I have found how to do what I want (brighten the video file), but not using VLC.
I still don't know if it's possible to convert a video file with VLC while applying video "effects".
I am posting this hoping it will help others. It is a bit off-topic for the forum, but it is short and I'm sure I am not the only one wanting to brighten a video and beliveing that using VLC is the only hope, seeing how bad the others tools are.
First, the reason why VirtualDub's gamma filters don't work: they apply the gamma on the RGB components. I am guessing that VLC applies gamma on the Y channel of YUV components only, which is what you want when you need to brighten a video.
Now, to brighten a video (apply gamma on the Y channel) you need to use an aviSynth script. Install aviSynth if you don't have it.
The avs script will look like that:
Code: Select all
DirectShowSource("C:\temp\video.mp4", pixel_type="YUV")
ColorYUV(gamma_y=256)
(gamma_y=256 makes a Y channel gamma of 2.0, which is what my video needed))
Then, open the avs script in virtualDub as if it was an avi file.
Finally, convert the video using virtualDub as usual.
Voilà!