The Don's Craptastic World » Software

VirtualDub: Use ffdshow filters (resize, sharpen, wartermark) in VirtualDub

Don Salva — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:05:25 +0000

In the guides here and here I talk about using the VirtualDub internal filters, namely the resize and sharpen filters. But you can also use external filters. I use the ffdshow filters.

What is ffdshow, you ask? Here's the quote from the ffdshow sourceforge page

ffdshow tryouts is a DirectShow and Video for Windows codec with support for a wide range of audio and video formats, such as Xvid, DivX, and H.264. It includes a powerful filter set that can enhance the video quality - with filters for resizing, deinterlacing, and displaying subtitles - as well as audio quality through normalization, down-/upmixing, and resampling.

First of all, you'll need to download the latest ffdshow codec. Although it's "safer" to always use the latest stable builds, in this case however I'd recommend always using the latest SVN builds. Because they are updated way more often including the filters. The latest SVN build, as of the time writing this article was 2011-01-19.

Even the SVN builds are subdivided in 3 areas:

Start installing the ffdshow codec now. You'll be asked what you want to install. This is your choice:

After that leave the rest of the settings as they are and continue finishing the codec installation. After the installation a file named ffvdub.vdf should be inside your VirtualDub/Plugins folder:

Now we can start using the ffdshow filter in VirtualDub. Start up VirtualDub, open a video file, then add the filter:

Now the important part: VirtualDub processes the selected filters in their order. Meaning concurrent. This is very important because it affects your quality especially in connection with watermarks.

Say such as if we were using the filters in this order: 1) waterwark, 2) sharpen, 3) resize. What happens is this: First a watermark is slapped on a frame, then this frame including the watermark is sharpened and after that the sharpened frame including the watermark is resized. Now this is not an idea. Why?

Imagine you have a watermark 100*100 pixel. This image is first slapped on each frame, then it is sharpened and then it is resized. You don't want that. You want the watermark to maintain its original quality and size. So the ideal filter order would be:

Resize the frame, sharpen the frame and insert original, unedited watermark. Let's take a look at the selected filters.

ffdshow filter: Resize

It's pretty much straightforward. Enable resize, choose "Specify horizontal and vertical size" and enter the numbers you want to resize it to. It's 1280*720 for 720p HD and 1920*1080 for 1080p HD.

If you're resizing down or up from a 4:3 resolution, remember to enable "Keep original aspect ratio" under Aspect ratio. Otherwise the end-result will look over-stretched/-squeezed.

If you're resizing down or up from a 16:10 resolution, you could ignore this option. The end-result won't look too bad. But check it out yourself to make sure!

ffdshow filter: Sharpen

Sharpen is a bit trickier, and a lot different from VirtualDub's internal one. In fact there are 5 different sharpening algorithms, I haven't experience with them all, but I've made best experiences with "msharpen". Enable "high quality".

Sadly I can't give you ballpark figures like in the previous guides because this filter works very different. I'll do my best to try to explain how it works.

There are 2 sliders: Strength (1-127) and Threshold (0-255). Strength dictates how strong it should sharpen. Threshold dictates how much of the frame should be sharpened. A Threshold of 0 means everything (every pixel) in the frame will be sharpened, a Threshold of 255 sharpens nothing in the frame.

In order for you to see how much of a frame is sharpened enable "only mask" and press "Preview", play with the slider "Threshold" and set it to your liking. All that "white" in your Preview will be sharpened. Once you've set your Threshold to your liking don't forget to turn off "only mask"! Now play with the slider Strength and set to your liking. Each video needs a different setting I've concluded so far.

This is how the different msharp settings look like: Sharpen filter off, Sharpen Strength 127/Threshold 255, Sharpen Strength 127/Threshold 0, Sharpen Strength 35/Threshold 20, Sharpen Strength 30/Threshold 3.

Sharpen filter with "only mask" activated: Threshold 255, Threshold 0, Threshold 30, Threshold 15, Threshold 7, Threshold 3, Threshold 1.

ffdshow filter: Bitmap overlay (Watermark)

First thing fist: The watermark image needs to be a bitmap (.bmp). Everything else is pretty straightforward. Position your watermark with the sliders "Horizontal/Vertical position". Choose the mode of watermark inclusion and its Opacity. Preview your settings.

VirtualDub: How to prevent asynchronous sound

Don Salva — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:15:45 +0000

According to some comments from here, here and in some of the Emails I get people sometime experience asynchronous sound. As I have speculated here, this is most likely due the CPU being overwhelmed with the whole encoding process. Let me try to explain, and bear in mind, this is just speculation based on nothing but my own suspicions.

When you set the threads in the x264 codec to fully utilize your CPU, meaning all cores, and then some, you make sure the CPU is working at its maximum capacity just for video processing.

If you then add audio to the pile, the CPU just hasn't got any resources to spare, and if it does, it does a miserable job, thus resulting in lag which translates in asynchronous sound.

If that is the case, lowering the numbers of threads in the x264 codec should fix it. This way you can have both audio and video encoding in one go. I haven't tried this method, because I employ a different solution.

How I do it:

I process video and audio separately. First I encode/transcode the video, leaving the audio in its original form. Then I encode the audio and overwrite it.

Let say we have recorded a video and named this video myvideo_unedited.avi .

Transcode/Encode your myvideo_unedited.avi according to this or this BUT leave "Audio" at "Direct Stream copy". DO NOT change it like suggested in the aforementioned links and name this new video for instance transcoded-myvideo_RAWAUDIO.avi.

Now open transcoded-myvideo_RAWAUDIO.avi and set your "Video" to "Direct Stream copy". In "Audio" you set it to "Full Processing Mode". Go on and set your "Compression", "Volume", and other settings to your liking and save this new sound via "File"->"Save WAV...". The WAV-file is called the same as the video, in this case it'll be transcoded-myvideo_RAWAUDIO.wav.

Now set your "Audio" to "Direct Stream copy", and click "Audio from another file..." and select the new transcoded-myvideo_RAWAUDIO.wav and save this new video with its new audio via "File"->"Save as AVI..." and name it for example myvideo_final.avi.

You're surely asking why I'm doing this stupid extra work, when I can just lower the threads and be possibly done with it. The answer is transcoding/encoding speed. Lowering the threads in the x264 codec translates into longer transcoding time. Processing video needs much, much more time, than processing sound does.

Say for example, if I were to encode a 15 min. video, and I'd lower the threads just so I can process sound and video in one go, the whole process might take me maybe 1 hour, 30 min. If I encode video first, and leave the sound alone, the process takes me about 1 hour to complete. Then I process the sound alone which takes about 10 seconds. After that I merge both and I'm done in 1 hour and 5 min. That's 25 minutes shaved off.

Another important notice: Sometimes the sound is asynchronous when you play it in your vlc or any other player. However after you upload your video to YouTube the sound magically seems to be synchronous again. I haven't got a clue why that is but it happens sometimes.

VirtualDub: How to split and merge video files

Don Salva — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:27:20 +0000

Folks have been asking me here, here and on my YouTube channel how to split a single movie file into multiple ones, and how to merge multiple ones into a single movie.

I made 2 How-to clips way back then, but somehow forgot to include them in my previous tutorials, so here they are:

How To: Split a single video file into multiple video files with VirtualDub

Click here to view the embedded video.

How To: Add multiple video files into one single one with VirtualDub

Click here to view the embedded video.

VirtualDub: How to watermark your videos

Don Salva — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:07:48 +0000

There are many folks out there who like to watermark their videos in all possible kind of ways. Some like to use huge introductions and others, like me, are satisfied with small but noninvasive logos.

Before we start, you'll obviously need VirtualDub, and in this case for the watermark to work, the ffdshow codec. Yes, I'm afraid, yet another codec. You need this codec, because it provides filters we need, such as implanting the logo into a video. The ffdshow codec installs a plugin called "ffvdub.vdf" into your VirtualDub plugin directory. This plugin allows the access to ffdshows filters via VirtualDub.

VirtualDub has it's own internal logo filter, but the problem with this filter is it leaves a mess after encoding. The logo is barely readable, it's pixellated and all other sort of issues. Whereas the ffdshow filter leave a clear, readable logo instead.

Open your video, set your VirtualDub up to do whatever encoding your need. Here are two ideas. Now comes the logo part.

Adding a logo to a video

Open up Video -> Filters and add the filter "ffvdub" from Milan Cutka:

Now a new window will appear where all the available ffdshow filters are listed:

You're looking for the filter "Bitmap overlay". Enable it. Now select your *.bmp logo, place it to your liking via horizontal/vertical position and "Alignment". Experiment with "Mode" and "Opacity". Don't forget to enable preview it.

If you don't have a *.bmp logo or don't want to waste a lot of time, you can use the logo template I made a while back.

It's very important in what order the filters are listed! For example in the screenshot you see "Resize & aspect" followed by "Sharpen" followed by "Bitmap overlay". Although Resize and Sharpen are deactivated, if they were all enabled then the video FIRST is resized, THEN sharpened, THEN the logo is applied in this order.

This way the logo remains unaffected by Resize and Sharpen and retains its original quality (but in the end will ultimately be affected on how you set up your compression settings).

Here's how my logo looks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFBM5q98mwc (in the bottom right corner)

Create your own “perfect” password!

Don Salva — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:05:50 +0000

Recently I've read some articles about the most insecure and most used passwords folks use. Boy, I gotta say, it's mind numbing just how stupid some folks are, sorry to be harsh.

I for one create my passwords through my own convenient "algorithm" if you want to call it that, so I can remember even 20 characters long passwords with numbers, letters and special letters.

Or you could simply go to https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm and be done with it. Yes, this site is secure, it's using https, and the passwords generated there ARE very strong. Start using your heads folks, don't get f'ked because y'all are too lazy!

And if you can't remember each password you're using, use KeePass, store your passwords there, set a unique password you won't ever forget for your password database and either burn it on a DVD or better yet, use a password-ed flash drive.

Yes, I'm aware of the irony. A password for the flash drive and a password for the password database!

Just for the fun of it, test how secure your password is.

Use Sony NW-A3000 without SonicStage Software and hack its Volume Limiter!

Don Salva — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:43 +0000

After a long time I wanted to use my Sony NW-A3000 then I remembered why I rarely use it: Its goddamn awful piece of garbage software called "SonicStage". SonicStage for Sony's Walkman is like the iTunes for the iPod.

Without it you can't transfer your songs to your Sony NW-A3000 player,...or so I thought until yesterday! There are a few ways to transfer your songs to the player, let's start with the easier one, shall we?

JSymphonic, an open source application (1 file!) written in Java, thus making it platform independent. It's not fancy, it hasn't the functionality of SonicStage, but that's exactly what I did not want.

The biggest plus? JSymphonic supports up to Generation 7 of Sony's portable music players!

You can transfer your songs from/to the player, delete them, erase the whole HDD, that's it. You want more? Well, get SonicStage then. Since the whole application resembles only 1 file, you can easily place it inside the player thus being able to transfer songs from/to any computer anywhere anytime.

Note: In order to run JSymphonic you need to have Java Runtimes installed.

Now, the not so easy method!

Plugin your mp3-player
Backup your files by renaming your directory "OMGAUDIO" to something else like "OMGAUDIObackup" or copy them onto your HDD...
Create a new directory "OMGAUDIO"
If you have any mp3-player that is not protected: create a file named "nocode.txt" inside the OMGAUDIO directory
If you have a protected mp3-player make sure you have at least ONE of the following:
- MP3FM correctly installed with a MP3FM/DvId.dat file: see the official Sony page about MP3 File Manager
- Make sure you have the decodeKey.dat from the keywizard in the directory "GYM" (Grab Your Music): more info at: http://clientes.netvisao.pt/~sonygym/index.htm
Download and copy ml_sony to your WinAMP-plugin folder

That's it. Now run your WinAMP and start copying to/from your Sony's mp3-player. I know a lot more work than JSymphonic, but there are folks out there using WinAMP.

Now least not last the Volume Limiter Hack!

Sony's portable music players have, by standard, a volume limiter enabled to protect you from hearing impairment. Some of you couldn't care less I presume or the normal volume is too low for you, so here's how to hack it..

Enter the test mode, but ignore step 3:

Proceed to alter the settings according to

After that turn off the mp3-player, and voilá u hasz got moar volumez!

How to unassociate File Types in Windows 7!

Don Salva — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:43:24 +0000

It drove me nearly crazy yesterday, when I falsely associated a few files with the wrong application and could unsassociate them.

No mater how much I turned my registry upside down, how much I deleted, something was missing. I just couldn't find it. "F'k it!" I thought, and turned to google.

Lo and behold, I stumbled upon Unassoc. Simple, small, no installation! Oorah!

Simply search for the desired file type and click "remove file association (user)", after that Windows 7 will use the global file association. If you still have the wrong application as your standard application then do "delete file type".

Download:
Author's website
Rapidshare mirror (Version 1.4)

MyDefrag: Simple Defragmenter with enormous hidden potential!

Don Salva — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:00:33 +0000

I've used O&O Defrag for a couple years now, and up until now I was always satisfied, but since O&O Defrag 12 the defrag algorithms seem to have dropped in effectiveness significantly.

Especially the access algorithm seems to be doing exactly squat. Files which are being accessed all time aren't moved at all, like they are supposed to. Anyway, I ditched the junk and set out to find me another defrag application.

I tried Defraggler, which was very nice but way too simple. I needed more. I tried PerfectDisk, it was better but not what I was looking for. I took a look at Auslogics Disk Defrag, something different, but still not what I wanted.

Until I stumbled upon MyDefrag...Why MyDefrag ROCKS:

My very first thought was "WTF is this piece of garbage?", but trust me, this is, by far, the best defragmentation tool out there.

Why? Because you can write your own defragmentation algorithms. Yea, you read right, your own algorithms.

That is, when and if you've read yourself through some tutorials how to write defrag algorithm scripts. All you do is write your script in Notepad, save it as yourscript.MyD, move it to your MyDefrag installation folder, start up MyDefrag, select script (algorithm) and off you go!

MyDefrag comes with a couple of standard and most used scripts, such as Sort by Access, Sort by Size, Standard Defragmentation, Move to End of Disk, Optimize Daily/Weekly/Monthly, and many more. So you don't have to worry to read tons of tutorials how to write 'em.

There are also plenty of user made scripts on the official forums and the internet. Hit google.com, I guarantee you'll find a script just for your needs!

Though I strongly suggest you learn how to write your own scripts, only then will you tap into MyDefrag's true potential. Because let's face it, nothing beats scripts tailored to your specific needs and only you know what they are!

On a practical note, I do see an increase in performance after using my own scripts, although not a very big one, but an increase nonetheless.

Example scripts that come with the installation are Sort By Last Access , Move To End Of Disk, Consolidate free space, or a user written one Full Optimize from the MyDefrag forums.

How to set up your computer for gameplay recording

WSCC: Windows System Control Center – A convenient collection of system applications!

Don Salva — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:54:21 +0000

I'm an avid user of system applications. I like to know what's going on my system. Which is why I'm using a lot of Windows Sysinternals utilities like AutoRuns, Process Monitor, Process Explorer. To some extend also some of NirSoft's Utilities.

Well, recently I stumbled upon what you may call an "application center", KLS Soft's WSCC aka Windows System Control Center.

Essentially, WSCC provides a convenient GUI and lists all of Sysinternals', NirSoft's and Window's own utilities in a comfortable order. There are 2 ways to run WSCC, though.

You can choose not to download every application which results in longer starting times of each application. Because every time you start WSCC the application needs to be downloaded and cached. The cache is emptied upon closing WSCC and you have to re-download said application upon starting WSCC again.

Or you can choose to download every one of the applications via "Updates" in the upper right corner in a chosen folder resulting in shorter starting times.

WSCC is a must-have for everybody who likes to know what's going on with their system! The sheer amount of utilities should satisfy almost any need!

SpaceSniffer: Show disk space usage the graphical way

Don Salva — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:45:26 +0000

Thanks to Carsten Knobloch a.k.a. Caschy, a german blogger, I found an interesting software. SpaceSniffer allows you to show how much disk space each application, down to each single file, uses the graphical way. It's available for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, and it's freeware!

What it essentially does is, it scans the whole hard drive, renders different images depending on disk usage and assigns them to each single file and folder. There's a way to show more details, meaning going deeper down to show the usage of each single file, or less details showing only the folders.

SpaceSniffer is more focused on clean graphical display than detailed information, like WinDirStat for example. You can directly manipulate the files/folders from inside the application. Double clicking a "block" will cause it to show you more detailed information (files) about it.

One use, suggested by Caschy, would be to delete unnecessary files if you plan to do backups. Saves time and disk space. I'm sure there are other uses for it, I personally use it to check usage by each application I have installed.

The Don's Craptastic World » Software

VirtualDub: Use ffdshow filters (resize, sharpen, wartermark) in VirtualDub

Related posts:

VirtualDub: How to prevent asynchronous sound

Related posts:

VirtualDub: How to split and merge video files

Related posts:

VirtualDub: How to watermark your videos

Related posts:

Create your own “perfect” password!

Related posts:

Use Sony NW-A3000 without SonicStage Software and hack its Volume Limiter!

Related posts:

How to unassociate File Types in Windows 7!

Related posts:

MyDefrag: Simple Defragmenter with enormous hidden potential!

Related posts:

WSCC: Windows System Control Center – A convenient collection of system applications!

Related posts:

SpaceSniffer: Show disk space usage the graphical way

Related posts: