CCE Encoding timecode error and pulldown

[dannybz]

Can't find something related to my problem, so here it is.

I'm trying to encode a video .avi file using CCE 2.7 which I will later use to author using IfoEdit to burn a DVD. I'm using both GSpot and Bitrate Viewer for file information to create an Avisynth script with .srt subtitles.





Dimension: 576 x 240
Frame rate: 23.976
Format: NTSC ...??
Lenght: 02:04:01
Audiobitrate: 48000

The Avisynth script I'm using is:

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\VSFilter.dll")
DirectShowSource("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.avi")
BicubicResize(720,266,0,0.5)
AddBorders(0, 106, 0, 108)
TextSub("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.srt")
ConvertToYUY2()

When I load the .avs file using VirtualDub or Media Play, I can see the movie and subtitles... everything looks fine. The problem is when I load it on CCE. The movie length will change to 01:58:56 and the video frame rate to 25 automatically. I have calculated my bitrate to be 4,416 kbps using own calculator, please advise if this rate is ok. I don't want a PAL video. When I change the settings to the following (see below), I get an error message saying to "Please change timecode, or inverse 3:2 pulldown cannot be performed properly." Therefore I can't proceed to encode.

I thought it might be an error on the original video so I went and did a check on the video stream using VirtualDub, but all seems good. It might help to say that when I loaded the original video .avi on VirtualDub I got a message saying that the VBR audio was detected and that it is non standard with AVI's and that I might encounter sync errors.

[guns1inger]

Untick the box marked For DVD, or CCE will enforce DVD compliant settings, and encode at 23.976 fps. Once you have your video elementary stream, use DGPulldown and the 23.976 -> 25 fps option to add the appropriate pulldown flags to get 25 fps playback.

[Alex_ander]

Simply don't modify the default pulldown setting for 23.976 and you'll get the standard pulldown.
Better use AviSource for avi's (more reliable frame seeking).
With 'for DVD' (forced outer frame size 720x480) and AviSynth resizing for letterbox the AddBorders line may be omitted (CCE resizing unchecked).
Set 'Progressive frame' in 'Picture Quality' (if not checked).

[dannybz]

Alex_ander... I don't understand what you are tyring to say by not modifying the default pulldown. With the settings I have, I can't modify anything about pulldown. I tried using AviSource but got an error when trying to open with CCE, so I had to change it to DirectShowSource.
I have never used "Progressive Frame", can I use it with the settings guns1inger has provided?

I don't see an option for 23.796 -> 25 fps in DGPulldown, I will use custom settings. Should the rest of settings remain as is?
Checked: top field first
Checked: set timecodes
Unchecked: write timecode to text file
Checked: set drop frames
Unchecked: set start time
Unchecked no output
Unchecked modify file in place

[dannybz]

Will let you know what happens when come back, going to work now.... sorry

[dannybz]

One more thing, guns1inger...
I noticed that when I removed the checkmark "for DVD" I get a total playing time of 01:58:56 before I encode instead of the 02:04:01 shown by GSpot and Bitrate Viewer.
Why should I change the fps to 25 using DGPulldown when both GSpot, Bitrate Viewer, and VirtualDub show a 23.976 fps? Won't it affect my subtitles? Does it mean I will have change the format to PAL?

[Alex_ander]

I don't see an option for 23.796 -> 25 fps in DGPulldown

From your resizing numbers in script (720x480) I concluded that you were encoding to NTSC. Guns1inger thought you were trying to encode an NTSC source to PAL (then you'd need DGPulldown and yes, you'd want to check 'custom' in its settings and type 23.976 as input with 25fps output - after encoding in CCE with 720x576 frame size). What are you trying to do actually?

[manono]

I tried using AviSource but got an error when trying to open with CCE, so I had to change it to DirectShowSource.

Perhaps because of the audio, which you shouldn't let CCE see anyway. Disable it:

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\VSFilter.dll")
AVISourceSource("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.avi",False)#Fal se disables the audio
BicubicResize(720,266,0,0.5)
AddBorders(0, 106, 0, 108)
TextSub("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.srt")
ConvertToYUY2()

Test your scripts in VDub(Mod) before sending to CCE. If something's wrong it'll give you an error message, where CCE won't. And why are you burning the subs into the video, rather than making them selectable in the DVD?

[dannybz]

manono.... I have never done selectable subs in my DVD's and I'm afraid to try it. That will mean creating a menu and controls.

Should the line look like this?
AviSouce("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.avi",False)

Will try it when I get home this evening.

[dannybz]

Alex_ander.... I want to encode a NTSC video with CCE, author with IfoEdit and then burn to DVD retaining the NTSC format.

What about the total playing time of 01:58:56 CCE instead of the 02:04:01 original stream? Will the change of script by manano fix the time diferences? Will let you know what happens later.

[Alex_ander]

What about the total playing time of 01:58:56 CCE instead of the 02:04:01 original stream? Will the change of script by manono fix the time diferences?

Maybe it will. DirectShowSource may incorrectly detect framerate (fps=.. parameter is recommended to use in it). AviSource needs proper VFW codec to be installed (you'll see error message in Vdub if it is missing).

[guns1inger]

My bad. I was going in part by the fact that CCE was trying to convert this to PAL. If you turn of the For DVD option in CCE, does it still see the length as shorter ? The running time difference you describe seems about right for an NTSC to PAL speed up. If CCE sees the footage as NTSC 23.976 then you should get your original running time back.

Also agree with manono that you should not let CCE encode your audio.
Also, you do not need a subs menu to have selectable subs. I often create discs with subs that have no menus at all. The Subtitle button on the remote works just as well for this.

[johns0]

If its an avi thats sped up to pal(was originally ntsc) then load it into virtualdub and change the fps to 23.976 and save with direct stream copy enabled and change the audio with eac3to to ntsc.Then encode with the ntsc avi,always works for me for sped up pal that sounds like chipmunks.

[dannybz]

Ok, here it goes:
AviSouce("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.avi",False) does not work

I decided to remove the subs:
DirectShowSource("C:\VIDEO_TS\CONSTANTINE.avi",fps =23.796,audio=false)
BicubicResize(720,266,0,0.5)
AddBorders(0, 106, 0, 108)
ConvertToYUY2()

This loads good with CCE, VirtualDub Mod, but now duration on CCE shows 02:03:54 instead of 02:04:01 original stream before encoding. Is there anything I should do before encoding. What about checking "Proressive" frame?

[manono]

manono.... I have never done selectable subs in my DVD's and I'm afraid to try it.

You say you're using IFOEdit to author. Muxman is much better. With IFOEdit you're limited to adding in SUP subtitle files (where Muxman can also accept SST subtitle files). Anyway, SubtitleCreator can instantly convert SRT to SUP for use in IFOEdit. File->Open Subtitle followed by File->Save SUP As. You can set the font, size, position, colors as well. If you don't like the colors when all done (after authoring), you can change them in either DVDSubEdit or PGCEdit. After creating the SUP file, open it in SubtitleCreator and see if the subs look OK. I don't make subs this way (I much prefer creating SST subs for Muxman), but this should work. And as gunsl1nger says, the subtitle button on the remote control will serve to turn them on and off. With a little tweak in PGCEdit (or IFOEdit) afterwards you can even make the subs play by default.

Should the line look like this?
AviSouce("C:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO.avi",False)

Except for misspelling "AVISource", yes, like that. You could have kept the "#False disables the audio" part, since the "#" tells it to ignore what comes after.

I suggested testing the script first in VDub. It'll point to the AVISource line as the culprit, if you spelled it wrong.

This loads good with CCE, VirtualDub Mod, but now duration on CCE shows 02:03:54 instead of 02:04:01

Ignore the slight time length difference. CCE uses non-drop frame timing (30fps/24fps), rather than the correct drop-frame timing (29.97fps/23.976fps). All NTSC videos loaded into CCE show a few seconds shorter than they really are.

Yes, check the Progressive frame box, non-linear, fades, lots of stuff. Maybe you had better go find a guide.

[dannybz]

Manono... I changed the script to your suggestion.

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\VSFilter.dll")
AviSource("C:\VIDEO_TS\CONSTANTINE.avi",False)#Fal se disables the audio
BicubicResize(720,266,0,0.5)
AddBorders(0, 106, 0, 108)
TextSub("C:\VIDEO_TS\CONSTANTINE.srt")
ConvertToYUY2()

I get an error on VDubMod saying could not decompress frame 0. CCE will open the script but not total frames will be 240 and duration 10mins. I have use AviSource before, but this time DirectShowSource seems to work for this.

[manono]

I get an error on VDubMod saying could not decompress frame 0.

OK, whatever works. I don't get error messages like that so I'm not sure what it means - missing codec maybe? What kind of AVI is this? Not a standard XviD? Div3 or some such?

[dannybz]

This is an XViD. I have installed ffdshow.

[minidv2dvd]

give it up. it's a low bitrate xvid and you're trying to encode it with cce? why? what a waste of time. try convertxtodvd or another one click wonder. if they don't work, don't download anything from that group again, they sure don't know much about encoding.

[dannybz]

I often create discs with subs that have no menus at all. The Subtitle button on the remote works just as well for this.

I have the video already encoded with CCE. How do I author the video with subs like you are saying? I have an srt file, Ifoedit and SubRip... and the AC3 audio file I extracted from the original video stream. I also have Maestro which I find it quite confusing to create menus, controls, subs... etc.

[manono]

Use SubtitleCreator to instantly convert the SRT to SUP format for IFOEdit. File->Open Subtitle followed by File->Save SUP As. You can also do some tweaks while in Subtitle Creator. Then author as you usually do. Fix the colors afterwards using DVDSubEdit:

http://download.videohelp.com/DVDSubEdit/Guides/ChangingColors/Guide.htm

As guns1inger said earlier, you don't need menus to be able to turn the subs on or off, just the remote control.

[dannybz]

I am a little confused here, when do I use SubtitleCreator? Is it after I have author with IfoEdit and got my vob files or do I use it before I author?
SubtitleCreator says error reading subtitle number 1, that the duration is too short.

This is the first line of my srt file:

1
00:02:29,845 --> 00:02:31,369
Manuel.

[manono]

You use Subtitle Creator on the SRT so it'll convert it to a format (SUP) suitable for IFOEdit. IFOEdit doesn't accept SRT files for authoring. It needs image based DVD subtitles.

As for that first line, it looks OK to me, although Subtitle Creator won't honor that bold notation I don't think. So I have no idea why it won't accept it.