Lets talk Codecs...

[derringer]

I'm starting this thread for people to talk about codecs they are using for different formats.

I find that codecs can have varying 'problems' ranging from crashes in SageTv, to pauses in audio or video, to problems with Rewind/Fastforward, to image and sound quality.

Considering they are such an important part of getting your machine working smoothly, lets talk about what everyone is using for:

SageTv(MPEG1/2): Intervideo
SageTV Audio(MPEG1/2): Intervideo
DVD: <none>
MPEG4: Divx, Intervideo (checking into which I'm using and will edit)
- (H.264: <not working yet>)

I'm most concerned with H.264 and DVD, which I cannot, currently, find stable codecs for.

Lets discuss all options... While codecs from a company like Mainconcept might be way too expensive, I think many of us are willing to pay moderate amounts for codecs that are stable and offer superiod video/audio performance. Post yours!

[evilpenguin]

For my money (both literal and figurative) nVidia purevideo is the best decoder for mpeg2/dvd video/audio content. I've been using it for years with no issues.

[jaminben]

I currently use :

nVidia Purevideo - Mpeg2 & DVD
DivX - avi & X264
CoreAVC - H264 & MKV
AC3 - 5.1 DD spdif
Haali Meida Splitter

Plays every media type I have with little or no problems

[cewtwo]

I don't have a video card capable of using nvidia purevideo (eVga 6200 with DVI out).

What are some other options?

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by cewtwo

I don't have a video card capable of using nvidia purevideo (eVga 6200 with DVI out).

you sure about that?

Graphics Chips Supported
NVIDIA GeForce 8 Series
NVIDIA GeForce 7 Series
NVIDIA GeForce 6 series
NVIDIA GeForce FX series
NVIDIA Quadro FX Series

I've heard that the 6200 will use Purevideo, but maybe not all the features.
http://www.nvidia.com/docs/CP/11036/...Comparison.pdf

[evilpenguin]

Originally Posted by cewtwo

I don't have a video card capable of using nvidia purevideo (eVga 6200 with DVI out).

What are some other options?

I'm fairly sure you don't need a PureVideo capable card to use the pure video decoder. You won't get all of the fancy features, but it still gets the job done better than most of the decoders out there.

[cewtwo]

Ok, I went to the nVidia site - Specifically they mention the pci-e and agp versions of the card. I did not know what the (throw away) motherboard that I would be using would be able to handle graphic card wise. So, I bought a PCI version of the card.

I have uploaded the latest nVidia drivers and am running it on the card (I really do like the output of the card.

Quite frankly, I haven't checked the DVD playback through SageTV as of yet...

How would I find out if nVidia PureVideo woudl be running?

[ke6guj]

ok. the nVIdia drivers for your card isn't the Purevideo decoder. that is a separate piece of software for decoding mpeg2 and DVD content.

After you install it, http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_decoder.html to purchase or DL a 30 day trial, you can then select it in Sage as your video and DVD deocders.

[cewtwo]

Thanks, Jack, guys,

I appreciate it. I'll try it and let you know...

[TechBill]

I am using Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 Deluxe codec because the closed captioning seem to be good and smooth on it.

Only thing I care about is video and captions. I don't care if audio quit working or go out of sync .


Bill

[Polypro]

Video: NVIDIA

Audio: AC3Filter (Cured a stutter/judder/jerkyness problem that NV & CL couldn't)

mplayer for all others.

P

Edit: Using NVIDIA, Cyberlink was causing pauses during playback.

[bcjenkins]

I am using PowerDVD for video decode and AC3Filter for 2 channel encode and SPDIF passthru on AC3 and DTS.

[derringer]

Those of you using Cyberlink Ultra... does it do H.264 decoding?

[HawgGuy]

Originally Posted by derringer

Those of you using Cyberlink Ultra... does it do H.264 decoding?

Yes, well.

[lobosrul]

I had some overheating issues on my video card (8500GT fanless, never getting a fanless card again) while using purevideo. After disabling DXVA that went away of course, but it didn't do ivtc properly.

I found a "mod?" for dscaler5 that does everything in software. It works great, but you may need a dual-core system for it.

Theres a link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=596942

As far as everything else:

Sage splits mpeg-PS files.
Haali media splitter splits everything else.
Dscaler for mpeg-2 video
CoreAVC for h.264 (but ffdshow works for this as well)
FFdshow decodes practically every other type of video
AC3filter for AC3 and DTS audio
ffdshow for mp3, aac. I havent seen any other audio types but its set to decode them.

If your building a new system I'd suggest trying your best to stay away from any hardware acceleration. Just go with a low to mid range dual core system and you wont need it.

[jaminben]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

If your building a new system I'd suggest trying your best to stay away from any hardware acceleration. Just go with a low to mid range dual core system and you wont need it.

Agreed, my Dual Core Duo 2 2.2Ghz does everything I need including playing 2 HD 1080p films @ 12gig each simultaniously, the cpu peaks at 85%. Bargin at £90 combined with an nvidia 8600 for £55.

[Shield]

Originally Posted by derringer

I'm starting this thread for people to talk about codecs they are using for different formats.

I find that codecs can have varying 'problems' ranging from crashes in SageTv, to pauses in audio or video, to problems with Rewind/Fastforward, to image and sound quality.

Considering they are such an important part of getting your machine working smoothly, lets talk about what everyone is using for:

SageTv(MPEG1/2): Intervideo
SageTV Audio(MPEG1/2): Intervideo
DVD: <none>
MPEG4: Divx, Intervideo (checking into which I'm using and will edit)
- (H.264: <not working yet>)

I'm most concerned with H.264 and DVD, which I cannot, currently, find stable codecs for.

Lets discuss all options... While codecs from a company like Mainconcept might be way too expensive, I think many of us are willing to pay moderate amounts for codecs that are stable and offer superiod video/audio performance. Post yours!

SageTV MPEG 1/2 - Nvidia PureDecoder
DVD - Intervideo
MPEG4 - Divx for XVID, + CoreAVC for others (DirectShow)
H.264 - CoreAVC
All Audio - AC3Filter

[cewtwo]

OK...

I downloaded the nVidia PureVideo.

I did use it for playback but recording and playback became very choppy.

I reverted to the Sage default and am satisfied with the way my HTPC plays.

BUT... Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[skyeclad]

I found that the Nvidia and Cyberlink PDVD7 are both choppy with my ATI R800xl. While the video never went out of sync with the audio. It looked like bad judder, not smooth. The plain Cyberlink and Intervideo codecs are better for me but I opted to use the Intervideo.

Fortunately for me, no codec or Muxer combination seemed to ever make video and audio stay in sync when I tried to use GB-PVR. I say fortunately because Sage seems so much better. It's funny, even with the codec judders, A/V never goes out of sync as often as it did with GB-PVR.

The Sage decoders seemed ok for playback the few times that I used them but I recall that CPU usage was WAY up which didn't leave much left over for menu usage on my A64 3200+. When you're stuck at the swirl for 20 seconds just to display the main menu, you know that you need more hardware support for your video playback.

[rwc]

Are you using the AC3 that comes w/ sage? Or a different build?

rwc