ffmpeg? problem on Windows 11

[nasruddin]

Brand new Windows 11 laptop with gpu, tried out handbrake with nvenc presets, failed.
This is the hardware
CPU: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1355U
Ram: 32479 MB,
GPU Information:
Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics - 31.0.101.4575
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Laptop GPU - 31.0.15.2896

This is a snippet from the logfile:

[08:11:24] Probing 1 unknown stream
[08:11:24] Probe: Found stream mpegvideo. stream id 0xe0-0x0
[08:11:24] sync: expecting 128083 video frames
[08:11:24] encavcodecInit: H.265 (Nvidia NVENC)
[08:11:24] encavcodec: encoding at rc=vbr, 27.00
[08:11:24] encavcodec: encoding with stored aspect 1/1
[hevc_nvenc @ 000002106de33c40] Driver does not support the required nvenc API version. Required: 12.1 Found: 12.0
[hevc_nvenc @ 000002106de33c40] The minimum required Nvidia driver for nvenc is (unknown) or newer
[08:11:24] encavcodecInit: avcodec_open failed
Failure to initialise thread 'FFMPEG encoder (libavcodec)'

(ie, no output) The typical handbrake (1.7.1) presets work fine

I think this is an ffmpeg problem, but of course am not sure, and if it is, I don't know how (or have the tools) to solve it directly.
I didn't install ffmpeg myself, but did install handbrake & audacity, & one or the other may have done the install. I don't see a binary but
audacity has a lib-ffmpeg-support.dll.

How to fix?

[Selur]

Driver does not support the required nvenc API version. Required: 12.1 Found: 12.0

=> updating the drivers seems to be the first thing to try

[nasruddin]

This helped. But it's not a clean update. Windows update shows the installed drivers as the most up to date (as they should be - it's a new laptop that's just been thru its startup windows update cycle). But this nvidia package dates to Feb 2023. nvidia has had multiple updates since then, including one on 12 Dec. Installing this update seems to have cured whatever problem ffmpeg had. Maybe voided my warranty too.

Shouldn't there be some way to tell Microsoft (or at least, the laptop vendor) that the driver package they install is nearly a year out of date?

[netmask56]

I have Windows 11 Professional and have installed Audacity which works as expected. I prefer Vidcoder to Handbrake although the same engine under the bonnet, it's working as well. I tend to install most apps under Administrator. I doubt if that would have anything to do with your problem. Installing legit updates to programs doesn't void warranty unless your warranty specifically says so because your unit is some sort of bespoke and unique model.

[Selur]

Maybe voided my warranty too.

Changing the drivers does not void a warranty.

Shouldn't there be some way to tell Microsoft (or at least, the laptop vendor) that the driver package they install is nearly a year out of date?

You can always contact the Windows support. But usually, the NVIDIA drivers installed through Windows lack functionality compared to the NVIDIA package.
The Windows drivers are mainly for video playback and display.

[colemarc]

Same issue on Windows 10, using Handbrake last version and even using ffmpeg version 6.1 command line (-c:v hevc_nvenc).
Updated the Nvidia driver to last version (528.02) but the problem persists.
Issue likely appeared after updating Handbrake and ffmpeg.

Both Handbrake and ffmpeg show this:

[hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a795080] Driver does not support the required nvenc API version. Required: 12.1 Found: 12.0
[hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a795080] The minimum required Nvidia driver for nvenc is (unknown) or newer
[vost#0:0/hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a794dc0] Error while opening encoder - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height.
Error while filtering: Function not implemented

[Selur]

Seems like your drivers are too old to support the new nvenc api, so you might need an older build of ffmpeg/handbrake which still use older nvenc.

Cu Selur

[october262]

Same issue on Windows 10, using Handbrake last version and even using ffmpeg version 6.1 command line (-c:v hevc_nvenc).
Updated the Nvidia driver to last version (528.02) but the problem persists.
Issue likely appeared after updating Handbrake and ffmpeg.

Both Handbrake and ffmpeg show this:

[hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a795080] Driver does not support the required nvenc API version. Required: 12.1 Found: 12.0
[hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a795080] The minimum required Nvidia driver for nvenc is (unknown) or newer
[vost#0:0/hevc_nvenc @ 0000027a1a794dc0] Error while opening encoder - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height.
Error while filtering: Function not implemented

try this, run sudo apt install libffmpeg-nvenc-dev
then run sudo apt purge ffmpeg
then run sudo apt install ffmpeg

more info here - https://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=157659

[Selur]

He's on Windows 10, the Linux Debian apt-calls won't help.

[october262]

He's on Windows 10, the Linux Debian apt-calls won't help.

wasn't sure on how to run that on windows 10, but i hope it's
a step in the right direction !!

[pcspeak]

He's on Windows 10, the Linux Debian apt-calls won't help.

The OP says Windows 11

[Selur]

true, colemarc was using Win10, but still trying to run Linux Debian stuff does not make sense on Windows.
Also what whose instructions to is update the nvenc connection in ffmpeg.
ffmpeg on Windows usually is statically linked = includes the nvenc connection.
=> like I wrote, switching to another ffmpeg version might help

[pcspeak]

@nasruddin
I'm not sure about the driver update you've done.
I would try this one. It's a 700MB download.
https://www.nvidia.com/content/DriverDownloads/confirmation.php?url=/Windows/472.12/47...&type=geforcem

Read the install options as it installs. Check the box to do a clean install.
I would only install any video and audio drivers and uncheck the rest.
Later run the install again if needed and leave whichever boxes checked.

Cheers.

[pcspeak]

A general FYI.

This is the latest CUDA download. It's 3.1GB.
cuda_12.3.2_546.12_windows.exe

Which is available here.
https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-downloads
You have to be a registered member (which I am) to get it.

I have this installed on my desktop computer, from the nVidia drivers site:
545.92-desktop-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch-whql.exe
It contains the NVIDIA CUDA driver v12.3.68

Cheers.

[pcspeak]

@nasruddin
nVidia Driver Page (no registration required)


Windows Driver Type

"DCH" refers to drivers developed according to Microsoft's DCH driver design principles;
DCH drivers are built with requisite Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support App elements. DCH drivers are installed on most new desktop and mobile workstation systems.
"Standard" refers to driver packages that predate the DCH driver design paradigm. Standard drivers are for those who have not yet transitioned to contemporary DCH drivers, or require these drivers to support older products.
DCH drivers can be installed over a system that presently has a Standard driver, and vice versa.
To confirm the type of driver that is presently installed on a system, locate Driver Type under the System Information menu in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

You'll find the DCH characters in the name of my nVidia installation exe. 545.92-desktop-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch-whql.exe

I pointed you to the Standard drivers. If the standard drivers work, great. If not, then download the DCH drivers.
The search for the 'Driver Type', as explained in the above quote, will give you good info.

A Windows update after the Standard install may/may not be beneficial, if Standard isn't working and before you bother to download the DCH driver package.

It all may seem a bit much, but I've not had nVidia give me any major problems. If in doubt do an uninstall of all nVidia software and reboot the computer. Microsoft will automatically install what it sees as the current/best drivers for your computer. Probably the drivers you have installed right now.

Hope this helps.
Cheers