Fitcd question - guide request

[DanW]

Quick question on Fitcd.
Im interested in learning how to use this tool, specifically with the avisynth scripts - but dont have a clue where to begin. The only thing Ive been able to accomplish in fitcd is loading the avi file and type in the number of discs I want - the values that are generated I have no clue what to do with. Does anybody know of any guides that would point me in the correct direction on how to use this tool?

I've done probably 20 movies now with tmpgenc = both cbr and vbr and would like to try out something new.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[mh2360]

I agree FitCD is a bit complicated to the new comer so maybe a guide might be useful...

[DanW]

Im not even really asking for a step by step guide ..if somebody could just show me some relevant links to some web pages / forums that might point me in the right direction I would be most apprecitative.

I've done searches but havent really been able to come up with anything.

[pet_head]

I agree, I've looked at FitCD a few times but I could never make heads or tails of it. Although I usually try not to fill up every bit on a disc, knowing how would be nice.

[fantomlord]

Although I usually try not to fill up every bit on a disc, knowing how would be nice.

why not? the space you don't fill is just wasted

I also agree with fitcd being a bit complicated!
a guide wouldn't be a bad thing.

[CryptKeeper]

I'm checking this program out as I just downloaded it

looks confusing

tho will try something with a video I've got
and see what the outcome is

at the bottom of the FitCD window

you can save script

it'll save it as a .avs

which can be loaded into TMPGenc
and then run from there

will make this test run and then give some info on what I've done with it

[CryptKeeper]

I've tested the trial run

Source Resolution: an SBC encoded Avi of 704x384
Resize Resolution 448x574
and it gave an Access violation in TMPGenc

so those resolutions don't work
--------------------------------------

brought it down to 448 x 478 as Resize resolution and it seems to be ok

running the encoding in TMPGenc and will wait to see what final file looks like

btw...I'm encoding to MPEG1 for testing

[DanW]

Whenever I try to load that script into tmpgenc I get an "illegal stream format" error. How do you get this to load correctly?

Thanks for the tips.

[CryptKeeper]

have done another trial run

and the final size isn't too nice
it's cropping out some of the image

[CryptKeeper]

this is one cookie that needs to be tweaked manually with each movie

no one setting is good for every movie

read the text file that comes with the program
FitCD.txt

it has some explanations on the settings
and it even states which ones not to use

tho with some trial and error the videos should be pretty nice

[CryptKeeper]

btw

I separated the movie into 3 parts
so that I can run the test much faster

BUT
and this is a BIG BUT
"no not the one I'm sitting on "

it's going to take over 6hrs to encode the 30min video to mpeg2 in TMPGenc using the FitCD avs

too long for My taste

[CryptKeeper]

since each video one wants to setup to frame serve
with the FitCD .avs
the settings will need to be changed according to each video

source = 592x304
resize = 448x510

to keep entire image

you can set the Resize resolution
save the script and then load the .AVS into TMPGenc
and see if it's right for you

if not change the resize resolution to a higher value
if the image is too small in height
and then save the script again
and reload into TMPGenc until you've got the desired resolution

if it gives an error such as this

Avisynth: caught an access violation at 0x?????????
attemtping to write to 0x?????????

then the resize resolution you set is too large

bring it down by 32 pixels and it should be ok
if it still gives that error once more
then resize it down another 16
if that error disappears and you get the first frame of your video
you're ready to encode


tho as I specified earlier, it takes quite a long time to encode

[DanW]

Is this script forcing it into a VBR 2 pass mode or something and thats whats taking so long??? I still havent gotten that avs script to load into tmpgenc and persist in getting the error messages I noted above.

I did manage to use the bit rate values generated in FITCD and entered them into the manual bit rate field in tmpgenc which did generate a file size that was nearly identical to that noted in Fitcd, but it seems like a lot of work for not much results, since I would rather use a 2 pass vbr and just give it a range and let tmpgenc decide what to do with the bitrates rather than enter than enter them manually myself.

Anyway..I'll keep playing with it and try and decipher all these frameserving guides, which dont really seem to apply to what im doing, which is convert .avi files I downloaded rather than ripping them from the dvd, which is what most of the frameserving guides seem to point torwards.

Question to Anybody Is framserving avi files to convert Divx to SVCD a more efficient method or is the best method to just stick with the tried and true vdub/tmpgenc/vcdeasy? I guess Im still pretty much clueless on this whole frameserving thing but I would love to give it a try just to see what its all about.

I have all the relevant software thats mentioned for frameserving..CCE, adobe 6 premiere, yada yada so if anybody could give me a clue which way would be more efficient and produce superior results i.e frameserving vs vdub/tmpgenc/vcdeasy I would appreciate some input.

[CryptKeeper]

can't tell if it's a 2 Pass VBR encode
but doesn't seem to be

and I haven't received that "illegal stream format" error at all

did you configure FitCD properly?

in the Avisynth section
you need to find the mpeg2dec.dll
that is to be used for frameserving

I selected the one I use with GKnot(Gordian Knot)

in Mpeg Resizing I selected the Source

mind if I send you a screen capture of how I setup FitCD
and from there I'll also tell you what I did

might be simpler

[DanW]

I didnt try that mpeg2dll. I'll give that a whirl real quick and get back to you.

[CryptKeeper]

cool
at the same time
check your private messages

[DanW]

Thanks crypt...I'll check that out. I tried to load the mpeg2dec.dll file in fitcd but im still getting errors in tmpgenc when i try to load it.

[CryptKeeper]

still getting that same exact error ?????

illegal stream format?

[Truman]

http://mitglied.lycos.de/fitcd/FitCD.txt

FitCD is a tool to calculate file size and frame size, no more no less.
Also it generates a sample Avisynth script.

An Avisynth script does not effect the encode mode. Some encoder behave srangly when you try to open a *.avs, e.g. TMPG, CCE. Check the Avisynth docs or an Avisynth frameserve guide.

I think the best way to explain a problem with Avisynth is to post your script. Also check the version with the VERSION command and if you use TemporalSmoother, that AFAIK FitCD is generating by default, you have to copy mpeg2dec.dll as well.

[DanW]

Thanks for the reply truman..I guess I was hoping that fitcd would automate the process somewhat but Im obviously wrong. I guess I'll give that frameserving guide a try and see what i can come up with.

[CryptKeeper]

thanks for the reply Truman

it saves a few more headaches

[Truman]

Unfortunately FitCD is not very popular, althought it is probably the most exact filesize and framesize calculator. I use it for all my calculations and I am very happy with it. Well, the readme.txt is quite straightforward. Some options refer to the cinemacraft encoder and bbMPEG.
At the moment I do not have the time to write that guide. Hopefully anyone else will do it. Otherwise you have to wait 2 or 3 weeks. Such a guide should contain some information about some very special options, e.g scene change detect, mux overhead, tv overscan, pixel aspect ratio, block / macroblock boundaries etc. etc.

[CryptKeeper]

cool
I'd wait for a few weeks

[DanW]

Same here..lol