Video Overlay Sucks: Alternatives
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:04 pm
Some information I dug up and sent to co-workers while investigating color banding during WMVHD playback of 1080p material.
I'll clean it up later provided I'm not too lazy (ha!)
Summary: Video Overlay Sucks
I figured out the reason for the banding and how to get rid of it last night.
By default, media players use video overlay; special hardware on display cards used from ~1995. This was to avoid taxing the CPU. Unfortunately, it's very old and definitely was never intended to work with WMVHD.
Luckily, there's only one overlay (typically) per card. So if you play the same video twice simultaneously, the 2nd opened one will use a different rendering technique in software. This is what led to my discovery (I occasionally compare videos from multiple subbers).
More info here: (I found it interesting)
http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/highlig ... nder.shtml
Note: Software rendering DOES use more CPU power!
After changing your rendering technique (details appended), you're golden!
Hope this helps,
ps. Video Overlay Sucks
*** How to change rendering technique:
Both Windows Media Player and Windows Media Player Classic allow you to change the rendering technique.
For Windows Media Player 9+:
1) right click on the menu bar
2) select "Tools" which expands
3) select "Options..."
4) select the "Performance" tab
5) select "Advanced..."
6) in "Video Acceleration": check "Use high quality mode"
7) in "Video Acceleration": uncheck "Use Overlays"
8) in "DVD video": uncheck "Use Overlays"
For Windows Media Player Classic: (ie. what you should be using)
1) right click on the player
2) select "View" which expands
3) select "Options..."
4) expand "Playback" on the left side if not already expanded
5) select "Output"
6) in "DirectShow Video": select VMR9 (renderless)*
* might want VM9 (windowless) if you plan on multitasking with video
you can also set "RealMedia" and "QuickTime" to use "DirectX 9" here
*** PureVideo
What is it?
A combination of hardware and software that offers numerous acceleration benefits for GeForce 6 and higher series cards; ultimately increasing quality and reducing CPU utilization.
Note, I said hardware AND SOFTWARE. Unfortunately, the software is NOT free and needs to be purchased from here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_decoder.html
AnandTech PureVideo Article
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2305
I'm especially interested since my Athlon64-3000+ stutters a few times during intense 1080p videos, such as the 1080p Alexander trailer.
I'll clean it up later provided I'm not too lazy (ha!)
Summary: Video Overlay Sucks
I figured out the reason for the banding and how to get rid of it last night.
By default, media players use video overlay; special hardware on display cards used from ~1995. This was to avoid taxing the CPU. Unfortunately, it's very old and definitely was never intended to work with WMVHD.
Luckily, there's only one overlay (typically) per card. So if you play the same video twice simultaneously, the 2nd opened one will use a different rendering technique in software. This is what led to my discovery (I occasionally compare videos from multiple subbers).
More info here: (I found it interesting)
http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/highlig ... nder.shtml
Note: Software rendering DOES use more CPU power!
After changing your rendering technique (details appended), you're golden!
Hope this helps,
ps. Video Overlay Sucks
*** How to change rendering technique:
Both Windows Media Player and Windows Media Player Classic allow you to change the rendering technique.
For Windows Media Player 9+:
1) right click on the menu bar
2) select "Tools" which expands
3) select "Options..."
4) select the "Performance" tab
5) select "Advanced..."
6) in "Video Acceleration": check "Use high quality mode"
7) in "Video Acceleration": uncheck "Use Overlays"
8) in "DVD video": uncheck "Use Overlays"
For Windows Media Player Classic: (ie. what you should be using)
1) right click on the player
2) select "View" which expands
3) select "Options..."
4) expand "Playback" on the left side if not already expanded
5) select "Output"
6) in "DirectShow Video": select VMR9 (renderless)*
* might want VM9 (windowless) if you plan on multitasking with video
you can also set "RealMedia" and "QuickTime" to use "DirectX 9" here
*** PureVideo
What is it?
A combination of hardware and software that offers numerous acceleration benefits for GeForce 6 and higher series cards; ultimately increasing quality and reducing CPU utilization.
Note, I said hardware AND SOFTWARE. Unfortunately, the software is NOT free and needs to be purchased from here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_decoder.html
AnandTech PureVideo Article
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2305
I'm especially interested since my Athlon64-3000+ stutters a few times during intense 1080p videos, such as the 1080p Alexander trailer.