[hoborg]

Deutsche Übersetzung

Hello.
I created small package with Audio/Video filters and Subtitles filter directly for Media Portal - (SAF).
It is ''all in one'' solution, so no need to install PowerDVD or any other kind of codecspacks (like CCCP), ffdshow, AC3 filter, Nero, etc...
Main purpose of SAF is to create easist way how to make as much as possible multimeda to work with MediaPortal.
By using SAF, you will be able to play almost all standart videofiles+DVD's+LiveTV in MediaPortal.
SAF is based on great free MPC-HC filters, FFDShow and DirectVobSub filter.

Download: older versions/SAF betas - (changelog) - Using latest BETA recomended!



On the begin, lets explain some mystery words:
MP: It is MediaPortal
HTPC: Home theater PC
GPU: Graphics Card
iGPU: intergrated Graphics Card
DXVA - Using DXVA is most efficiet way how to decode video. If video are decoded by DXVA, your GPU do all the work instead of CPU.
PAL/NTSC

What SAF do:
-SAF is HDTV ready (*unlocked* only)
-HD (h.264,VC-1) video will be using DXVA (h.264 and VC-1) only if your hardware are DXVA compatible and if your video files are made correctly.
-HD (h.264,VC-1) video + subtitles will olny use DXVA in MP 1.1 (or newer)
-MPEG2/h.264 LiveTV (and DVD's) will be using DXVA only when you use *unlocked* SAF (PM me how to unlock SAF)
-SAF is designed and configured only for MediaPortal/GB-PVR, you can see some side efect when using with different software (like WMP,...)
-SAF 4.xx have integrated FFDshow. Thanks to this, you can enable FFDshow postprocessing to increase quality of non DXVA video. Here is direct link to thread how to do it.
-Passthrough

SAF Installation procedure:
-AMD users - consider to disable Cool & quiet function in BIOS - some users reported problems with it (i had it ON and didint have any problems at all - it is up to you to try and see)
-you need to be loged as an administrator !
-uninstall players&codecs packs like DivX player, Nero, CCCP, any kind of codescpacks, players, etc...
-install MediaPortal (1.1 or newer recomended)
-install (Security Update for Windows XP (KB971633)) - this will update quartz.dll (VMR9) to version 6.5.2600.5822 XP users olny
-install QT alternative 2.92 (not 3.xx!)if you want to play old MOV files (from cameras for example) - no need for modern MOV with h.264 and modern audio (like Apple trailers),they are fully supported already.
-install SAF
-some users recomeding restart afret SAF install
-configure MP (Movie & DVD section) acording to screenshots below
-you should install some on-the-fly DVD decrypter (look on google) for playback of protected DVD's, skip comercials, silent your DVD drive, etc...

If you reinstall MediaPortal or install new SVN, reinstall SAF too!

After installation configure your mediaportal video decoding this way (SAF 3.00+):

Video:

NOTE: Becouse MPC video decoder causing crash in MP graph cleaning procedure, using Cyberlink H.264 decoder (or MS decoder on Win7) is recomended until the problem will be fixed - already fixed in latest MP SVN

Do not add any video filter in to postprocessing!!!


DVD:

Note:
- some DVD's are not working correctly with Microsoft DVD Navigator (for example DVD's authored by Womble software)
- if you are on WinXP, you can use CyberLink Video/SP decoder (PDVD9) here and have DXVA + DVD navigation - *unlocked* SAF only, on Vista/Win7 use FFDShouw Video Decoder

TV:

Note:
- Cyberlink decoders are available only if you use *unlocked* SAF

Here is deiterlacing comparison: (for MPEG2 live TV)

NOTE: your GPU must be able to do Vector Adaptive Deinterlacing to get best Live TV quality (this is sometime problem on Vista/Win7...)
Here you can read a whole story about deinterlacing

That is all - enjoy you Media Portal :)

Theoreticaly, all files that MPC-HC player can play, SAF can play too. So if you face problems to play your video file under MP, try to play it under MPC-HC player.

Subtitles support:
-all that MP 1.1 (or newer) MPC-HC subtitles engine can handle.

!!! important !!!

To use DXVA on ATI: (UPDATE 07.04.09)

Use Catalyst 9.4 or newer (DXVA working for H.264, VC-1 and MPEG2)

Tested on:
- ATI HD 3850
- ATI HD 4550

If you have integratet GPU (like ATI HD3200), be sure you update your MotherBoard BIOS to latest version and assign at last 256MB shared memory to GPU in BIOS)

To add support for RealMedia into MP:
Install Real Media Alternative for Real Media files.

To add support for QuickTime (MOV) format in to MP:
SAF already have support for modern MOV with h.264 HD video. But if you want to play MOV files from cameras, etc, you need to do folowing:
-install QuickTime Source DirectShow Filter -no need if SAF is *unlocked*
-install QuickTime alternative (can be "lite" version) Framework
-in MP configurations, Videos -> Video extensions add ".movsd"
-install at last SAF 4.00 beta04
-try to play your MOV file in MP. If you get codecs error or you do not hear audio, rename your file extension from *.MOV to *.MOVSD and hope... :)
TIP: To rename lot of files from MOV to MOVSD, move them to one folder (C:\video) run CMD, go in to c:\video folder and type

rename *.mov *.movsd

How can i know what filters are in use in MP?
START - SAF - TOOLS - graphstudio, here File - Connect to remote Graph

If you install and setup SAF and you will have some more filters when playing standart video, there is something
wrong with your system...

Problems:
Before you ask - there are very powerfull button "search this thread" - most of questions was already answered more then twice here!
You can check SAF FAQ for some answers.
Do not ask me about DTS, nVIDIA, HDTV - i will not have answer for you, becouse i do not have such hardware/tv signal!
If you have problem with video/sound, try to play your file with MPC-HC player. If you will have same problem in MPC-HC player, you possibly hit MPC-HC bug and you should report it directly to MPC-HC team here.

I cannot play some *.ts files/My HDTV don't work!
***FIXED IN SAF 3.49B17
Well, there is a problem between MP internal TS splitter and MPC-HC decoder, look here:
http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/1-...08/#post305001
Solution? Rename your *.ts files to MKV or MP4 - this will disable internal ts splitter, and Haali doo the
work.
Should be fixed in feartuere MP release - more info here: 0002069: TsReader is not working properly with some H264 codecs - MediaPortal Bugtracker

Haali is not closed correctly/MP fails to play second DXVA video on Win7
***FIXED IN MP SVN 23908
By some reason, haali is not closed correctly when you play&stop DXVA compatible video + MPC-HC decoder. Win7 ewen give you error message when you try to play second DXVA video. Reason for that is unknown. Only i can say is, that this problem only happend in MP (not in GB-PVR/MPC-HC player). More info here
To reproduce:
-install SAF
-start MP in window mode
-play few times DXVA (h.264) compatible video
-you will notice haali icon(s) remain in try until you close MP
Solution? Here!

Problems with AC3/DTS when using passtrought
-add FFDShow Audio decoder to MP postprocessing

Note:
- you must enable Passthrough in SAF install process to activate this feature
- this will not broke DXVA

I only got black screen when playing HD video!
Mostly caused by bad drivers / try different drivers for your GPU.
Try to disable DXVA - start menu - SAF - DXVA Off.

My computer freeze on wakeup!
I had similar problem. It was caused by TV card driver.
There is a solution - you can use MCE standby tool + my addon.

I have HD video, but DXVA is not working
Lot of HD videos shared on web are not corectly encoded (5.1 profile with too many ref. frames are used) = no ATI DXVA compatible.
You can simply reencode them using free Xvid4PSP software.
Just run Xvid4PSP, drag&drop your video file and config Xvid4PSP acording this screenshot:

But be aware - this process can take whole night (depending of your CPU power)!

Enjoy!
HOBORG
PS: sorry for my english

My recommendations/tips:
Use Windows XP SP3 instead of VISTA/Win7 becouse:
- XP are faster then Vista
- you can modify XP and hide all "windows" messages, boot screen, etc..., so nobody will even known you HTPC is runing on windows :)
- DXVA working great under XP
- DXVA + DVD navigation (highlighted buttons) works only under XP (does not work on Vista or Win7 - at last for me) - by other words XP is best OS for DVD playback. (EVR problem related i think)
- for best MPEG-2 video quality on ATI, enable "Edge enhancement" + "de-noise" and move sliders to "1"

If you have your video files in avi format, you should consider to put them in to MKV container (this doesn't change quality, just container).
MKV format have many positives:

1. Perfect support in MP/SAF
2. You can put xy audio/subtitiles tracks inside one MKV file
3. You can tag audio/subtitles with language tag, so MP automaticly play tracks in your language
4. Faster file opening/data retrieving (much faster in TV Series)
5. MKV's are slightly smaller than original AVI, so you will spare some hardisk space
6. MKV is standart for many OS, so your video files will be working outiside Windows OS
7. MKV support almost all standart video formats, not only HD video
8. You can easily split MKV's and send examples to your friends

You can do all in free MKVmerge software - just drag&drop your file, add subtitles/audio tracks, tag with language tag and hit ''Start muxing'' button.

Make sure you enabled vsync in your Graphic card configuration to remove tearing

Under Vista, you need to enable AERO + vSync to fix tearing.

MPEG2 decoder comparison:

*Cyberlink "CLVsd.ax"
+ it is free (can be extracted from PDVD)
+ can use DXVA
+ no problems with LiveTV & DVD (WinXP + WMR9)
- DVD navigation + DXVA doesnot work under Vista and Win7
- not possible to adjust gama in DXVA mode

*FFDShow MPEG-2 video decoder (libavcodec)
+ it is free
+ yadif deinterlacing
+ good for DVD and LiveTV
- sometime crash when seeking in video (causing GB-PVR "hang")
- blacklisted in MP for LiveTV

*MPC-HC (Gabest) "Mpeg2DecFilter.ax"
+ it is free
- cannot use DXVA or output in VN12 = no HW deinterlacing = bad picture quiality for LiveTV
- causing coruptions on end of DVD tracks

*DScaler
+ it is free
+ can output in NV12 = hardware deinterlacing
- when used, my HTPC was restarted randomly without any warning

*Elecard MPEG-2 version 4
+ can use DXVA
+ possible to adjust gama in DXVA mode
- it is not free
- broken DVD navigation
- blocking when jumping thrue video (seek)

Hardware tip: (the hardware i will use in new HTPC - if there will be any)
*MotherBoard: Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H - AMD 785G (ATI HD4200)
*CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 240e
*Storage: WD AV-GP (2TB) got it already :)

[1stdead]

trying it tomorrow.. Are you sure subtitles work with dxva? Doesn't i mpch only with new costum EVE

[tourettes]

Originally Posted by 1stdead

trying it tomorrow.. Are you sure subtitles work with dxva? Doesn't i mpch only with new costum EVE

No, they wont as its not supported by MP code.

[hoborg]

Originally Posted by 1stdead

trying it tomorrow.. Are you sure subtitles work with dxva? Doesn't i mpch only with new costum EVE

Hello.

I newer write anywhere it will be working with subtitles. DXVA in MP works only without subtitles.

[Kian]

hi,
i just tried your package and everything installed fine. however, hardware acceleration is not working . i also read somewhere that VSfilter autoloading needs to be disabled. so when i changed to No in the Haali settings, i always get a bluescreen when trying to play mkv files in MP. once i switch on autoloading vsfilter, everything works fine again but no hardware acceleration. what can i do?

[hoborg]

Hello.
What OS do you have? Do you have Ati graphic card?

My package is configured OK, no need to change anything to have DXVA - Bluescreen = wrong drivers!

If you have ATI + WinXP you need to use older Catalyst 8.5 - is last DXVA working driver (i will post link to them next day)
In Vista, use Catalyst 8.8+, it works fine.

No experience with nVidia cards...

[Kian]

hi hoborg,
i just made a clean uninstall of my ati drivers and installed catalyst 8.8
now apparently hardware acceleration works (cpu loads is constantly below 10%) and when i check the MPC video decoder setting sit says for DVXA Mode: "H.264 bitstream decoder, no FGT". is it correct like this? if yes, THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[hoborg]

Originally Posted by Kian

hi hoborg,
i just made a clean uninstall of my ati drivers and installed catalyst 8.8
now apparently hardware acceleration works (cpu loads is constantly below 10%) and when i check the MPC video decoder setting sit says for DVXA Mode: "H.264 bitstream decoder, no FGT". is it correct like this? if yes, THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Yes, it is OK
Well, another happy costumer

[kiwijunglist]

how would one change the settings to optimise for 1920x1080 - 60Hz ?

[hoborg]

Originally Posted by kiwijunglist

how would one change the settings to optimise for 1920x1080 - 60Hz ?

Well, my package have nothing to do with refresh rate. HD means better looking subtitles.
I can add option for HD/FullHD, i think it is no problem.

It simply multiplay video resolution x2, then render subtitles = beter quality subtiles.

If you have video in in 624x352, it will be automaticly doubled to 1248x704. That's the trick.