Saving space with MKV H.264 files

[Ahari]

On the original video, overall bit rate is 3400Kbps, bitrate is 2947 and nominal bit rate is 7500. Which is the one to look at?

[Selur]

then reload the global settings - autocrop is definitely on.

DOH, you are right, I looked at the wrong ye<>value pair
<HybridData value="true" name="autoCropSource"/>
-> which probably means input= output resolution since the input has not black bars to crop.

The subtitle does not appear in the subtitle queue.

Do the following:
1. Start Hybrid
2. load your profile
3. enable debug output (delete old debugoutput file in output folder if there is one)
4. load your source
5. post the debug output

Cu Selur

[Ahari]

DOH, you are right, I looked at the wrong ye<>value pair
<HybridData value="true" name="autoCropSource"/>
-> which probably means input= output resolution since the input has not black bars to crop.

The original did have black bars, but the autocrop removed them, so I resized the video to 720 x 576. This is perfectly what I want as my son always says "Make the black lines go away Daddy!" Maybe the resizing is also increasing my resultant video size a bit.

Here is the latest debug file.

You didn't say to run the queue - so I didn't. Hope that is right.

I am sticking to the same file for now to ensure consistency in the results even though it is not the best file for the test - if that is okay.

[Ahari]

Is the autocrop something that has to be on all the time?

If so, why is that?

I would probably want it most of the time anyway, but some movies are better with the black bars. I suppose for those I would just not resize as well?

[Ahari]

I found another file with 3 audio tracks and 4 subtitles - also animated and also ripped from the original DVD with Make MKV (A Christmas Caper from The Madagascar Penguins series).

I loaded my global settings, added the file, added it to the queue and ran the queue. Hybrid crashed after about a minute! Tried it a few times with the same result - it seemed to crash when encoding the second or third audio track.

I have attached the debug file.

[Selur]

No, autocrop has not to be on all the time, but normally normally you want the player to add black borders during playback and not have them fixed in the video (just a waste of bitrate) or you at least want to make sure the balck borders are really black, which can be archived by cropping and using letterbox.

---

will look at the debug files,..

[Ahari]

Thank you again for your help.

I would love to iron out these issues and get going with my transcoding. I have learnt so much with your program and your valuable help.

I hope anyone reading or following this is also learning as much as I am!

Btw: I tried with another video with only 2 audio tracks and 2 subtitle tracks and Hybrid crashed again while processing the second audio track.

[Selur]

about the crash, just ot make sure:
You did copy all the files fhgaacenc need into the Hybrid folder and not just fhgaacenc and libsndfile-1.dll, right?
(this is also possible but would require WinAmp to be installed)
namely:
libsndfile-1.dll
enc_fhgaac.dll
libmp4v2.dll
nsutil.dll

---

I also found the cause of the problem with the subtitles,.. AutoCrop&Automation->Subtitles interfere,.. -> I'm looking into it.

[Ahari]

Yes, I did.

At first, I did make that mistake, but Hybrid didn't like it at all, so I downloaded Winamp and installed it just to get those extra files. They are all in the Hybrid folder and have been there since this morning.

Good news that you are onto the subtitles problem!

You really are good! I'm not used to dealing with someone who is clearly passionate about his software and so willing to help!

[Selur]

Please try the following:
1. Start->All Programs->Accessories->Terminal
2. call:

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -y -i "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\Madagascar (2005).DVD [Extra - Short - The Madagascar Penguins - A Christmas Caper] - 3 audio - 4 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_2__23_41_01_261_07.ac3" -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - |  "C:\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe" --ignorelength --vbr 5 - "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\Madagascar (2005).DVD [Extra - Short - The Madagascar Penguins - A Christmas Caper] - 3 audio - 4 subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_2__23_41_01_261_08.aac"

3. post the output

side node:
To copy the stuff from a terminal window:
1st right-click on the window and select 'Select All'
2nd Press your right mouse (now content is copied)
3rd go to where you want to paste the content and press: Ctrl + V

---
btw. I think I fixed the subtitle problem locally,..

Cu Selur

Ps.: btw. -vbr 5 normally really is 'overkill' (especially if your source if mp3 with a bitrate below 320kBit/s)

[Ahari]

ffmpeg crashed. I got a windows error box telling me.

Here is the output from the command prompt:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -y -i "C:\Users\Al
an\AppData\Local\Temp\Madagascar (2005).DVD [Extra - Short - The Madagascar Peng
uins - A Christmas Caper] - 3 audio - 4 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_2__23_41
_01_261_07.ac3" -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - |  "C:\Program Files\Hybrid\fhg
aacenc.exe" --ignorelength --vbr 5 - "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\Madagasca
r (2005).DVD [Extra - Short - The Madagascar Penguins - A Christmas Caper] - 3 a
udio - 4 subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_2__23_41_01_261_08.aac"
ffmpeg version N-40301-gc1fe2db Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
  built on May  3 2012 11:44:06 with gcc 4.6.3
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-ru
ntime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass
 --enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libope
njpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libth
eora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --e
nable-zlib
  libavutil      51. 49.100 / 51. 49.100
  libavcodec     54. 17.101 / 54. 17.101
  libavformat    54.  3.100 / 54.  3.100
  libavdevice    53.  4.100 / 53.  4.100
  libavfilter     2. 72.104 /  2. 72.104
  libswscale      2.  1.100 /  2.  1.100
  libswresample   0. 11.100 /  0. 11.100
  libpostproc    52.  0.100 / 52.  0.100
[ac3 @ 0000000001daa690] max_analyze_duration 5000000 reached at 5024000
[ac3 @ 0000000001daa690] Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurat
e
Input #0, ac3, from 'C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\Madagascar (2005).DVD [Ext
ra - Short - The Madagascar Penguins - A Christmas Caper] - 3 audio - 4 subs-Hyb
rid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_2__23_41_01_261_07.ac3':
  Duration: 00:11:40.96, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 192 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
Output #0, wav, to 'pipe:':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf54.3.100
    Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
, 1536 kb/s
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (ac3 -> pcm_s16le)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help


C:\Users\Alan>

btw. I think I fixed the subtitle problem locally,..

Yayy! Will give it a try.

Ps.: btw. -vbr 5 normally really is 'overkill' (especially if your source if mp3 with a bitrate below 320kBit/s)

I have no idea what vbr 5 means or stands for. Where do I find out? Will change it to 4 anyway.

[Ahari]

I just gave the new Hybrid version a go. Well done - the subtitles now work!

I will test it with some other files with more subtitle tracks later.

Tiny problem - The program leaves the .idx and .sub files behind in the video source folder. Just needs a clean up to be sorted out or to use the program's temp folder for the processing.

[Selur]

Tiny problem - The program leaves the .idx and .sub files behind in the video source folder. Just needs a clean up to be sorted out or to use the program's temp folder for the processing.

You need to activate Subtitle->Import->Delete subtitle after mxuing if you want them to be deleted.

I have no idea what vbr 5 means or stands for. Where do I find out? Will change it to 4 anyway.

the levels 1-5 describe how high the bit rate is allowed to go during encoding

[Ahari]

Bad news regarding the subtitles fix. I just tried another file with one audio track and 5 subtitle tracks and the latest version of Hybrid did not pick up the subtitles at all.

I then added the video to the queue and ran the queue. Hybrid crashed saying there was no audio. I have attached the debug file for reference.

[Selur]

a general thing: try if it works if you use shorter file names.

The Chronicles of Narnia _ 03 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).DVD [Extra - Outtakes1] - 1 audio - 5 subs.mkv

seems a bit long,..

With this source it seems like the input was not detected properly,.. strange,.. can't say more.
Will send you a link to a new version which will on such occasions ignore the job,..
+ seems like no video was detected in the input source, so subtitles will be ignored,..

To see problems with subtitles, the debugoutput needs to be enabled before loading the source,..

[Ahari]

I loaded the new version you PM'd me. I shortened the file name and Hybrid crashed again.

Here is the debug file.

To see problems with subtitles, the debugoutput needs to be enabled before loading the source,..

I have it permanently enabled for now. Maybe I didn't delete it first. I will try to be more careful in future - sorry.

[Selur]

Seems like for some reason ffmpeg crashes when decoding the extracted audio stream, try if it helps to enable: Audio->Misc->handling->Fix input with delay cut. (remember delete old debug files, because Hybrid will always append and not overwrite debug files)

[Ahari]

Crashed again!

[Selur]

I'm looking into it,..

[Ahari]

Thanks.

FYI: I just tried shortening the file name further to CONtest1a5s.mkv. Still crashed!

[Ahari]

FYI: I tried with another file (just in case it was the file) that had 3 audio tracks and 4 subs. It seemed to recognise them all (audio and Subs) then crashed while processing the audio again.

[Selur]

please call the following calls in a terminal
1.

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\mkvextract.exe" tracks "F:\My Videos\Mede8er\Working\Hybrid\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs.mkv" 1:"C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_01.ac3"

2.

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\delaycut.exe" -fixcrc fix -o "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -i "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_01.ac3"

3.

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -y -i "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - | "C:\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe" --ignorelength --vbr 4 - "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_05.aac"

also try:
4.

"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -v -10 -y -i  "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1  audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -ac 2  -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - | "C:\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe"  --ignorelength --vbr 4 - "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The  Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5  subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_05.aac"

Cu Selur

[Ahari]

Results of 1.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\mkvextract.exe" tracks "F:\My Videos\Mede
8er\Working\Hybrid\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs.mkv" 1:"C:\U
sers\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hy
brid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_01.ac3"
Extracting track 1 with the CodecID 'A_AC3' to the file 'C:\Users\Alan\AppData\L
ocal\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_en
g_aid_0__10_47_49_701_01.ac3'. Container format: Dolby Digital (AC3)
Progress: 100%

C:\Users\Alan>

Results of 2.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\delaycut.exe" -fixcrc fix -o "C:\Users\Al
an\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DE
LAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -i "C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\T
he Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10
_47_49_701_01.ac3"

C:\Users\Alan>

Results of 3.

Windows said "ffmpeg has crashed"

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -y -i "C:\Users\Al
an\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DE
LAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - | "C:
\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe" --ignorelength --vbr 4 - "C:\Users\Alan\App
Data\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_
0__10_47_49_701_05.aac"
ffmpeg version N-40301-gc1fe2db Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
  built on May  3 2012 11:44:06 with gcc 4.6.3
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-ru
ntime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass
 --enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libope
njpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libth
eora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --e
nable-zlib
  libavutil      51. 49.100 / 51. 49.100
  libavcodec     54. 17.101 / 54. 17.101
  libavformat    54.  3.100 / 54.  3.100
  libavdevice    53.  4.100 / 53.  4.100
  libavfilter     2. 72.104 /  2. 72.104
  libswscale      2.  1.100 /  2.  1.100
  libswresample   0. 11.100 /  0. 11.100
  libpostproc    52.  0.100 / 52.  0.100
[ac3 @ 00000000003ef540] max_analyze_duration 5000000 reached at 5024000
[ac3 @ 00000000003ef540] Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurat
e
Input #0, ac3, from 'C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia t
est - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3':
  Duration: 00:02:15.10, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 192 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
Output #0, wav, to 'pipe:':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf54.3.100
    Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
, 1536 kb/s
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (ac3 -> pcm_s16le)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help


C:\Users\Alan>

Is that what you needed?

[Selur]

yes, see above I added a fourth call,..

[Ahari]

Oops - I forgot to post results of 4.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -v -10 -y -i  "C:\
Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1  audio - 5 subs-
Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -ac 2  -acodec pcm_s16le -f w
av - | "C:\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe"  --ignorelength --vbr 4 - "C:\Use
rs\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The  Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5  subs-Hy
brid_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_05.aac"

C:\Users\Alan>

[Ahari]

yes, see above I added a fourth call,..

Just posted it.

[Selur]

Okay, so the "-v -10" is the problem,.. -> now I just need to find why it's not inserted in your call, but is inserted here,..

[Ahari]

Okay, so the "-v -10" is the problem,.. -> now I just need to find why it's not inserted in your call, but is inserted here,..

I have no idea what you are talking about! I'm a total newbie, but am doing my best to keep up. Will look it up. Glad you seem to be onto the cause of my headache!

[Selur]

The problem is the following:
call 3. causes a crash in ffmpeg, call 4. not and the only difference between these two calls is that the 2nd one contains: '-v -10' which disables all console output.

Simple solution would be to: just add '-v -10' to the call and it should work, problem with that is, that fhgaacenc does not output any progress indication. And to have a progress indication, ffmpegs console output is needed.
So using the simple solution, would kill the progress indication.

The strange thing is, on my machine leaving '-v -10' out of the call does not cause a crash in ffmpeg.

To check if the problem is not a corrupt ffmpeg on your machine do the following:
1. download http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/ -> FFmpeg git-c1fe2db 32-bit Static (Latest) (2012-05-03)
2. extract the ffmpeg.exe inside the bin folder of the download to your Hybrid folder
3. call 'call 3.' in a terminal
4. report if it crashes

1. download http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/ -> FFmpeg git-c1fe2db 64-bit Static (Latest) (2012-05-03)
2. extract the ffmpeg.exe inside the bin folder of the download to your Hybrid folder
3. call 'call 3.' in a terminal
4. report if it crashes

if it's just a corrupt ffmpeg version using one of these should fix the problem.

If both versions crash, I'll create a test version where the progress indication for fhgaacenc is disabled and the '-v -10' is still in the ffmpeg call to check if that really helps.


Cu Selur

[Ahari]

I got this one: http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win64/shared/ffmpeg-20120503-git-c1fe2db-win64-shared.7z
Did as you said and it crashed!

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Alan>"C:\Program Files\Hybrid\ffmpeg.exe" -threads 8 -y -i "C:\Users\Al
an\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DE
LAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3" -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f wav - | "C:
\Program Files\Hybrid\fhgaacenc.exe" --ignorelength --vbr 4 - "C:\Users\Alan\App
Data\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia test - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid_eng_aid_
0__10_47_49_701_05.aac"
ffmpeg version N-40301-gc1fe2db Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
  built on May  3 2012 11:44:06 with gcc 4.6.3
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-ru
ntime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass
 --enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libope
njpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libth
eora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --e
nable-zlib
  libavutil      51. 49.100 / 51. 49.100
  libavcodec     54. 17.101 / 54. 17.101
  libavformat    54.  3.100 / 54.  3.100
  libavdevice    53.  4.100 / 53.  4.100
  libavfilter     2. 72.104 /  2. 72.104
  libswscale      2.  1.100 /  2.  1.100
  libswresample   0. 11.100 /  0. 11.100
  libpostproc    52.  0.100 / 52.  0.100
[ac3 @ 0000000001f0f540] max_analyze_duration 5000000 reached at 5024000
[ac3 @ 0000000001f0f540] Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurat
e
Input #0, ac3, from 'C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Local\Temp\The Chronicles of Narnia t
est - 1 audio - 5 subs-Hybrid DELAY -33ms_eng_aid_0__10_47_49_701_02.ac3':
  Duration: 00:02:15.10, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 192 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
Output #0, wav, to 'pipe:':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf54.3.100
    Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
, 1536 kb/s
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (ac3 -> pcm_s16le)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help


C:\Users\Alan>