New tool – VidControl (free video transcoding for Windows)

[kolloid]

VidControl - video encoding, muxing and subtitle editing for Windows
Updated for version 2.9.76

Hi everyone,

I'm the developer of VidControl, a free Windows application that brings video encoding, muxing, audio work and subtitle editing together. I started it because I wanted fewer separate steps between encoding a video, choosing its tracks and preparing its subtitles.

Main features

• CPU and supported GPU encoding, including NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF and Intel QSV. Available codecs depend on your hardware and FFmpeg build.
• Stream copy/remuxing, track selection, chapters, metadata, visual cropping, video filters and HDR-to-SDR tone mapping.
• Presets, per-file settings, batch processing and watch folders with folder-specific presets and naming patterns.
• Subtitle editing with timing tools, OCR for PGS/VobSub, spell checking, batch cleanup, ASS styles and Whisper transcription. Translation can use a configured language-model endpoint.
• Media workshop for multiple audio outputs, audio conforming, MKV attachments, ASS font lookup and PGS/SUP export.
• Picture-based edition comparison with reviewed transfers for audio, SRT and chapters.
• Independent output variants, season muxing, multi-range cutting and import from unencrypted DVD/Blu-ray folders.
• Media benchmark with repeatable standard scenes, comparisons using your own media, quality measurements and voluntary public result submission.

Requirements and scope
VidControl is portable and runs on Windows 10/11. Provide ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe beside VidControl.exe or through PATH; FFmpeg is not bundled or hosted by VidControl. Optional components and models are downloaded separately for the features that need them. VMAF-based functions require an FFmpeg build with libvmaf.

Media processing runs locally. Online searches and community benchmark submissions are optional. Disc import does not decrypt discs or reproduce their menus. Automatic audio/edition matching produces suggestions that need review.

Illustrated user guides
Both guides have 65 pages covering workflows, where to find settings and frequently asked questions. The English guide includes English-interface screenshots.

English user guide (PDF, v2.9.76)
German user guide (PDF, v2.9.75)

Website: https://vidctrl.de
Download: https://vidctrl.de/#downloads
Changelog: https://vidctrl.de/#changelog

Feedback and reproducible bug reports are welcome. For processing problems, please include the selected preset, codec, FFmpeg build and relevant log output.

[ctsdh0]

Very limited GPU support - i picked AV1 on Radeon 780M AMF, yet the file was rendered using CPU only.
Subtitle issue - when you add subtitles (ASS) and choose the burn-in option, the program allows you to choose from only a few fonts, but what is more important - it should use fonts and keep the original formatting from the source subtitle file (I have a few *.ass files formatted in subtitle editor with specific fonts, sizes, borders, etc., and I can't really use them, as VidControl is forcing Arial font). Customizing this would be perfect.
Another thing I noticed when choosing gpu encoding - i could choose the VP9 codec from the menu, but I know for sure it's not supported by the Radeon 780M( ( it can decode VP9, but not encode). It would be nice to use the AMF/VCEEnc hardware check first to enable codecs that are only supported on specific GPUs. Me being an HB/StaxRip/xMediaRecode user for a long time, I must say this looks more like early-stage software currently, but with potential. I only spend a few minutes testing it.
PS. half of the msgs are mixed english/german

[peanutsoup]

I'll leave comments on the software to people smarter than me, but it would be nice if you didn't use an AI generated logo (and possibly website too). I ran it in a sandbox and there appeared to be no malware, so that's good at least. Scan link

[kolloid]

Very limited GPU support - i picked AV1 on Radeon 780M AMF, yet the file was rendered using CPU only.
Subtitle issue - when you add subtitles (ASS) and choose the option, the program allows you to choose from only a few fonts, but what is more important - it should use fonts and keep the original formatting from the source subtitle file (I have a few *.ass files formatted in subtitle editor with specific fonts, sizes, borders, etc., and I can't really use them, as VidControl is forcing Arial font). Customizing this would be perfect.
Another thing I noticed when choosing gpu encoding - i could choose the VP9 codec from the menu, but I know for sure it's not supported by the Radeon 780M( ( it can decode VP9, but not encode). It would be nice to use the AMF/VCEEnc hardware check first to enable codecs that are only supported on specific GPUs. Me being an HB/StaxRip/xMediaRecode user for a long time, I must say this looks more like early-stage software currently, but with potential. I only spend a few minutes testing it.
PS. half of the msgs are mixed english/german

To be honest it was on my todo list, but i couldn't get any AMD hardware so i asked a friend with a 9070xt to help me out. But thanks to your post i got remembered. Please feel free to try the new update where i adressed this issue.

[kolloid]

VidControl 2.9.76 - update and illustrated user guides

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since my last update here. I've continued working on VidControl, with the same aim: handling video encoding, muxing and subtitle work in one Windows application.

Some of the larger additions since the original post:

• Media workshop: create multiple audio outputs from one source, keep the original alongside a stereo version, and use noise reduction, speech clarity or dialogue-focused downmix. It also includes MKV attachments, ASS font lookup and PGS/SUP export.
• Audio and edition matching: conform audio using reference matching or manual synchronization points, and compare different cuts to propose mappings for audio, SRT and chapters. Automatic matches remain reviewable estimates.
• More output workflows: independent output variants, season muxing, multi-range cutting and import from unencrypted DVD/Blu-ray folders.
• Subtitle tools: Whisper transcription, OCR review, timing correction, ASS style editing and translation through a configured language-model endpoint.
• Media benchmark: repeatable standard scenes, local comparisons using your own media, quality measurements and optional public hardware/result comparisons. Your media are not uploaded with benchmark submissions.

The recent updates also improved batch cancellation, output-file protection and watch-folder processing. Version 2.9.76 addresses the remaining mixed German/English operational messages mentioned earlier in this thread.

New user guides
There are now illustrated English and German PDF guides, each with 65 pages of workflows, setting locations and FAQ answers. The English guide uses screenshots of the English interface.

English user guide (PDF)
German user guide (PDF)

Requirements
VidControl is free and portable for Windows 10/11. You supply ffmpeg.exe and ffprobe.exe beside the app or through PATH; they are not bundled. Benchmarks additionally require libvmaf in your FFmpeg build. Optional components and models download separately when needed.

Media processing is local. Online lookups and public benchmark submissions are optional.

Website: https://vidctrl.de
Download and changelog: https://vidctrl.de/#downloads

Feedback is welcome, especially on the workflows you actually use. For encoder issues, please include the GPU, FFmpeg build, selected codec and preset, and the relevant log excerpt.