AVStoDVD Support Thread

[JohnnyBob]

@JohnnyBob

from the latest project log file (DVD_5.log), there are really too many errors on that AVI. Do you have the possibility to upload it anywhere (i.e. www.zippyshare.com) to test it?...

http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/hvBv17vn/file.html

P.S.
Strong clue that it's not a valid .avi because it compresses from 812 MB to 10.2 MB zip.
I found a known valid .avi file to compare and it only compresses slightly, also plays OK with VLC player.
Now running an AVStoDVD conversion and the bitrate is OK, will take a few more minutes to complete...

P.P.S.
My known good .avi (a 77 MB movie clip) converted fine with AVStoDVD 2.8.0, no problem with video or sound. So the mystery is solved - the p2p .avi was borked, or something...

[manolito]

@ mistycat

The LAV Splitter has a problem with AviSynth in some cases. Have a look at this post:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/277852-AVStoDVD-Support-Thread?p=2345883&viewfull=1#post2345883

You can edit the registry manually or just doubleclick Groucho's AviSynth.reg file.

There is another setting in the LAV audio configuration you might have to change. If the AVStoDVD preview has no audio when previewing a source file with AC3 audio, then you should enable 32-bit floating-point under output formats (disabled by default because it can introduce artifacts).


Let us know if this solves your chipmunk audio problem...


Cheers
manolito

[manolito]

@ JohnnyBob

You could have saved yourself and the folks on this forum a lot of time if you had tried to play your video on some software players before trying to convert it.

Better yet, stop asking for help with downloaded pirated stuff on this forum. Have a look at the forum rules...
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/72386-Forum-rules-Acceptable-Use-Policy-(AUP)?



Cheers
manolito

[mistycat]

Sorry, I have no log files. I backup using an image program and have recovered to a previous image. About all I can confirm was that this happened with several files, at least one mp4 with two different installs of 2.8 but not with the original video or with two other encoding programs and not with 2.75. Thanks but I'm staying with 2.75 for now, works great.

[mistycat]

How can you tell it's kind of a boring evening. I've installed 2.8 and am enclosing the log for a file with audio/video sync issues as well as the errors I received. I then reverted to 2.75 and encoded the same file with the same settings, I think. Perfect audio/video sync with no errors, not really looking for answers but hope it helps out. One thing, am I correct that lowering the Bias setting in Title Edit settings is beneficial to VBR and is 0 too low?

[mistycat]

Errors

[mistycat]

And more. There was the Mediainfo error about framerate but I think the fix is above. And that's it.

[manolito]

Hi mistycat,

going over your log files the main difference is that version 2.75 uses FFMpegSource for audio decoding while version 2.80 uses DirectShowSource and fails miserably.

When AVStoDVD is set to use A2DSource for audio, it will try DirectShowSource first. If this results in an error, it will switch to FFMpegSource.

I suppose in version 2.75 you had ffdshow installed as your DirectShow filter package. And obviously ffdshow cannot handle your audio at all, so switching to FFMpegSource solved it.

With version 2.80 you had LAV Filters installed, and the LAV audio decoder thought that it could handle the audio. So there was no error and no switching to FFMpegSource. But obviously the LAV audio decoder failed.

A possible workaround for version 2.80 would be to force FFMpegSource for audio (under Preferences / AVISynth).


Another thing which I find puzzling is that with version 2.80 Wavi thinks that your audio has 6 channels. Is your LAV audio mixer enabled and set to 6-ch? Normally AVStoDVD should adjust the audio mixer setting automatically at runtime and set the mixer to stereo in your case. No idea why this does not work with your source file...


Cheers
manolito

[doctorm]

@manolito - That's the problem with using ffdshow and LAV Filters. If you use it for your normal listening as well and have any settings selected (volume levels, speaker number, etc.), it alters the audio as it converts it.

I personally use ffdshow for media playback and LAV for conversions.

[mistycat]

@manolito-Another thing which I find puzzling is that with version 2.80 Wavi thinks that your audio has 6 channels. Is your LAV audio mixer enabled and set to 6-ch? Normally AVStoDVD should adjust the audio mixer setting automatically at runtime and set the mixer to stereo in your case. No idea why this does not work with your source file...--------------------As I recall, I only ever use 2 channel, noticed the 6 channel too.

[manolito]

@doctorm

mistycat only has LAV Filters installed when using AVStoDVD 2.80. His log file clearly says that ffdshow is not installed.

And AVStoDVD is smart enough to remember the original filter settings, then adjust the settings as needed (channelmode, mixer enabled-disabled) and finally restore the originasl settings.


Cheers
manolito

[manolito]

FFMpeg VBR plugin - New Version

Changes:
Implements a workaround for the issue described here:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1704784#post1704784

This issue only occurs with ffmpeg versions newer than September 2014. Only relevant when using VBR frame sizes for the output in CBR mode.

The plugin limits the CBR bitrate to 6330 kbps for 352x240 and to 7190 kbps for 352x288. Thanks to qyot27 for determining these bitrate thresholds.

Download link:
http://www9.zippyshare.com/v/NFMcn5RI/file.html


Cheers
manolito


//EDIT
Oops, I had completely forgotten to make this thing work with ffmpeg safe mode for video encoding...
Of course I cannot use AVSMeter to determine the height if the input is not an AVS script. And I also had to implement a workaround for this ffmpeg parameter:
-vf pad=320:240:4:0
The EQUAL sign is a delimiter for CMD.exe, whenever a command line like this is processed, the "=" character will disappear. And ffmpeg does not like this.

The new version should work also in ffmpeg safe mode, please redownload...

[_MrC_]

@mistycat, manolito

the 6 channels config may be caused by another installed (and redundant) directshow mixer, such as AC3Filter. To understand, mistycat, you should use the 'Codecs'/'Build DirectShow filters graph' option on the mp4 file.

BTW, there's another puzzle in 2.8.0 log file.

Source title properties:

Video: F:\My DVD.mp4
Info: AVC - 2000 kbps - 720x304 - DAR 2.368 - 23.976 fps (CFR) - Progressive - 2:08:18 hours - 184576 frames
Audio 1: F:\My DVD.mp4
Info: AAC LC - 128 kbps - CBR - 2 ch - 48000 Hz - 2:08:14 hours (0 ms delay) - EN

Output m2v properties:

MPEG-2 Video - 4389 kbps - 720x480 - DAR 16:9 - 23.976 fps (CFR) - Progressive (2:3 Pulldown) - 2:08:18 hours - 184574 frames

After applying 2:3 pulldown, the frames count should increase to 230720 (184576 x 29.97 / 23.976). As it comes out from 2.7.5 log file, where FFMpegSource has been used instead of DirectShowSource.

mistycat, do you have the possibility to upload the mp4 file anywhere (i.e. www.zippyshare.com)?



Bye

[mistycat]

It isn't just this file, it's every file I've tried With 2.8 so far, I've attached logs for that file and another, if it will help, both with different settings but I'm just guessing at this point. Plus now I'm having issues with every version of AvstoDVD, 2.75 and 2.8 both go to the Henc screen on selecting start but then Henc just sits there for 10 minutes before starting or gives a "No Responding"error if I try to close it, that's what I meant by AvstoDVD not functioning the other day. It was, I just didn't wait long enough, attached that too. Not even sure what version i have, installed it so many times, pretty sure it's 2.8. 2.74 throws out some Aften error. Thanks, appreciate the help. By the way, no AC3 Filter or codecs ever installed on this machine, GoldWave long since uninstalled, used it for WAV files in Mainconcept (long gone too), audio issues there too.

[mistycat]

What I see if I don't ignore Henc for 10 minutes or so, won't see this and will eventually work if I don't try to close it

[doctorm]

@doctorm

And AVStoDVD is smart enough to remember the original filter settings, then adjust the settings as needed (channelmode, mixer enabled-disabled) and finally restore the originasl settings.


Cheers
manolito

That's pretty darn slick. Not many conversion programs do that.

[theewizard]

mistycat
sounds like something is corrupted somewhere
can you do a system "restore" to some point before the problems started with 2.8 ?
if not
i would uninstall avstodvd and avisynth, then run a cleaner programs to get rid of registry entries
then re-install the older version
heck i'm still running 2.6.2,
i keep downloading the new versions, but i haven't installed any of them

[mistycat]

Thanks, I don't think corrupted but maybe a conflict with something and definitely the LAV filters in 2.8. I haven't used System Restore in years, turned it off ages ago, instead use a backup system and have used many times, in this case, to long before any version of Avs2DVD was ever installed. Installed 2.8 right over the top of 2.75 last night without any part of LAV filters installing and was able to successfully encode the file in question but Henc did go through its non responsive phase first so today, I restored to a point before Avs2DVD was ever installed, uninstalled another encoder and cleaned the registry of any traces of it I could find then installed 2.8 with my settings and tried 2 encodes of the same file again. First was using ffmpeg (Safe Mode) as the audio encoder, hit start and watched Henc pop up but do nothing for 4 minutes (timed it) but it did complete and the file played fine. 2nd was using wavi + aften as the audio encoder, hit start and same thing but when it completed it said the audio failed and would I like to use ffmpeg (Safe Mode), selected yes and that file plays fine too. I have added both logs in case anything there points to anything. So if this Henc issue can be solved, I'm good to go, staring at an unresponsive program for 4 minutes seems like an eternity and I think I know where the 6 channels came from but not why. When cmd popped up, it had a message, highlighted in yellow, that Avs2DVD didn't know the channels selected and was guessing (I had selected 2 previously). If there is a conflict, I'm guessing it would have to be something like VLC or AnyDVD with some kind of drivers or codecs because there is nothing installed that I can see that could be an issue. Thanks for any help.

[manolito]

Thanks, I don't think corrupted but maybe a conflict with something and definitely the LAV filters in 2.8. I haven't used System Restore in years, turned it off ages ago, instead use a backup system and have used many times, in this case, to long before any version of Avs2DVD was ever installed. Installed 2.8 right over the top of 2.75 last night

Hi mistycat,

don't do that. Before installing a different version of AVStoDVD you should always uninstall the current version first. If you had used the no-install version just delete the AVStoDVD program folder, and with RegEdit remove the AVStoDVD key under Current User/Software.

From both of your logs it is apparent that you do not have any DirectShow decoders installed (neither ffdshow nor LAVFilters). This explains why HCenc sits idle for several minutes before starting to encode. Without a DirectShow decoder A2D falls back on FFMpegSource. This decoder always has to index the source files before it can decode them, and this does indeed take several minutes.

To work properly AVStoDVD needs a DirectShow Splitter plus a DirectShow decoder package. The current installer version comes with LAV Filters (now the preferred package), but you can also use the Haali Splitter plus ffdshow. Do not install both, this can cause conflicts.

After you installed one of the two, start up AVStoDVD as an administrator, go to "Codecs" and click on "Preferred DirectShow Codecs Setup". Make sure to disable the Microsoft codecs and activate LAV or ffdshow instead.

Now load your source file into AVStoDVD and under "Codecs" click on "Build DirectShow Filters Graph". Make a screen shot and post it here. As MrC suggested it would also be nice if you could upload your source file to a file hoster like ZippyShare...


Cheers
manolito

[mistycat]

And we have success thanks to you and MrC, ffdshow and Haali splitter did the trick. Funny story about ffdshow and Haali now, not so much before. When I installed 2.8 over 2.75, last night, just to check something, ffdshow, etc was kept and Henc worked fine, then when I restored and reinstalled 2.8 without Lav, video did but work Henc didn't, with the same settings, and it almost drove me nuts when Henc quit responding again, your post explained why. Actually, I never install an update over a program, this was just to check something this time and I knew it would be erased in a few minutes. I can almost guarantee that LAV filters are a big issue for me, at least, not installing them fixes all the issues I was having, progress only started when they quit being installed. Anyway, I always make a backup before I install any program, that way I can revert to before it was ever installed if I don't keep it. I manually clean my Registry and there is no way of finding every remnant of an uninstall. Also, I'm not able to upload the video but it really doesn't matter, any number of video gave exactly the same results. Anyway, all is running fine without any of the instructions needed so thankyou again to you and MrC for your help and patience. I have tried a dozen conversions now and they are all fine.

[manolito]

Congratulations...

[Keyser]

Hi

I have this question. Vesion 2.8.0 installer is packed with LAV Filters. Is it really necessary to install them? What happens if I don't? Will it affect AVStoDVD? Does it mean that AVAtoDVD will be unable to open/decode some files?

I ask this question because other programs similar to AVStoDVD rely on their own libraries or third party tools to decode source files and don't require the installation of any filters/codecs.

Thanks

P.S. ffdshow and Haali Media Splitter are NOT installed on my system.

[mistycat]

Boy,can I answer this. Simple answer for me was that AvstoDVD did function when the LAV filters were unchecked during the install but hitting start caused Henc (1 or 2 pass, I never tried CBR) to open but then sit inactive for a few minutes before doing its thing. If you uninstalled the previous version of Avs2DVD but not ffdshow and Haali splitter or install ffdshow and Haali splitter, then Henc works fine in seconds. Just my experience.

[manolito]

From the AVStoDVD help file:

Software requirements:


· Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 32bit (runs with Windows 95/98/Me but 100% functionality is not guaranteed)
· Microsoft DirectX 9.0 or higher
· AviSynth 2.5.7 or higher (AviSynth 2.5.8 is included in the installer)
· A good media splitter (LAV Filters 0.63 is included in the installer)
· A good DirectShow codecs/filters suite (LAV Filters 0.63 is included in the installer, ffdshow 32bit is a valid alternative)
· ImgBurn 2.5.0.0 or higher (not mandatory, but required to build DVD ISO Images and to burn DVDs)

Hi Keyser,

you should have one of the two alternatives installed. Please do not install Codec Packs instead, this usually means asking for trouble.

Up to version 2.75 AVStoDVD recommended to use Haali / ffdshow, starting with version 2.80 LAVFilters is the recommended package. But ffdshow is also supported, so it is up to your preferences which one you use. ffdshow is no longer actively developped, and a lot of people (including MrC and me) believe that LAV Filters do a better job these days. But obviously there are others like mistycat who cannot get LAV Filters working on their systems.


Cheers
manolito

[Keyser]

you should have one of the two alternatives installed. Please do not install Codec Packs instead, this usually means asking for trouble.

Up to version 2.75 AVStoDVD recommended to use Haali / ffdshow, starting with version 2.80 LAVFilters is the recommended package. But ffdshow is also supported, so it is up to your preferences which one you use. ffdshow is no longer actively developped, and a lot of people (including MrC and me) believe that LAV Filters do a better job these days. But obviously there are others like mistycat who cannot get LAV Filters working on their systems.

Thanks manolito

[bilvihur]

While trying to author a DVD from an MP4 file, I get the following from Henc 0.26: Incompatibility Use ConvertToYV12() or YUY2(). I'm not familiar with either. The MP4 was ripped from a DVD using Handbrake 10.0.6534. Both the DVD and MP4 can be played with WMP and DAUM. The log from notepad:
<1/19/2015 9:02:28 AM>
START PROCESS
<>

<1/19/2015 9:02:28 AM>
PROJECT SETTINGS

DVD Video Standard: NTSC
DVD Titles number: 1
DVD Size: 4450/4450 MB (100%)
DVD Output Setup: DVD Folder
DVD Label: DVD
DVD Menu: No Menu
Output Folder: K:\DVD_Carmen
Delete Temp Assets Files: Yes
Delete Temp Working Files: Yes
Edit Command Parameters: No
Post Process Task: Show Progress Status window

PREFERENCES

MultiThread: 1
AVS Video Source Filter: A2DSource
AVS Audio Source Filter: A2DSource
AVS UpSize/DownSize Filter: Lanczos4Resize/Spline16Resize
Frame Adjust Strategy: 1
PAL SpeedUp: 0
NTSC SlowDown: 0
Video Resolution: 0
Video BitRate Min: 2500
Video BitRate Level 1: 8500
Video Profile Level 2: 8500
Video BitRate Max: 8500
Keep DVD Compliant Video: 1
AC3 Audio Encoder: 0
Force FFmpeg for Long Audio: 1
DVD Audio Format: 0
DVD Audio BitRate: 192
Keep DVD Compliant Audio: 1
Normalize Audio: 0
Auto Delay Audio: 1
DVD Audio Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Audio Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Primary): EN - English
DVD Subs Language (Secondary): EN - English
DVD Subs Font: Tahoma 16pt (255,255,255)
Chapters Interval: 5
Use Source Chapters: 1
DVD Burning Drive: L: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223B SB02
DVD Burning Speed: 4x
Auto Erase DVD RW: 1
Unload ActiveMovie library: 0
Adjust DirectShow Filters at runtime: 1
Save General Settings: 0

SYSTEM INFO

Processor Name: AMD Phenom(tm) II X2 550 Processor
Operating System: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (64 bit)
AviSynth is installed: YES (release 2.5.8)
LAV Filters is installed: YES (release 0.63.0)
ffdshow is installed: NO
<>

<1/19/2015 9:02:28 AM>
TITLE 1 SOURCE FILES
Video: K:\Carmen.mp4
Info: AVC - 2713 kbps - 714x482 - DAR 1.32 - 29.97 fps (CFR) - Progressive - 1:22:28 hours - 148305 frames
Audio 1: K:\Carmen.mp4
Info: AAC LC - 160 kbps - VBR - 2 ch - 48000 Hz - 1:22:28 hours (0 ms delay)
[MediaInfoLib - v0.7.69]
<>

<1/19/2015 9:02:28 AM>
AVISYNTH SCRIPT
Import("C:\Program Files (x86)\AVStoDVD\Lib\A2DSource.avsi")
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files (x86)\AVStoDVD\Lib\ffms2.dll")

Video = A2DVideoSource("K:\Carmen.mp4", CacheFolder="N:\TEMP", FrameRate=29.97, VFR=false)
# Forced 'FFAudioSource' to encode secondary Audio Tracks
Audio = FFAudioSource("K:\Carmen.mp4", track=2, cachefile="N:\TEMP\A2DFFA_" + String(Rand()) + ".cache")

Video = Video.ConvertToYV12()
Video = Video.Lanczos4Resize(720,480,0,2,0,-2)

AudioDub(Video, Audio)
<>

<1/19/2015 9:02:28 AM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 2-pass
Target Video FileSize: 4252.8 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "N:\TEMP\DVD_2_Carmen.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_2_Carmen_1.avs
*AVSRELOAD
*OUTFILE K:\DVD_2_Carmen.m2v
*LOGFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_2_Carmen.HCenc.log
*MAXBITRATE 9000
*BITRATE 7210
*PROFILE BEST
*ASPECT 4:3
*PROGRESSIVE
*TFF
*BIAS 70
*DC_PREC 10
*MATRIX MPEG
*AQ 1
*LUMGAIN 1
*SMP
*PRIORITY IDLE
*DBPATH N:\TEMP
*WAIT 2
<>

<1/19/2015 9:02:49 AM>
Log file created by AVStoDVD Release 2.8.0
<>
Appreciate suggestions. Thanks.

[JohnnyBob]

Thanks for your help guys. I'm converting a different .avi movie with 2.8.0 and all is OK so far...

[_MrC_]

@bivihur

have you installed AviSynth on your system?

@JohnnyBob

glad to read you had success.



Bye

[bilvihur]

Yes AVISynth 2.5.8 was installed, and I just updated to AVISynth 2.6.0 RC 1, but get same result. So you think AVStoDVD is not finding it in the default folder?

[_MrC_]

Does AVStoDVD output a message that AviSynth is not found, during startup? If not, AviSynth is correctly installed and found by AVStoDVD, hence it is not the root cause of the issue.

Please advise



Bye