Digital Media Converter 4.2

Trouble Shooting Compatibility Problems

Digital Media Converter uses the Microsoft DirectShow technology, a component of DirectX, to convert the videos, split the media files and for almost every other feature.  DirectShow is an efficient technology that harnesses the hardware capabilities of a computer to deliver optimum results.

This technology is also highly extensible.  Various software vendors, using the DirectShow technology, develop filters (or plug-ins) to extend the capabilities of DirectShow for their own products.

A software vendor may write a filter like, say, an MPEG decoder to read MPEG files.  The software vendor’s own product works well with these filters, but they overwrite the default filters provided by DirectShow.  In this example, DirectShow, and hence Digital Media Converter, will use the software vendor’s MPEG filter rather than the default one when you try to convert MPEG files, resulting in a possible incompatibility. 

Well-developed filters work correctly with DirectShow, and thus with all products using DirectShow.  The single commonest thing that causes Digital Media Converter to function unexpectedly is “incompatible filters”, usually installed by other providers.

DirectShow Filters

A DirectShow filter usually has the extension .ax.  DirectShow organizes filters in different categories.  Some of the more significant categories are:

1. Source or Reader Filters: These types of filters are responsible for reading files of a particular type.  A CD Audio Reader filter, for instance might read digital CD audio CD tracks and present them to other filters for further processing.
2. Transform Filters: These types of filters modify video or audio data in a certain way(s).
3. Decoder or Decompression Filters: Sometimes a part of Reader Filters, these types of filters decode encoded data and present it to other filters for further processing.  The decoding may also apply decompression.  The DivX decoder filter for instance decodes DivX files.
4. Destination, Sink or Writer Filters: These types of filters write data to a certain type of file.  An AVI writer filter, for example writes AVI files.
5. Encoder Filter: Sometimes a part of the Writer Filter, these types of filters encode raw data.  To conserve space, a filter of this type may also compress data. The DivX encoder filter, for example, encodes and compresses video data into DivX format.
6. Render Filters: A special type of Sink Filters, these are responsible for displaying data.  The full-screen render filter, for instance, renders video files in full screen. 

DirectShow usually connects many filters belonging to different categories in sequence for all its operations.  DirectShow chooses a filter to be used in a sequence by examining all filters registered under a category.  It then uses the first filter that suits the requirement.

Fixing Filter Incompatibility Issues

Compatibility

You can fix most problems with incompatible filters using this feature.  If you have a problem with Digital Media Converter only converting the audio part of a file (and not the video), then in most cases disabling a particular filter should solve your problem.

In order to use this feature you must have DirectX 9 or higher installed on your PC.  To download the latest version of DirectX 9, click here

If you already have the required version of DirectX 9 then the list on this page shows you all the filters that are installed by other video programs on your computer and which might be incompatible with Digital Media Converter.  You might have to experiment with a number of filters to identify the filter causing incompatibility.

Note

Digital Media Converter offers you more flexibility with respect to MPEG-2 Decoder compatibility.  DeskShare hosts a "Free MPEG-2 Decoder" that can be downloaded and installed from: http://www.deskshare.com/download/mpeg2decoder.exe.

This set of decoders has been optimized for its use with Digital Media Converter, hence DeskShare strongly recommends to download and install it.  It is safe and can be installed even if you have other MPEG-2 Decoders installed on your PC.  Regardless of the compatibility settings, if you have the "Free MPEG-2 Decoder" installed then Digital Media Converter will give priority to it over any other MPEG-2 Decoder.

To disable a particular filter:

1. On the Tools menu, select Settings.
2. Click the Compatibility tab.
3. Uncheck the filter.  This will disable the filter only in Digital Media Converter and not affect any other video program installed on your PC.
4. Click 'OK' when done. 

If the problem persists, then you can experiment with another filter or a combination of filters.

Some filters known to cause issues are:

1. iviaudio.ax: A filter installed by Intervideo WinDVD; causes problems playing audio in the converted file (WMV and WMA formats).
2. clmp3wrap.ax and claudiocd.ax: Filters installed by Cyberlink PowerDirector; you may not hear audio in the converted files.
3. ac3audio.ax
4. cmaudio.ax
5. divxaf.ax (DivX Anti-Freeze)

To enable all the filters

1. On the File menu, select Settings.
2. Click the Compatibility tab.
3. Click 'Restore Defaults'.
4. Click 'OK' when done.