Cyberlink PDVD9-SAF - FilterMerits/Config

[dennit]

I recently installed SAF unlocked and set my MPEG2 Video Decoder on the playback tab of Config to
Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9) as recommended. It wouldn't play my DVR-MS files. No errors in logs. It would just stay black screen, then return to the recordings menu. I checked in GraphStudio, and it played the same files fine with the same filters, including Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9).

Testing further, I tried those files with the Video Decoder on the playback tab of Config set to System Default. It chose ffdshow and played fine. Then I changed the filter merit of Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9) to higher than ffdshow, left the Video Decoder set to System Default, and it played fine! (Logs confirm GBPVR was using PDVD9.) Then I reset the Video Decoder to Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9) and it refused to play again.

Bottom line, it refuses to play the file with the Video Decoder set to Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9), but will happily play the file with that filter using it through System Default, provided its merit is highest.

Why? Does anyone know the difference between these two methods of using the same filter?

I have several PDVD filters (6.x and 7 as well as 9) Does that have any effect? I could remove some to find out, but I hate to do that.

Related questions:

Do I care if I use ffdshow or PDVD9? I can reset the merits and use System Default. What are relative advantages/disadvantages (Why does SAF recommend its use - DXVA?)

Alternatively, is there any reason why I shouldn't leave the merit of PDVD9 set highest and continue with it set to System Default?

Thanks for any enlightenment!

[dennit]

Does anyone know the difference between these two methods of using the same filter?

I wonder if it's in this line of config.xml:

Code:

<SupportedDecoders>DScaler Mpeg2 Video Decoder,MPC - MPEG-2 Video Decoder (Gabest),Microsoft MPEG-2 Video Decoder,CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD8),CyberLink DTV Video Decoder,ATI MPEG Video Decoder,ArcSoft Video Decoder,InterVideo NonCSS Video Decoder for Hauppauge,InterVideo Video Decoder,CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (ATI),CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD7),NVIDIA Video Decoder,CyberLink Video/SP Decoder,Elecard MPEG2 Video Decoder,Elecard MPEG-2 Video Decoder,Moonlight-Elecard MPEG2 Video Decoder,MainConcept MPEG Video Decoder,MainConcept MPEG-2 Decoder,MainConcept (Hauppauge) MPEG Video Decoder,Sonic Cinemaster® DS Video Decoder,Zulu HDTV Video Decoder(BDA),Nero Video Decoder,GPL MPEG-1/2 Decoder,MPV Decoder Filter,ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder,ffdshow Video Decoder,HCW MPEG-2 Video Decoder,MPEG Video Decoder</SupportedDecoders>

I don't see any "PDVD9" listed there, but it still chooses it because the next line is:

Code:

<PreferredDecoder>CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9)</PreferredDecoder>

Maybe it chooses the wrong filter when playing, even though it seems to know about the correct filter. I'm wondering if I just add "CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD9)" to the list of SupportedDecoders if it will work?

I'll try it as soon as the wife's recording stops. (She has no humor when it comes to "fiddling" with the recorder during her programs.)

[sub]

The <SupportedDecoders> setting isnt used in 1.4.7. It used to be used to list the decoders in the config app. These days it just shows all the decoders that report they can decoder that type of content.

[dennit]

The <SupportedDecoders> setting isnt used in 1.4.7. It used to be used to list the decoders in the config app. These days it just shows all the decoders that report they can decoder that type of content.

Thanks.

I've been working on this, and I'm seeing behaviour I can't understand. I've got the Video Decoder set to System Default and the merits reset to their installed defaults. Graphedit and Graphstudio select ffdshow video for dvr-ms, but GBPVR is still selecting PDVD9. ?? What is causing that?

I can't get any recorded dvr-ms files to play inside GBPVR when it's doing this. Any thoughts?

[sub]

Sorry no, I dont know. I dont have PDVD9 installed here.