[X3] A tool to fix your directshow codecs (sound problems and performance)

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Wed, 28. Dec 05, 18:52

It's in the tool menu of the application.

Kappamerc · Post by **Kappamerc** » Wed, 28. Dec 05, 18:59

My problem is that the video scenes within the game stutter and have choppy sound/video. The game itself runs perfectly and I have no problems. But as far as movie sequences go, I have to try and decifer the bits and pieces of voice/video to figure out whats going on ^_^.

I used the DShow Viewer but I'm not quite sure which "Red" codecs I should remove and what effect it might have on my other video if I do remove some of them.

My knowledge on video codecs is limited.

Morgan Stream Switcher - MMSwitch.ax
DivxG400 - DivxG400.ax
Elecard MPEG2 Demultiplexer - mpeg2dmg.ax
Matroska Splitter - Matroskasplitter.ax

Those are the four codecs that I could find. The first three showed up red on the "Load the Graph" section of DShow Viewer and they all 4 showed up red after attatching to x3.

Just wanna know which ones would probably be causing the trouble .

Thanks for the help!

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Wed, 28. Dec 05, 20:48

Well I never suggested anyone remove any of them, that's not necessary unless that is what people desire to do. The initial topic points out and shows the example of raising the merit of the ones in green on the left and/or to lower the merit of the ones in red on the right. I don't know the current priority/merit settings on those you mentioned so I can't know specifically what to recommend first.

Most likely either the splitter or stream switcher will cause problems as well as cause performance to suffer in the game. Best bet really is to have no red.

If you jot down on a piece of paper what you change then there is no worries. Begin by raising the filters highlighted in green to equivalent or higher than the offending red codecs. The higher number value that you see in Directshow filter manager is the higher priority. Start with the MPEG I Stream splitter superseding the red colored splitter in priority. Reboot and test again. If this doesn't clarify well enough or the initial topic is unclear after you looked at it in detail, feel free to Private Message me (using the control panel at the top right of the page where it says you have no new messages). Hope that helps.

andyjg247 · Post by **andyjg247** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 00:17

Does this only affect audio codecs or should we also look at the video ones as well?

As a side note, for example, microsofts graphics drivers for example are produced for stability over performance which is why we download nvidia or ati drivers and use them. Is this the same with codecs? And if so would we be better using different rather than ms codecs?
It would be interesting to have a dev post a list of the codecs he/she has installed.

Kalthzar · Post by **Kalthzar** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 01:57

ok solved my other issues, heres what i got left:

MSCTF.DLL

I can't get rid if their way (using helpful links posted). :/ I'll give a couple more goes but i can however end task it so i'm probably doing something wrong

.

APPHELP.DLL

System32 file, application compatability client Library / version: 5.1.2600.2180

any ideas on above can't find it in the manager and i don't see why i should its a help dll ?!?

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 02:56

Kalthzar wrote:ok solved my other issues, heres what i got left:
MSCTF.DLL
I can't get rid if their way (using helpful links posted). :/ I'll give a couple more goes but i can however end task it so i'm probably doing something wrong .
APPHELP.DLL
System32 file, application compatability client Library / version: 5.1.2600.2180
any ideas on above can't find it in the manager and i don't see why i should its a help dll ?!?

I'm not sure what your original problems were but if you have no major problems I wouldn't worry about those two. It's a possibility certain files can have a negative impact on X3, prior to this tool we didn't know of these types of files that are unique to certain configurations, and their impact isn't always known until tested and ruled out. But just because a file shows up as unexpected doesn't mean it positively will have a negative impact. I'd be primarily concerned with codecs, then about security software like hooking dlls, or if you have crashes ruling out the other files. Otherwise, if you cleaned up your codecs and everything is running fine then mission accomplished.

andyjg247 · Post by **andyjg247** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 09:03

I've managed to put all of the microsoft codecs to the top and have made my game worse. I now get the slide show in argon prime and when in proximity to clumps of asteroids! This is purely from changing the order and I have to admit to not writing down the previous setup.
Is there anyone about that has a really good working setup that could write down exactly what they have?

cheers

Kalthzar · Post by **Kalthzar** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 12:34

Actually i have this fairly odd seutup where my new start on 1.3 is crashing quite often and my saves from my start on 1.2.01 are perfectly stable

But the toll improved he performence quite a lot and the dlls don't seem like a problem, (and you know more than i so i shall follow your advise

)

Skeletal · Post by **Skeletal** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 13:04

Kappamerc: I had some sort of codec from Elecard and I removed the entire program. This was some time before MadBoris came up with the tools so I don’t know whether it would have registered as “red” or not.

However, the removal of Elecard made a dramatic improvement on my system; I genuinely thought the start-up screen was a series of pictures, I did not know it was supposed to be a video!

However, it did not stop the “freezes”. Also, please note people: I obviously hope that resetting codecs cures your problems and I’m sure it will reduce their probability, but you will need to play for many hours before knowing your game is “cured”. I have made various changes, freezes at known spots have gone away, then several hours later I get another one

Skeletal

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 17:44

andyjg247 wrote:I've managed to put all of the microsoft codecs to the top and have made my game worse. I now get the slide show in argon prime and when in proximity to clumps of asteroids! This is purely from changing the order and I have to admit to not writing down the previous setup.
Is there anyone about that has a really good working setup that could write down exactly what they have?
cheers

With all respect, proximity to clumps of asteroids has no direct relation to codecs that I can conceive of. From that evidence alone, I would suggest something else is involved. I say this only because you may find yourself more frustrated if your attributing your time and focus to that which isn't the true cause. Truly though, a good working setup is the default Microsoft filters. It's the third party codecs that X uses at times that can cause strange behaviour.

Just to verify, you have started the game in window mode, tried firing weapons, and "attaching to X3" and you have nothing showing up in red?

If you want the other codecs back just reinstall the programs that owned those codecs that you changed and they will be replaced at their default values. Those highlighted in yellow on the left may remind you which ones they were.

If you happen to come across a superior performing codec, for X3, let us know. I will be happy to test it.

I have made an update to the front page in the addendum section with todays date - including default Microsoft merits for the codecs that pertain to X3 (incase people want to rollback any changes to them they made).

andyjg247 · Post by **andyjg247** » Thu, 29. Dec 05, 23:51

I wasn't trying to imply the problem was caused by trying your suggestions so please accept my apologies if thats how it came over. I do appreciate your efforts to help.
I am trying a re-install now and will make a note of codecs and priority this time!

thanks

BugMeister · Post by **BugMeister** » Fri, 30. Dec 05, 17:31

Thank you very much indeed, MadBoris -

- a most informative lecture - well done!

- all ills cured (at present..)

You are MOST kind...!!

The GAC has commenced building a statue in your honour...

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Fri, 30. Dec 05, 19:29

andyjg247 wrote:I wasn't trying to imply the problem was caused by trying your suggestions so please accept my apologies if thats how it came over. I do appreciate your efforts to help.
I am trying a re-install now and will make a note of codecs and priority this time!

thanks

I didn't feel you were implying that, no problem.
It's a catch 22, if I explain too little, then important details get omitted, if I explain too much people don't take the time to read everything, and details still get missed.

So I try to be thorough and hope people take the time see the important points before venturing into DShow merit adjusting. It's not all that difficult once you think on it a few minutes, but certain configurations can be troublesome to fix. Most people don't have any idea that 3rd parties just install directshow filters that supersede the ones before it without your approval. Reminds me of the days when programs used to automatically set 'their' programs to startup certain picture or movie files, but that practice has stopped and now file association options are presented when installing programs, most of the time.

Bugmeister:
As far as the statue goes, hopefully it's in the likeness of the greatest ape of them all, Kong

dysmal · Post by **dysmal** » Fri, 30. Dec 05, 21:11

This tool looks awesome.

However, I get the following error when I click on either "Load the Graph" or on "File Checker" :

Run-time error '-2147217900(80040e14)':

Unknown

Ds then just closes.

On a side note, DS does not automaticly detect my X3 installation, I have to point it out(even though its in the default folder)

Any suggestions?

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Fri, 30. Dec 05, 21:49

dysmal wrote:This tool looks awesome.
However, I get the following error when I click on either "Load the Graph" or on "File Checker" :
Run-time error '-2147217900(80040e14)':
Unknown
Ds then just closes.
On a side note, DS does not automaticly detect my X3 installation, I have to point it out(even though its in the default folder)
Any suggestions?

For the Enlight release I don't have the registry key that actually holds the install directory path, so the 'browse to' box opens. It doesn't save any persistent data to the hard drive so the browse comes up every time you run it. Deepsilver release doesn't see a browse box.

I will send you a Private Message for something to try on the error.

Dungeoncrawler · Post by **Dungeoncrawler** » Sat, 31. Dec 05, 20:12

Okay, I was wrong, as I do seem to have some errors. Do not really know what to do with them now. The errors are as follows:

APPHELP.DLL / system32 file / App Compatibility client Library

RAPHOOK.DLL / ATI Tray Tools
PSAPI.DLL / system32 file / Process Status Helper

MSCTF.DLL / system32 file / MSCTF Server DLL
MSLBUI.DLL / system32 file/ LangageBar Add In

REALMEDIASPLITTE / Program File / RealMedia Splitter
COMDLG32.DLL / system32 file / Common Dialogs DLL

These highlight red the DShow Viewer. I am assuming that X3 is not suppose to access these files? Appreciate the help.

DC

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Sat, 31. Dec 05, 20:39

Dungeon Crawler,

Hehe, alot of people miss the Attach to X3 function I guess.

If I remember correctly your issue is bad performance when the enemies come in range.
So, the only one I want to focus on for now is the realmediasplitter.

If you have not read the first post I suggest you do, especially the how to example I gave which happens to cover this filter specifically.

Make the change, reboot and attach to X3 again and realmediasplitter and the common dialog should not appear and your issue should be better.

If you are still unclear let me know.

Dungeoncrawler · Post by **Dungeoncrawler** » Sat, 31. Dec 05, 23:14

MadBoris wrote:Dungeon Crawler,

Hehe, alot of people miss the Attach to X3 function I guess.
If I remember correctly your issue is bad performance when the enemies come in range.
So, the only one I want to focus on for now is the realmediasplitter.

If you have not read the first post I suggest you do, especially the how to example I gave which happens to cover this filter specifically.
Make the change, reboot and attach to X3 again and realmediasplitter and the common dialog should not appear and your issue should be better.

If you are still unclear let me know.

Thank you MadBoris, this has removed those two(2)entries. Going to fire X3 up and see if I still get that stutter when an enemy pings my sensors.

Sincerely,

DC

Rhl · Post by **Rhl** » Sun, 1. Jan 06, 02:29

Sorry to intrude, but I tried this program out, and attached it to my X3. A bunch of stuff came up, and I'm not sure whether I should interfere with them or not. One of them DOES seem to possibly be a problem, however...
Here is a picture to clarify.

[ external image ]
Now, that EAX.dll... it's from Star Wars Battlefront. I'm not sure if it should be in use. And all of those trillian used DLL's... should I kill them off, or what?

Any help would be majorly appreciated.

MadBoris · Post by **MadBoris** » Sun, 1. Jan 06, 03:04

Rhl wrote:Now, that EAX.dll... it's from Star Wars Battlefront. I'm not sure if it should be in use. And all of those trillian used DLL's... should I kill them off, or what?
Any help would be majorly appreciated.

Your not intruding, that's what the thread is for.
Depends if their are problems you are experiencing.
If your not experiencing any major issues, then the only filter I see that could possibly effect performance is the one that came with your starwars game, eax.dll. But honestly I am not yet sure of the effect of the Eax.dll, I haven't tested it. You can rename it temporarily if you like.

A couple others are questionable but again, if your not experiencing stability issues then no reason to investigate further, even though their are quite a bit of programs that have their tentacles where we may not desire them.

egosoft.com

egosoft.com

[X3] A tool to fix your directshow codecs (sound problems and performance)