Codecs, Players and Video Quality...

[TBSN]

I've noticed that image quality changes when playing a file in different players. I downloaded the Watchmen trailer in HD, and even though it's a .mov file, the blacks look darker and less washed out when I play it in the DivX player, even though they're still not that great...

When I'm playing a DivX file, the quality is far better in the DivX player, even if other players are compatible with it.

Are there any other video players, besides the major ones that I have (DivX, Quicktime, Windows Media Player, VLC) that will beat Divx for video quality?

So far DivX plays .avi, .divx and .mov files the best, with the exception of .wmv, which WMP plays best (no surprise there)

Any opinions?

(I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this...)

 

[darckhart]

The only thing you have to make sure of is that the correct codec is doing the decoding which is independent of the player. You also have to make sure that your player is not (or is, depending on what your preferences are) asking the codec to do any extra post processing to the video while its playing, eg. deblock, color adjustment, gamma correction, etc.

 

[taltamir]

the player doesn't matter, the codec used does. although some players have built in codecs. You can find out what version of codec is used to decode and use it as well.

There is also the likely possibility that divX player automatically applies a post processing filter, while other players only do so if you activate one manually. (opt in vs opt out)

Try the player "MPC-HC" and the codec pack "FFDShow tryouts"

 

[TBSN]

Alright, I got FFDShow and MPC, but now setting it up is really, really difficult...

I am reading the walkthrough, with the DVD package which includes several different programs, but it is really unclear...

 

[ZimZum]

Step 1 install CCCP. Step 2, your done.

 

[TBSN]

Um, I don't get it the joke... someone enlighten me

 

[Foxery]

CCCP is an all-in-one codec pack. The official download page is here, though apparently they're having some web hosting issues at the moment so pardon the mess: http://www.cccp-project.net/
This will allow your machine to play just about any remotely mainstream format around, including subtitle files.

You're also confusing the player with the codec. .MOV files are Apple Quicktime, another branch of MPEG-4. Hardly anyone actually uses the DivX codec any more. If you're looking to create your own videos, most people use XviD (.org, 100% free) or Windows Media (owned by Microsoft, for the lazy).

 

[TBSN]

Hm, well I guess the players must apply filters to make the video look different, perhaps?

Also, I've been trying to set up FFDShow to play DVD's... Where's the best place to ask about that?

 

[taltamir]

CCCP is an outdated FFDShow with codecs that are not used by the japanese anime pirating scene disabled, and an outdated version of media player classic, bundled together in one installer...
Also you should get MPC-HC, not MPC... and FFDShow TRYOUTS, not FFDShow.. both the original projects were abandoned and a new project was created to take up the torch.

FFDShow tryouts: http://sourceforge.net/project...es.php?group_id=173941
MPC-HC: http://sourceforge.net/project...es.php?group_id=170561

The install isn't complicated at all, just install with default settings. click next next next next until done. simple.
With MPC-HC it is simpler, there is no install... download the zip file to "C:\program files", you need (32bit or 64bit, or both ideally). right click on the zip file and select "extract to <folder name>", and it is installed... just make a shortcut on your desktop for the exe file in the folder... or run it once, go into options, and set it as the default program for video (or audio, or both) playback.

You use MPC to initiate the playback of DVD, you can choose in advanced settings to use FFDShow to decode MPEG2 files instead of the built in codec (which is what is used in DVDs), but that should not be necessary really. The only reason you actually install FFDShow is for windows media player to be able to play back stuff, and for MPC-HC to be able to play exotic files it does not have built in codecs for

 

[TBSN]

Thanks for the info.

What about playing DVD's and upscaling them? Isn't that what FFDShow enables you to do?

Does anyone know any good tutorials explaining how to set it up to work with MPC-HC?