Question about AVISynth and CCE

[Maikeru-sama]

Hello forum, I am fairly new to CCE and currently evaluating it through test conversions. The question that I have is in regards to FitCD and CCE. I like to put black borders around my AVI files to prevent overscan and I like the way it looks. I used FitCD to place a "2 block" border around my AVI file. I used the CCE tutorial from this site on the best settings to use. The tutorial can be found https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=222898.

I used exactly the same settings as the peron who wrote the tutorial, except for the fact that I chose "Multi CBR Pass" instead of "Multi VBR". When I converted the file to MPEG-2, I didnt see a black border. Below is a sample AVS file:

<SAMPLE>
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\DirectVobSub\VSFilter.dll")
AVISource("C:\test.avi")
LanczosResize(688,448)
AddBorders(16,16,16,16)
TextSub("C:\test.srt")
ConvertToRGB24()
</SAMPLE>

I am not sure if there is some settings I need to modify, and would appreciate the help.

[SLK001]

Does your script play okay in VirtualDub - the way you want it?

If it does, then add this to the very last line:
TRIM(500,548)
then start commenting out lines (start with TEXTSUB) by adding a "#" at the beginning of the line.

The TRIM statement will give you a 2 second video so that you can encode, view, modify, re-encode, etc, until you find your problem.

[SLK001]

You can set the values in the TRIM command to anywhere you want in the video (it's up to you to decide where).

[Maikeru-sama]

I cannot check the video right now as I am at work. I do know that if I load that AVS script into WinAVI and convert, it will be just fine.

Unfortunately, if this is a constant issue with CCE, then I may have to just put it on the back burner for now.

- Mike G.

[SLK001]

CCE only encodes what you feed it. I suspect a script error somewhere.

Also, you need to be more specific on what version of CCE you are using, as things are constantly being added (and not entirely for the better).

[Maikeru-sama]

Thanks for the reply SLK001. Here was what was in the "About" section of my version of CCE:

Cinema Craft Enc. SP Ver. 2.70.02.10

SDK Version 2.70 (built at 17:19:40 Apr 18 2005)

Also, isn't it odd that WinAvi would be able to do it but CCE wouldnt? I will try some other things, but right now Remote Desktop is painfully slow right now connecting to my PC from work.

- Mike G.

[Maikeru-sama]

Also, I went ahead and opened up the avs script in VirtualDubMod and I see the black borders. I think there is a setting in the CCE tutorial that is overwriting some of the values in the AVS script, but I am not familiar enough with CCE to know if that can happen.

[Pinstripes23]

In CCE under video setting, if you have a checkmark next to for DVD, untick it and try again.

[SLK001]

Check your AREA SETTING window. It is there where CCE will crop input videos and resize them to the correct size (at least what it thinks is the correct size).

[Maikeru-sama]

In CCE under video setting, if you have a checkmark next to for DVD, untick it and try again.

Thanks for the response Pinstripes,

I had "for DVD" checked. I unchecked it, re-ran CCE and still no borders.

[Maikeru-sama]

Check your AREA SETTING window. It is there where CCE will crop input videos and resize them to the correct size (at least what it thinks is the correct size).

SLK, I am looking for the AREA SETTING window, but I cannot find it. I will continue to look into it.

Also, are you familiar with the Letterbox option? Could I use that instead of FitCD?

[manono]

For CCE you want ConvertToYUY2(), not ConvertToRGB24() (which is for TMPGEnc, but not the cause of your problem).

Make sure that, not only not having "For DVD" ticked, that you also not check anything under "Frame Size" like the Resize.

And how are you determining that the borders aren't being added? You might open the MPV in VDubMod and scroll around to double-check. It'll take a minute to open, but you'll be sure that no funny business is going on with cropping and/or resizing.

Is there any particular reason you're burning the subs into the video? If this is for DVD, why don't you make them selectable, like normal people?

used exactly the same settings as the peron who wrote the tutorial, except for the fact that I chose "Multi CBR Pass" instead of "Multi VBR".

Do you realize just how stupid that is?

[Maikeru-sama]

For CCE you want ConvertToYUY2(), not ConvertToRGB24() (which is for TMPGEnc, but not the cause of your problem).

Make sure that, not only not having "For DVD" ticked, that you also not check anything under "Frame Size" like the Resize.

And how are you determining that the borders aren't being added? You might open the MPV in VDubMod and scroll around to double-check. It'll take a minute to open, but you'll be sure that no funny business is going on with cropping and/or resizing.

Is there any particular reason you're burning the subs into the video? If this is for DVD, why don't you make them selectable, like normal people?

used exactly the same settings as the peron who wrote the tutorial, except for the fact that I chose "Multi CBR Pass" instead of "Multi VBR".

Do you realize just how stupid that is?

Manono, I appreciate your comments but there really isnt a need to talk down to me. I believe I have been pretty clear in stating that I am brand new to CCE. I have no knowledge of it and that is why I am asking for help and doing tutorials on this site.

With that said, I have made sure the "For DVD" option is not checked. I am determining that the borders are not being added by burning the rendered MPV/MPA via TMPGenc and literally popping the DVD in and looking. I have used WinAVI exclusively for about 2 years and it puts the borders on there just fine. Also, I have already made a DVD for the particular files in question using WinAVI and they came out like usual, with borders. But I want to learn how to use CCE.

I am burning the subs in because I am the only one who will watch the DVD and I will never watch the particular genre with English Audio.

- Mike G.

[manono]

Manono, I appreciate your comments but there really isnt a need to talk down to me.

Look, you're the one that decided to overrule the guide and change from VBR encoding to Multipass CBR encoding. Surely you had a reason for doing that. I'd like to hear it.

I am burning the subs in because I am the only one who will watch the DVD and I will never watch the particular genre with English Audio.

Very commendable. I also watch my "foreign" films with subs, but I have them selectable. And I have them start automatically so I don't even have to turn them on in the Subtitle Menu, or even with the remote. The part you don't seem to understand, though, is that "burning" or "embedding" the subs into the video degrades the video quite a bit. If you have any concern at all for quality, make selectable subs.

I am determining that the borders are not being added by burning the rendered MPV/MPA via TMPGenc and literally popping the DVD in and looking.

You're claiming the black borders aren't being added, and as proof you're using the playback on your standalone DVD player? And yet you also claim to understand about overscan?

I don't use a piece of junk like WinAVI, but have you considered the possibility that maybe it's adding more black around the picture than does your script? You don't really want to see the black, do you? I'll bet dollars to donuts that your script does just what you're telling it to do. Play the MPV or an authored VOB on the computer (or open in VDubMod, as suggested before) and then tell us that you don't see the black around the video. And later, if you decide your TV set has an especially large amount of overscan, make your FitCD script using 3 blocks overscan.

[TimA-C]

Ditto manono. WinAVI is certainly not in the same league as CCE and should only be used for quick & dirty conversions. Why not try increasing the size of your borders in CCE and see if you can then see your beloved black borders on your TV. Alternatively you could just try playing back both a WinAVI encoded clip and a CCE encoded clip on your PC and compare the size of the borders (no overscan.)

[Maikeru-sama]

SLK and Pinstripes, thanks for your comments, they were very helpful. I will continue to play around with CCE when I get a little bit more time.

Thanks

- Mike G.