AVISynth scripts not opening in Virtual Dub

[jagabo]

So in my case, at least so far, I can't get sRestore to load - which means I have no way to discard blended and duplicate frames, correct?

That is correct.

Is there another way? I'm reading about TDecimate. Should I pursue that or figure out the sRestore issue

TDecimate preferentially discards duplicate frames. But it considers blended frames as unique. So you will be left with a lot of blended frames. I don't know anything else that does what SRestore does.

Try including the full SRestore text at the top of your script rather than using import().

[bvdd]

If I want to use the shortest possible script to try and get srestore fixed, would this work?

Import("C:\Program Files\Avisynth\plugins\sRestore.avs")
AVISource("TEST2.avi")
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="faster")
Srestore(Frate=19.98)

[bvdd]

Didn't work. Did I do it right?

[manono]

Srestore requires other filters before it works. Do you have them as well?

Usually the error messages mention what's missing, or something in what's missing. But maybe you're just getting the general error message. Also, I don't know why you both Import SRestore as well as having the entire function as part of your script. If I were you I'd remove it from your script.

Now I remember the thread about this same video from some time ago. Thanks.

[bvdd]

Srestore requires other filters before it works. Do you have them as well?

Usually the error messages mention what's missing, or something in what's missing. But maybe you're just getting the general error message. Also, I don't know why you both Import SRestore as well as having the entire function as part of your script. If I were you I'd remove it from your script.

Now I remember the thread about this same video from some time ago. Thanks.

Do you mean there must be other filters IN the script before sRestore loads?
I must have them because everything was loading 2 months ago and I haven't touched it since then.
This is the script that worked fine before:

Import("C:\Program Files\Avisynth\plugins\sRestore.avs")
AVISource("TEST2.avi")
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="faster")
Srestore(Frate=19.98)
AssumeFPS(12)
Crop(8,0,-8,0)
LanczosResize(640,480)

There must be a reason why srestore will not load now.

I just rechecked the 'long' script I posted and I don't see the 'Import' line anywhere - am I missing it?

I'm just getting the 'Unable to open file' error.

Sorry this taking so damn long.

[bvdd]

Ok, maybe some progress here.

This script opens:

Import("C:\Program Files\Avisynth 2.6\plugins\sRestore.avs")
AVISource("TEST1.avi")
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="faster")
#Srestore(Frate=19.98)
AssumeFPS(12)
Crop(8,0,-8,0)
LanczosResize(640,480)

Now does this mean srestore IS in fact loading - but not doing anything because line 5 is commented out?

If so, does that mean line 5 is my problem?

[manono]

It means it should work now. Just remove the comment (the '#') from before SRestore and see if the blends and dupe frames are gone.

Of course, you've probably figured that out by now.

[jagabo]

Ok, maybe some progress here.

This script opens:

Import("C:\Program Files\Avisynth 2.6\plugins\sRestore.avs")
AVISource("TEST1.avi")
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="faster")
#Srestore(Frate=19.98)
AssumeFPS(12)
Crop(8,0,-8,0)
LanczosResize(640,480)

Now does this mean srestore IS in fact loading - but not doing anything because line 5 is commented out?

Yes.

If so, does that mean line 5 is my problem?

You are probably missing, or have the wrong version of, one of the filters that SRestore() requires. You must have MaskTools2 because QTGMC also uses it. I wonder if some recent updates to SRestore changed the defaults so that some of the optional plugins are now required.

I used to have a problem when VirtualDub's ffmpeg source filter was installed: it would replace AviSynth's error messages and replace them with a generic error message. That made it hard to debug scripts because you couldn't see what caused the problem. Are you sure you don't have the ffmpeg source filter installed? Or maybe there's some other source filter that is doing the same? Try using the "files of type" pulldown on VirtualDub's Open Video File dialog to force the input filter.

[bvdd]

Ok, maybe some progress here.

This script opens:

Import("C:\Program Files\Avisynth 2.6\plugins\sRestore.avs")
AVISource("TEST1.avi")
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="faster")
#Srestore(Frate=19.98)
AssumeFPS(12)
Crop(8,0,-8,0)
LanczosResize(640,480)

Now does this mean srestore IS in fact loading - but not doing anything because line 5 is commented out?

Yes.

If so, does that mean line 5 is my problem?

You are probably missing, or have the wrong version of, one of the filters that SRestore() requires. You must have MaskTools2 because QTGMC also uses it. I wonder if some recent updates to SRestore changed the defaults so that some of the optional plugins are now required.

I used to have a problem when VirtualDub's ffmpeg source filter was installed: it would replace AviSynth's error messages and replace them with a generic error message. That made it hard to debug scripts because you couldn't see what caused the problem. Are you sure you don't have the ffmpeg source filter installed? Or maybe there's some other source filter that is doing the same? Try using the "files of type" pulldown on VirtualDub's Open Video File dialog to force the input filter.

ffmpeg is not in the AVISynth plugins folder, would it be somewhere else? Where are the filters normally installed?

I replaced srestore 2.7e with 2.7h.

[bvdd]

It means it should work now. Just remove the comment (the '#') from before SRestore and see if the blends and dupe frames are gone.

Of course, you've probably figured that out by now.

When I remove the comment it will not open.

Same 'Unable to open file' message.

[jagabo]

VirtualDub will also look for source plugins in its plugins32 folder if there is one. Use the "files of type" pulldown to force the use of the "AVIFile input drive (Compat)" source filter. That may give you a more explicit error message.

[bvdd]

VirtualDub will also look for source plugins in its plugins32 folder if there is one. Use the "files of type" pulldown to force the use of the "AVIFile input drive (Compat)" source filter. That may give you a more explicit error message.

I'm not finding the "files of type" pulldown anyplace - ?

[jagabo]

It's on the File -> Open Video File dialog:

[bvdd]

Thanks, found it and here's the error:

[jagabo]

Looks like you need the GRunT plugin. http://avisynth.nl/index.php/GRunT

[manono]

I asked earlier if you had all the required filters:

Srestore requires other filters before it works. Do you have them as well?

And when you go to the SRestore page you see, clear as day:

Optional plugins:

TIVTC - (only for cache>0, not default)
RemoveGrain v1.0b - (only for double-blend-removal, not default)
Average - (only for double-blend-removal, not default)
GRunT (only for Srestore v2.7f or greater)

And earlier you said:

I replaced srestore 2.7e with 2.7h.

So, the problem should have been obvious. However, I sympathize because when I forget to load the Grunt.dll, VDub mentions it specifically as being missing and you weren't getting specific error messages. And the Grunt.dll didn't used to be necessary and maybe if you had stuck with version 2.e you might have gotten it running earlier. AviSynth can be difficult, alright, at least partly for the reasons you discovered - different versions of important filters often need different versions of other filters just so they can work.

For future reference, the AviSynth page is very good about listing what's needed for most of the filters so if something doesn't work or you're using a filter for the first time, it's often a good idea to visit the page for that filter. Heck, even if you had opened the SRestore.avsi you're now using you might have come across this at the top:

# Change List
#
# 03/23/2014 AmjadSONY
# - Update v2.7g -> v2.7h
# update to use new Average http://github.com/AviSynth/Average
#
# 11/12/2013 martin53
# - Update v2.7f -> v2.7g
# Refactored to use a single line ScriptClip() call like v2.7e - Neccessary to save AviSynth string heap space when RTE is called
#
# 10/28/2013 martin53
# - Update v2.7e -> v2.7f
# Callable more than once from the same script with help of unique global variables per instance.
# Moderate reformatting to re-establish readability with the new variable names.
# Needs GRunT plugin http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=139337

But I'm glad you finally got it sorted out and can resume unblending and deduping.

[bvdd]

Yes, the GRunT.dll was the one.

"Optional Plugins" is what threw me, and since I'm very green with this stuff ...

Thanks everyone, especially jagabo and manono for your time and patience.

I'll start new threads with future questions.