More weird conversion results

[carlmart]

Whenever I need to convert an mkv file onto a DVD, after some frustrating results, I do this:

1) Demux the file with MKVextractGUI.

2) Load the H264 file on DGAVCIndex and make a dga project.

3) Write a script, loading that dga script and all necessary filters.

4) Check the script on AvsP.

5) Load that scritp on HCEnc and convert the files onto m2v.

This method has been quite foolproof until now. Instead of loading with directshowsource I use avcsource.

But something unusual happened yesterday: the script checked fine on AvsP, but the converted file ended up with a thin green line all along the bottom border of the anamorphic image.

I don't understand two things:

1) What might be happening?

2) Why doesn't it show in AvsP?

Now, if I load the mkv file with directshowsource and just resize it to 720x480, I get a correctly sized image with borders up and below, and no green line. Yes, or course, then why just don't convert it like that and let it be? Perhaps because I want to understand a bit on what might be happening.

[jagabo]

the converted file ended up with a thin green line all along the bottom border

What frame size was the converted file? Was your source 1088 lines?

[carlmart]

the converted file ended up with a thin green line all along the bottom border

What frame size was the converted file? Was your source 1088 lines?

The original file was 1280:542, 23.976fps. It is 720p, AFAIK.

[jagabo]

Your h.264 decoder probably doesn't like the 542 pixel height (mod2) of the source. Try a different h.264 decoder.

[carlmart]

Your h.264 decoder probably doesn't like the 542 pixel height (mod2) of the source. Try a different h.264 decoder.

OK. First: how do I know which is my h264 decoder? Second: which one should I install?

From Gspot I could only find out that my codec is: H.264/AVC

But I think that is too generic.

In my directory I also have Mainconcept H.264/AVC Encoder V2. So maybe that's it.

[poisondeathray]

DGAVCIndex is based on an old version of libavcodec. You cannot change the decoder when using this.

If DirectShowSource() works, it's using whatever decoder you currently have set as preferred. To change it you would change the merit of other decoders higher or lower

[carlmart]

DGAVCIndex is based on an old version of libavcodec. You cannot change the decoder when using this.

If DirectShowSource() works, it's using whatever decoder you currently have set as preferred. To change it you would change the merit of other decoders higher or lower

So basically I should just let things as they are. If DSS worked then good for me. Let's hope I don't find myself in a situation where DSS caused other problems or I would basically be f***** up, being gross about it.

[jagabo]

When using AvcSource() you should be able to trim() the green lines off the bottom of the frame.

[poisondeathray]

When using AvcSource() you should be able to trim() the green lines off the bottom of the frame.

But what's weird is carlmart claims that the green lines are not present in AvsP preview...

Maybe carlmart, can you post a tiny sample of the source?

If you want to know what your current directshow decoder is, render the file in graphstudio

[carlmart]

When using AvcSource() you should be able to trim() the green lines off the bottom of the frame.

I tried to do that with addborders(), but HCEnc rejected, probably because I didn't adjust the resize accordingly. The question is that I didn't want to resize it, but to trim the green line away.

[carlmart]

But what's weird is carlmart claims that the green lines are not present in AvsP preview...

Exactly, that's the werdiest thing of all.

Maybe carlmart, can you post a tiny sample of the source?

What should I used to trim a tiny sample from an mkv file?

If you want to know what your current directshow decoder is, render the file in graphstudio

OK.

[poisondeathray]

You can cut a sample from a mkv using mkvtoolnix. Under the global tab, there is a splitting function. Please post the avs script you used as well

[carlmart]

The file is here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=baad3af1c8fb5a28d6baebe61b361f7cfadbed69258662dbb8eada0a1ae8665a

The script I tried to use and got me the green line was:

AVCSource("d:\file.dga")
spline36resize(720,360)
addborders(0,60,0,60)

[poisondeathray]

The green line is present in AvsP for me using that script, it's present in most frames, but not every frame. It's probably what jagabo said above; the non standard dimension is giving AVCIndex difficulty

[carlmart]

OK. Thanks.

DSS did it for me on this case. Let's hope I do not find other cases like this.

[poisondeathray]

It's even present with just AVCSource() , without the resize, or borders

You can probably predict which would have problems; likely the videos with non mod16 dimensions

I don't understand why you didn't see that in the preview, maybe you just looked at frame 0.

[jagabo]

When using AvcSource() you should be able to trim() the green lines off the bottom of the frame.

Oops, I should have said you can Crop() the green line off the bottom. Tested with the sample:

AvcSource("video.dga")
Crop(0,0,-0,-2)

Follow that with your resize and addborders.

[carlmart]

It's even present with just AVCSource() , without the resize, or borders

You can probably predict which would have problems; likely the videos with non mod16 dimensions

I don't understand why you didn't see that in the preview, maybe you just looked at frame 0.

It didn't show for me in AvsP, and I tried it on several frames, of course. Weird.

What my options to deal with such a file?

[carlmart]

Oops, I should have said you can Crop() the green line off the bottom. Tested with the sample:

AvcSource("video.dga")
Crop(0,0,-0,-2)

Follow that with your resize and addborders.

I am not too interested in cropping an image. Much better to try a different way.

[manono]

OK, if you don't want to crop it (?), then try the Letterbox command:

Letterbox(0,2)

which will just replace the bottom 2 rows of pixels with black.

[carlmart]

OK, if you don't want to crop it (?), then try the Letterbox command:

Letterbox(0,2)

which will just replace the bottom 2 rows of pixels with black.

Oh, no. Sorry. I think the crop() command is great, and thank you for suggesting it.

What I meant is that cropping the original image is something I do not want to do if I have any other option.

[jagabo]

Losing two scan lines out of 542 is not worth worrying about. Especially since it is going to be resized down to 360 scanlines for DVD.