PowerDVD 8 codec problem (1 Viewer)

[Dodgy Bob]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: 1.0.2
MediaPortal Skin: StreamedMP
Windows Version: Vista x86 Ultimate SP2
CPU Type: AMD 4850e 2.5Ghz
HDD:
Memory: 4GB
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA78G-DS3H
Video Card: Onboard ATI HD 3200
Video Card Driver: Catalyst Suite 9.8
Sound Card: Onboard Realtek HD
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver: 6.0.6002.18005
1. TV Card: BlackGold 3540
1. TV Card Type: analog, DVB-T, DVB-S
1. TV Card Driver: 6.0.0.49
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec: ffdshow rev. 2033
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec: PowerDVD 8 Ultra
Satelite/CableTV Provider: None
HTPC Case:
Cooling: Stock
Power Supply:
Remote: Microsoft
TV: Samsung LE46A756
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

Hi all,

After recently having a problem with the PowerDVD codecs disappearing (due to upgrading it, full thread somewhere else in this forum) I reinstalled PowerDVD 8 Ultra base version. I also have ffdshow installed.

Under Videos -> Video Player -> H.264 video decoder I selected the PowerDVD codec.

Now some videos work fine but others don't, I just get audio with a black screen. All videos work fine in Windows Mediaplayer.

Two examples are 10,000 BC and 3.10 to Yuma, both .mkv (although I've also got examples of two .mp4). Here are their details as per mediainfo :

 [SIZE="3"][SIZE="2"]General
Complete name                    : E:\Films\10,000.BC.(2008).BDRip.720p.DTS.X264.mkv
Format                           : Matroska
File size                        : 4.30 GiB
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Overall bit rate                 : 5 648 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2008-06-21 02:39:25
Writing application              : mkvmerge v2.2.0 ('Turn It On Again') built on Mar 10 2008 10:55:12
Writing library                  : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Bit rate                         : 3 879 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 4 134 Kbps
Width                            : 1 280 pixels
Height                           : 532 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.406
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Resolution                       : 24 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.238
Title                            : x264@High Profile L4.1 720p
Writing library                  : x264 core 60 r886M 1075536
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-3:-3 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=6 / rdcmp=psy / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=4134 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=1.00 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / aq=2:1.00
Language                         : English[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE="2"]General
Complete name                    : E:\Films\3.10.to.Yuma.2007.BDRip.a720p.x264.AC3-C.mkv
Format                           : Matroska
File size                        : 2.15 GiB
Duration                         : 2h 2mn
Overall bit rate                 : 2 509 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2008-01-05 05:18:35
Writing application              : mkvmerge v2.1.0 ('Another Place To Fall') built on Aug 19 2007 13:40:07
Writing library                  : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 6 frames
Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 2h 2mn
Bit rate                         : 2 017 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 2 122 Kbps
Width                            : 960 pixels
Height                           : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.424
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Resolution                       : 24 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.166
Title                            : x264 960x528 @ 23.98 fps 2122 kbit/s
Writing library                  : x264 core 57 svn-709C
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-3:-2 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / fpel_cmp=sad / subme=6 / me-prepass=0 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / mbaff=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=600 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=2122 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=29400 / vbv_bufsize=9781 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30[/SIZE]

Any ideas why 10,000 BC works fine but 3.10 to Yuma doesn't?

I can't play either of them in PowerDVD directly because it won't let me select .mkvs. Both work fine if I change the codec to ffdshow.

The odd thing is is that they both worked fine with the PowerDVD codec before I did the last upgrade and then re-installed the base. I'm thinking I may have had an old patch on there?

Thanks.

Bob.

Edit : Sorry for the stupid widths. How do you get the scrollbars on the boxes?

 

[Owlsroost]

I think I'd just upgrade PDVD8 to a version below build 2521 (when the filter block was introduced) - if it helps, I think the build 2217 update is here - http://update.cyberlink.com/ftpdload/patch/powerdvd/8/CyberLink.2217U_TaRe38_DVD080909-05.exe

Tony

 

[Owlsroost]

I think I'd just upgrade PDVD8 to a version below build 2521 (when the filter block was introduced) - if it helps, I think the build 2217 update is here - http://update.cyberlink.com/ftpdload/patch/powerdvd/8/CyberLink.2217U_TaRe38_DVD080909-05.exe

Tony

 

[Dodgy Bob]

That did it, thanks.

How annoying is that? Base version doesn't work quite right, latest patch doesn't work quite right. It's these little things that make getting everything working together a nightmare.

On to the jerky picture problem now.