TMPGEnc Conversion 15hrs remain?!

[Squid_uk]

Hey guys,

When i convert my avi's to dvd i use the method of seperating the wav from the avi then loading the avi and the wav seperatly in TMPGEnc Xpress and goin through the usual PAL set up etc, this process usually takes say between 3 and 5 hrs to complete based on the avi being say on average 1hr30mins and most of the time i will have azureus running at the same time, right fine no prblems there! But recently when trying to convert some sports videos using the same method the output time for the first was around the 9hr mark (cant remeber how long exactly) for a 3hr clip and now i am currently converting a 1hrs 40min clip and the output time is over 15hrs!!

What could cause some videos to finish in under 5hrs and some to take as long as 15hrs when they are actually shorter in playing time?

[redwudz]

What process do you use to save out the audio as a WAV? I ask as what you describe could be the result of VBR audio, though you would end up with a out of sync video with a long piece of 'black screen' at the end.

I use VD Mod with full processing and 'No compression (PCM)' selected. If you don't select full processing, you may have your audio in a WAV container, but still the same format.

But assuming that's the way you have done it, there must be something else in the TMPGEnc settings that is different.

BTW, for AVIs off the net, if those are what you are converting, ConvertX is a lot easier and since many are Xvid 700MB, you are not likely to get much in the way of quality loss anyway with ConvertX as opposed to TMPGEnc.

Sorry, I'm making a lot of assumptions here.

I use TMPGEnc Plus encoder and TDA to author. I haven't used Xpress that much.

[Squid_uk]

To save the audio is load it into Virtualdub then select the audio tab and then full processing mode, then just file and save wav, then when loading the file in TMPGEnc once the detail are loaded i choose audio and select the new wav file.

The video is actually split into 2 avi files and i am trying to merge the 2 together,

I have used this process with video obtained through the net at least over 100 times and i think this is the first time i have experienced this problem.

I thought maybe that it cold have been having other programs running at the same time but i tried closing the programs but the time did not change.

The reason i use TMPGEnc Xpress is because i found it easy to use and i hardly ever get that many problems with it (touch wood!)

[j4gg3rr]

After selecting audio full processing mode you have to goto Compression and select No compression<PCM> to get a true uncompressed wave file. Then save wav.

If you use any of TMPGEnc's filters it can add hours to the encoding time.
It's not uncommon for me to use TMPGEnc with Sharpen and Colour Correction doubling times.

[Squid_uk]

When i go to set the compression the default setting selected is nothing,

The video finished converting and it took over 19hrs to complete.

Could this be something to do with the file?

As i said i use this method all the time and this is the 1st time this has ever happened

[Squid_uk]

Just started converting a simailar file and this one is etimated at over 37hrs!!

EDIT: Is there anyway i could make this process quicker for emaple another program?

[TBoneit]

Or maybe you have some Malware running that is loading up the CPU usage.

[Squid_uk]

No dont think it would be that but will do some scans, the i dont think its malware is because i tried a different avi file and that finshed in under 3hrs using the same procecess

Here is some info obtained from G-Spot maybe this will help

Clip 1 is 640 x 480

Length 1:26:39
Frames: 155,800
kbps: 1008
Frames/s: 29.970

Audio 0x0055 MPEG-1 Layer 3
Other Info: 48000Hz 105 kb/s tot , Joint Stereo LAME3.97b

Clip 2 is 640 x 480

Length 0:49:36
Frames: 89,172
kbps: 1003
Frames/s: 29.970

Audio 0x0055 MPEG-1 Layer 3
Other Info: 48000Hz 106 kb/s tot , Joint Stereo

Hope this helps as i would really like to get these onto a dvd

[redwudz]

Nothing really jumps out at me for problems with those two files. You are apparently doing NTSC>PAL conversions, but that would affect the playback more than the encoding.

You also mention running Azereus at the same time. I know BitComet slows down my PC considerably. Though I still encode sometimes with it running. It doesn't show the slowdown in the Task Manager, but it's there. Try an encode without it running, just to see.

As mentioned, I use TMPGEnc Plus, but if I save out the audio as a WAV with VD Mod, I usually go ahead and frameserve the video to TMPGEnc at the same time, since it's in there anyway. The WAV audio I convert to AC3 with ffmpeggui and add back with the video when I author to DVD. None of that will probably make much difference with encoding time, but just seems better to me. I would rather TMPGEnc didn't do the audio encoding, but that's just my preference.

TMPGEnc itself is a fairly slow encoder, but I haven't had it run that slow unless I added a bunch of filters with the encode. If you wanted to try a faster encoder, maybe CCE or ProCoder. Or freeware, HC is fairly fast, just needs a little setup.

Still, my first guess would be that somethings running in the background to slow down the encode. If you have the same problem with another encoder, that might confirm it. I would also watch your Task Manager for processes running and keep an eye on the performance indicators. A encoder should use close to 100% CPU to be efficient. If there is something else stealing CPU cycles, it will slow down considerably.

You might make up a short representative clip of one of your problem videos, maybe 5 - 10 minutes and try it with some of the other encoders.

Another option, since those are probably AVI type files off the web, is to try ConvertXToDVD. You aren't likely to lose much if any quality as the source video is probably already compromised by Xvid's or similar format's encoding. ConvertX is fairly fast and it does well at handling NTSC<>PAL conversions as well as most MP3 VBR audio formats that TMPGEnc usually chokes on.


That's about all I can think of.

[manono]

Did your hard drive slip into PIO mode? HCEnc is twice as fast as TMPGEnc anyway. And it's free.

[Squid_uk]

redwudz thanks for takin time to write all that !

The thing about the slowing down is i added another avi files of a different kind (movie) to the batch of the avi's that are causing the problem (sports videos) adn the movie finished converting in under 4hrs (which is normal) but all the sports 1's are taking over 7hrs, i have tried running without Azureus but still prblem occours!

But i will have a go with the progams you have mentioned and get back to you about it with the results!

Manono if i knew what PIO mode was and how to tell if i goes into that mode i would tell you but i dont lol! again i will also try the program you have mentioned!

[lordsmurf]

The settings you are choosing, combined with the source, are causing the slow encode.

Video takes time, all there is to it.

[myck3m]

Why is it that TMPEGnc Plus encodes to Mpeg (Dvd) files thats supposed to go on Dvd media (Dvd+/- R),but programs like Cyberlink PowerDvd doesn't reconize it? Convertx2Dvd creates Video_TS(Vob) files which is compatible for Dvd media and PowerDvd reconizes those files. Can you explain to me why this is?


Mike

[Squid_uk]

Mike what i do is then use TMPGEnc DVD Author to create the Video_ts folders

[manono]

Manono if i knew what PIO mode was and how to tell if i goes into that mode i would tell you but i dont lol!

Start->Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager->IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers->Primary IDE Channel (if that's where your hard drive is)->Right-click->Properties->Advanced Settings->Current Transfer Mode, and it had better not say PIO Mode.

Can you explain to me why this is?

The resulting M2V and the audio (and subs, if any, and chapters) have to be authored into a DVD before you can play it as a DVD in PowerDVD or any other software DVD player. A program such as ConvertX2DVD includes the authoring after the encoding and spits out a complete DVD.

[myck3m]

Thanks for the quick responses, will give it a try.

Mike

[Squid_uk]

Manono if i knew what PIO mode was and how to tell if i goes into that mode i would tell you but i dont lol!

Start->Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager->IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers->Primary IDE Channel (if that's where your hard drive is)->Right-click->Properties->Advanced Settings->Current Transfer Mode, and it had better not say PIO Mode.

I checked this out and none of the primary or secondary IDE Channels were set on PIO

[manono]

Good, at least it's not that. If you're filtering in TMPGEnc, then that can easily cause the slowdowns, as already suggested. You mentioned one example of some sports encoding taking much longer. If you're deinterlacing the sports ones, then that could easily explain it.

[Squid_uk]

With regards to filtering in not doing anythin different to the files when selecting the settings but the sports take longer than the movies

EDIT: The reason i wanted to try and stick with TMPGEnc is so i can create my own menu system using TMPGEnc DVD Author

[Cornucopia]

What I think manono is getting at, is:

Say you've got your "standard" settings for TMPGEnc, and they include MotionSearchPrecision=Highest quality(Slowest) checked. On "normal" material, sure it'll have to do some analysis of the motion, but there won't be all that much motion there. On "sports" material however, it's going to have to spend LOTS of time in the analysis stage (as there's much more complicated motion). This could account for SOME of the slowdown (but not all). If you have MORE "normal" filters included, this effect would be cumulative.

Maybe specifying your standard settings would help...


Scott

[Squid_uk]

ah i see what your trying to say! Right i'll go through what i have and do with all avi's i want to put onto dvd.

1. Open VirtualDub (1.6.17) and load the AVI using file open
2. Click Audio tab and select 'Full Processing Mode'
3. Select file and 'Save WAV' choose the destination and save
4. When that is finished i open TMPGEnc Xpress and select Start New Project
5. Add file, then choose the AVI
6. Once the file is loaded into the preview pane i select the audio source browse button then the the outputted WAV file from earlier and click ok
7. I set the output to DVD Pal
8. In the encoder/bitrate setting window i just lower the capacity to 98%
9. I check that the size is correct 720x576 and choose encode
10. Choose where i want the MPG saved to a start the process

Thats it i dont interfere with anythin else

[lordsmurf]

You're butchering your video.

Changing from NTSC to PAL (slow, looks like crap), using compressed source video, and uncompress source audio (high CPU loads for both), you're using a wizard with unknown settings, encoding to Full D1 (more cpu, more time), on an AMD (not as peppy as an Intel on video).

You're getting the quality and encode times that you've requested by the setting choices you chosen (or lack of choices, letting the software decide).

Nothing is wrong here, in terms of encode time.

[Squid_uk]

Oh ok thanks lordsmurf never realised that! Do you know a method i could use that would be better and quicker?

[Squid_uk]

Hey guys just to let you know i tried using ConvertXtoDVD for these clips and including burning time it took probley less than 4hrs which is brilliant! But the only problem is like i said before i cannot customise the menu system like with TMPGEnc DVD Author

[TBoneit]

Once you have a authored DVD you can open the DVD from TDA and reauthor. On of the options to add files is to add from a DVD. That has been there since TDA 1.5 AFAIK. It even imports chapter settings.

So work flow becomes ConvertXtoDVD don't burn. Go to the output location and reauthor in TDA ( TMPGEnc DVD Author ). Don't forget to uncheck copy the files to the hard drive if they are already on the hard drive. Leave it checked if importing from a burned DVD.

[CogoSWSDS]

If you don't have TMPGEnc DVD Author, you might also try DVDAuthorGUI or GUI for DVDAuthor. I personally use DVDAuthorGUI, but it is my understanding that in addition to accepting elementary streams, it will also accept VOB files. These programs will re-author and you can specify the chapter points where you want them.

CogoSWSDS

[Squid_uk]

I tried using TDA to reauthor the output from ConvertxtoDVD but for some reason i loose a lot of volume on the final output, any ideas what could cause this?

[windstar]

I have done some experiments with TMPGEnc and i found that it takes about 10 minutes for every minute of avi file, if you added any filters or your hard drive is messed up, expect it to last a lot more time, usually i would recommend to have a separated hard drive only for video and of course it depends of your hardware, cpu, motherboard, memory etc, in my case i have one hard drive for capture and another for editing and encoding.
Good luck.

[TBoneit]

The volumne loss could be that ConvertxtoDVD is outputing non AC3 audio and you have TDA set to convert to AC3 audio? Other than that I cannot think of any reason you would lose volumne.

AC3 always seems to run a lower level for me.


On the time thing using a AMD 64 X2 4200 with 2 Gb memory with TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress I seem to run around realtime encoding is I set it to optimize speed, setting optimize quality is of course slower.

[Squid_uk]

Ok TBoneit i will give that a go and let you know the result!