Frameserving to TMPGEnc 3 Xpress from VirtualDub?

[W_Eagle]

I used to framaserve from VirtualDub to TMPGEnc plus, I cannot frameserve to TMPGEnc 3 Xpress.
Anyone knows whether it can be done? If yes, how?

[erratic]

Works for me with TMPGEnc XPress 3.0.4.24 if I check: Option -> Preferences -> Input plug-in setting - Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader v0.1.

[gminnick]

I cannot frameserver either. I can open the file frameserving from virtualdub and edit the file but once I go to save it I get File Not Supported.

I do not have an option for Input plug-in setting - Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader v0.1.

[gminnick]

I found the Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader and installed it. I got the option and selected it in tmpgenc 3.0. Still get file not supported. I am still able to frameserve in tmpgenc 2.5.

[W_Eagle]

Where is that Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader, where can I get it?

[gminnick]

Found it in this frameserving guide

https://www.videohelp.com/virtualdubframeserve.htm

the link in the guide goes here. I think I typed it correctly.
https://www.videohelp.com/readavs-vdr.zip

I have done some more troubleshooting and notced that Tmpgenc 2.5 made a registry entry under the VFPlugin subkey with a name of TMPGEnc and string of C:\Program Files\Pegasys Inc\TMPGEnc Plus 2.5\TMPGEnc.vfp

I did not see a TMPGEnc.vfp in TMPGEnc 3.0. There are some DShowREader.vfp files though. I renamed this key to see if it was interfering but it still does not work for me. I can open the vdr file and edit it, but when I go to encode is why I get my File Not Supported error.

Do you also have 2.5 installed? I am tempted to uninstall both and re-install 3.0.

[gminnick]

Well, I uninstalled 2.5 and 3.0. Reinstalled 3.0. Installed latest VirtualDub 1.5.10 and installed the VirtualDub/AVISynth Reader and I still get the same error.

I hope someone has better luck and can fix this. I am out of ideas.

[W_Eagle]

Maybe erratic will be kind enough to assist here.

The same question appeared few times in TMGEnc BBS and never answered.

[erratic]

I installed the VFAPI Reader long before I installed TMPGEnc 3.0. In the same folder I installed ReadAVS.dll. I don't remember exactly where I downloaded it, but it's available there: http://www.christian-behrens.de/video/download/tmpgenc-readavs.zip
It's also available on videohelp but without this readme file:

This is an import filter for TMPGEnc version 0.11e. It adds support
for Avisynth AVS files and VirtualDub VDR files to TMPGEnc.

To install this filter, you will have to do the following:

1. Unpack the archive to a temporary directory.

2. Move the ReadAVS.dll file to your TMPGEnc directory.

3. Edit the ReadAVS.reg file with a text editor so that the path to
the DLL is correct for your system.

4. Double-click on the ReadAVS.reg file to add its contents to the
registry.

5. Close and restart TMPGEnc if it's running.

Once you've completed the steps above, you can delete the contents of
the temporary directory.

I did all that before installing tmpgenc 3.0. After installing 3.0 I could frameserve to it from VirtualDub and Avisynth. I don't think installing the VFAPI Reader has anything to do with it. I don't have to frameserve "dummy" avi files, I can frameserve AVS and VDR files directly into TMPGEnc 3.

[gminnick]

Still no luck. I did notice that you have 3.0.4.24. I have 3.1.3.70. One of the things they "improved" were [VFAPI plug-in]: The structure has been modified for better compatibility.

So, it probably got screwed up. I need to see if I can get an older copy.

[W_Eagle]

Sorry, I still cannot frameserve. After registering the VFAPI Reader I uninstalled and installed both versions of TMPGEnc XPress, both 3.0.4.24 and 3.1.370 -- no matter what I do, TMPGEnc XPress gives "file unsupported" error message and wouldn't encode.
BTW, I installed the VFAPI Reader dll in same directory as TMPGEnc XPress. Does this make any change?
Any clue? Anyone?

[gminnick]

I don't think it does as long as the registry entry knows where to find it. One install I had placed the file in c:\\program files\\vfapi\\ReadAVS.dll and made the appropriate registry entry. The one erratic provided places the file in the C:\\Program Files\\Pegasys Inc\\TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress folder and also makes the appropriate entry.

I am starting to think that this dll is only used so TMPGEnc can understand the .vdr extension. I never used it with TMPGEnc 2.5 and always named my files as .vdr.avi and had no problems.

I have sent TMPGEnc support an email. If I can't frameserve I would rather use 2.5 and then use Vegas to convert wav to ac3. I was just wanting an all in once package for convienence.

[erratic]

I read this somewhere else. I can't try it myself because I no longer have Plus installed, so I don't know if it always works (or how useful this workaround is).

Here is a workaround that is OK if you have TNPGEnc 2.5 (I have the Plus version, I can not assure that it works with the trial version...)
Set up a frameserver based encoding session as usually. In the last frame
of the project wizard, make sure that "Start encoding immediately" is not
ticked. Chose "File" and "Save Project". Save as Movie.tpr, after this you
can close TMPGEnc 2.5
Open TMPGEnc Express, Chose Movie.tpr as the input file, set up the
session and encode. Good Luck!!!!

[W_Eagle]

erratic -- thanks for your support.
I have both TMPGEnc 2.5 plus registered and TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress.
Nowadays I use only TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress because it encodes both video and AC3 audio at the same time.
Your last suggestion wouldn't assist me, as TMPGEnc 2.5 plus cannot encode AC3 audio.
In an earlier post you said you can frameserve into TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress. So far you seem to be the only one on the planet who managed doing it. Can you please try and see what it is you did that made it work, where all others have failed?
Thanks.

[erratic]

I have no idea why it works for me (and bunyip).

But if you frameserve to Plus and save it as a project (File menu, Save project) and then open that project file with XPress, can't you change the audio settings to AC3? (As I wrote earlier, I can't try it myself.)

[W_Eagle]

Thanks. I will try and let you know.

[W_Eagle]

Sorry, it doesn't work at all. TMPGEnc 2.5 saves project as *.tpr. TMPGEnc Xpress doesn't recognize this file at all (its project file are *.txp3).
Still stuck, unable to frameserve.

[erratic]

Have you tried the VFAPI Reader codec? You can convert your .vdr file to a small "dummy" avi file with it. There's a guide here at videohelp: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/87270.php
It's also explained there: http://neuron2.net/LVG/frameserving.html
Read the part about VFAPI at the bottom of that page.

The VFAPI Reader codec also requires the correct installation of ReadAVS.dll (this was mentioned earlier in this thread). Frameserving with the VFAPI Reader codec works for me, even though I can also frameserve to XPress without it.

[W_Eagle]

Have you tried the VFAPI Reader codec?
...
The VFAPI Reader codec also requires the correct installation of ReadAVS.dll (this was mentioned earlier in this thread). Frameserving with the VFAPI Reader codec works for me, even though I can also frameserve to XPress without it.

Dear erratic,
ReadAVS.dll was installed correctly previously.
Now I tried the VFAPI Reader. TMPGEnc Xpress finally encoded the file from the VFAPI Reader -- alas, there was only audio in the MPG file, video is all black.
I'm still stuck.
Is there anything else installed on your 'puter that may enable TMPGEnc Xpress to accept frameserving by VirtualDub?

[bunyip]

TMPGenc3 can get a little confused with frameserving, try this ...
In the 'Input plug-in setting' make sure that the only options selected are 'VFAPI Frame Server file reader' (in the Stadard input' list) and 'Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader' (in the VFAPI plugin' list).
(Generally it's the AVI file reader and others that is getting in the way)

Now shutdown TMPGenc, set up your VDub frameserver and re-start Tmpgenc.
You should now be able to frameserve succesfully.

[W_Eagle]

TMPGenc3 can get a little confused with frameserving, try this ...
In the 'Input plug-in setting' make sure that the only options selected are 'VFAPI Frame Server file reader' (in the Stadard input' list) and 'Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader' (in the VFAPI plugin' list).
(Generally it's the AVI file reader and others that is getting in the way)

Now shutdown TMPGenc, set up your VDub frameserver and re-start Tmpgenc.
You should now be able to frameserve succesfully.

Hurrah!
Thanks bunyip, now TMPGEnc Xpress can be frameserved from VirtualDub.
Thank you very much.

[bunyip]

Glad to hear it worked for you too.
And remember if you want to open AVI or MPEG files directly in TMPGenc, you'll need to turn the appropriate file reader back on.

[W_Eagle]

Thanks. That's obvious.

[bunyip]

Yes it is, to most, but in my business I deal with a lot of users who are not so adept at such concepts, so it should be said for the benefit of others reading this thread. How long before someone asks, "I did that but now it says 'cannot open, or unsupported' when I try to open an AVI file".

[gminnick]

I am glad I checked this forum again. I stopped getting email updates. This fix worked for me too. Thanks bunyip!! I also played around and noticed that its the AVI file reader in the standard input plug-in is the culprit. You can have all others on but this is the one that causes it to bomb for me. I tried playing around and making my avi clips .avi.vdr thinking maybe the vdr extension would cause it to pass up the avi file reader (and I was suprised that vdub opened the file with a .avi.vdr ext) but this didn't work.
At least there is a workaround but it worries me that TMPGEnc does not show any support in this area. I sent in a support email and was basically told this part of the software is as-is. I asked for a refund since I do a lot of frameserving and they offered it to me but with this workaround I may keep it. All I really wanted was the convienence of encoding ac-3 at the same time instead of taking an extra setup in Vegas to do it.

[gminnick]

Well, I spoke too soon. It analyzed the file fine this time but when it went to actually encode I got an invalid file format error.

[W_Eagle]

It works fine for me, no error message, encodes alright.

[bunyip]

During the analysing phase no audio segments are passed from Vdub to TMPGenc, only video frames, the first audio segment is called when the encoding phase starts.

So it would appear that your problem is associated with the audio. I assume you have the optional AC3 plugin, I would suggest you try some things with the audio settings, can you encode successfully to MP2 and LPCM? for example.

I don't have the AC3 plugin so I can't investigate.

[W_Eagle]

gminnick -- all you need install is the VFAPI Reader.
On TMPGEnc Xpress, on Options -> Preferences -> Input plug-in setting, on the top window -- "Standard input plug-in" -- have only the "Wave file reader" and the "VFAPI file reader" checked. On the bottom window -- "VFAPI plug-in priority order" have only the "Avisynth/VirtualDub script reader v0.1" checked.
This should work fine when in your avi file the audio is uncompressed wave.
Please let us know your outcome.