The Filmmachine, a software from Hell?

[moviebuff2]

Please pardon me for venting my frustrations with this software! And I posted here since it was recommended for adding switchable subtitle.

I wanted to add switchable subtitle to my videos, so...

I downloaded from the offcial site (I got from this forum) the latest version 1.5.0.18 beta and installed in my machine (OS Windows 98SE).

Here are what happened:

1) The last part of the installation (something like ffdshow, I apologize for not remembering the exact name) ran into troubles: registry files rejected! Three (3) registry files (AC3Filter.reg, MP4SourceFix.reg, MOVSourceFix.reg) were not accepted because, the error message says, they were not "registry script" and "only registry files" could be imported.

At this stage, I just clicked "OK" to move on (but something told me shit had hit the fan). And, the installation seemingly finished, asking me to launch the program.

2) I ran the program, loaded my AVI file, then chose the encoder. Two (2) out of four (4) listed encoders - Cinema Craft Encoder and Canopus Procoder - could not be used. An error message appeared to tell me to locate the encoder, using the Option and Path buttons.

I clicked on the Option then Path buttons and had absolutely no idea where to look for the encoders.

By this time I simply decided the software was not for me and wanted to uninstall it.

Clicking on Program then The Filmmachine, there was no Uninstall tab. I tried to use Control Panel, Add/Remove Program to remove the program but this also failed. The Uninstall window just appeared on the screen and nothing else happened. I left it on for more than 1 hour and came back, nada was still nada! The Cancel button was not even highlighted. I had to use the old trick of "control/alt/delete" to get out of it.

Now I am stuck with this software from hell and am not even sure of what might happen next.

BTW, to the software developer, I know and appreciate your effort of creating the software for free. But is it not enough that you remind me of making donation at your website when I download your program? It is a total turn-off to see that little message scrolling across the bottom of the program's window, reminding me of donations.

[kschang]

1) Those are reg files. I'm not sure why they were rejected, but they should only affect a) AC3 decoding b) MOV/MP4 decoding. So they probably won't affect you.

2) The two encoders are PRO-quality encoders that cost $$$. As a result, they are NOT included in the package as that would be piracy. If you own one or more of those encoders, you can point the program to it/them and they will be utilized, else the free encoders like QuEnc and HCEnc and such will be used.

3) I have no idea what's wrong with the uninstall, but I personally don't trust uninstall on Win9X machines. I always use Norton Cleansweeps install monitor to watch for all the files touched / added so it can "make a clean sweep" when it's time to uninstall.

[bits]

Did you go to their website?

It says that it was tested on XP, 2000 and XP 64, which would suggest that it was not intended for 98SE

It also says that CCE and Procoder are not included!

Just a little reading and some prep work would have saved you time and frustration.

[moviebuff2]

Hi kschang:

Thansk for taking time to explain the problems to me.

1) I have no idea what caused the rejections. The error message said those files were not "registry scripts". I do not know what this meant. I am using OS Windows 98SE. Is this the reason why certain scripts are too new to my OS? I don't know.

2) I did not choose Cinema Craft Encoder. It just appeared as chosen by the program. Since these are not free, I think it would eleiminate all confusions for the program to default to something like HCEnc.

3) Why doesn't The Filmmachine have its own Uninstall tab? When I uninstall a program, I always use its own Uninstall tab. Norton? Geez, I used it once to defrag my disk, all my MP3 files were messed up. For example, my "Woman In Love.mp3" sung by 3 different singers (Barbra Streisand, Maria Callas and Bing Crosby). After that, I have bid "adieu" to Norton.

[moviebuff2]

Yes, I went to their web site and this is what I saw:

09-04-2006: Released a new betaversion of The FilmMachine (version 1.5.0.18)

This is mainly a bugfix release because of the large amount of bugs in the 1.5.0.17 version. Recover functionality will be in the next release.

- Finally fixed the large consumption of memory by TFM (Virtual Memory problem).
- Updated the splashscreen with the new supported formats.
- Fixed framerate conversion NTSC to PAL where the framerate is 29.97 (Only works for mono/stereo audio).
- Added full screen preview (right-click on preview).
- Added support for RMVB and HD-MOV.
- Fixed a bug with MP4 conversions other apps had installed a different DirectShow filter.
- Updated the MediaInfo library to version 0.7.1.2.
- Updated the ffdshow codec to compile date 3 April 2006
- Fixed a bug in subtitle conversion when framerate of the source movie is 29.97.
- Forgot to add Resample Audio.avs and the decomb filter in the last release, is fixed now.
- Added the Haali Media Splitter and the RealMedia Splitter to the installation package.
- Fixed a few other bugs.

That's their latest version. If it is not intended for Windows 98SE, shouldn't it tell me at installation time (like DivXToDVD does).

Anyway, this explains everything.

Thanks.

[CBC]

perhaps a bit more investigation on your part before installing it would have prevented your frustration?

From the Websites "Features" tab:

Features of The FilmMachine:


- Easy to use, wizard-like user friendly interface
- Simple AVI, MP4, HD-MOV, RMVB to (S)VCD & DVD conversion
- Preview of the output
- Full information about video file
- Automatic splitting of the movie
- Automatic muxing of files
- Automatic bitrate calculation or manual bitrate setting
- NTSC to PAL conversion
- PAL to NTSC conversion
- Aspect ratio selection
- Audio downsampling and bitrate selection
- The possibility to edit the Avisynth script as first step of the conversion process
- Permanent and selectable (only DVD) multiple subtitles support
- Automatic merging of subtitle files
- Automatic chapter and menu (only DVD) creation
- Detailed logging
- A ready to use bin\cue CD image is created after conversion for (S)VCD
- Immediate burning of DVD when doing AVI to DVD conversion
- Automatic program shutdown
- Tested on Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows XP x64

[BJ_M]

it will not work on win98 - end of story ...

plus since win98 is very limited in file size - you could never use film machine to make a full (or even half full) dvd ..