Saf6

[hoborg]

Since old SAF thread is outdated, i created this new one. I will try to add more info, pictures and videos soon...

On the begin i must say "thank you nevcairiel for your excelent work on LAVF!"

So what is new in SAF6?
- SAF6 is now miltilanguage - if your language is not present, you can translate SAF and i can integrate it to next SAF release
- SAF6 have now selectable components + it is possible to set destination path
- SAF6 is based on LAV splitter/audio decoder and FFDshow (DXVA) video decoder
- thanks to LAVF, you can now play BluRay's (without menus) in any DirectShow Based players including GB-PVR and NPVR
- thanks to LAV splitter, all AVIs should now play corrertly
- thanks to LAV spitter + LAV audio decoder, a lot of MOV files are now supported
- thanks to LAV audio decoder, audio passthrough working really great including HD audio
It is nearly impossible to setup all computer around the world by one app, but SAF6 will do the best...



[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

[SIZE="5"]SAF6 can be download here cca 13MB (changelog).[/SIZE]

Note:
SAF come with two version - locked (default) and unlocked. To unlock SAF, send me an PM.
SAF support audio/subtitles streams switching (if FFDshow (DXVA) video decoder is in use) - you can do it by:
- right click ony FFDshow systray icon
- press CTRL+ALT+NUMPAD0 or CTRL+ALT+NUMPAD1
If you want to hide/show subtitles, just pres CTRL+ALT+S
You can display OSD statistic too (if FFDshow (DXVA) video decoder is in use) - just press CTRL+ALT+O - this is usefull if you want to see if DXVA is in use or not

If you have good remote controler, you can map all this shortcuts to it and control all by remote. My HTPC can do it and it is working really great

After instalation, *unlocked* SAF should setup nPVR decoderslike on picture below:


Q:
What the hell is SAF???
A:
SAF is a solution. SAF will install and configure all needed decoders/splitter, configure them and make all working just out of the box. You can install them manually and spend weeks (if ever) make all working, or you can install SAF and do the same work in few seconds.

Q:
Why to use SAF? There are already k-lite, CCCP, shark,etc...
A:
SAF was/is developed by HTPC user. Main goal is to install/touch the OS as less as possible but make as much as possible working.

Q:
What OS i need?
A:
SAF will work on WinXP SP3 or newer. Using Win7 is recommended.
NOTE:
WinXP have limitations...
For example, using NPVR on WinXP you will hit VMR7/9 bug

Q:
What audio/video formats are supported by SAF?
A:
Well, nearly all. If you have any video that SAF6 won't play, send me small sample.

Q:
Does SAF support DXVA?
A:
Yes. Just remember you need modern GPU to use DXVA

Q:
Does SAF support DXVA + subtitles?
A:
Yes

Q:
Does SAF support HDTV?
A:
Yes, you just need unlocked SAF. Send me PM

Q:
Does SAF support DVD playback?
A:
Yes, and DVD navigation is working on all OS

Q:
Does SAF support BluRay playback?
A:
Yes, but remember you need to have any "on the fly" BluRay decrypter to play them and it will only play without menus.

Q:
Does SAF support PGS subtitles?
A:
Yes.

Q:
I only want to display forced subs! Does SAF support it?
A:
Yes.

Q:
I have reciever. Does the SAF support audio passthrough?
A:
Yes, but there are rules:
- to passthrough AC3 + DTS you can use WinXP (or newer) and SPDIF connection
- to passthrough HD audio formats you need Win7, HD reciever, GPU that support HD audio passthrough and HDMI connection

Q:
Is there anything else i need to install?
A:
No. Just install NPVR/GB-PVR and *unlocked* SAF. SAF should set all automatically.

Q:
Does SAF support Interlced VC-1 playback?
A:
Yes!

Q:
How can i see if DXVA is in use with PDVD12 decoder?
A:
Run NPVR in window mode and start for example h.264 LiveTV
START-SAF-Tools and run Graphstudio.
In the Graphstudio click File - Connect to the remote graph and click Connect
Such graph apear:

2x click on the CyberLink Video decoder, then click on the Video out
If there is NV12 or DXVA, DXVA is in use, if there is YUY2 (like on picture) DXVA of not in use.

Q:
SAF can do so much? How many it costs?
A:
SAF was, is and will be free. But if you think SAF helped you, you can support this project by small donation.

Q:
SAF doesn't support my language, can i translate it?
A:
Yes, here is how to do it

Here is My HTPC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5o5omAT6Ec

[hoborg]

BTW, can anyone provide me small TS recording with E-AC3 audio track? I am not sure if that format is supported or not...

[Sykor]

I might have missed it (the instruction to properly configure the subtitle stream splitting), but LAV Splitter is, by default, setup to only "forward" eng subtitle streams ("Only with matching language" is enabled)...
I understand your point: decluttering the subtitle streams pool, so we don't have to switch over n' over 'till we get the one we want. But perhaps disabling it by default, and leaving instructions on how to properly enable it would save you from some "I've lost subtitle support!!!" posts from non-eng subtitles users

On another matter, I've found a couple of months ago, that for some anime fansub releases it's better to have the Compatibility Mode (DXVA Video Config -> Hardware Acceleration) in Normal mode (perform all checks). I encounter a few releases, where LAV Splitter "calls" ffdshow's DXVA video codec and the video stream freezes after some frames, although the audio continues as normal. If I change the default "skip key frame check" to "Normal". LAV no longer calls the DXVA codec for those files, and uses the "regular" video decoder instead solving the video freezing.
My question being: is there a performance gain by skipping the ref frame check?

BTW, a word of praise: been a SAF user since the first versions, and your work saves my time and time again the trouble of keeping up with the codec world. Thanks :p

[hoborg]

@Sykor:
SAF setup prefered subtitles language acording language you select durning SAF setup.
If LAVF didnt found your language stream, it will fall back to ENG. But that doesnot mean you will loose subtitles, you just can switch to next audio track. I didnt see a problem in this.

About FFdshow's DXVA decoder - LAVF splitter wont call anything. FFDshow DXVA decoder is alwyas added to graph by default if you want to play for example DXVA compatible MKV file, but if FFDshow DXVA decoder found you OS/GPU is not capable to play it correctly, FFDShow DXVA decoder refuse connection and graph build process fall back to next video decoder - FFDshow video decoder. That is what "skip key frame check" controls.

And yes, i saw such MKV too - cause FFDshow DXVA decoder to freeze, but sound play normally. This is caused by a error in video stream/damaged video file. Normal FFDshow can hadle it, but FFDshow DXVA decoder "freeze". There was some update on this problem in later FFDshow, so mabe it is fixed already

[hoborg]

SAF 6.00 SVN20110718 released!
- MPC-HC filter/player updated to rev. 1.5.2.3391
- FFDShow updated to rev.3940
- LAVF updated to .30
- FFDshow audio decoder/processor is now selectable component
- disable FFDshow DXVA decoder for MP4 only if FPS>49
- redirect WMV splitting to LAV splitter
- redirect WMA decoding to LAV audio decoder
- redirect all Realmedia decoding to MPC decoder
- updated NPVR Czech translation
- FFDshow/MPC-HC setting reset was not created on x64 OS
- added LAVF setting reset
- moved settings reset to separate folder

[BlAdEs]

hoborg, ur latest release works a lot better then the previous, thanks.
Now small q: what's the difference between forced subs and not ?
How can I make subtitles work with blueray ?

[hoborg]

hoborg, ur latest release works a lot better then the previous, thanks.
Now small q: what's the difference between forced subs and not ?
How can I make subtitles work with blueray ?

Hi.
Good.

Forced subtitles are like you have movie in english, and there are some german dialog. The forced subtitles apear only on this german dialog.
And yes, BluRay subtitles are supported.

[am2pgs]

Hi,
I have just installed SAF6 on my machine (Radeon HD 5570, Win 7) and as far as I can tell everything works ok. Thanks.

But here is the strange thing:

I have PDVD11 and EVR selected in npvr decoder settings for H.264 content. Judging by cpu usage and based on information from graph studio (EVR input pin) DXVA is enabled.

But for some reason every time I go to the PDVD11 properties page (from nPVR decoder settings), the tick box for DXVA is not selected. It allows me to set the DXVA tick box, but the next time I open it, it has reverted to "SW".


Any ideas why is this?

[hoborg]

Hi,
I have just installed SAF6 on my machine (Radeon HD 5570, Win 7) and as far as I can tell everything works ok. Thanks.

But here is the strange thing:

I have PDVD11 and EVR selected in npvr decoder settings for H.264 content. Judging by cpu usage and based on information from graph studio (EVR input pin) DXVA is enabled.

But for some reason every time I go to the PDVD11 properties page (from nPVR decoder settings), the tick box for DXVA is not selected. It allows me to set the DXVA tick box, but the next time I open it, it has reverted to "SW".


Any ideas why is this?

Hi.
How you access PDVD11 settings? It is not possible to do it if you connect to remote graph i think.
By dafault SAF installation, DXVA is ON.

[am2pgs]

Yes I too think DXVA is actually on, but PDVD11 properties window says it isn't.

But here is what I do:

Every thing closed (including graph studio).
Start nPVR application and enter nPVR settings.
Under decoder settings click on the ... button next to H.264 decoder (selected as PDVD11).
the PDVD properties dialogue opens, which has a DXVA combo box. The selection is always set "SW" and not "DXVA".