Step 1. Choose a Base Class

Assuming that you decide to write a filter and not a DMO, the first step is choosing which base class to use. The following classes are appropriate for transform filters:

• CTransformFilter is designed for transform filters that use separate input and output buffers. This kind of filter is sometimes called a copy-transform filter. When a copy-transform filter receives an input sample, it writes new data to an output sample and delivers the output sample to the next filter.
• CTransInPlaceFilter is designed for filters that modify data in the original buffer, also called trans-in-place filters. When a trans-in-place filter receives a sample, it changes the data inside that sample and delivers the same sample downstream. The filter's input pin and output pin always connect with matching media types.
• CVideoTransformFilter is designed primarily for video decoders. It derives from CTransformFilter, but includes functionality for dropping frames if the downstream renderer falls behind.
• CBaseFilter is a generic filter class. The other classes in this list all derive from CBaseFilter. If none of them is suitable, you can fall back on this class. However, this class also requires the most work on your part.

Important   In-place video transforms can have a serious impact on rendering performance. In-place transforms require read-modify-write operations on the buffer. If the memory resides on a graphics card, read operations are significantly slower. Moreover, even a copy transform can cause unintended read operations if you do not implement it carefully. Therefore, you should always do performance testing if you write a video transform.

For the example RLE encoder, the best choice is either CTransformFilter or CVideoTransformFilter. In fact, the differences between them are largely internal, so it is easy to convert from one to the other. Because the media types must be different on the two pins, the CTransInPlaceFilter class is not appropriate for this filter. This example will use CTransformFilter.