2 pass encoding / Wrong final size

[stanfield]

I've recently re-encoded a h264 movie because it was too big to fit on a DVD9.

So, my initial video size is 12.9Gb

I used AutoX264 0.18.171.1640, 2 pass, specified final size of 7435Mb

14 hours later, I end up with a 6.89Gb file (very good quality though). 6.89Gb is equal to 7056Mb I believe

I just want to know if it's a normal behavior ? Is it possible to end up with the exact size (+/- 50Mb) ?

Thanks a lot !

[hech54]

So you took an H264 encoded video...and re-encoded it to.....what? H264 again?

[stanfield]

Yeah, just wanted to reduce the size.

[hech54]

#1 - I'm not really sure a single large file works very well when it spans across both layers of a dual layer disc.
#2 - What do you plan on playing this dual layer DVD on if you can burn it as a data disc?

[stanfield]

I playing all my movies on my computer, so no problem with that.

I just want to burn them and free some space !

[hech54]

I always wondered about one large file burned to a dual layer disc....not sure about that.
And I've always had more accurate "final output size" with single pass conversions....and I've always used AviDemux and it's built-in calculator in the past for that job...but that was with Xvid files. Not sure if the calculator in AviDemux works with H264.

[stanfield]

usually, on a DVD9, you can burn 8140Mb of data...
Can avidemux re-encode a h264 files ? I'm pretty new here and I'm having a hard time finding the best software solution or encoding, it's pretty tricky...

[hech54]

AviDemux opens X264/H264 videos with a warning that it needs to use Safe Mode...thus losing frame accurate editing. But I've created several video clips in H264 with AviDemux and they turned out fine...I never tried the calculator though.

EDIT... I might be mistaken on that. I may have created my H264 vids in VirtualDub....SORRY.

[stanfield]

What does "losing frame accurate editing" means ?
If I re-encode the whole movie, is it a potential problem ?

By the way, I've never had any problem with burning 1 large file onto a DVD9, worked perfectly well ever after !

[stanfield]

Just made another test with a 1.12Gb file that I was trying to reduce to 800Mb, the final size is 760Mb. Missed it also ! Well, I guess, the algorithm isn't accurate, that's all.

[hech54]

By the way, I've never had any problem with burning 1 large file onto a DVD9, worked perfectly well ever after !

Good to know....thank you.

[jagabo]

Be sure to use UDF instead of ISO 9660 if you want to write a file over 4 GB. ISO 9660 only supports up to 4 GB and some older operating systems are limited to 2 GB.

Regarding the file sizes, it may just be a KiB, MiB, GiB vs KB, MB, GB issue.

Also note that you should use b for bit, B for Byte.

[stanfield]

thanks, good to know !

[ricardouk]

@stanfield

If i'm not mistaken Autox264 is no longer updated, i recommend using a specific program that just "specializes" is converting to h264, i recommend using Multix264 (another buzzqw program).

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=151272

[stanfield]

I did try MultiX264 but it said unknown file type ! I wonder why 'cause I already encoded similar files with that program !

here the complete log :

G:\movies\dernier\v>"G:\multix264\applications\x264\x264.exe" "G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.avs"  --pass 1 --bitrate 6587 --stats "G:\multix264\multix264.stats"  --preset medium  --output "G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.h264"  2>MultiX264.log 

G:\movies\dernier\v>"G:\multix264\applications\x264\x264.exe" "G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.avs"  --pass 2 --bitrate 6587 --stats "G:\multix264\multix264.stats"  --preset medium  --output "G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.h264"  2>MultiX264.log 

G:\movies\dernier\v>"G:\multix264\applications\mkvtoolnix\mkvmerge.exe" -o "G:\movies\dernier\v2.mkv" --default-duration 0:23.976fps  --aspect-ratio -1:1.7778 "G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.h264" 
mkvmerge v4.1.1 ('Bouncin' Back') built on Jul  3 2010 22:54:08

Error: The file 'G:\movies\dernier\v\multix264.h264' has unknown type. Please have a look at the supported file types ('mkvmerge --list-types') and contact the author Moritz Bunkus <moritz@bunkus.org> if your file type is supported but not recognized properly.

[ricardouk]

your mkvmerge version is not up to date,

http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/doc/ChangeLog

i tried to replicate your encoding but didnt encounter any errors

replace the mkvmerge in multix264 with a recent one, are you using multix264 latest version?

convert a 5 min sample instead of the whole movie first

[stanfield]

Replaced with the latest mkvtoolnix :

avs [error]: hqdn3d: requires YV12 source
(G:\movies\test\multix264.avs, line 14)
x264 [error]: could not open input file `G:\movies\test\multix264.avs'

Hell of a program

[stanfield]

And the log :

G:\movies\test>"G:\multix264\applications\x264\x26 4.exe" "G:\movies\test\multix264.avs" --bitrate 1979 --preset medium --output "G:\movies\test\multix264.h264" 2>MultiX264.log

G:\movies\test>"G:\multix264\applications\mkvtoolnix\mkvmerge.exe" -o "G:\movies\multix264_test.mkv" --default-duration 0:23.976fps --aspect-ratio -1:1.7778 "G:\movies\test\multix264.h264" ""
mkvmerge v4.4.0 ('Die Wiederkehr') built on Oct 31 2010 21:52:48

Error: The file 'G:\movies\test\multix264.h264' has unknown type. Please have a look at the supported file types ('mkvmerge --list-types') and contact the author Moritz Bunkus <moritz@bunkus.org> if your file type is supported but not recognized properly.

same error then...

[ricardouk]

Weird, have you posted at the multix264 thread over on doom9? buzzqw is very helpfull.

Another x264 "specific" program i suggest is minicoder, development has stooped but its still ok to use.

there's also HDConvertToX from buzzqw.

[stanfield]

I've had problems with HDconvertX also and I don't know minicoder...

The strangest thing is I already DID encode a similar files (.h264) using multiX264

Mysteries of computers...

[ricardouk]

I've had problems with HDconvertX also...

2 programs from same author one more reason to post here or over at doom9 about it.

minicoder is very simple...simpler than multix264....

the only "all in one converter" i recommend is Avanti, i use avidemux from time to time but dont like it, nothing wrong with it just personall "taste".

try minicoder its straightforward, if you encounter problems people will try to help you.

[Seeker47]

usually, on a DVD9, you can burn 8140Mb of data...

The other day, I did one with quite a bit more than that. It wasn't H264, just a regular VIDEO_TS - VOB structure. ImgBurn said it took up 99% of the DVD-9. Not a whole lot of choice with a movie 2:29 in length, unless I wanted to shrink it down, and I didn't. Resulting disc seems to play fine on the Oppo.

[stanfield]

I believe on a DVD+9 Disc, you can burn 8152 Mb of data exactly (not sure though)
I'm always giving myself some more space "just in case"...

[stanfield]

One more thing I don't understand, I used Avidemux to give it a try, I chose 1 pass with a specific bitrate of 6600kbps. At the end of it, when I use mediainfo, the bitrate is 6395kbps. What the hell is going on ?
Encoding a movie is really not an easy task, far from it...

[Seeker47]

I believe on a DVD+9 Disc, you can burn 8152 Mb of data exactly (not sure though)
I'm always giving myself some more space "just in case"...

In the example cited above, it was more like 8365 or so. I could go back and check . . . .
(What reports the size of stuff written to disc accurately ?)

[jagabo]

Windows explorer reports the exact number of bytes. That will leave no confusion about whether K means 1000 or 1024.



For examining the average bitrate of files, Bitrate Viewer is probably most accurate.

[stanfield]

By the way, in all the encoding softwares, what's the basis : 1kb = 1000 byte or 1024 byte ? I can't find a straight answer...