Options DirectX

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What this is about

On this page the used components for playback can be set.

The DVBViewer does the playback not all by itself, it used for most of it the DirectShow System of Windows. It assembles a playback graph which consists of several filters.

The first one is the source filter, which is normally also the splitter. The DVBViewer has its own DVBViewer Filter (DVB Source) (at least for all DVB related formats). It prepares the data so the decoders can understand them.

The audio- and video-Decoders are next in the chain. The DVBViewer tries to use the format fitting filter selected on this option page. If it fails to connect the filter to the graph or <System Default> is selected, the DirectShow System decides which filter to use. It will select the one with the highest merit-value.

Which decoders you can choose from depends which are installed and registered to the DirectShow System. The DVBViewer itself does not install any decoders. Normally you get the decoders together with the DVB card software.

The end of the chain is the renderer. It mixes the data from the decoder if needed (OSD) and then sends it to the graphics and sound card.

ATTENTION: Sometime the selected decoder can NOT be used by the DVBViewer because it is faulty or wrongly installed. In this case the DirectShow System decides which fitting component to use (if available). So in doubt:

Which components are actually used for playback should be checked while playback is running via right click into the main window > View > Filters !

Which decoders for x64 Systems

Even in Windows XP 64-Bit, Windows Vista 64-Bit or Windows 7 64-Bit you need to install the 32-Bit decoder version.

The DVBViewer is a 32-Bit program and can only use 32-Bit decoders.

Video

Use Custom Renderers

If this option is selected you can choose one of the custom video renderers. With custom renderers the OSD will be done as a texture in D3D which results in fewer problems and a higher OSD quality.

If this option is deactivated the windows internal renders can be selected. If you use Vista or Windows 7 you should always use the Custom Renderers.

...

With the button “...” on the right side of the decoder dropdown you can open the property page of the selected decoder.
Some decoder only allow opening the property page if the decoder is part of a running graph or will show different settings. If this happens you can adjust the properties with a right click in the main window, if the graph is running and select View > Filters > decoder name. In case of doubt this is the secure way to change the decoder settings. Some decoders show no settings at all, however there may be a separate settings program installed with the decoder (Divx).

MPEG2 Video Decoder

Here you can select Decoder for the MPEG2 format.

Known as well working are CyberLink, Microsoft DTV Decoder, Sonic, NVIDIA, Elecard and MainConcept. Don't select the Ligos decoder which is known to be problematic. MPV and Nero are also not preferable.

H.264 Video Decoder

Here you can select the decoder for the H.264 format.

VC1 Video Decoder

Here you can select the decoder for the VC1 format.

Video Renderer

The video render is responsible for mixing and displaying the image. The available video renderers are part of windows. You only select which one the DVBViewer should use for playback.

System Default Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is deactivated.

The "system default renderer" originates from Windows 9x / Windows 2000, but is still available under later Windows versions. It provides basic, solid video output without any special features.

Overlay Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is deactivated.

If the Overlay Renderer in conjunction with the simple video renderer provides advanced features like brightness and contrast control. It uses a mode in which the graphics card hardware displays the video on the desktop, thus lowering the processor load considerably. Using this Renderer in Vista/Windows 7 disables Aero. Please note: Only one program at a time can use the CPU-power saving Overlay Mode for video output.

In Windows XP, this renderer is normally the best choice.

VMR7 Video Mixing Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is deactivated.

The VMR 7 (Video Mixing Renderer 7) has been introduced with Windows XP. It is able to work in Overlay Mode or, if overlay is not available, in the „normal“ software mode. Unfortunately it provides no brightness / contrast control.

VMR9 Video Mixing Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is deactivated.

The VMR 9 is available on all Windows platforms, provided DirectX9 has been installed. It does not support Overlay Mode. Brightness and contrast control depend on the capabilities of the graphics card driver – it may work or not.

EVR Enhanced Video Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is deactivated.

The EVR is the only video renderer that enables hardware accelerated video decoding (DXVA2) under Vista and Windows 7.

VMR9 Custom Video Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is activated.

The VMR9 Custom video renderer is basically the VMR9 video renderer but does the mixing and displaying itself. This allows better control how the OSD is displayed.

EVR Custom Video Renderer

Only available if Use Custom Renderers is activated.

The EVR Custom video renderer is basically the EVR video renderer but does the mixing and displaying itself. This allows better control how the OSD is displayed.

If you use Windows Vista or Windows 7 this is normally the renderer to use.

Audio

...

With the button “...” on the right side of the decoder dropdown you can open the property page of the selected decoder.
Some decoder only allow opening the property page if the decoder is part of a running graph or will show different settings. If this happens you can adjust the properties with a right click in the main window, if the graph is running and select View > Filters > decoder name. In case of doubt this is the secure way to change the decoder settings.

MP2 Audio Decoder:

Here you can select the decoder for MP2 audio.

We recommend the current AC3Filter (download). The Cyberlink audio decoder is known to be problematic and should not be used.

MP3 Audio Decoder:

Here you can select the decoder for MP3 audio.

AC3 Audio Decoder:

Here you can select the decoder for AC3 audio.

We recommend the current AC3Filter (download). The Cyberlink audio decoder is known to be problematic and should not be used.

AAC Audio Decoder:

Here you can select the LATM/ADTS HE-AAC audio decoder.

If you need this decoder, you can use the "libfaad2 Wrapper Filter" (Membersarea) (- read more in the forum). Please DO read the enclosed Readme!

Audio Renderer:

The Audio Renderer is responsible for outputting audio to the sound card. Each entry represents an audio device, a specific way of accessing it or (particularly under Vista and Windows 7) a kind of audio output. By selecting an audio renderer you may switch over to a different sound cards, or under Vista and windows 7 to a different kind of audio output (PC speakers, SPDIF, HDMI...).

Audio renderers with „DirectSound“ in their name usually provide individual volume control for each program. Others (particularly „Default WaveOut“) are using the „global“ Windows volume control. In this case changing the volume in the DVBViewer will affect other programs. „Default“ as part of an audio renderer name refers to the default audio device selected in the Windows Control Panel.

If you are not sure which to select use "Default DirectSound Device".

Audio/Video A/B

General: With "Audio B" and "Video B” you can define alternative settings for the audio / video playback, which can be activated manually or automatically.

Enable manually: Mainmenu > Settings -> Video output B and audio output B or by learning a input key for it in Options -> Input or by ActionID.

Switching between video renderer Custom and standard video renderer is however not possible with this.

Auto B-Conditions

In the tab Video B and Audio B is the input box for the Auto-B conditions. These can determinate under what conditions to Video B or Audio B is switched.

The following settings are possible:

File (file playback) - everything that is not TV or radio. It does not matter whether it is video or audio.

Video (with video playback) - anything that contains image data, whether video file on disk, live TV or recorded TV. It does not matter if the picture is actually displayed.

H.264 (H.264 video) - if it is a file / liveTV (HDTV) encoded in H.264.

MPEG2 (MPEG2 video) - if it is a MPEG2 encoded video / LiveTV (SDTV).

DVBSource (DVBViewer Filter is used) - for everything that is played with the DVBViewer Filter.

File extension specifying a file extension (eg. Mp3). A negation for file extensions is not possible. File extensions implicitely set the condition "file" for Video B and can't be inverted by a preceding /.

Combination: A combination of several conditions is possible by separating them with a “,” (comma)
example. Video, DVBSource = there must be video (file or liveTV) and the DVBViewer Filter must be used for it.

Several conditions are associated with a logical AND, ie they must all apply for AutoB switching. Extensions as a condition on the other hand are tied together by a logical OR, ie if the file to be played has one of the extensions, the condition is met.

Negation: The conditions can also be used as a negative (if it is not ...). For this each condition is prefixed with / (slash). Example: /File = if not a file (thus the condition is fulfilled for TV and Radio). File extensions set the condition file, even if it is not specified and can not be negated by a forward slash.

Automatic switching to video B or audio B takes place when all specified conditions are met. Otherwise, set A is used.

If the Auto B condition is met, no manual switching is possible.

Examples for Auto A/B

Using Windows Vista H.264 videos should use the 'EVR' all other should use the 'Overlay Mixer' as a renderer. In VideoA you select the Overlay Mixer as renderer, in VideoB the EVR and as condition you enter „H.264“.

For H.264 playback with the DVBViewer Filter the Cyberlink Decoder (VideoA) should be used, for all other playback ffdShow (VideoB). This can be useful for H.264 in MKV- files, because the DVBViewer Filter can't handle these. The condition would be: „H.264,/DVBsource“

For Video playback the ReClock Audiorenderer should be used, for all other (TV/Radio, audio files) the Default DirectSound (AudioA). In AudioB select ReClock as Audio Renderer and as condition enter „Video,File“.

Use DVBViewer Filter for

The DVBViewer Filter is used for playback of files of the selected format.

If a option is disabled, the DVBViewer Filter is not used for this format and the DVBViewer leaves the selection of the DirectShow source filter and the demultiplexer to the DirectShow graph builder.

When playing live TV or timeshift the DVBViewer Filter is always used.

File format not supported by the DVBViewer Filter

Basically, the DVBViewer tries to use the selected decoders for all in DirectX listed video and audio formats, even if the DVBViewer Filter is not used for a container format like MKV or AVI.

For example: On playback of a MKV file, which contains H.264 Video and AAC Audio, the DVBViewer tries to use the decoders for these formats of the Decoder selection.

If the insertion of the chosen decoder for some reason fails or it is not one of the DirectX listed formats is (XVid, DivX, Ogg Vorbis, etc.), the DVBViewer leaves it to the DirectShow system to build the graph and play the file.

That means it will always use the filter that has the highest merit value and claims to be able to handle the format.

The first step is to install source filter / splitter matching the container format - eg the Haali Media Splitter [1].

And then installing a fitting decoder for the audio and video format. In ffdshow (tryouts) [2] or MPC - Home Cinema [3] are many decoders for different formats.

Thoughtless installing of codec packs is strongly discouraged. On the one hand, these are often not legal (contain decoders you normally have to pay for), on the other hand, the contained decoders are often outdated and obscure filters are installed which can cause a lot of problems later on.

Sometimes systems destroyed by codec packs can only brought back to life by a system restore from a backup or by reinstalling Windows.

So only install the decoders that you really need and download it directly from the manufacturer.

TV/Radio Pre-Format Detection

The pre-format detection should only be activated if there are problems caused by faulty decoders. It is always better to use decoders which work without this setting [4], since the pre-format detection itself can cause problems. In addition, the channel change takes longer with the pre-detection activated.

What is Pre-Format Detection?

Some decoders are not able to recognize the format of the data (eg mono / stereo for audio or video resolution) automatically and produce e.g. “Mickey Mouse” sound or distorted images. The pre-recognition detects the format for the decoders and tells them which one is used.

Especially in combination with network devices, these two options can cause problems.

Audio format

Predetermines the audio format based on the incoming stream.

Video format

Predetermines the video format based on the incoming stream.

Custom Renderer Options

These settings are only available if the Custom renderer is selected.

VSync by Aero

This option can only be selected if Aero is enabled (Vista and Windows 7). If the option is enabled, Aero takes care of the synchronization of the image. Enabling or disabling this setting can sometimes help with a stuttering playback.

Reset Device on Monitor change

If after moving the DVBViewer window to a different monitor the image is jerky or looks blurry, you should enable this option.

VMR Options

These options are only shown if VMR7 or VMR9 as video renderer is selected. They can help you with problems with some video card drivers in connection with the VMR7 and VMR9 renderers. However, first try the VMR9 Custom video renderer, if it works for you.

VMR Fix

Some newer video card drivers have difficulties with two VMR input pins. Then only a reduced image in the top left corner of the TV is shown. If this option is selected the OSD will be integrated in a different way. This has, however, disadvantages for the display quality of the OSD and for zooming of the picture.

YUV mixing Mode

The YUV mixing mode is another alternative for problems with video cards. This mode is usually a better choice than VMR Fix.

Sometimes it helps to activate one or both of these options.

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