Codec Guide

Canyon · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

I bought a new laptop, configuration is below.

- HP Pavilion dv9700t Entertainment CTO NB
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
- 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 50% OFF 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS!!
- FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
- 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
- LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
- Microsoft(R) Works 9.0

I play a lot of videos and dvds on my laptop which has a higher resolution screen. I wanted to to find out if it would be worth it in terms of improved picture quality on my 17 inch screen to change the settings on ffdshow to upconvert all my videos and dvds to match my screen resolution and provide the best possible picture.

If so, I need some help on how to properly configure the K-Lite Full Codec Pack upon installation and any suggustions on following the upconverter guides I have come accross on configuring ffdshow for video upconversion. If some of you have done this process with success I would greatly appreciate your input. How well it works and whether it is worth the time and effort to do so.

I also would prefer to utilize Windows Media Center (WMC) over Media Player Classic. I prefer WMC to other players because of the global interface and it seems to produce the best video picture quality. Everything seems sharper and the colors are more vibrant.

Thanks in advance for everyone's input.

clsid · Site Admin Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 1003

Media Center on Vista uses the EVR video renderer. That explains the picture differences.

As for the ffdshow resizing settings, there are no "best" settings that I can recommend. Lanczos (with multiple taps) and spline are good quality resizing algorithms. But if you don't see any difference, then it's best to just let the renderer do the resizing and save some CPU power.

Postprocessing can be useful for blocky videos. But DVDs are generally good quality, so that isn;t very useful.

Sharpening, such as unsharp mask, might give some visual quality boost. I believe that EVR does something like this by default. So it is something you could try with the renderers that are available in MPC.

Canyon · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

clsid wrote:

Media Center on Vista uses the EVR video renderer. That explains the picture differences.

As for the ffdshow resizing settings, there are no "best" settings that I can recommend. Lanczos (with multiple taps) and spline are good quality resizing algorithms. But if you don't see any difference, then it's best to just let the renderer do the resizing and save some CPU power.

Postprocessing can be useful for blocky videos. But DVDs are generally good quality, so that isn;t very useful.

Sharpening, such as unsharp mask, might give some visual quality boost. I believe that EVR does something like this by default. So it is something you could try with the renderers that are available in MPC.

Thanks Cslid for your post.

I installed the K-Lite Full Codec Pack with the Default Settings and assigned the Windows Media Player as the default player. Generally, when I play DVDs and videos with WMC and WMP do the programs automatically resize what is playing to match my native display resolution when on fullscreen?

I believe WMC utilizes ffdshow because when I am playing I notice the ffdshow icons in the systray. This EVR video renderer you mentioned, is it part of ffdshow? I appologize if I am asking a poor question. I must admit I don't really understand this whole process very well. Currently, everything plays well and I don't have any complaints. I just wanted to determine if optimizing my video and DVD playing will be worthwhile (significant improvement) and if I can do so without spending a great deal of time. I am also a little concerned that if I fiddle I may worsen everything and then not be able to fix it.

I infer from your reply that the changes in picture quality may not be that substancial if I fiddle with the settings?

Is this an accurate inference?

Thanks again

clsid · Site Admin Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 1003

Yes, the video will automatically get resized to the native resolution when you play fullscreen.

ffdshow only decodes video. A video renderer is something entirely different. A video renderer (like EVR, VMR-9, or Overlay) is responsible for displaying the decoded video onto your screen.

The quality gains that are possible are small compared to the effort and CPU power that is required to achieve those results. So if you are satisfied with the standard output, then I would advice to leave things the way they are. These settings are more for perfectionists.

Canyon · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

clsid wrote:

Yes, the video will automatically get resized to the native resolution when you play fullscreen.

ffdshow only decodes video. A video renderer is something entirely different. A video renderer (like EVR, VMR-9, or Overlay) is responsible for displaying the decoded video onto your screen.

The quality gains that are possible are small compared to the effort and CPU power that is required to achieve those results. So if you are satisfied with the standard output, then I would advice to leave things the way they are. These settings are more for perfectionists.

Thanks clsid for clearing that question up for me.

In my research I stumbled across the "Media Control Plugin for Windows Vista Media Center". It is offered free. Are you familiar with this plugin and if so do you have an opinion on it?

Thanks

clsid · Site Admin Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 1003

I have never used it.

Canyon · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks clsid for all your time and information. You have been very helpful and I appreciate it.

If you happen to know a good site that offers a basic explanation of PC video playback mechanics that would be terrific. I would like to gain a basic understanding of how all this stuff works.

clsid · Site Admin Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 1003

I don't know a website which explains it all in detail. It's a pretty large subject.