Codec Guide

Sometimes it can be useful to know which DirectShow filters are used to play a certain file.

Advanced players are often able to show you that information. For example Media Player Classic can do that. In its menu, click on Play -> Filters.


A very useful diagnostics tool for DirectShow problems is MatroskaDiag. That tool can show a detailed log of the DirectShow graph building.
Download
(Note: it works with all types of files, not just Matroska files)


Another method for acquiring the filter information in textual format is by using GraphStudio. This tool is included with the K-Lite Codec Pack (Full/Mega). Use the following steps to generate the information:

1. Start GraphStudio
2. Drag and drop a file into its window. Or open a file through the menu: File -> Render Media File.
3. GraphStudio will display the filter graph for the file that you opened.
4. In the menu, click on View -> Text Information.
5. Select "Graph Report(Level 2)".
6. Press Refresh.
7. Press Copy to copy the log to you clipboard.

When you copy/paste the generated information onto this forum, please put [ code] [ /code] tags around it. Then the text will be nicely formatted. It will look something like this:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------
  Filters
--------------------------------------------------
  1. C:\example\Kung Fu Panda.avi
  2. AVI Splitter
  3. ffdshow Video Decoder
  4. ffdshow Audio Decoder
  5. Video Renderer
  6. Default DirectSound Device

--------------------------------------------------
  Connections
--------------------------------------------------
  1. [C:\example\Kung Fu Panda.avi]/(Output) -> [AVI Splitter]/(input pin)
      Major:   MEDIATYPE_Stream
      Subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_Avi
      Format:  GUID_NULL

  2. [AVI Splitter]/(Stream 00) -> [ffdshow Video Decoder]/(In)
      Major:   MEDIATYPE_Video
      Subtype: {44495658-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
      Format:  FORMAT_VideoInfo

  3. [AVI Splitter]/(Stream 01) -> [ffdshow Audio Decoder]/(In)
      Major:   MEDIATYPE_Audio
      Subtype: {00000055-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
      Format:  FORMAT_WaveFormatEx

  4. [ffdshow Video Decoder]/(Out) -> [Video Renderer]/(VMR Input0)
      Major:   MEDIATYPE_Video
      Subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_YV12
      Format:  FORMAT_VIDEOINFO2

  5. [ffdshow Audio Decoder]/(Out) -> [Default DirectSound Device]/(Audio Input pin (rendered))
      Major:   MEDIATYPE_Audio
      Subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_PCM
      Format:  FORMAT_WaveFormatEx