VoDecoder - "Vodei MP" Unwrapper

The "Vodei Multimedia Processor", in this document, further referenced as "Vodei", isn't actually a codec, as their website suggests, but only a simple DirectShow-filter that will unscramble encoded audio/video-data inside a normal AVI video-file.

When viewing a Vodei "Enhanced" AVI-file (there's actually no enhancing taking place, however) without the Vodei codec installed, the user will only see an image stating that "Vodei MP x.xx or newer is required to view".

When installing this so called "Codec" on your system, it will place itself inside the DirectShow-system in a rude way and checks if a video, when being played, is encoded using Vodei and if so, descrambles the data on-the-fly for the user to see.

There's one major downside however: after a number of views, the user is presented with a dialog that the Vodei codec needs to be registered (for "only" $24.99), to be able to use the codec (and all the video's encrypted with Vodei) any further.
There have also been a lot of reports that, when trying to uninstall the Vodei codec from a system, the entire DirectShow-system is messed up and people weren't able to view any multimedia files anymore (even non-Vodei encrypted content).

Another major problem is that the Vodei codec is only available for the Windows® operating system, so Linux and Mac® users have been left out from viewing these movies and converting a Vodei encrypted movie or burning it to disc is also only possible after you have purchased/registered the codec.

This is where VoDecoder comes in!

VoDecoder will unwrap the Vodei encrypted data for you and saves it to an un-encrypted file, which can be used for whatever purpose you have in mind!

However, before you can unwrap Vodei-encrypted AVI-files, you'll have to retrieve the needed decoding keydata from the original Vodei DirectShow-filter.
You don't have to actually install the Vodei codec on your system, this program only needs to have access to it once, to extract its keydata.

After it has extracted this data, you can remove the filter and installation-package from your computer again (which is highly recommended!), since a backup of only the keydata will be created on your system.

Obtaining the needed keydata from the Vodei codec

To get the Vodei DirectShow-filter, you'll have to unpack it from the installation-package with a file extractor like 7-Zip, which can be downloaded from the official 7-Zip website.

If you don't already have the Vodei installation-package, you can download it from the Vodei website.
(At time of writing, the latest version available was 2.10, which could directly be downloaded from: http://www.vodei.com/VodeiSetup210.exe)

The file you'll have to extract is called "VodeiMPAVI.ax" (this was its name in version 2.10 of the Vodei codec, which might change in future versions).

Once you have extracted above file from the installation-package, VoDecoder has to extract its keydata, by using the "Retrieve key-file"-option in the "Options"-menu.

When the dialog appears, browse to the location where you have extracted the filter, select the filter (VodeiMPAVI.ax) and press the OK-button.
VoDecoder will now try to extract the keydata and saves a backup on your system.

If it fails, check that you have extracted and selected the correct filter and if it still doesn't work it means they have updated the filter and you're out of luck, until an updated version of VoDecoder is released which is able to read this newer version.

Don't forget to delete the installation-package and extracted filter from your system after you have extracted the keydata from it (you really don't want to have this piece of bogus-ware on your system!).

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

When trying to run your program, I get a warning from my virus-scanner saying that this file is infected! WTF?
While I have only heard this complaint only once upto now, there's a small posibility free or cheap virusscanners can give you a "False-positive", stating that my application is (infected with) a trojan. I can assure you this is not the case and this is the reason why your virus-scanner is cheap or free.
If you don't trust me or my application just delete and don't use it (I won't like you less for it) and use the original command-line version (with source) included instead.
When in doubt, please don't hessitate to write me an e-mail (would any viruswriter give you his e-mail?) and we'll figure it out.

Do I have to pay for this marvelous piece of software?
No, VoDecoder is free and you may do with it as you wish, but I suggest you donate the amount you were willing to give me, to your favorite charity.
This not only will help others who really need it, it will also give you good karma.
If you did pay for this fine program, go back to where you bought it and ask your money back!

Why didn't you directly include the keydata with this program?
Because of possible legal implications, I decided to not include this data, that's all, but if you want to release a package complete with keydata, be my guest; it's your responsibility...

Is the source-code of your application somehow available? I would like to check it out.
If you've downloaded the utility, you should already have it (though it's a bit hidden); real programmers know where to look in the resources ;-)

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank "VodeiRemover" (details unknown) for pointing me in the right direction with his kindly shared C-source-code! Great work pall!
That's all folks!
Greetz,

Peter.

Vodei is ©2005-2009 S.V.R. Consulting Ltd.
VoDecoder is ©2009, The VideoRipper Projects
DirectShow® & Windows® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation
Mac® is © Apple Incorporated
All rights of other trademarks are © by their respectful owners