ffdshow

[anon_private]

To improve my understanding.

I installed ffdshow to run flv files.

I can now view flv files in Windows Media Player and Movica.

My question relates to how it works.

Before installing ffdshow the two programmes were useable (not for flv), so I assume that they have their own codecs installed somewhere? Yet they search for others?

Does ffdshow take preference over other codecs originally used by applications?

I am runnumg ffdshow using the defaults. Do I need to look further?

is ffdshow the best free series of codecs, best meaning most comprehensive?

Is ffdshow usually installed to superceed exisiting codecs and allow an application/s greater useage?

I wonder why media applications don't include ffdshow with their applications?

ffdshow is installed in program files (Vista). It looks like the applications must search for codecs, eventhough they have their own?

[hello_hello]

ffdshow is a DirectShow filter. Simply put, various DirectShow codecs/decoders can be installed on a PC and any DirectShow capable media player (ie Windows Media Player) can use them for decoding.
Windows Media Player and/or Windows itself only comes with a limited selection of codecs, so installing ffdshow will allow a player such as Windows Media Player to decode formats it can't decode "out of the box".

One problem is the whole system can end up a bit of a mess when there's multiple DirectShow codecs installed all capable of decoding the same type of audio and video etc. ffdshow combines decoders for multiple types of audio and video into a single "package". They can be enabled/disabled individually using the ffdshow video (or audio) decoder configuration. That way you can install a different DirectShow codec for video type "x" while disabling video type "x" in ffdshow's configuration if you want to, but more often than not, ffdshow will provide all the decoders you'll require.

Many third party media players come with "internal" decoders so they don't require DirectShow decoders to play all the common formats, or some players will allow you to choose whether they use their internal codecs for a particular format or whether they use a DirectShow decoder such as ffdshow instead. MPC-HC would be an example. VLC is another popular player although I'm pretty sure it'll only use it's internal decoders.

[anon_private]

Thank you.

I assume that it is best for me to leave ffdshow set at default.

I hope that if I need a codec that is not currently enabled that I will get a message telling me to enable it, or offering top enable the relevant codec.

Best wishes

[hello_hello]

There won't be any message telling you to enable/disable codecs. ffdshow will either decode, or it won't. I can't remember what's enabled by default and what isn't, but it's not hard to look and change it if need be. The ffdshow video decoder configuration looks like the pic below. Select "Codecs" at the top of the left menu. You can enable/disable decoding of a particular format by clicking on the line under the Decoder column.
There's no need to be worried about enabling/disabling decoders. The process is very easily reversed. There's a separate configuration for audio which works the same way.

ffdshow doesn't decode audio and video according to the type of container they might be in (MKV, MP4, AVI etc are containers which can hold various types of audio and video), it's configured to encode particular types of audio and video regardless of the container they're in. For example if it's set to decode h.264 video it can decode it whether it's inside an MKV, MP4 or AVI. If you're in doubt as to what sort of audio or video you're trying to play, MediaInfo should tell you.
In the case of FLV files they'll likely have FLV video inside, and mpeg files will contain mpeg video, but there's often no direct relationship between the type of file and what's inside it. For example AVIs are generally used to hold mpeg4 video and MP3 or AC3 audio, but AVIs can contain other types.

And ffdshow has a bunch of other filters which can be enabled and disabled. When enabled they'll be applied if ffdshow is doing the decoding. For example enabling the "Picture Properties" filter lets you adjust things like brightness and contrast etc.



I'm fairly sure (I can't remember for certain as I never use it given it's such a horrible player) in order for Windows Media Player to play MKV files, you also need to install the Haali Media Splitter. You just need to install it and then you can forget about it. ffdshow should still decode the audio and video within the MKV files if it's needed.

[anon_private]

Thank you.

Best wishes

[anon_private]

I opened Windows Media Player and ffdshow.

I played an flv file and clicked some of the boxes in ffdshow (sharpen , blur, etc.).

I noticed no change in the flv as it played. Should it not work live?

Thanks

[Hoser Rob]

You should not have to install a 3rd party codec pack to play flv's ... flv is not exactly an exotic format ... or any other codecs. A decent media player (which windows media player isn't - it's awful) will not need such things. They'll have their own internal codecs.

I don't much like codec packs, but if you want to use one ffdshow is probably your best choice. Just don't install a bunch of codec packs on a windows system. They can conflict.

[anon_private]

You should not have to install a 3rd party codec pack to play flv's ... flv is not exactly an exotic format ... or any other codecs. A decent media player (which windows media player isn't - it's awful) will not need such things. They'll have their own internal codecs.

I don't much like codec packs, but if you want to use one ffdshow is probably your best choice. Just don't install a bunch of codec packs on a windows system. They can conflict.

ffdshow is necessary if I am using Windows Media Player to view flv's.

Do you know why my adjustments in ffdshow did not effect the flv in WMP?

Thanks

[jagabo]

The decoder only checks the setting when the filter graph is built. So you have to exit and restart WMP (or at least stop the player and restart it). If you want to change ffdshow's settings interactively enable the tray icon. Make changes from there while a video is playing.

[anon_private]

The decoder only checks the setting when the filter graph is built. So you have to exit and restart WMP (or at least stop the player and restart it). If you want to change ffdshow's settings interactively enable the tray icon. Make changes from there while a video is playing.

Thank you.

How do I enable the tray icon?

[jagabo]

Start -> All Programs -> ffdshow -> Video Decoder Configuration -> Tray, Dialogs & Paths -> Tray Icons -> Modern or Classic.

[anon_private]

Thank you