How to change which codec is default?

riredale wrote on 8/4/2007, 11:51 PM

I installed a Matrox codec package and now a part of that package has become the default codec for Mjpeg-encoded clips, instead of the PicVideo Mjpeg codec I had installed some time earlier.

In XP how does one determine which codec should be the default one?

Comments

RBartlett wrote on 8/5/2007, 2:11 AM

Codecs with the same code/codec/fourcc handling capability have a merit/priority/metric assigned to them in the windows video subsystem.

Usually NLEs use this except where they have supplied their own system or private codecs (like DV for example). Vegas only has overrides for the likes of it's private DV codec for within the NLE. Yet SonyYUV is a system codec - go figure.

There are editing tools, I don't think Microsoft have thought to include one, other than regedit ;-)

Here is a link to one I've used before, actually when in the exact same boat as you are in now:
http://www.softella.com/dsfm/index.en.htm

The other option is of course the uninstall/install the software that is in the way. Or to do a manual registration of the DLL that typically pushes the codec you state over the top of the older one.

"DSFMgr" DirectShow Filter Manager is a good first choice (freeware). Do go carefully in there though.

riredale wrote on 8/5/2007, 8:25 AM

Thanks.

The Softella website doesn't come up for me, but I'll try it later.

RBartlett wrote on 8/5/2007, 10:18 AM

Oh, it worked when I posted and I recall having been to the same URL a year or two ago also. Probably down for maintenance or something....

If you are keen to get started, I also found it here on this Polish site:
http://www.kinodomowe.idg.pl/ftp/pobierz/pc/4555.html

The "Pobierz" gadget seems to result in a 'download now' !
I've not checked whether this is a bit for bit copy of DSFMgr 0.5 and I'd recommend you check what it is that is downloaded unless you know more about this site than I do?

MarkWWW wrote on 8/5/2007, 11:54 AM

You need to adjust the "merit" value that is associated with the two MJPEG codecs so that the one you prefer has a higher merit value than the other one.

To do this, download and install GSpot from here. GSpot is a very useful utility for resolving problems with codecs (why won't this avi play on my system, what codecs have I got loaded, etc) and amongst many other things it can adjust merit values. Start up GSpot and let it enumerate the codecs on your system - when it has finished it will show "Ready (XXX codecs loaded)" in the status box in the Video section.

Then click on "System|List Codecs and Other Filters" to let it show you the list of codecs, etc, it has found. Scroll through the list until tou find the two codecs you are interested in and you will be able to see the merit values associated with each. Decide which you want to change and then right click on its entry in the list and choose "Set Filter Merit" from the drop down menu. Then adjust the merit value to whatever will achieve the ranking you prefer and click on OK. Finally close GSpot and you should find that your codecs are now behave in the way you want.

Mark

riredale wrote on 8/5/2007, 6:04 PM

Very nice.

Ironically, Gspot was the first thing I had turned to, but I had an older version that just listed all the codecs. The new version is much nicer and, as you mentioned, allows one to adjust things.

Thanks to both.