[groovyclam]

I thought I'd write a little guide for the best setup for those people who like to use ZoomPlayer to play their DigiTV output files, instead of DigiTV itself. The advantages to using ZoomPlayer instead of DigiTV itself for file playback are that it won't cause DigiTV to fail to record another programme whilst playing back a file ( Nebula claim this bug will be fixed soon but we all know about DigiTV releases! ). Also ZoomPlayer is easily controlled by Girder or other remote methods as it has a good TCP/IP interface.

Background

For those that don't know about ZoomPlayer - it is a media/DVD playback app. The beauty of it is that you can configure which DirectShow codecs and filters it should use for playback for each file type. This can mean it can be difficult to set up initially but means you get superior playback quality by choosing the best filters.

For playback of any MPEG2 file ( including DigiTV's files ) you need to tell ZoomPlayer two things:
1) which MPEG2 splitter ( demuxer ) codec to use
2) which MPEG2 video decoder codec to use

I've tried *many* of the multitude of MPEG2 splitters and video decoders for playback of DigiTV files and I think I've hit on the *top combo* so thought I'd share the info to save a lot of hassle for others.

The following setup guide is for DigiTV files recorded in the DVD compatible format ( NOT FOR TRANSPORT STREAM FORMAT FILES )

For those already familiar with ZoomPlayer configuration the short answer is that the two codecs to use are:

MPEG2 Splitter: Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer *** IMPORTANT Set its filter property "Init Mode" to SIMPLE ( see below for why/how ) ***
MPEG2 Video Decoder: NVIDIA Video Decoder ( or DScaler5 if you want a free decoder )

The MPEG2 Splitter

The Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer is very good splitter as it allows for very responsive seeking and jumping back/forward within a file. It is simply the fastest and best of all that I have tried ( OpenSource, Microsoft and MainConcept ). Of those, the OpenSource and Microsoft splitters caused stutters on my setup and the MainConcept worked fine but was not as fast at seeking/jumping as the Elecard codec.

There is one tweak that must be done to the Elecard setup however. If its default property of "INIT MODE" is left set at the installation default of "NORMAL" then recordings from certain channels ( Five, abc1, ITV3 and some others ) will have an incorrect duration reported by the Elecard splitter. To fix this set the "INIT MODE" to "SIMPLE".

The Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer is part of the "Elecard MPEG-2 Video Decoder Package 2.0" which can be downloaded from [link]

Note that this package is shareware and will expire after a trial period, however only the Video Decoder expires, and the Demultiplexer ( which is the only part we are interested in ) will still function perfectly well after the trial expires. I am using version 2 build 90.30529 which is reported in the filter properties screen ( see below for how to get to that ).

The MPEG2 Video Decoder

The best quality video decoder currently is the "NVIDIA DVD Decoder" set but it is not free and a keycode must be purchased from the NVIDIA site ( go to [link] and choose the "Products" and "Media Centre" links at the top, then look at the left ) however you can choose the cheapest "bronze" setup.

( At the moment the NVIDIA e-store website is temporarily closed for refurbishment but you can download a trial platinum pack. )

If you don't want to pay, then the DScaler5 freeware codec is a very good second when it comes to quality. It can be downloaded from [link]
( You should choose the "DScaler 5 - Alpha MPEG Filters exe" link and at the time of posting the current version is 0.0.6 which is very stable. )

The reason for choosing the NVIDIA or DScaler5 codecs over the others is twofold:
1) At this moment in time only the DScaler5 and NVidia MPEG2 decoders handle aspect ratio change on the fly within a file properly ( e.g. change from 4:3 programme to 16:9 adverts ). All other current decoders can not do this.
2) Quality of output - the NVIDIA decoder is frankly head and shoulders above other codecs at the moment ( especially when BOB deinterlacing of PAL video material for display on a vertical resolution that isn't 576 PAL standard ). No doubt as the DScaler codec progresses and more deinterlacing features are added it will probably surpass the NVIDIA codec in time. I have found the NVIDIA codec performs best for me on the Overlay renderer ( rather than VMR9 ) with its interlacing property set to "Video"

Setup

Download and install all required codecs.

Reboot.

To configure ZoomPlayer do the following:

Start ZoomPlayer and go to the Player Options dialogue.

Next pick "filter control" in the left list, now concentrate on all the stuff on the right.

Click on the "Customized media playback" tab and make sure the "Enable Customized media playback" is ticked

Click on "source filters and splitters" tab

Click on "MPEG2 Program" in the right list

Click on the "configure" button underneath it

New box opens -> Click on the "Browse" button and a list of filters appears. Scroll and find "Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer" and double click it.

Click "Verify" and you should get a "registered OK" box. Click OK and Click OK.

OK - that is the demuxer set up, now to set up the MPEG2 decoder.

Now click on the "Audio and Video Decoders" tab

In the right list click on "MPEG2 Video" and click on "Configure" underneath it. ( Note: NOT "MPEG2 Transport Video" and NOT "MPEG Video" )

Now click on "Remove filter" until no filters are in the box to the right of the "Remove filter" button.

Click "Add filter" and the list opens again. Scroll to and double click on either "NVIDIA Video Decoder" or "DScaler Mpeg2 Video Decoder" depending on which you installed.

Click on "Verify" and you should get an filter verified OK box. Click OK and OK again.

Click "Manual save" and click "close"

You now need to set the Elecard "INIT MODE" property to "SIMPLE" - to do that start playback of a DigiTV recording in ZoomPlayer and right-click on the screen during file playback and choose "Filter Properties" and click on the Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer. Its property screen will open and you can alter various things. Change the "INIT MODE" to "SIMPLE" in the drop-down, make sure "SeekByFilter" is ticked and "Subpicture" is unticked and then click on APPLY and then on OK.

Now you should be able to play Nebula DVD format recordings with no problems in ZoomPlayer. No jumping, nor stuttering and seeking is fine.

You may wish to tweak which video renderer you use in ZoomPlayer for best results ( Overlay or VMR9 - this is under "advanced" during the filter setup ) and also alter the MPEG2 decoder filter's properties.

To do that right-click on the screen during file playback and choose "Filter Properties" and click on the DScaler ( or NVidia ) MPEG2 decoder. It's property screen will open and you can alter various things. One thing is to set deinterlacing to "video" or "bob" for best results - it's all a matter of taste and personal preference from here on.

Note I have not covered audio setup in ZoomPlayer but this should be configured pretty much automatically during ZoomPlayer installation. For those that wish to customise/setup further then ZoomPlayer's own forums are a good place for support: [link]

What about Transport Stream Recordings ?

Currently only the Elecard splitter and Elecard MPEG2 decoder can handle DigiTV transport stream format files properly but unfortunately the quality from the Elecard video decoder is inferior to both the NVIDIA and DScaler5 decoders. Also the Elecard MPEG2 decoder is not freeware. If anyone finds a working setup for playing transport stream recordings in ZoomPlayer other than the Elecard codecs then please post below.

[groovyclam]

But I am getting judder using the DScaler5 codec!

On some setups playing video material with the DScaler5 codec with deinterlacing set to BOB can cause micro judder on the VMR9 renderer and Overlay renderer.

Apparently this is all due to a bug in deinterlacing in DirectX9c quartz.dll file ( as discussed in this thread with various ways of fixing with various degrees of success/failure... ( including a link to a MS hotfix )
[link] )

The simplest way to fix this for the VMR9 renderer ( without lots of deinstalling/reinstalling/patching ) is by doing the following:

-------------------------------
Download quartz.dll version 6.5.1.902 ( which is from DirectX9b ) -> in fact, do a search of your drives it is probably already in a windows update backup directory.

Open a DOS prompt:
cd to C:\Windows\System32
rename quartz.dll quartz.dll.DX9c.bak
copy the 9b version over the 9c version ( it will ask if you want to overwrite - say Y )
Close DOS prompt and reboot.

After reboot launch START\PROGRAMS\ACCESSORIES\SYSTEM TOOLS\System Information

From menu choose: Tools\DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Click the "DirectX Files" tab and scroll down the list to verify that the system is using the older 6.5.1.902 version.

If not, you probably did all the copying above with Explorer - you can't - you have to use a DOS box.
-----------------------------------

This should now have eliminated judder when using VMR9, but there will probably still be judder on the Overlay renderer however. Newer versions of the DScaler5 codec will address this issue when more options for deinterlacing are added.

[Hander]

Thanks a lot for doing this work, gc. As soon as I get a spare few hours, I'll be following your instructions and will feedback.

[Steve]

groovyclam, thank you for taking the time to write this up. Although using the setup as you'd described (I purchased the Elecard MPEG Player some time back) changing to the lastest software fixed the duration issues.

Fantastic!

[_Anarchi_]

Thats great info, thanks.

Can it be done in Media Player Classic as well?



ps. PowerDVD 5 plays Nebula recordings very well out of the box.

[gtkpr]

Many thx for that , try this for playing transport streams in zoomplayer

[link]

MPEG2 Transport Stream source filter

works flawless in zoomplayer

[groovyclam]

ftkpr - can you post a reply with step by step setup for this filter with regards Nebula files to improve the "Guide" thread. Thanks.

[Brent]

[groovyclam]

[groovyclam]

Update since I first wrote the above:

With versions greater than 0.0.6 of the free DScaler5 MPEG2 video decoder I have experienced problems after jump-seeks. I am in contact with the DScaler5 developer to fix this, but if you experience bugs with DSCaler5 after jump-seeks then revert back to version 0.0.6

[Brent]

Groovyclam,
I have a few more questions that you or others may be able to help me with.
I assume you use zoomplayer Pro?

I still get horizontal lines on fast moving pictures. Still and static background shots are fine, but panning and sport type footage produces horizontal lines. 1000% better than digitv, but still not as smooth as my STB. Could this be because I only have a Radeon 9200SE? I'm running catalyst 6.4.

The other things are less important, but trying to use the file navigator, it's set to order programs by name. Anyway of ordering them by date modified as it's really slow to move through them using the mouse and hard to know what was recorded last.

Finally, I can't get jumping to work with the all for one remote. Doesn't like the default codes. Anyway, I'll try changing that myself and see if I can't fix that now.

Thanks.

[groovyclam]

Brent - we are going off topic - take it to email:

g r o o v y c l a m _aaattt_ hotmail.com

Tell me your playback res/frequency and if you use PowerStrip or not.

Are you using VGA to a monitor, or some connection to a TV ?

Is TV in Oz PAL 50Hz interlaced 720x576 like in UK ?

[Bill]

Grooveclam,
I can split your discussion off to another forum, if you want to keep your excellent guide intact.

[wonkyd]

I always have jumpy playback outside of DigiTV with anything recorded of Channel 4. Haven't yet found a solution for it.