| User review:
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Video and audio decoder for DirectShow (media players) and VFW (VirtualDub). Wide choice of post processing options, some which can be activated interactively via a hotkey. Relatively small size for the number of supported formats make ffdshow a good choice for installation on any Windows computer. Older versions of Windows are supported in earlier revisions, with somewhat reduced functionality.
Unified framework for all the supported formats. Output configuration, such as the color space or number of channels, or post processing, apply to all formats. Built-in subtitle renderer draws captions directly onto the picture, without requiring a special renderer or interaction between separate filters, which sometimes fails due to incompatibilities. Subtitles can be dynamically enabled.
Still frame (screenshot) grabbing functionality, which becomes invaluable when comparing different versions of a video. It is possible to capture frames anywhere in the processing chain: as decoded, with subtitles, resized, with a diagnostic OSD. The OSD can be shown on screen (with the frame number or other parameters for reference), but not included in the grabs.
Includes two lossless encoders for intermediate renders (huffyuv and ffv1). Older revisions also include other encoders from ffmpeg, which however were difficult to understand and configure.
Ffdshow development has now been discontinued. However, with current operating systems and data formats it will remain useful. Developer Clsid still provides limited support over at Doom9, and has changed/fixed the behavior of the codec at my request a couple of times.
I have noted a few regressions (some fixed by Clsid). Always thoroughly test a new build, and don't upgrade unless you want to solve a specific problem. I've been using ffdshow since they days of DivX ;-) as a substitute for codec packs with malware. Unlike programs like VLC, Ffdshow feels like native Windows software. Needs additional splitters/source filters to work. |
