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Complete Version history / Release notes / Changelog / What's New for FrankyRenderer
FrankyRenderer 1.1
Important upgrade information
One ZIP for both players: MPC-BE and PotPlayer now use the same native FrankyRenderer package. There are no separate player packages and no MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Recommended upgrade: Export your settings, close all players and uninstall the previous FrankyRenderer package using its Uninstall.cmd. Then extract the new ZIP to a permanent folder and run Install.cmd. Keep external ICC/LUT files if you use them.
PotPlayer requires the beta with native support: Use PotPlayer 261030 Beta 64-bit or a newer build with native FrankyRenderer support. Select FrankyRenderer, in the player's video renderer settings.
MPC-BE: Use a recent nightly build with native FrankyRenderer support and select FrankyRenderer.
Changes
Fixed AviSynth sources being reopened by Dolby Vision probing (#2).
Fixed cropped screenshots and "Save displayed image" errors in MPC-BE.
Fixed settings changed before playback not applying to the display profile (#3).
One native package for MPC-BE and PotPlayer 261030 Beta 64-bit with native FrankyRenderer support; removed the MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Fixed a brief white properties window when opening the settings menu in MPC-BE.
Fixed regular single frame drops during playback, most noticeable with Smooth Motion.
Fixed bursts of dropped frames when switching to fullscreen or another display, resizing the window or toggling statistics with Ctrl+J.
Fixed missing frames after Stop and Play or a decoder change.
Fixed the first picture being shown twice after starting playback or seeking while paused.
Fixed failed rendering and screenshots of interlaced video with hardware decoding at native size on some systems.
Number fields in the settings menu now apply with Enter, Tab or when leaving the field; Escape restores the previous value.
Settings previewed in an open settings dialog are reverted on the next start if the player closes unexpectedly.
One invalid stored setting no longer resets the whole display profile.
Faster live preview while dragging sliders with an ICC profile or 3D LUT enabled.
Fixed a possible crash when the player closes the settings while a list or file dialog is open.
Settings menu: Reset Shader resets only the selected shader; clearer messages for missing ICC/LUT files and other small fixes.
Dolby Vision Profile 5 and 8 metadata is now applied even when the player's decoder does not pass it on (for example PotPlayer's built-in decoder), instead of falling back to HDR10.
HDR10 and HDR10+ metadata is now applied even when the player's decoder does not pass it on (for example PotPlayer's CUDA decoder), including the HDR10+ tone-mapping curve.
New: display mode switching in fullscreen like madVR. Each display profile has its own list of allowed modes (for example 2160p23, 2160p24, 2160p50, 2160p60), the original mode is restored when leaving fullscreen or stopping, and playback can pause for an adjustable time while the TV resynchronises (General & Presentation > Display Mode).
FrankyRenderer 1.0.9
Native MPC-BE support: Recent MPC-BE nightly builds include FrankyRenderer as a separate renderer option. Use the MPC-BE package.
Separate PotPlayer package: Select MPC Video Renderer in PotPlayer.
Added Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL/MEL processing for supported local progressive files.
Fixed frame refresh when seeking while paused in MPC-BE.
Fixed black screens when changing files in MPC-BE.
Fixed leftover black areas after file changes in MPC-BE.
Improved fullscreen file transitions and cursor handling.
Made the settings window more compact and improved window resizing.
Corrected false repeat/glitch counts across integer and fractional frame rates.
Added 4-bit and 5-bit dithering options.
Fixed uninstallation when the installation backup is missing.
Added Dolby Vision profile, FEL/MEL processing status and output format to the Ctrl+J statistics.
Enabled Smooth Motion for Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL/MEL.
Removed fixed base-layer and enhancement-layer resolution requirements.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.8 — Developer test build (native CLSID)
Developer test build — native CLSID integration
For player developers testing native FrankyRenderer integration. Requires a player build with native FrankyRenderer support; not intended for general use.
Fix player rotation and mirroring commands having no effect.
Preserve the correct aspect ratio for rotated video, including Smooth Motion.
Add GPU pixel and renderer-interface regression tests.
Uses only FrankyRenderer’s dedicated CLSID. MPC-HC player integration changes are maintained separately and are not included in this renderer ZIP.
FrankyRenderer — Developer test build (native CLSID)
For player developers testing native FrankyRenderer integration. Not intended for general use.
Registers only FrankyRenderer’s dedicated renderer CLSID: {B864E92A-1BDF-4DA1-9004-CBF467DF239A}.
Removes the MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Renames the renderer binary to FrankyRenderer.ax.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.6
Updated libplacebo to the official v7.387.0 release
Fixed screenshot saving during playback and while paused. Native MPC-HC integration is pending review in PR #4356 and is not yet available in official MPC-HC releases.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.5
Updated libplacebo to development snapshot 7.387.0, including upstream fixes and revised HDR tone mapping.
Adapted Smooth Motion timing and Dolby Vision metadata handling to the updated library.
Added optional image analysis with waveform, histogram, RGB parade, false color and grayscale test ramp.
Assets
FrankyRenderer 1.0.4
Added NVIDIA RTX Video Super Resolution through the driver. Enable Super Resolution and choose quality in the NVIDIA app, then enable it under Scaling.
Removed obsolete settings dialogs, unused Windows-HDR toggle code and stale test targets; the renderer is about 12% smaller.
Fixed restoring the default Max Frames in Flight value during HDR passthrough; corrected the display-profile persistence test.
Fixed brief wait-cursor flashes and keyboard focus loss during episode transitions in PotPlayer.
Assets
FrankyRenderer 1.0.3
Added separate settings and editable names for each display; new displays start with defaults.
Added NVIDIA HDR passthrough without enabling Windows HDR, with automatic display switching and HDR state restoration.
Added a Clipping Protection switch and simplified HDR mode selection.
Fixed Smooth Motion cadence and saving display names without pressing Enter.
Added compact Custom switches in scaling section headers; preset selectors are disabled while custom settings are active.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.2
Fixed MPC-BE playback on fresh Windows installations.
Renamed runtime DLLs to descriptive filenames.
Installation and removal messages now appear in the command window.
Added INI settings import and export.
Improved dropdown scrolling, appearance and scaling filter choices.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.1
Changes
MPC-BE now works (tested with MPC-BE 1.9.2 x64): fixed renderer detection and registration, video output and resizing/fullscreen behavior.
Fixed empty subtitle callbacks preventing video output, and restored normal drawing state between subtitle frames.
Kept the renderer settings on a single page in MPC-BE; the extra Pin Info tab is hidden to avoid conflicting page layouts.
Consistently formatted the project's own C++ sources and added a checked-in clang-format configuration and formatting check.
Simplified the download: removed redundant VBS launchers, screenshots, duplicate files and full documentation from the installation ZIP.
Install
Uninstall or unregister the original MPC Video Renderer first. FrankyRenderer currently uses the same CLSID for player compatibility; both cannot be registered at the same time. Do not uninstall MPC-HC or MPC-BE themselves.
Download FrankyRenderer-1.0.1-win64.zip and extract it to a permanent folder.
Close PotPlayer and MPC-BE, then run Install.cmd and approve the administrator prompt.
In PotPlayer or MPC-BE, select MPC Video Renderer in the video output settings. The loaded filter identifies itself as FrankyRenderer.
Keep the installed folder and all its DLLs and shaders in place. To uninstall, close the player and run Uninstall.cmd from that folder.
The ZIP contains the renderer, required runtime DLLs and shaders, Install.cmd, Uninstall.cmd, setup.ps1, INSTALL.txt and license notices. No compilation is required.
Renderer source and build instructions: v1.0.1. Exact dependency sources and build recipes: Dependency sources.
FrankyRenderer 1.0
First public release of FrankyRenderer 1.0 for Windows x64.
Updated build
New native dark settings interface rendered with Direct2D and DirectWrite.
Search across settings, explicit defaults and ranges, fine numeric controls and per-value reset buttons.
Compact shader list with double-click enable/disable and a selected-shader parameter editor.
Dark dropdowns, visible scrollbars and improved layout, text readability and window controls.
Fixed playback stalls caused by drawing the statistics panel on the video render thread.
Fixed duplicate Smooth Motion output timestamps with millisecond-rounded source timestamps.
Regression tests cover 60, 120 and 144 Hz timing. A live 120 Hz TV test with Smooth Motion and statistics enabled produced 3,600 outputs in 30 seconds with no new drops, repeats or glitches.
Important: uninstall the original MPC Video Renderer first
Before installing FrankyRenderer, uninstall or unregister the original MPC Video Renderer using its own uninstaller or deregistration script. FrankyRenderer currently uses the MPC Video Renderer CLSID for PotPlayer compatibility, so both renderers cannot be registered at the same time. The installer refuses to overwrite a registration belonging to another renderer.
FrankyRenderer already has its own CLSID, but PotPlayer does not yet offer native selection through it. You do not need to uninstall MPC-HC or MPC-BE themselves.
Download and install
Download the Windows x64 ZIP from release 1.0.1.
Extract the complete ZIP to a permanent directory. Keep the DLLs and shaders beside the renderer.
Close PotPlayer and run Install.cmd. Windows will request administrator permission for registration.
In PotPlayer, select MPC Video Renderer as the video renderer. The active filter and settings identify it as FrankyRenderer.
Open the filter settings to configure processing. Press Ctrl+J during playback for statistics.
Do not move or delete the installed directory. To uninstall, close PotPlayer and run Uninstall.cmd from that directory.
Included functionality
libplacebo image processing with Direct3D 11 / DXGI presentation.
Image/chroma scaling, custom filters and Smooth Motion frame mixing.
Debanding, dithering, Adaptive Sharpen and Bwdif/Yadif deinterlacing.
HDR passthrough, HDR-to-SDR tone mapping, peak detection and gamut mapping.
HDR Shadows, Midtones and Highlights controls; color adjustment, SDR ICC profiles and custom .cube LUTs.
21 configurable shaders, black bar detection, crop/zoom controls and live settings preview.
Rendering statistics and a persistent shader cache.
See the README for the full feature list.
Package contents and validation
The Windows ZIP contains the renderer, required runtime DLLs and shaders, Install.cmd, Uninstall.cmd, setup.ps1, a short INSTALL.txt guide and license notices. Screenshots and full documentation are available on GitHub. No compilation is required.
The exact renderer extracted from the release ZIP passed the automated DirectShow/GPU playback and live settings tests. Direct2D menu binding, search, layout, defaults, reset, dialog lifecycle and close-button hover tests also passed. Archive integrity, per-file hashes and x64 runtime dependencies were checked.
Renderer source: GitHub repository at v1.0. Exact runtime dependency source packages and build recipes: Dependency sources.
Important upgrade information
One ZIP for both players: MPC-BE and PotPlayer now use the same native FrankyRenderer package. There are no separate player packages and no MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Recommended upgrade: Export your settings, close all players and uninstall the previous FrankyRenderer package using its Uninstall.cmd. Then extract the new ZIP to a permanent folder and run Install.cmd. Keep external ICC/LUT files if you use them.
PotPlayer requires the beta with native support: Use PotPlayer 261030 Beta 64-bit or a newer build with native FrankyRenderer support. Select FrankyRenderer, in the player's video renderer settings.
MPC-BE: Use a recent nightly build with native FrankyRenderer support and select FrankyRenderer.
Changes
Fixed AviSynth sources being reopened by Dolby Vision probing (#2).
Fixed cropped screenshots and "Save displayed image" errors in MPC-BE.
Fixed settings changed before playback not applying to the display profile (#3).
One native package for MPC-BE and PotPlayer 261030 Beta 64-bit with native FrankyRenderer support; removed the MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Fixed a brief white properties window when opening the settings menu in MPC-BE.
Fixed regular single frame drops during playback, most noticeable with Smooth Motion.
Fixed bursts of dropped frames when switching to fullscreen or another display, resizing the window or toggling statistics with Ctrl+J.
Fixed missing frames after Stop and Play or a decoder change.
Fixed the first picture being shown twice after starting playback or seeking while paused.
Fixed failed rendering and screenshots of interlaced video with hardware decoding at native size on some systems.
Number fields in the settings menu now apply with Enter, Tab or when leaving the field; Escape restores the previous value.
Settings previewed in an open settings dialog are reverted on the next start if the player closes unexpectedly.
One invalid stored setting no longer resets the whole display profile.
Faster live preview while dragging sliders with an ICC profile or 3D LUT enabled.
Fixed a possible crash when the player closes the settings while a list or file dialog is open.
Settings menu: Reset Shader resets only the selected shader; clearer messages for missing ICC/LUT files and other small fixes.
Dolby Vision Profile 5 and 8 metadata is now applied even when the player's decoder does not pass it on (for example PotPlayer's built-in decoder), instead of falling back to HDR10.
HDR10 and HDR10+ metadata is now applied even when the player's decoder does not pass it on (for example PotPlayer's CUDA decoder), including the HDR10+ tone-mapping curve.
New: display mode switching in fullscreen like madVR. Each display profile has its own list of allowed modes (for example 2160p23, 2160p24, 2160p50, 2160p60), the original mode is restored when leaving fullscreen or stopping, and playback can pause for an adjustable time while the TV resynchronises (General & Presentation > Display Mode).
FrankyRenderer 1.0.9
Native MPC-BE support: Recent MPC-BE nightly builds include FrankyRenderer as a separate renderer option. Use the MPC-BE package.
Separate PotPlayer package: Select MPC Video Renderer in PotPlayer.
Added Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL/MEL processing for supported local progressive files.
Fixed frame refresh when seeking while paused in MPC-BE.
Fixed black screens when changing files in MPC-BE.
Fixed leftover black areas after file changes in MPC-BE.
Improved fullscreen file transitions and cursor handling.
Made the settings window more compact and improved window resizing.
Corrected false repeat/glitch counts across integer and fractional frame rates.
Added 4-bit and 5-bit dithering options.
Fixed uninstallation when the installation backup is missing.
Added Dolby Vision profile, FEL/MEL processing status and output format to the Ctrl+J statistics.
Enabled Smooth Motion for Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL/MEL.
Removed fixed base-layer and enhancement-layer resolution requirements.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.8 — Developer test build (native CLSID)
Developer test build — native CLSID integration
For player developers testing native FrankyRenderer integration. Requires a player build with native FrankyRenderer support; not intended for general use.
Fix player rotation and mirroring commands having no effect.
Preserve the correct aspect ratio for rotated video, including Smooth Motion.
Add GPU pixel and renderer-interface regression tests.
Uses only FrankyRenderer’s dedicated CLSID. MPC-HC player integration changes are maintained separately and are not included in this renderer ZIP.
FrankyRenderer — Developer test build (native CLSID)
For player developers testing native FrankyRenderer integration. Not intended for general use.
Registers only FrankyRenderer’s dedicated renderer CLSID: {B864E92A-1BDF-4DA1-9004-CBF467DF239A}.
Removes the MPC Video Renderer compatibility registration.
Renames the renderer binary to FrankyRenderer.ax.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.6
Updated libplacebo to the official v7.387.0 release
Fixed screenshot saving during playback and while paused. Native MPC-HC integration is pending review in PR #4356 and is not yet available in official MPC-HC releases.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.5
Updated libplacebo to development snapshot 7.387.0, including upstream fixes and revised HDR tone mapping.
Adapted Smooth Motion timing and Dolby Vision metadata handling to the updated library.
Added optional image analysis with waveform, histogram, RGB parade, false color and grayscale test ramp.
Assets
FrankyRenderer 1.0.4
Added NVIDIA RTX Video Super Resolution through the driver. Enable Super Resolution and choose quality in the NVIDIA app, then enable it under Scaling.
Removed obsolete settings dialogs, unused Windows-HDR toggle code and stale test targets; the renderer is about 12% smaller.
Fixed restoring the default Max Frames in Flight value during HDR passthrough; corrected the display-profile persistence test.
Fixed brief wait-cursor flashes and keyboard focus loss during episode transitions in PotPlayer.
Assets
FrankyRenderer 1.0.3
Added separate settings and editable names for each display; new displays start with defaults.
Added NVIDIA HDR passthrough without enabling Windows HDR, with automatic display switching and HDR state restoration.
Added a Clipping Protection switch and simplified HDR mode selection.
Fixed Smooth Motion cadence and saving display names without pressing Enter.
Added compact Custom switches in scaling section headers; preset selectors are disabled while custom settings are active.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.2
Fixed MPC-BE playback on fresh Windows installations.
Renamed runtime DLLs to descriptive filenames.
Installation and removal messages now appear in the command window.
Added INI settings import and export.
Improved dropdown scrolling, appearance and scaling filter choices.
FrankyRenderer 1.0.1
Changes
MPC-BE now works (tested with MPC-BE 1.9.2 x64): fixed renderer detection and registration, video output and resizing/fullscreen behavior.
Fixed empty subtitle callbacks preventing video output, and restored normal drawing state between subtitle frames.
Kept the renderer settings on a single page in MPC-BE; the extra Pin Info tab is hidden to avoid conflicting page layouts.
Consistently formatted the project's own C++ sources and added a checked-in clang-format configuration and formatting check.
Simplified the download: removed redundant VBS launchers, screenshots, duplicate files and full documentation from the installation ZIP.
Install
Uninstall or unregister the original MPC Video Renderer first. FrankyRenderer currently uses the same CLSID for player compatibility; both cannot be registered at the same time. Do not uninstall MPC-HC or MPC-BE themselves.
Download FrankyRenderer-1.0.1-win64.zip and extract it to a permanent folder.
Close PotPlayer and MPC-BE, then run Install.cmd and approve the administrator prompt.
In PotPlayer or MPC-BE, select MPC Video Renderer in the video output settings. The loaded filter identifies itself as FrankyRenderer.
Keep the installed folder and all its DLLs and shaders in place. To uninstall, close the player and run Uninstall.cmd from that folder.
The ZIP contains the renderer, required runtime DLLs and shaders, Install.cmd, Uninstall.cmd, setup.ps1, INSTALL.txt and license notices. No compilation is required.
Renderer source and build instructions: v1.0.1. Exact dependency sources and build recipes: Dependency sources.
FrankyRenderer 1.0
First public release of FrankyRenderer 1.0 for Windows x64.
Updated build
New native dark settings interface rendered with Direct2D and DirectWrite.
Search across settings, explicit defaults and ranges, fine numeric controls and per-value reset buttons.
Compact shader list with double-click enable/disable and a selected-shader parameter editor.
Dark dropdowns, visible scrollbars and improved layout, text readability and window controls.
Fixed playback stalls caused by drawing the statistics panel on the video render thread.
Fixed duplicate Smooth Motion output timestamps with millisecond-rounded source timestamps.
Regression tests cover 60, 120 and 144 Hz timing. A live 120 Hz TV test with Smooth Motion and statistics enabled produced 3,600 outputs in 30 seconds with no new drops, repeats or glitches.
Important: uninstall the original MPC Video Renderer first
Before installing FrankyRenderer, uninstall or unregister the original MPC Video Renderer using its own uninstaller or deregistration script. FrankyRenderer currently uses the MPC Video Renderer CLSID for PotPlayer compatibility, so both renderers cannot be registered at the same time. The installer refuses to overwrite a registration belonging to another renderer.
FrankyRenderer already has its own CLSID, but PotPlayer does not yet offer native selection through it. You do not need to uninstall MPC-HC or MPC-BE themselves.
Download and install
Download the Windows x64 ZIP from release 1.0.1.
Extract the complete ZIP to a permanent directory. Keep the DLLs and shaders beside the renderer.
Close PotPlayer and run Install.cmd. Windows will request administrator permission for registration.
In PotPlayer, select MPC Video Renderer as the video renderer. The active filter and settings identify it as FrankyRenderer.
Open the filter settings to configure processing. Press Ctrl+J during playback for statistics.
Do not move or delete the installed directory. To uninstall, close PotPlayer and run Uninstall.cmd from that directory.
Included functionality
libplacebo image processing with Direct3D 11 / DXGI presentation.
Image/chroma scaling, custom filters and Smooth Motion frame mixing.
Debanding, dithering, Adaptive Sharpen and Bwdif/Yadif deinterlacing.
HDR passthrough, HDR-to-SDR tone mapping, peak detection and gamut mapping.
HDR Shadows, Midtones and Highlights controls; color adjustment, SDR ICC profiles and custom .cube LUTs.
21 configurable shaders, black bar detection, crop/zoom controls and live settings preview.
Rendering statistics and a persistent shader cache.
See the README for the full feature list.
Package contents and validation
The Windows ZIP contains the renderer, required runtime DLLs and shaders, Install.cmd, Uninstall.cmd, setup.ps1, a short INSTALL.txt guide and license notices. Screenshots and full documentation are available on GitHub. No compilation is required.
The exact renderer extracted from the release ZIP passed the automated DirectShow/GPU playback and live settings tests. Direct2D menu binding, search, layout, defaults, reset, dialog lifecycle and close-button hover tests also passed. Archive integrity, per-file hashes and x64 runtime dependencies were checked.
Renderer source: GitHub repository at v1.0. Exact runtime dependency source packages and build recipes: Dependency sources.