This is a quick guide how to install and configure LAV CUVID.
Installation
Starting with version 0.8, LAV CUVID comes with an Installer, which does all the hard work for you. The Installer will install LAV CUVID into your Program Files directory, and register the decoder to be used by DirectShow players.
Setting LAV CUVID up to be used by your favorite player is very much dependent on the player you’re using.
Setup for MPC-HC
- Enter the MPC-HC options screen (View -> Options)
- Navigate to the “External Filters” Tab
- Click the “Add Filter” Button on the right and pick LAV CUVID from the list, and click Ok.
- Select LAV CUVID in the Filters List back on the “External Filters” Page, and select the “Preferred” Radio Box on the Left.
- To ensure LAV CUVID is chosen over MPC-HCs internal filters, navigate to the “Internal Filters” tab
- Un-select all Codecs you want LAV CUVID to handle (eg. H264/AVC1, VC-1 MPEG-2, and DivX/Xvid) – in case there are multiple options for one codec, untick all of them.
If you use another player, you can generally assume pretty similar steps have to be done to change the preferred decoder. If you have a step-by-step guide how to configure your player of choice, you’re free to share it on the Discussion Forums, and it’ll be added here.
Configuration
LAV CUVID has no dedicated configuration program, all configuration is done through the filters property page. In MPC-HC you can access this page from the “External Filters” list, by simply double-clicking on the LAV CUVID entry.
Here a short explanation of all settings and their relevance:
- Formats: Controls which formats LAV CUVID should decode.
- Deinterlacing: Controls which Deinterlacing Algorithm is used. In general, you can always leave this at the default setting, which is “Adaptive”, the highest quality.
- Field Order: Overrides the automatic detection of interlaced field order. On some content this may be required if you notice that playback is terribly choppy.
- Frame Rate: Specifys the output frame rate after deinterlacing. For the best Quality, this should be set to Video mode (50p/60p). Due to the lack of a Pull-Up filter to convert 30p content originally filmed at 24p (Telecined content) back to 24p, this is the best mode for all content right now.
- Use Stream Aspect Ratio: If checked, the Aspect Ratio encoded in the stream is used. Note that this value is not always correct, and may cause your Video to be played back with the wrong dimensions – however it is required for content which switches the Aspect Ratio during playback.
- Use HQ DXVA processing: This option forces LAV CUVID to create a DXVA session when decoding. This results in the video driver to go into “Quality” mode, using a higher quality deinterlacing. Note that this option is not 100% compatible with Windows XP.
- Output Format: Forces a specific pixel format as Output.