Where to specify decoders?

[Graham]

There was a section in the GBPVR config.xml that listed the decoders that could be used for this and that. It was the subset of the listed decoders that were installed on a 'puter that was presented as options in the config.

I can't find the equivalent list in NPVR. I want to try various decoders for he-aac for UK HD broadcasts. Currently the only options that I see are LAV and ffdshow (which are essentially the same).

I was hoping that I might be able to, for example, add Cyberlink to the list for he-aac and see what happens. Thanks.

PS. I can see why it might be a bad thing to have the hoi polloi (including me) faffing about with decoder experiments.

[Reddwarf]

There was a section in the GBPVR config.xml that listed the decoders that could be used for this and that. It was the subset of the listed decoders that were installed on a 'puter that was presented as options in the config.

I can't find the equivalent list in NPVR. I want to try various decoders for he-aac for UK HD broadcasts. Currently the only options that I see are LAV and ffdshow (which are essentially the same).

I was hoping that I might be able to, for example, add Cyberlink to the list for he-aac and see what happens. Thanks.

PS. I can see why it might be a bad thing to have the hoi polloi (including me) faffing about with decoder experiments.

Except for LAV and ffdshow the only other decoders that work with HE-AAC is Monogram and DivX HE-AAC decoder.

[johnsonx42]

To explain a little further, GB-PVR used the supported decoder list to determine what decoders you would be able to choose from; the idea was to have only decoders known to actually work in the list, but you could add anything you wanted to that list, including complete nonsense, and GB-PVR would allow you to select it.

NPVR on the other hand asks windows for the list of decoders and what each is capable of and forms the selection list from that response. The upside of this is obvious - you can use whatever decoders you want, NPVR doesn't have to "know" about them first. On the downside, some decoders will claim to work for one stream type or another, but won't actually work in reality. For example, the Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder claims to decode AC-3 audio, but it will actually only do so for Microsoft applications; when a 3rd party app tries to use it it does nothing.

[Graham]

NPVR on the other hand asks windows for the list of decoders and what each is capable of and forms the selection list from that response.

Thanks for that. And thanks to Reddwarf. I can't even get ffdshow to play audio from HD recordings. I think I'll quit before I drive myself loopy looking and listening for differences between decoders that are probably so subtle my old eyes and ears wouldn't notice.

[johnsonx42]

ffdshow has an internal whitelist - it won't work when called by any app unless the executable (nextpvr.exe in this case) has been added to the whitelist. I don't know why ffdshow works in this manner, but presumably there is good reason for it.

[Graham]

ffdshow has an internal whitelist

Thanks but that ain't it. The version that I have has a whitelist and a blacklist and tick boxes to enable them. I have tried all the permutations including adding nextpvr to the whitelist and running with the whitelist ticked on and not ticked on. I suspect that it doesn't matter. LAV is ffdshow in a good suit and LAV works so I probably wouldn't be able to hear a difference if I did get ffdshow working.

Plus, LAV seems to be first choice for most UK HD users so who am I to argue with the majority!!

[mvallevand]

I don't think ffdshow supports he-aac anyway.

As for the white/black list it makes sense if you think about it. Most DirectShow players aren't as flexible as NextPVR, and the merit approach stinks.

Martin

[Graham]

I don't think ffdshow supports he-aac anyway.

That's it. I'm getting out of the decoder business. What I have is working quite well enough. Thanks to all and it's goodnight from me.

[Reddwarf]

That's it. I'm getting out of the decoder business. What I have is working quite well enough. Thanks to all and it's goodnight from me.

Just wanted to mention that the best result I'v got for HE-AAC is with the LAV decoder, second best is DivX.