Elimination of green flashes (Marvel G400-TV)

[Debbie]

Hi Folks,

This is what I did for the subject:

The PicVideo codec is one of my resident codecs other
AVI codecs can be used including DivX (experiment)

Captured a clip of a few minutes and made a copy.
Converted the clip to MJPG (VIDC.MJPG=pvmjpg21.dll) using
AVIFrate.exe.

Executed the fourCC converted clip. However the green underlay
was still there and still a couple of "flashes".

Next I disabled RRMjpg.ax in the Matrox Video Tools folder
and that did the trick. (disabled = RRMjpg.axx)

I was able to view the converted clips perfectly with a perfect
start and not a trace of green both in Media Player and also in
PC/VCR. The clip that have been left in its original state, stoped
at some point but played back the audio.

I had no apperent problems with UMSP 6.5 and other software
including capturing in AV_IO or PC/VCR.

Enabeling RRMjpg.ax restored every thing to its original state.

Sending the clip to tape is no problem since it is possible to use
the DualHead option.

I will be pleased to read your comments.

Regards,

Debbie

[daniele greco]

Debbie,
what is AVIFrate? Where is it available? Is it the sme like UWE utility AVI.exe for changing the FOURcc code of an avi?

[Debbie]

Ciao Daniele,

AVIFrate fa la stessa cosa che fa AVI.EXE., ma credo che e piu versatile con varie pozione.

Si puo trovare qui:

http://www.am-softhome.com

Cordiali saluti

Debbie

[daniele greco]

GRAZIE Debbie per la gentile risposta !!!!

Cordialmente!

Daniele

[Debbie]

Daniele,

You can disable only RRMjpg.ax and get the same result as above. I have made 2 .bat files one to rename and another to replace the original name and placed a shortcut of each in a conveniant place.

Debbie

[daniele greco]

I made some trial, but I am a little confused about the results.
(I have both PICVIDEO MJPG codec installed, and MArvel board in my PC, with Video Tools.)

a) Took an avi captured by PC-VCR, mjpg compressed with Marvel codec (dmb1)

b) Changed the Fourcc code from dmb1 to MJPG using AVIFrate. Looking at file properties in Windows98SE, the "new" avi (let's call it avi#1) is said to be "PCVideo MJPG". OK!

c) Opened the "new" avi#1 in Premiere 5.1: lookinf at properties, the same file is said "dmb1" compressed!!! Why this?
And in fact, scrubbing timeline, and "real time" rendering from RAM is quite stuttering

d) I re-conpressed the same avi#1 in Premiere, specifing use PICVideo MJPEG codec, and exported as new avi file (let's call it "avi#2)

e)Now, re-opened avi#2 in Premiere, file properties report "PIC VIDEO MJPEG coded" and scrubbing and rendering from RAM is smooth and nice. Quality is also very good.

As far as I understand, when you disable RRMjpg.ax by renaming it, you actually disable the HW dmb1 codec, forcing the system to decompress the avi using the other available MJPG SW codec, i.e. PICVIDEO. That's the reason why green flashes are gone. Am I correct?
Thank a lot
Daniele

[Debbie]

Hi Daniele,
Correct.
You will notice this if you install a demo version of the PicVideo MJPG codec, because when RRMjpg.ax is disabled you will get the PicVideo watermark superimposed on the picture.
That shows that the PicVideo codec is taking over during playback when RRMjpg.ax is disabled.

Both Matrox and PicVideo codecs apperently are dmb1.

I do the capturing with hardware compression using AVI_IO.

Regards,

Debbie