PowerDVD vs VLC vs MPC vs VirtualDub 1.6.15

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 15 Oct 2006, 16:59

Some members have said that the quality of screencaps depends on the software being used to take them (and that's probably true).

What I'm gonna try and find out is how different they really are.

We need a proper DVD for this. One with lots of colours, lots of detail... and a proper movie.
I've nominated Twins Effect 2. Yay !

Note: I can't grab the exact frame with VLC (when you click on "pause", it takes 3 seconds to stop ).

Here goes:

PowerDVD 6:

VLC 0.84:

MPC 6.4.9.0:

VirtualDub 1.6.15:

Next screencap will be posted later.
But so far they all look EXACTLY the same (except the PowerDVD cap which is very slightly darker than the others).

PowerDVD:

VLC:

MPC:

VirtualDub:

Aw for fuck's sake !
I'm wasting my time here, they're all the same.

MPC = VirtualDub.
PowerDVD = VLC (both are slightly darker).

Conclusion: take your screencaps with whatever you want, they'll be fine.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Oct 2006, 19:56

I never doubted that in the first place. It's the user not the software which fucks it up.

Agreed PowerDVD is slightly darker which in itself has an effect.

MPC = VirtualDub.
PowerDVD = VLC (both are slightly darker).

Huh?

p.s - Wouldn't this be better in? - "How to make a proper DVD comparison"

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 15 Oct 2006, 20:27

Huh?

Sorry, wasn't clear enough.

-MPC and VirtualDub are brighter.
-VLC and PowerDVD are darker.

Wouldn't this be better in? - "How to make a proper DVD comparison"

Working on it...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Oct 2006, 20:45

tom2681 wrote:Sorry, wasn't clear enough.

-MPC and VirtualDub are brighter.
-VLC and PowerDVD are darker.

What you're just said, thanks.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 16 Oct 2006, 02:46

How about adding 'WinDVD'? No-one ever mentions that one

.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 16 Oct 2006, 04:16

Don't have it, I'm afraid.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 16 Oct 2006, 09:55

The thing is that to my knowledge there's no way to mess up the screenshot in the "simpler" apps like VLC, MPC... because they don't have all the fancy image enhancers that PowerDVD has.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 16 Oct 2006, 16:13

True. But once you deactivate all the fancy enhancement bullshit, PowerDVD turns out to be quite good.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Oct 2006, 18:43

But for normal watching you'd want the filters on, no?

Ray_Rogers · Post by **Ray_Rogers** » 16 Oct 2006, 23:32

By the way, "noise reduction" is utter bullshit and should always be turned off.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Oct 2006, 18:25

Do you reckon? Sometimes I find it makes it worse other times better.