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As described in http://blog.davidesp.com/archives/389, I was unable to successfully open .avs files in VirtualDub (1.9.11).  I had AviSynth 2.5.8 installed under Windows 7.  I tried uninstalling and reinstalling AviSynth, but this time stepped back to AviSynth version 2.5.7.  It worked - VirtualDub (1.9.11) can now open .avs files and display their images.  Not sure if it was just the clean reinstall or the step-back to 2.5.7.

Context & Problem:

• I want a way to serve an AviSynth media stream into NLEs etc., e.g. Sony Vegas.  I have done this for years under Windows XP-SP3 (32-bit).
  • Partly just for the flexibility of having this option.
  • Partly (as explained at http://blog.davidesp.com/archives/388), as a workaround to another problem with old software under Windows 7.
• However an attempt at installation in Windows 7 failed - because (I now know) the installer is obsolete (and hence incompatible) with respect to Windows 7.
  • VFAPI requires to be installed, via .bat/.inf files, so that for example it appears in the Registry.
  • But the installer fails under Windows 7.  It is compatible with XP but not Windows 7 (or Vista).
  • It is possible to manually “hack-install” VFAPI into Windows 7, but that causes me anxiety…

Possible Solutions:

• Possibly the tricks reported at  http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=750967 (which in any case is a great article about motion-estimation-based slow-motion in AviSynth) might get VFAPI working on my W7 system.
• Or there may be a better way…AVSP
  • Instead, use AVFS - AviSynth Virtual File System: http://avf.sourceforge.net/
  • To simplify life, there is a single download (zip file) of a suite of apps & plugins associated with AViSynth at http://www.animemusicvideos.org/guides/avtech3/amvapp.html.  This suite used to include VFAPI and now instead includes AVFS.

(more…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv5splGvXoU

• Also shows:
  • Batch file for multiple files to be converted
  • Audio processing graph editor in VirtualDub
  • “Rename folder” kludge for Sony Vegas to relink Offline to Online.

On MBP>BC>W7(64), installed VirtualDub’s latest version, v V1.9.11:

• As advised on the webpage, chose 32-bit rather than 64-bit variant as former gives greatest choice of plugins.
• Ran it and inspected/changed Preferences:
  • Display:Unsure about this.  Leave it alone for now.
  • Render: Warn if no audio is written = YES
  • Images: Default frame rate: [10.0000] = 25.0000
  • Threading: [0] = 1 (1 means for video compressor use multithreading)

Also downloaded some plugins:

• [logo17.zip] & [logo17src.zip]
  • Allows placement of DOG (e.g. Station ID) on screen.
  • Includes example rotating globe: [earth.zip]
• [deflick13b1.zip]
  • De-flickering e.g. projection screen at different frame rate.
• [smooth11.zip]
  • Smoother / Deblocker, preserves (and maybe even accentuates) edges.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/cineform-software-showcase/133853-importing-cineform-into-virtualdub-601-709-rgb-issues.html Importing Cineform into Virtualdub, 601, 709, RGB issues

A physical DVD could be played but not copied, despite attempts on multiple computers (each with own drive).  The main VOB file was corrupted.  The disk appeared to the eye to be in good condition.  Wanted to copy a repaired version of that file, maybe with gaps or truncations, whatever could be salvaged.  Workaround was to do a ‘dd’.  That’s a unix command to “convert and copy a file”.  Mac OS X is based on a variant of unix, so chose to execute it from there.  The successful command was as follows:

• dd if=/Volumes/’DVD VR’/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB of=tmp/vts_01_1.vob conv=noerror

Prior to this, naively-and-unsuccessfully tried Windows 7 PowerShell (PS) ‘cp’ command with ‘-Force’ option, but that was “barking up the wrong tree”.  An alternative suggestion, not attempted, was to use a streaming video processor such as VirtualDub. (more…)

I have used this for years.  Here are some things I learnt and re-learnt today, about and around it:

• Deshaker’s main forum is http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1418923
• Deshaker is used as a plugin to VirtualDub.
• VirtualDub can’t directly read XDCAM-EX files.
  • One way round this is to transcode to an AVI format.
    • I traditionally use Cineform (CFHD).  In Sony Vegas, when rendering-out to this from a 720p50 Project single XDCAM-EX .mxf file of 720p50 footage, the result when viewed in the original project has a weird effect where the image only advances every two frames.
      • This does not occur for larger Projects, reason unknown (need to experiment, but maybe ? it’s because because larger projects tend also to contain media in other formats?).
    • So instead on this occasion I render to HuffYuv.  Larger but lossless and no (obvious) issues.
    • After every such render, check for the “doubled-up frames” issue, e.g. in case accidentally rendered to unintended format.  Mistakes happen, especially when under pressure of long hours…
• The result, from VirtualDub, can be saved to AVI formats e.g. Cineform (CFHD).
  • If saving to CFHD then be sure to specify RGB mode (in the codec’s dialog), this preserves the levels in 0..255 (”Computer”) range, otherwise (default non-RGB) it scales to 16..235, giving a washed-out appearance when viewed back in Sony Vegas.