Calibration problem. No graph.

[Pinan]

I followed the instructions from here: http://users.mcleodusa.net/r/ratpac/..._contrast.html

Everything set up OK, but there's no "graph". I have the histogram to adjust everything (color, etc.), but no line running through the bottom of it.

In other words. Nothing has changed at all.

Hauppauge 350
SageTV (full).
WinXP SP2

Thanks.

[stanger89]

Could you post a screenshot?

[Pinan]

Screen shot? Not off my TV, no. I use the TV out. But mine looks just like this one from the instruction, but without the graph (lower horizontal line) at the bottom. Looks the same on my PC, but with a black screen (no video).

I'm sorry if I was not clear before.

[Pinan]

Here is a PC screen shot of what I mentioned above. Note the missing "graph" at bottom of histogram:

Note also that on the TV the histogram is encircled.

[Commodore 64]

I've got the same issue, the adjustment controls are there, but there is no histogram.

[stanger89]

OK, you were confusing me because you said you had the histogram but not the line , but you're missing the whole thing...

Do you have Raw Video checked in the codec section?
Do you have the Dscaler Filter box checked in the filter list?

If that doesn't work, how are you trying to load ffdshow. You can use the postprocessor line in the properties file now.

[Pinan]

Sorry to confuse. The instructions are not the most clear.

Yes. All that is checked. The installation went fine. That document needs to be updated, and better written though.

You too aye Commodore 64?

[Pinan]

Originally Posted by stanger89

1. . . but you're missing the whole thing...

2. If that doesn't work, how are you trying to load ffdshow. You can use the postprocessor line in the properties file now.

1. Only the line seems to be missing. On the TV, the frame around it is there. Everything loaded fine. Followed the instructions to the letter.

2. I loaded ffdshow where it said to, under mpg2 video decoder filter. Other method? Explain please. I don't understand.



Better documentation all around would really help us newbies.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Pinan

1. Only the line seems to be missing. On the TV, the frame around it is there. Everything loaded fine. Followed the instructions to the letter.

It's kind of confusing/misleading, but the "frame" is drawn by Sage, the line you're missing is what I was referring to as "the whole thing". Meaning for some reason you're not getting the histogram at all, probably not even getting ffdshow loaded.

2. I loaded ffdshow where it said to, under mpg2 video decoder filter. Other method? Explain please. I don't understand.

In the properties file, there's a line, something to the effect of "video_postprocessing_filter". You can place ffdshow on that and Sage will use it as a post processor. Effect is roughly the same, but you get a bit more control that way (eg you can specify the decoder).

Try this, check the OSD box in ffdshow, and see if anything shows up.

Better documentation all around would really help us newbies.

I wrote that back for something like Sage 2.0

[Pinan]

Originally Posted by stanger89

1. Meaning for some reason you're not getting the histogram at all,

2. In the properties file, there's a line, something to the effect of "video_postprocessing_filter".

3. Try this, check the OSD box in ffdshow, and see if anything shows up.

4. I wrote that back for something like Sage 2.0

1. OK. Thanks for clarifying that.

2. That line is only under "DVD". However. ffdshow shows up under "video_decoder_filter"

3. Did that. No change.

4. Time for upgrading it then?

[salsbst]

Time to learn not to bite the hand that feeds you.

[Pinan]

Originally Posted by salsbst

Time to learn not to bite the hand that feeds you.

Is that aimed at me? That's hardly appropriate. I've written and re-written FAQ's for years. With over 30K posts under my belt as a moderator I understand some things. I love forums like this that help people. I am however surprised at times by the lack of [clear and concise] documentation available. Then seeing code writers state how much they "hate to write FAQ's" etc. What the heck?

That said, I think that stranget89 did a fine job writing that document. But facts are facts. For newbies, it's difficult to follow now, as things have changed.

Offense is something I never intend. Only suggestions.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Pinan

1. OK. Thanks for clarifying that.

2. That line is only under "DVD". However. ffdshow shows up under "video_decoder_filter"

Try this:
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=

You'll want to make it either:
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=ffdshow raw video filter
or
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder

You have to add it to that line (while Sage isn't running). And you'll probably want to remove it once you're done calibrating.

3. Did that. No change.

Yeah, ffdshow is definitely not loading for some reason...

4. Time for upgrading it then?

Should still work, there's just some new ways. I'd like to fix it, but I need to figure up what's up with my images on the wiki first (I'd rather have it there since it should be "safer" than my webspace).

[Pinan]

Originally Posted by stanger89

1. Try this:
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=

You'll want to make it either:
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=ffdshow raw video filter
or
videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder


2. Should still work, there's just some new ways.

1. Excellent. Thanks stranger89. I'll give it a go and post back. I hate it when I can't figure something out, LOL. I'm tenacious though. Heh

2. Yeah, your setup (directions) is great. Just how I like to see them. It's just that ffdshow has changed a bit, as well as SageTV. Took me a while to find the spots in ffdshow that you were pointing to in your instruction. Nice job though.

[Pinan]

Ack. Still no change.

Does that line have to be in a special place in the properties file? I'm thinking no. I put it under the rest of the "videoframe" lines.

I had to add this too "videoframe/video_postprocessing_filter=" as it was not already there.

Thanks anyway. Any other ideas?

[Opus4]

I didn't read all the stuff above, so... Are you running in service mode? If so, you ahve to edit sageclient.properties for the UI.

- Andy

[stanger89]

It won't work with the 350 output, it requires software decoding (just struck me).

-edit

That is ffdshow won't work. My suggestion would be to use software decoding (look on your monitor) to do the calibration, as the calibration is equally usefull for the 350's output as it is for software playback.

[Pinan]

Andy: Service Mode? I don't think so. How can I tell (duh)?

Stranger89. Oh now you tell me, LOL! OK. I'll switch to software decode for calibrating, then switch it back.

But how affective will it be calibrating to my monitor? It won't help (much) what I see on my TV....right? Or can I software decode to my TV, and still have it work?

Thanks for the assist guys.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Pinan

Andy: Service Mode? I don't think so. How can I tell (duh)?

If you haven't configured it to run in service mode, then it isn't running that way.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Pinan

But how affective will it be calibrating to my monitor? It won't help (much) what I see on my TV....right? Or can I software decode to my TV, and still have it work?

What you're doing is adjusting the capture settings, the changes affect the recordings wherever they are played.

The point of using the histogram is to actually measure your changes. Digital video is rather well defined, with black at 16 and white at 235. DVDs are made like this, as is HDTV, etc. By using the histogram you can get your capture card close to this such that your recordings are as close to correct as possible. The purpose of the histogram is to remove the settings/look of your output device from the adjustment.