6.0 and see how it behaves when importing a FRAPS file, will try a BMIP Mjpeg as well for it and Stax.

I'd be very surprised if frameserving didn't work for either of them. They use avisynth (avisynth is a frameserver). It definitely works with something like megui

Programs on the receiving end cannot tell they are being frameserved to. They think it's an uncompressed "AVI"

If you didn't want to frameserve, then go ahead and use lagarith, ut video codec or another lossless codec. They are stable and won't destroy your configuration either

The potential problem with codec packs is they install a bunch of things you don't need. If you carefully do a selective install from a codec pack, pick and choose, then they can be fine too. In the past they got a very bad rep (and deservedly so), but they are much better now. But I would still avoid them, or at least to a selective install

[LastQuestion]

[I don't know if Stax can frameserve, I couldn't get it working. The author of Xvid4PSP said the program won't support Frameserving(among other desired features) until 6.0.5. I suppose since Stax extracts into a folder instead of installing that this prompt is the "installation" of ffdshow. I'll install Xvid4PSP 6.0 and see how it behaves when importing a FRAPS file, will try a BMIP Mjpeg as well for it and Stax.

I'd be very surprised if frameserving didn't work for either of them. They use avisynth (avisynth is a frameserver). It definitely works with something like megui

Programs on the receiving end cannot tell they are being frameserved to. They think it's an uncompressed "AVI"

If you didn't want to frameserve, then go ahead and use lagarith, ut video codec or another lossless codec. They are stable and won't destroy your configuration either

The potential problem with codec packs is they install a bunch of things you don't need. If you carefully do a selective install from a codec pack, pick and choose, then they can be fine too. In the past they got a very bad rep (and deservedly so), but they are much better now. But I would still avoid them, or at least to a selective install

I would be surprised if Stax wasn't able to. I imagine it is possible but requires tweaking in order to work. Xvid4PSP 6.0.4 definitely does not however. Gumi(the author of the software) stated this himself(on a russian forum, yay Gtranslate). 6.0.4 isn't able to handle Cineform or Frameserving, and as I found out recently FRAPS isn't fully supported either but they will be in 6.0.5.

I was also considering a selective install of K-lite, but, this has been a huge setback I want to avoid in the future. About Xvid though. It installs it Libs into My Documents and doesn't require a decoder to encode AVIs. Still hates FRAPS video though but I should be able to render the lagarith. I wonder if there's a way to get Stax to use ffdshow by placing it in the Apps folder it uses.

[Cauptain]

RIPBOT264 work flawless with DEBUGMODE FRAMESERVER. Try it.



Claudio