DVD playback with Zoom Player

[greinedo]

As an answer for jackelectronics, some hints to have a good DVD playback with Zoom Player :

Software needed :

Zoom Player Professional 4.03 Final

http://www.inmatrix.com/files/zoomplayer_download.shtml

it’s the front end player for DVD, DIVX, etc.

AnyDVD 4.5.8.1

http://www.slysoft.com/en/

AnyDVD is a driver, which descrambles DVD-Movies automatically in the background. The DVD appears unprotected and region code free. You need it to watch CSS protected DVDs.

DScaler 5.006

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=7420&package_id=123423

It’s my prefered MPEG2 video decoding filter (better quality than WinDVD or PowerDVD). It also includes an audio filter. And it’s free !

ReClock 1.4

http://reclock.free.fr/

This is a tool needed to have a complete smooth playback. Otherwise, you will certainly experience jercky playback.

FFDShow (I prefer the 2002-12-11 release)

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=53761&package_id=59355

It’s a software video processor for improving the picture.


Installation :

Install AnyDVD

Install Reclock

Install DScaler

Install FFDShow
Configure FFDShow Select only Raw Video in codec section and only YV12 colorspaces

Install Zoom Player
Configure DVD Setup (Customized) :
- DSCaler video decoder (force weave playback in option)
- DScaler audio decoder (see options for soundcard or SPDIF out)
- ReClock audio renderer
- VMR9 windowless renderer
Register the selected filters
Configure Presets
- Change Preset 0 to 720X576 (res of your 2nd head=TV)


At first do not add FFDShow (add it later if it works)

Lauch Zoom Player and move it to the 2nd head (TV)
Insert a DVD and try to play
Choose Video Preset 0
Choose Aspect Ratio Source if you have a 4/3 TV
or choose Aspect Ratio Anamorphic if you have a 16/9 TV.
Choose Zoom mode

Will add more details later

[greinedo]

After that, you have a DVD playback fullscreen on the second head in VMR9 mode, while on the first head you still have your desktop.

see picture

[DC]

Thanks for this description greinedo.

I'll try as soon as I find some time for this (which I have always not enough).

DC

[VJ]

Great description, but it doesn't really work for me...

When using DScaler as the video decoder, I get a lot of horizontal artifacts (esp. in fast moving footage). There artifacts are gone when I use my PowerDVD decoder (but then I can't use VMR9 and must go with overlay; DVDmax then provides for a full screen output on the second head). Also, audio sounds better without ReClock, while still having a smooth playback.


FWIW, I'm using a Matrox Parhelia 512 (4x version) on a dual Xeon 2.4 (FSB533).


Jörg

[greinedo]

Strange.

The latest release of DScaler works well for a lot of people including me.

see here (717 replies!)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=460075&highlight=dscaler5

Wich release of DScaler.
Are you trying to watch intelaced contents ? DScaler 5 is known to have bad deinterlacing.

[VJ]

I was using all versions you posted (DScaler 5.006). I'm not sure if the source is interlaced (it was a DVD of the Muppet Show my brother gave me ).

But now you mention interlacing: it could well be that problem (judging by the looks of the artifacts: a lot of horizontal lines, esp. on fast changing sections on the footage).



Jörg

[Jammrock]

Looks great, but I have two problems on my system. FFDShow video processor didn't work, and VMR9 doesn't work. I'm gonna try a different version of ffdshow and see if that fixes it.

[dZeus]

I agree on Dscaler (although it doesn't do deinterlacing, you might want to use ffdshow with an avisynth plugin called 'telecide' for that, or not at all when you output to TV). For Reclock I'd advice the 1.5 beta.... it's MUCH smoother for me than 1.4.

As far as zoomplayer, I hate it with a passion because the interface for configuration is cluttered to the extend that it's far too time consuming to use. If you don't use renderless VMR9 you can use just about any directshow player, and for renderless VMR9 there is another programme (forgot the name, it's mentioned on avsforums).

[greinedo]

My topic was to speak about Zoom Player and not any basic player that doesn't fullfill my needs.

Anyway, for those still interrested, there is a good tutorial Zoom Player + FFDShow here : http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ffdshowdvd_1

[Jammrock]

I finally got Zoom working on that PC. Turns out I had forgotten to update the driver from the OS default, so it was using a driver from 2002. Updated that and now it works great. Though I've noticed that the combination is somewhat of a CPU hog. Runs choppy when lots of motion is going on with an old P3 I tested it on.

I just wish more programs allowed you to chose your own combination of CODECs and filters like that!