AVStoDVD Support Thread

[bilvihur]

No such message. In fact, under System Info in the log, it says "AviSynth is installed: YES (release 2.5.8)".

[manolito]

Hi bilvihur,

yes, I saw that in your log file. I think there may be other reasons...

The weird thing is that the AVS script has the line "ConvertToYV12()" in it, so HCenc should have no reason to complain. But I remember earlier reports by some users who could not get HCenc to run on their 64-bit Windows.

You could try the following things:
Turn off UAC
Disable any resident AntiVirus or AntiMalware software temporarily
Maybe "take ownership" of the HCenc folder
Run HCenc in compatibility mode and/or as an administrator

Also it would be good to know if HC fails for all source files, or is it just for this specific source? The reason I ask is another funny entry in your log file. MediaInfo reports just 1 audio track in the source file, but AVStoDVD seems to think there is a second audio track, because it forces FFMpegSource for audio. But this could be false alarm, maybe there is just an unusual track numbering in the source file.

And as usual a DirectShow Filter Graph would be nice. Maybe some source filters other than LAVFilters take precedence.

And if nothing helps, maybe you can upload your source to a file hoster like ZippyShare?


Cheers
manolito

[bilvihur]

I tried again running AVStoDVD as administrator - same results.

<1/21/2015 7:46:18 AM>
START PROCESS
<>

<1/21/2015 7:46:18 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:
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 2.6.0)
LAV Filters is installed: YES (release 0.63.0)
ffdshow is installed: NO
<>

<1/21/2015 7:46:18 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]
<>

<1/21/2015 7:46:18 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)
<>

<1/21/2015 7:46:18 AM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 2-pass
Target Video FileSize: 4252.8 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "N:\TEMP\DVD_Carmen.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_Carmen_1.avs
*AVSRELOAD
*OUTFILE K:\DVD_Carmen.m2v
*LOGFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_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
<>

<1/21/2015 7:46:41 AM>
Log file created by AVStoDVD Release 2.8.0
<>



Here is first 200MB of mp4 file:

http://www66.zippyshare.com/v/OC0s0ctK/file.html

I certainly appreciate your help!

[manolito]

Alright, first of all a part of a file which was split using an archiver like WinZip or WinRar cannot be opened by any software. This only works if all the parts are available. For splitting an MP4 file use AVIDemux.

Whatever, your filter graph shows that your computer does not use LAVFilters at all, the Microsoft filters take over. A typical Win7 and Win8 problem, because M$ think that they own your computer.

Start AVStoDVD as an administrator, click on "Codecs" and select "Preferred DirectShow Filters Setup". For all filters deselect Microsoft and select LAVFilters instead. If this does not work for you, download the Win7 DSFilterTweaker tool (link on the bottom left of the AVStoDVD window) and tweak your DirectShow filters this way.

Once you have set up your filters correctly, the graph should look like this:


Good luck
manolito

[bilvihur]

Used DSFilterTweaker to set all filters to LAV (wouldn't allow me to change them in AVStoDVD).



But got same incompatibility result.
I will work on AVIDemux.
Thanks

[manolito]

@ MrC

Probably stupid question, but I do not have any 64-bit Windows installation...

I think that AVStoDVD will need a 32-bit version of LAV Filters. But the LAV installer contains both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and could it be that for a 64-bit Windows only the 64-bit version of LAV Filters will be installed? This would explain a lot of things for users who cannot make LAV Filters work on their systems


Cheers
manolito

[bilvihur]

Here is the first 100MB of the mp4, which I extracted using AVIDemux:
http://www73.zippyshare.com/v/fhwxGcxc/file.html

[_MrC_]

@bilvihur

1. Downloaded the supposed MP4 portion, it was an AVI. Likely a MP4 in origin, remuxed as AVI with Avidemux (better to remux as MKV or MP4, since it contains H264 and AAC streams).

2. Remuxed as MKV with Avidemux

3. Converted successfully to DVD using FFmpeg with AVStoDVD

4. (double check) Converted successfully to DVD using HCenc with AVStoDVD

Probably the original MP4 may be somehow broken. I suggest you to remux it as MKV with Avidemux and then feed AVStoDVD with the brand new MKV. Please advise if you still have issues. By the way, very good you have successfully set LAV Filters as preferred decoder for H264 and AAC.


@manolito

I develop AVStoDVD mainly on a Win7 64bit system (with a WinXP 32bit virtual machine as legacy platform), no major decoding issue with LAV Filters (like the OP). It installs both the 32bit and 64bit splitter/codecs versions. That's one of the reasons I have dismissed haali+ffdshow vs LAV Filters starting from 2.8.0 release.

BTW I agree that LAV Filters, in some cases, are still "immature", showing some minor troubles. I.e. recently I had to switch back to ffdshow to solve an out-of-sync issue with a 1080p H264+DTS source.



Bye

[manolito]

It installs both the 32bit and 64bit splitter/codecs versions. That's one of the reasons I have dismissed haali+ffdshow vs LAV Filters starting from 2.8.0 release.

BTW I agree that LAV Filters, in some cases, are still "immature", showing some minor troubles. I.e. recently I had to switch back to ffdshow to solve an out-of-sync issue with a 1080p H264+DTS source.



Bye

So both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions get installed on a 64-bit system. Good to know...

I also downloaded the Carmen.avi file and tried to encode it. Since MrC already tested an MKV, I repacked it to MP4 (using MKVtoMP4), and the file got converted without problems. The downloaded AVI file itself does have issues, though. MediaInfo shows a duration of 35 hours which throws off HCenc's time prediction and progress bar. Looks like AVIDemux did a lousy job on remuxing.


@MrC
BTW could you upload a segment of the offending file which causes the out-of-sync problems? I would be very interested to test it, because since I moved to LAVFilters plus replaced DirectShowSource.dll with DSS2Mod I never experienced sync errors any more.



Cheers
manolito

[bilvihur]

Success!
I had used Handbrake to rip both MP4 and MKV files, both of which encountered the Incompatibility error in AVStoDVD. When I used AVIDemux to cut the 1st 100MB of the MP4, I wasn't aware that I could change the output from AVI. You suggested that I remux the MP4 to MKV, but I tried remuxing the MKV to MKV to fix what ever problem was causing the Incompatibility.
The new MKV was acceptable to AVStoDVD (with a MediaInfo Audio sync warning which I answered OK to). The resulting DVD has good quality, and the Audio is perfectly sync'd. I had selected HCenc 1-pass, but it seemed to do 2 passes, which was OK by me.
PS: I was doing this project for a friend who happens to be the lead actor (Don Jose) in the movie Carmen. He wanted to give out a few copies to classmates at his 50th college reunion, and only had a VHS tape which someone had transferred to his DVD media along with other files. ImgBurn would only allow me to make an ISO of the entire disk. There's no way I could have made this DVD without your help. Thank you!

[_MrC_]

@bilvihur

great!

@manolito

unfortunately I have already deleted that file. I will try to recover it from the user that asked for assistance.



Bye

[manolito]

@ bilvihur

Good to hear that you got it working...

The reason that HCenc 1-pass looks like 2-pass is that it actually is some kind of a poor man's 2-pass. If you make a 1-pass VBR encode using ffmpeg or QuEnc the encoder starts with a certain quantizer and during the encode it dynamically adjusts the quantizer to achieve the desired bitrate. Since the encoder has no way of knowing the movie characteristics beforehand, the bitrate distribution is less than optimal.

The HCenc 1-pass VBR approach is different. It uses 2 passes, but the first pass only analyzes samples of the source file (as opposed to a real 2-pass encode where the first pass analyzes the whole movie). The first pass is actually divided into 2 parts. The first part determines a base quantizer for the whole movie while the second part builds a compressibility database.

The result is that a 1-pass VBR encode with HCenc can deliver a good bitrate distribution, in many cases the quality will be very close to a real 2-pass encode, but at a much shorter conversion time.



Cheers
manolito

[bilvihur]

Thanks for the support. I'll probably use HCenc 1-pass from now on since it is much quicker and gives good quality. Is the Audio sync warning a MediaInfo problem, or a combination of events?

[JohnnyBob]

My video encoding profile is stuck on Hcenc 2-pass. Changing it in preferences to Hcenc 1-pass has no effect. I've tried several times with short .avi clips. Yes, I check the box at bottom to save current preferences as default, then click OK - which doesn't work.

Maybe the reason is that I've clicked the little lock icon occasionally while experimenting, but it always stays locked. How do I unlock it?

Do I have to edit an .ini file somewhere, or what?

P.S.
It's definitely stuck on Hcenc 2-pass. I also tried changing to FFmpeg CBR 1-pass which won't work either.

There was a dropdown list when I first installed AVStoDVD which allowed selecting that preference. Looks like it can't be changed subsequently unless there's some trick of which I'm unaware. I seem to recall that being the case with former versions of AVStoDVD too, but didn't mind because I always wanted to use Hcenc 2-pass anyway. But now I'd like to try Hcenc 1-pass to see how the quality compares.

Do I have to uninstall/reinstall AVStoDVD just to perform that simple preferences setting change?

Please respond.

[DJ_ValBec]

I think you are lock-it in.
(I still on v. 2.7.5)

1.- Probably you are double lock it on video too.
Preferent > Video > Lock selected Video Profile for all bitrates (NOT recomended)
2.- Preferent > Uncheck: Save current Preferences as default
3.- Options > Restore Defaults Preferences.
4.- Exit & restart AVStoDVD
5.- Apply new settings.

[JohnnyBob]

I think you are lock-it in.
(I still on v. 2.7.5)

1.- Probably you are double lock it on video too.
Preferent > Video > Lock selected Video Profile for all bitrates (NOT recomended)
2.- Preferent > Uncheck: Save current Preferences as default
3.- Options > Restore Defaults Preferences.
4.- Start again your new settings.

@DJ_ValBec
Thanks!
Mystery solved!
Yes, that worked...and offhand I can't see any difference between 1-pass and 2-pass Hcenc encodings with a short video clip. So I'll probably use 1-pass in future.

I have no idea of the purpose for the lock icon, nor how it works. The image doesn't change to unlocked when it is clicked. And it isn't explained in Help, that I can find. So I'm probably better off to leave it untouched.

In your outlined procedure, best is probably to change your current step 4 to read as follows:
4.- Exit then restart AVStoDVD, then you are offered the same beginner's setup screen as just after installing AVStoDVD new.

@MrC
None of this is explained in Help, that I could find...

Of course this is a very non-intuitive, unusual and difficult procedure, requiring that folder paths and all other preference settings be re-entered too. Hopefully the GUI can be improved to allow easy individual preference changes for Video. I haven't noticed a problem with other preference changes, just Video.

Part of the problem is that there is no positive indication of which Video encoding option is selected. My suggestion is to change the GUI design to a dropdown list, similar to the beginner's setup screen, with the active selected option being displayed. Or a series of exclusive checkboxes would work too. Also it would be helpful if it is indicated in the popup list when pressing the Start button to begin a project.

[_MrC_]

@JohnnyBob

see:

Help > How to use it > Preferences Window > Video > Setup Video Profile
Help > FAQ > Video > Q3.5

BTW thanks for the suggestions how to improve the GUI.



Bye

[JohnnyBob]

@JohnnyBob

see:

Help > How to use it > Preferences Window > Video > Setup Video Profile
Help > FAQ > Video > Q3.5

BTW thanks for the suggestions how to improve the GUI.



Bye

I had already read those Help items and they do not help, clear as mud, totally insufficient explanations. The lock icon remains a total mystery. There is no mention anywhere, that I can find, that it's necessary to reset everything (*all* preference settings) to program defaults just to switch between different video profiles...

Help > Contents > How to use it > Main Window > Menu Bar / Buttons Bar
You've combined the Menu bar and Buttons bar explanations. I might separate them into two different categories. In any case, the Menu bar explanations are incomplete... There's no mention of the File, Title, Options, or Help menus; only the Tools, View, and Codecs are explained. However the Buttons bar explanations are fairly good and complete.

[bilvihur]

I'm still getting the MediaInfo warning no matter what source I'm using:



AVStoDVD waits until I answer OK, then ac3fix executes, then I get a 2nd MediaInfo.dll warning, which also causes AVStoDVD to wait until I answer. Then MuxMan starts. The resulting DVD is perfectly sync'd, but the whole process hangs until the warnings are answered. I wish there was a default to OK after a certain time passes.
I read and understood your explanation of the HCenc 1-pass execution, but the log sure seems to think it's executing a 2-pass, even though I selected the 1-pass:

<1/24/2015 5:49:01 PM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 2-pass
Target Video FileSize: 3956.4 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "N:\TEMP\DVD_Birdman.2014.DVDScr.XVID.AC3.SHQ. Hive-CM8.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_Birdman.2014.DVDScr.XVID.AC3.SHQ.Hive-CM8_1.avs
*AVSRELOAD

Once again, the result is perfect, but I wish it would process to completion on it own!

[JohnnyBob]

@bilvihur
Sorry, I can't advise re the MediaInfo warning.

But that *is* a 2-pass log! Here's what 1-pass looks like...

<1/23/2015 16:18:58>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 1-pass
Target Video FileSize: 69.9 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "H:\AVS Temp\DVD_7_sample.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE H:\AVS Temp\DVD_7_sample_1.avs

You might try resetting all program preferences to defaults, otherwise Video encoding Profile selection may not change/stick. See my recent prior posts just above. A possible GUI bug(?), although I really don't understand well enough to make such a judgement.

[manolito]

@ bilvihur

For the MediaInfo warning have you installed the hotfix from this post?
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/277852-AVStoDVD-Support-Thread?p=2366977&viewfull=1#post2366977
Please do so if you haven't yet.
Still MediaInfo is not perfect when it comes to detecting the correct number of frames in the source. AVStoDVD checks for a discrepancy between the detected length and the detected number of frames, and if they do not match it displays this warning.

Since in my experience the number of frames calculated by AVStoDV is always correct, I agree that the OK button should be pressed automatically after a timeout. Until this gets implemented, you can use a small tool which can automatically click away such popup windows. I use a tool called "ClickOff" for this, it's free and easy to use.


As for the forced HCenc 2-pass mode I think you also locked the 2-pass mode while playing around with the settings. In your previous log file I found these entries:

Video BitRate Min: 2500
Video BitRate Level 1: 8500
Video Profile Level 2: 8500
Video BitRate Max: 8500

Your preference window probably looks like this:



This means that HCenc 2-pass is used for all bitrates. To change this setting back to the defaults it is absolutely not necessary to reset all the AVStoDVD settings and then reenter all settings (like DJ_ValBec suggested). Just edit the value "Higher Bitrate Level" to something like 4500 (the default). Then check or edit the bitrate ranges for the other two encoding modes. When done don't forget to check "Save current Preferences as default" and exit the "Preferences".

It is important that you understand how this bitrate range setting works. You do not just set one encoding mode as your standard, you set three encoding modes which are selected depending on the video bitrate. As MrC already suggested, make sure to read Help > FAQ > Video > Q3.5.

Now what the hell is this mysterious "Lock" button? It was not always there, I remember when MrC added this button very reluctantly after some user requests. Just assume for a moment that this button does not exist. If you decide that you want to use the HCenc 2-pass mode for each and every encode no matter what, then you would edit this video preference window and enter the bitrate range just like the screen shot above shows. This would "lock" HCenc 2-pass for all bitrates. And the "Lock" button is nothing but a shortcut for this. It does exactly the same thing as manually entering the bitrate range.


Alright, end of lecture...

Cheers
manolito

[davexnet]

Perhaps a button on that screen to reset those bitrates to default would be handy ?

From what I've seen, many users who modify this don't even know what they're doing.
They think that's where you increase the bitrate for a particular encode.

[manolito]

Perhaps a button on that screen to reset those bitrates to default would be handy ?

From what I've seen, many users who modify this don't even know what they're doing.
They think that's where you increase the bitrate for a particular encode.

Totally agreed...

Cheers
manolito

[JohnnyBob]

Perhaps a button on that screen to reset those bitrates to default would be handy ?

From what I've seen, many users who modify this don't even know what they're doing.
They think that's where you increase the bitrate for a particular encode.

I agree.
User needs to be informed exactly which video profile is currently selected, whether it's locked, and provide an easy way to unlock it.
Playing around with bitrates/ranges is for the birds (experts only).

[_MrC_]

Perhaps a button on that screen to reset those bitrates to default would be handy ?

Will do



Bye

[bilvihur]

Well - partial success
I downloaded the hotfix and the MediaInfo warning disappeared.
I set up the HCenc 1-pass "Higher Bitrate Level" to 4500, and saved the preferences:


I made sure to select HCenc 1-pass, then started program. 45 minutes later I checked and saw that it was started on the 2nd pass:


Sure enough, the log indicates that it executed HCenc 2-pass:
<1/25/2015 10:28:27 AM>
START VIDEO ENCODING OPERATIONS
Encoding Profile: HCenc VBR 2-pass
Target Video FileSize: 4190.1 MB
Encoding Parameters: -ini "N:\TEMP\DVD_2_The Interview 2014 1080p WEB-DL MP4-SM10.HCenc.ini"
HCenc ini file:
*INFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_2_The Interview 2014 1080p WEB-DL MP4-SM10_1.avs
*AVSRELOAD
*OUTFILE K:\DVD_2_The Interview 2014 1080p WEB-DL MP4-SM10.m2v
*LOGFILE N:\TEMP\DVD_2_The Interview 2014 1080p WEB-DL MP4-SM10.HCenc.log
*MAXBITRATE 9000
*BITRATE 5222
*PROFILE BEST
*ASPECT 16:9
*PROGRESSIVE
*TFF
*PULLDOWN
*BIAS 50
*DC_PREC 9
*MATRIX MPEG
*AQ 1
*LUMGAIN 1
*SMP
*PRIORITY NORMAL
*DBPATH N:\TEMP
*WAIT 2
<>
I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks.

[davexnet]

Where did you select 1-pass HCenc ? It should be on the edit title/video tab
once the project is loaded, NOT the preferences tab.

[_MrC_]

@bilvihur

have you read manolito's post? https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/277852-AVStoDVD-Support-Thread?p=2370400

Have you read the AVStoDVD FAQ (Help > FAQ > Video > Q3.5)?

Now, after reading, do you still really need support?



Bye

[DJ_ValBec]

Well - partial success ...
I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks.

Well:
My approach maybe radical, but it save me time in the long run: on fixing things.

You need to take in mind that maybe it's not only 1 "problem" in your AVStoDVD. It could be a 2nd. issue or several's.

Just my $0.02

P.S.
Check my post #2325

[JohnnyBob]

Perhaps a button on that screen to reset those bitrates to default would be handy ?

Will do



Bye

and for the little lock icon/button, if you decide to keep it(?), perhaps something like these graphics (or simply a checkbox)...