StaxRip 1.1.2 beta

[stax76]

Before you post to this thread please ensure:

You have read and accepted the rules of this forum (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm)
You have read and accepted the Newbies announcement (http://forum.doom9.org/announcement.php?f=6)
You have used the Search this Thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=102652&nojs=1#goto_threadsearch) feature to ensure your topic isn't already covered
You've read Doom9's sticky on how to file a good bug report (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96137)
You don't use forum attachments but rather send diagnostic files per email using StaxRip's built-in 'Send Bug Report' feature which can be found in StaxRip's main menu under 'Help'

What is StaxRip?

With StaxRip you can easily convert your DVD's, DVB captures and many other formats into MPEG-4 with codecs like x264, XviD and DivX. As a open source application StaxRip is completely free.

What features are supported?


Open Source, Freeware
Easy to use
Versatile and customizable
Help system including, online help (assistant), context sensitive help, forum support
Rich cutting/trim facilities for tasks like removing ads
Job and batch processing

Where can I download StaxRip?

www.stax76.bplaced.net (http://www.stax76.bplaced.net)

Where do I start?

It's highly recommended to read some guides as video processing is a complicated task and requires a certain amount of knowledge.

English Guides

guide on how to use AviSynth filters in StaxRip (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=149832)
Video showing various StaxRip features (http://www.downloadtube.com/StaxRip-demo-installation-windows.html)
instructional videos by TBKHomeworld! (http://www.tbkhomeworld.com/staxrip)
screencast by ORION (http://www.thecrave.info/walkthroughs/Staxrip.Walkthrough/index.html)
video guide by ohotis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJidV-VBTY)
guide by Trac (http://forum.videohelp.com/topic333817.html)
guide by Trac (2) (http://forum.videohelp.com/topic332724.html) guide on bestdvdexpert.com (http://www.bestdvdexpert.com/dedecms/html/article/2006/0618/24.html)
guide by Alex Mejia (http://alex.nigma.info/2006/how-to-convert-your-movies-into-streamable-mpeg-4s)
guide by DVDGuy (http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/x264_options_page1.html) guide by DVDGuy (2) (http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/staxrip_h264_page1.html)
guide by ajp (http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=63261) guide on avisynth.org (http://avisynth.org/StaxRipDVDGuide)

German Guides
guide encoding TV series by smizz (http://board.serienjunkies.org/showthread.php?t=12465)
guides by Brother John (http://encodingwissen.brother-john.net)

Italian Guides


Russian Guides

russian guide by LRN (http://newage.gcnet.ru/index.php?showtopic=14526)

[unskinnyboy]

Thanks, been waiting for this. Will check it out. :)

[Sirber]

DVD rip? I'm a noob :D

[stax76]

Thanks, been waiting for this. Will check it out. :)

hope it was worthwhile :)

DVD rip? I'm a noob

me too ;)

[Sirber]

I ment, what is the ultimate goal of your ultimate encoding tool? ;)

[guada 2]

Hello stax,

I have a small problem of "working".
Apparently your program doesn't function. in spite of NET... 2.0

Would it come from my pc?
Can you confirm it please?

[Randall]

hey neat front end, I'll take a look. I love gordian knot but I wish that they would support mp4 as a container.

[stax76]

I ment, what is the ultimate goal of your ultimate encoding tool? ;)

Fit all my encoding needs and all the needs of users with a similar sense of software and encoding. Currently it might not be ideal for a super n00b or super geek but I'm working on it. What is your goal with RealAnime? :)

I have a small problem of "working".
Apparently your program doesn't function. in spite of NET... 2.0

Would it come from my pc?
Can you confirm it please?

Do you know what PC it is, that is hardware and software. I was hoping it would run on all 32 bit Windows 2000 or XP machines with .NET 2.0.

hey neat front end, I'll take a look. I love gordian knot but I wish that they would support mp4 as a container.

StaxRip supports MP4 as well as an extendible framework to easily add new codecs and containers. MP4 however is really in an alpha state, I'm hoping to get much feedback about new features such as mp4 and x264.

[bratao]

very good, i see this program to the only alternative for newbies in the world !

work good, but I can´t input Avi with this program..
And the Preferences windows are too bugged..
If i have time i will read your code

Keep up the good work..

[stax76]

work good, but I can´t input Avi with this program..

Under filters in the main dialog right-click to show the context menu and select AVISource, do this before you open your source file. What kind of AVI file is it?

And the Preferences windows are too bugged..
If i have time i will read your code

What exactly doesn't work? I hope you don't mean my neat settings TreeView. :)

[bratao]

Stax, yeah i discovery later...

im saying this
http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/1953/imagem9pe.th.jpg (http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imagem9pe.jpg)

Win 2003, with .net 2.0 Final here

[bratao]

Man, can you tell me where is the code that when you open Mpg files its go to ProjectX and after to Dg ???

I´m playing with your code, because i want to do a similar thing to Avi, demux their audio, or simply do it direct in besweet

[Sirber]

What is your goal with RealAnime? :)Batch encode anime content with the latest technology unavalible. :rolleyes:

[stax76]

@bratao

That screenshot looks scary, it's related to my custom control that draws a tab page like gradient background on themed systems. Fortunately it's reproducable on my XP system so there will be fix shortly. The label background is transparent regardless if themes are enabled and for some reason that screws it.

Regarding the code iirc it's a virtual class called Preparer with CommandLinePreparer currently being the only implementation. Maybe you can make sort of a batch file and add that to the preparers in the options. If you tell me what kind of AVI it is, from where you got it or send me a short clip maybe I can add a preparer to the default settings to handle your file.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.4 (2005-11-12)

fix: fixed screwed dialog drawing on systems with no theme

[bratao]

stax,

Can you update the source ??
Im planing some features, like Auto-open demux and open Avi..

cheer..

[bratao]

There my early version..
Change log:
-Added Avi2wav in the program
-Better Avi handle
-Automatic Avi demux(separate audio and video)
-Better audio selection, only one track, and that we have demuxed <- This really need a good improve, checkout later..

In my mental stage its a produtive hour.., i complety off my body, even this BAsic code scream my mind.. Tomorrow i will be better

Binary (http://paginas.terra.com.br/informatica/bbruno/StaxRip bratao edition.rar)
Source (http://paginas.terra.com.br/informatica/bbruno/StaxRip Bratao Source.rar)
P.S:This version already correct the paint error on non themed systems

[unskinnyboy]

Why don't you two guys discuss and work together? Rather than releasing separate versions? This is duplication of work and also confusing for the users.

[FSB-SPY]

Would be nice: No Java requirement.
Would be nicer: No .NET 2.0 requirement. At the least, people should start doing what nuhi over at nliteos.com did with nLite; packing a tiny (compared to the install size of .NET 2.0 (over 140mbs) archive with the required library files so the program works without installing .NET onto your system.

Also, a progress bar of sometype (with an ETA too, perhaps?) would be most appreciated! :)

Edit: Took out the original feature request... was already implemented. Oops!

[stax76]

Why don't you two guys discuss and work together? Rather than releasing separate versions? This is duplication of work and also confusing for the users.

I'm working on this code since 4 years, at some point I might have to consider making it a real open source project working with svn. Two days after the release it is to early too plan such a big step.

There would also be the possibility to add a plugin system but doing this right takes much expertise and effort. DVX had such a system but it was very poorly designed. Additionally to a complex plugin system I would have to write a lot wrapper code for all things that should be pluggable (e.g. adaper pattern because of serialization). There is other problems besides complexity (which already scares me a lot) e.g. such systems are build with a techique called reflection and often additionally xml which are both core concepts in .NET but both add a performance ovehead.

Would be nice: No Java requirement.

I knew it was coming ;), Java is asked for if ProjectX is needed which is a the default value of the default project. You can customize the default project (Options/Preparer, File/Save Default Project). I have to change this because I know how scary Java and .NET can be.

Would be nicer: No .NET 2.0 requirement. At the least, people should start doing what nuhi over at nliteos.com did with nLite; packing a tiny (compared to the install size of .NET 2.0 (over 140mbs) archive with the required library files so the program works without installing .NET onto your system.

Did you try VB .NET Express 2005, for me VB .NET is the only reasonable tool and I've seen and worked with quite a few. Get it here (http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/default.aspx), it's free!

@bratao

Download doesn't work, I've noticed the path contains blanks which might be the reason.

[easyfab]

Hello stax Thanks for your tool,

Could you tell me how to set 2 pass x264?
Because in options I select "perform first pass" and " perform second pass"
But what should i do in configuration? If i select mode 1 pass -> only 2x stats
And if i select 2 pass -> it did'nt work ( no stats generated).

On other request : could it be possible to resize more than 720 * XXX (source size).

[stax76]

Could you tell me how to set 2 pass x264?


The default setings should just do 2 pass, x264 support is poorly tested though.


But what should i do in configuration? If i select mode 1 pass -> only 2x stats
And if i select 2 pass -> it did'nt work ( no stats generated).


Did you understand the concept this dialog is based on? The "intermediate" thing described in the help. I hope it's not flawed, so far I don't have any feedback about it.

On other request : could it be possible to resize more than 720 * XXX (source size).

Entering manually should work, I have to find a solution for the slider, what range would be needed?

[FFWD]

Stax, I wasn't able to get your e-mail, so I'm posting it here.

On your site : "StaxRip requires the .NET Framework Version 2.0 to be installed. There aren't any stable versions yet. You can test however unstable prerelease alpha versions."

The NET Framework version 2.0 redistributable packages are stable/final :
http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx

BTW : I get a PageNotFound when I click on 'StaxRip /' (right frame)
http://www.planetdvb.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=StaxRip

[bond]

StaxRip supports MP4 as well as an extendible framework to easily add new codecs and containers. MP4 however is really in an alpha state, I'm hoping to get much feedback about new features such as mp4 and x264.how does staxrip handle .mp4? via mp4box or?

[stax76]

On your site : "StaxRip requires the .NET Framework Version 2.0 to be installed. There aren't any stable versions yet. You can test however unstable prerelease alpha versions."

It meant StaxRip, I've changed the text, thanks.


BTW : I get a PageNotFound when I click on 'StaxRip /' (right frame)
http://www.planetdvb.net/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=StaxRip

Thanks, I've should have used this as main page, still can do so and redirect the old page. Normally I would go for Dreamweaver and Fireworks doing a website but I'm not good in webdesign and wiki is a handy solution, I hope nobody abuse it otherwise I've to add some security.

how does staxrip handle .mp4? via mp4box or?

Yes, currently I got a very basic MP4Box muxer, additionally the command line muxer might be useful. I've build a framework to make it easy adding more encoding and muxing backends.

[bond]

Yes, currently I got a very basic MP4Box muxer, additionally the command line muxer might be useful. I've build a framework to make it easy adding more encoding and muxing backends.what does "a very basic mp4box muxer" mean? do you use the tool with the name "mp4box" from the gpac project?

[stax76]

what does "a very basic mp4box muxer" mean? do you use the tool with the name "mp4box" from the gpac project?

iirc I got it from here: http://www.aziendeassociate.it/cd.asp?dir=/gpac/dev

Is there a better website, version? I'm still using XviD and MKV so sorry if I'm not up to date. I hope getting a lot feedback on x264 and MP4 so I can improve those features.

[bond]

iirc I got it from here: http://www.aziendeassociate.it/cd.asp?dir=/gpac/dev

Is there a better website, version? I'm still using XviD and MKV so sorry if I'm not up to date. I hope getting a lot feedback on x264 and MP4 so I can improve those features.nope, its normally the latest compile

i will try to have a look at staxrip ;)

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.5 (2005-11-14)

fix: Command Line Encoder was always using x264 as command



@bratao

I've changed my release script to include source as well meaning from now on source code and binaries come always in sync as it supposed to be.

Can you please, explain me what is wrong with the audio handling and how you use avi2wav, it wraps audio always in riff wav, do you demux only real wav, if not, how is audio processed further. Another problem is it outputs multible audio files for multibles source files, which should be tricky with simple command line preparers, a command line preparer would have to use sort of scripting or a dedicated preparer must be derived.

[FSB-SPY]

stax, is there a way to enable the "turbo" mode that Sharktooth uses in his HQ-Insane profile for MeGUI? I've successfully used the latest revision of his x264 builds, with your program. I went with the command line option and simply dropped in the switches produced by Sharktooth's HQ-Insane profile within MeGUI. Here is the code I am using in StaxRip for reference:


--bitrate %video_bitrate% --ref 16 --mixed-refs --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --filter -2,-1 --subme 7 --b-rdo --weightb --trellis 2 --analyse all --8x8dct --me umh --progress --no-psnr --output "%encoder_out_file%" "%source_dir%%target_name%.avs"


Ticking and un-ticking the turbo option in MeGUI yielded no additional switches, so I am guessing it's a hardcoded function that's being used within MeGUI itself?

The difference in the frames per second of encoding is quite huge: went down from 10 frames, to 2. Hence my reason for requesting this, hopefully painless, addition to your work-in-progress.

P.S. Off topic, but just in case if you needed it; I also am using a custom profile for AAC encoding. I went with the streaming profile and here is the code for that:


-core( -input "%input%" -output "%output%" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -bsn( -2ch -vbr_streaming -codecquality_fast -aacprofile_he ) -ota( -d 17 -g max )

Note: The delay on the end is something I have to manually alter with each encode, but right now it's not a big deal... still just testing!

[stax76]

Ticking and un-ticking the turbo option in MeGUI yielded no additional switches, so I am guessing it's a hardcoded function that's being used within MeGUI itself?


No, you were in automated mode, you didn't see changes in the command line because you saw the second pass command line, switch to another mode and you'll see what switches turbo removes. StaxRip don't need this since it has the "All Passes" mode what is a fundamentally different concept, I hope it wasn't a bad idea, so far there is no feedback about this feature, how it works is described in the help. The big question is how popular is turbo because if it's popular I should change my default values.


Note: The delay on the end is something I have to manually alter with each encode, but right now it's not a big deal... still just testing!


Next version will have a delay macro.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.6 (2005-11-15)

new: Mixed references for the x264 encoder
fix: Added audio delay macro to command line audio encoder and reseted all audio related settings

[bratao]

@bratao

I've changed my release script to include source as well meaning from now on source code and binaries come always in sync as it supposed to be.

Can you please, explain me what is wrong with the audio handling and how you use avi2wav, it wraps audio always in riff wav, do you demux only real wav, if not, how is audio processed further. Another problem is it outputs multible audio files for multibles source files, which should be tricky with simple command line preparers, a command line preparer would have to use sort of scripting or a dedicated preparer must be derived.
Sorry, i dont get the question..
but, i say what i get
1- The audio handle, for example i open a video for encodin,but i have many files in same folder (mp3, wav), so the staxrip for me always open 2 complety different audio files for the video.
I change the code for a more smart and anti-newbie way, it only open one file and the extention that we create(for the Mpg files it open mpa and for avi it open wav)

2-(i dont undertstand this question)- The beseet cant open the direct the avi sound, the avi2wav(use the comand line:avi2wavcmd inputfile.avi outfile.wav) demux the raw sound to a format that besweet can read and encode.
This its added in the preparation code, if extention is AVi its run.

And this is the changes:
In Mainform.vb

For Each iExt As String In New String() {".mp3", ".ac3", ".mp2", ".mpa", ".wav"}

to

For Each iExt As String In New String() {".mpa", ".wav"}

And commented the If p.Audio1.File

In ApplicationSettings.vb
src.Fiters.Add(New AviSynthFilter("Source", "AVISource", "AVISource(%source_files_comma%,audio=false)", "Opens AVI files.", True))
to
src.Fiters.Add(New AviSynthFilter("Source", "DirectShow", "DirectShowSource(""%source_file%"")", "Opens All files, that DirectShow can handle.", True))



In Package.vb
Public Class Avi2WavPackage
Inherits Package

Public Sub New()
Name = "AviToWav"
Filename = "avi2wavcmd.exe"
Version = "1.0"
Website = "http://agrgic.tripod.com/avi2wav/"
Description = "Used to separe the sound from avi"
DownloadFilename = "avi2wavcmd.exe"
VersionDate = New DateTime(2005, 10, 1)
TreeFolder = "Video Processing"
End Sub

Public Overrides Function IsRequired() As Boolean
For Each i As Preparer In p.Preparers
If i.Name.Contains("Avi2wav") Then
Return True
End If
Next

Return False
End Function
End Class

in Preparer.vb


Dim avi2wav As New CommanLinePreparer
avi2wav.Name = "Avi2wav"
avi2wav.Input = New List(Of String)(New String() {"avi"})
avi2wav.VideoOutput = New List(Of String)(New String() {"avi"})
avi2wav.AudioOutput = New List(Of String)(New String() {"wav"})
avi2wav.File = "%application:AviToWav%"
avi2wav.Arguments = "%source_files_blank% %source_dir%%source_name%.wav"
ret.Add(avi2wav)


In Stax rip types.vb

Public Shared Avi2Wav As New Avi2WavPackage 'Bruno
.......
AddPackage(Avi2Wav)

Im putting in my tree ,"Templates" to x264 configuration (Fast, normal, best and insane)

[juskixxx]

So far best tool for SD/HD video conversion to xvid/x264 /w mp4 output support.

Great job guys....Thanks alot!

Bratao...yes (sourcename.(mpa/wav/mp2)) autoselect for audio would be nice :)

And if stax or you could add bits per pixel calculation box like in GK....would be helpful

Yet another request....resize slider for HR encoding ain't enough....1280x*, 960x* is enough....i use 960x544 for 1080p material....

Keep working....and thanks again!

[FSB-SPY]

Is anyone else having audio sync issues?

I am simply using one of the audio profiles within the program (HE-AAC 80 KBit/s), and using crop, deinterlace, IVTC, and finally a bicubic resize filters on the actual video. Since I'm doing an IVTC, I am getting the wanted 23.98fps for my video. However, I noticed that once MP4Box is ran, it was importing the stream at 25.00fps?

Is this the reason for the audio problem?

Here is the info from the log file on the muxing:

---------- Muxing ----------

Multiplexer: MP4 - MP4Box
Multiplexer Type: MP4Box Multiplexer
Video Source: E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264
Audio Source 1: E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1 T01 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 17ms_AudioOutput.mp4
Target File: E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1.mp4
Arguments: -nodrop -add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264#video" -add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1 T01 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 17ms_AudioOutput.mp4" -new "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1.mp4"


I am attaching a picture because the portion in question gets omitted from the log file.

On an un-related note, is my filter combination correct in terms of getting the best quality? I do not know the correct order and figured that this is why my video isn't looking so hot either. My current order as I said was: MPEG2Source, Crop, FieldDeinterlace, Telecine/Decimate, and Resize(Bicubic). Or maybe the order does not matter and it's all about resolution and bitrate?

Thanks! :)

[stax76]

@bratao

Thanks, I'll see what can be integrated.

And if stax or you could add bits per pixel calculation box like in GK....would be helpful

I hardly can put this in the main dialog because too many stuff in there is scary for the average user, plus there is not enough room. Maybe another solution can be found.

Yet another request....resize slider for HR encoding ain't enough....1280x*, 960x* is enough....i use 960x544 for 1080p material....

Thanks, got to work on it.

However, I noticed that once MP4Box is ran, it was importing the stream at 25.00fps?

I'm in a PAL country, maybe proper framerate has to be passed to MP4Box, I'll have to work on MP4Box support as well, there were also some feature requests.

[JoeBG]

I'm in a PAL country, maybe proper framerate has to be passed to MP4Box, I'll have to work on MP4Box support as well, there were also some feature requests.

-add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264:rate=23.98

would be the command. without "rate" mp4box imports with 25 as a standart.

@ Stax

Yes, there are some feature requests:
- name
- lang
would be most important - thank you :)

[FSB-SPY]

-add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264:rate=23.98

would be the command. without "rate" mp4box imports with 25 as a standart.

@ Stax

Yes, there are some feature requests:
- name
- lang
would be most important - thank you :)

Got it. At first I didn't realize why, but then I did mp4box -h import. The command was "FPS", not "RATE." ;)

Thank you!


-add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264:FPS=23.98

[JoeBG]

Got it. At first I didn't realize why, but then I did mp4box -h import. The command was "FPS", not "RATE." ;)

Thank you!


-add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264:FPS=23.98


rate was mp4creator, sometimes it´s confusing ;)

[FSB-SPY]

It was still a bit off, and from the looks of things, I am guessing it's due to the half-second default setting of the "interleaving" command? I could not get it to work, however. Did not know where to add the command "-inter 0" to.

[bond]

It was still a bit off, and from the looks of things, I am guessing it's due to the half-second default setting of the "interleaving" command? I could not get it to work, however. Did not know where to add the command "-inter 0" to.interleaving is there for a reason, dont turn it off

what do you mean with "it was still a bit off"?

[FSB-SPY]

The sync was off.

[JoeBG]

-add "E:\Work\Rip\VTS_03_1_EncoderOutput.264:rate=23.98

would be the command. without "rate" mp4box imports with 25 as a standart.

@ Stax

Yes, there are some feature requests:
- name
- lang
would be most important - thank you :)

For testing use this mp4box (http://kurtnoise.free.fr/mp4tools/MP4Box_20051108.zip)

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.7 (2005-11-24)

new: The minimal and maximal value of the resolution resize slider in the main dialog can be customized in the settings. The default value is 720, for HDTV a value up to 1920 is possible.
new: Setup wizard like dialog allowing to config basic default project options. The dialog pops up on the very first startup and when the default project is reseted.
new: AVI2WAV which extracts any audio format to a pseudo wav file (original format e.g. MP3 but with riff wav header and wav file extension. BeSweet supports such files. AVI2WAV is also available with the download feature.
new: DirectShowSource AviSynth filter.
new: trellis and me for x264.
new: Added to x264 options if and how the target file size should be adjusted after the compressibility check.
new: MP4Box from 2005-11-08.
fix: Source code didn't compile out of the box because the Stax library wasn't included.
change: <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Auto detection of audio files is now restricted in that audio files must begin with the file name of the video source file.</span>
change: AviSynth 2.5.6a is now required and available with the download feature.
change: Theming code had to be changed which I could not test if it works under Windows 2000.
change: Many critical internal changes to the complex x264 dialog were done and only few test were made.



Regarding MP4, some complete command line examples would be very helpful.

[bratao]

Thank you Stax, for puting the avi stuff..
I´m doing now some Dvd features and anti-newbie x264 configuration(Fastest ,fast ,normal, good, best and Insane)

[bratao]

Stax,
About the mp4box , it auto make a 25fps if you not tell.
In Muxer.vb

cl.Append(" -fps""" + p.SourceFramerate.ToString)

Would fix that

[yaz]

i'd love to taste this beauty but ... i'm quite unwilling to install sp2 just for that. is there any other way to install net2 final onto winxp wout letting that beast free. (my latest 2 beta is refused by SR)

thx
y

[JoeBG]

new version available:
Regarding MP4, some complete command line examples would be very helpful.

Here my normal batchfile for all my movies

[stax76]

I´m doing now some Dvd features

what features would that be, I was thinking doing some DVD related stuff as well including mkv with vobsub support

i'd love to taste this beauty but ... i'm quite unwilling to install sp2 just for that. is there any other way to install net2 final onto winxp wout letting that beast free. (my latest 2 beta is refused by SR)

probably it will ask for SP2 as well. Generally I think it's not a bad idea to install it. I hope it don't cause trouble on your system. Some time ago SP2 caused arbitrary crashes on my system but meanwhile my system is totally different and the problems are all gone.

Here my normal batchfile for all my movies

thanks, support for this is coming probably rather sooner than late.

[bond]

Regarding MP4, some complete command line examples would be very helpful.what do you want to do?

[stax76]

what do you want to do?

I would like to add all MP4 features that are popular. I hardly have enough time to add super geek features because then x264/MP4 would already be a full time job and no time would be left for anything else. I don't like adding subtitles support if it requires ocr but if it's popular I would even add that. I wish there was tools to mux vobsub subtitles because then I might not have to add mkv support. I like mkv and I like adding useful features but hardly have time to add and maintain 1000 features in particular if the features try to achieve similar things. I rather try to do one thing right than doing 100 different half baked things. Can vobsub muxing tools be expected in the near future for MP4?

[JoeBG]

I would like to add all MP4 features that are popular.
That´s easy to answer, popular is wahat is shown in the players:
1) language of the stream: -lang or :lang (example: "English")
2) Name of the stream: -name or :name (example: "Forced")
3) Picture Aspect Ratio: -par or:par (you can do par with x264 or mp4box -> I prefer mp4box)


Can vobsub muxing tools be expected in the near future for MP4?
Jean is working on this. But it seems to be that it is not so easy. But I think he will make it.

[stax76]

Thanks, I'll work on the muxing stuff then next, expect it in 1-2 days. ;)

[JoeBG]

Thanks, I'll work on the muxing stuff then next, expect it in 1-2 days. ;)

Would be a highlight in our day :)

[stax76]

Some more MP4 command lines by other people would be great, I need to know little details like what should the argument for the name parameter look like. If people use different values I have to expose control over these values to make the command line look exactly the way people want it to look.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.8 (2005-11-27)

new: MP4Box switches lang, fps



I'm releasing only a small update today. The fps switch for MP4Box will always be used, it will use the decimal character of the system's region settings so in most cases it will be:

-fps 25,00
-fps 25.00
-fps 29,97
-fps 29.97

The MP4Box documentation don't says something about the decimal character so I hope it works. It might be possible to generate a more terse command line but I rather have more terse source code, I hope it's OK.

What's next? I'll toy with the monad shell (Microsofts new command shell) to figure out my PAR calculations. I want to add PAR signaling totally automated not even provide a user interface. It'll be only signaled if no resize filter is enabled, would that sufficient?

[bond]

mp4box on german windows handles "." as decimal character fine, i would use it always

also when remuxing from .avi or .mp4 to .mp4 you dont need to set the fps! setting the fps is only necessary when muxing raw streams, which i guess is not done by staxrip

edit: another important feature might be chapters, which you can set via
-chap chapters.txt

the chapterformat supported by mp4box is, next to others, the well known "ogm format"

edit2: :name="english audio 5.1" or any other text the user wants
for extended characters, eg äöü, you need to beaware of this (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=742477#post742477)

[stax76]

also when remuxing from .avi or .mp4 to .mp4 you dont need to set the fps! setting the fps is only necessary when muxing raw streams, which i guess is not done by staxrip


.264 should work

edit: another important feature might be chapters, which you can set via
-chap chapters.txt

I want to add it as well as very basic srt subs support but all this PAR/DAR/ITU crap I'm currently working on requires me to do a little research so it will take a little time.


edit2: :name="english audio 5.1" or any other text the user wants
for extended characters, eg äöü, you need to beaware of this


Don't know yet how I do this one, JoeBG for instance uses rather "Englisch 5.1". Thanks about the warning regarding chars, wouldn't be the first time I stumble over such things.

[bond]

I want to add it as well as very basic srt subs support but all this PAR/DAR/ITU crap I'm currently working on requires me to do a little research so it will take a little time.

Don't know yet how I do this one, JoeBG for instance uses rather "Englisch 5.1". Thanks about the warning regarding chars, wouldn't be the first time I stumble over such things.yep codepages are avil :D
also when adding chaptersupport make sure you store the chapter .txt file in utf-8 cause mp4box doesnt translate it to utf-8

[stax76]

also when adding chaptersupport make sure you store the chapter .txt file in utf-8 cause mp4box doesnt

Currently I don't have plans for chapter support other than letting define the path to a chapter file. Am I right to assume DVDDecrypter outputs ANSI chapter files?

@all

I've added DAR support to MP4Box muxing but wasn't able to playback this right. I tried using latest VLC as well as ffdshow. I followed the description found here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=729500#post729500). Maybe my ffdshow or haali splitter is too old and I just need to update. I capture DVB and encode it using XviD/AVI or use XviD/mkv with vobsub for DVD so I'm still a little bit clueless about x264/MP4 as I don't use it yet. What I've done is adding DAR arguments to the MP4Box cmdl if no filter of the category "Resize" is enabled. Must I also signal something to x264? I saw a switch called sar, never heard of this before, by now I know ar, dar and par, things are getting ugly now...

[juskixxx]

made some tests AMD 64 3000+@2400MHz vs. AMD X2 3800+

getting over 50-105% boost when setting:

SetMTMode(2,0)
and rest of my avisynth script

and setting number of threads to 2 in megui

http://www.avisynth.org/tsp/avisynth256MT3.zip was used, x264 version 380 and CE Highprofile from sharktooth's profiles (turbomode disabled)....same profile was used in staxrip settings.

stax could you add threads setting to your x264 configuration options....

nice to get all out of my X2 ;)

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.0.9 (2005-11-29)

new: MP4Box par switch.
new: x264 thread switch.
new:macro %pos_ms% which returns the current preview position in milliseconds. Useful to start e.g. MPC (Media Player Classic) at the current frame position using the Execute action of the customizable menu of the main dialog or the menu in the preview. For MPC use the following arguments: "%source_dir%%target_name%.avs" /start %pos_ms%
minor: fixed auto resize not working in some circumstances.



sure, 2 minutes it was done, even released it the same day it was requested ;)

[JoeBG]

new version available:



sure, 2 minutes it was done, even released it the same day it was requested ;)

Great job ;)

[bond]

Currently I don't have plans for chapter support other than letting define the path to a chapter file. Am I right to assume DVDDecrypter outputs ANSI chapter files?yep

I've added DAR support to MP4Box muxing but wasn't able to playback this right. I tried using latest VLC as well as ffdshow. I followed the description found here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=729500#post729500). Maybe my ffdshow or haali splitter is too old and I just need to update. I capture DVB and encode it using XviD/AVI or use XviD/mkv with vobsub for DVD so I'm still a little bit clueless about x264/MP4 as I don't use it yet.anamorphic resize is done exactly the same way in mp4 as in avi, meaning its stored in the bitstream and not in the container

What I've done is adding DAR arguments to the MP4Box cmdl if no filter of the category "Resize" is enabled. Must I also signal something to x264? I saw a switch called sar, never heard of this before, by now I know ar, dar and par, things are getting ugly now... do you really support DISPLAY AR or more PIXEL AR?
btw the one and only right expression for pixel aspect ratio in avc is "SAR" (sample aspect ratio). the avc standard also doesnt know "display aspect ratio", meaning dar has to be recalculated to the correct sar, but you propably know that already

[stax76]

anamorphic resize is done exactly the same way in mp4 as in avi, meaning its stored in the bitstream and not in the container


Why MP4Box has a par switch then?

do you really support DISPLAY AR or more PIXEL AR?

PAR for MP4Box but only when no resize filter is used (assuming a resize filter uses the %target_width% macro)

btw the one and only right expression for pixel aspect ratio in avc is "SAR" (sample aspect ratio). the avc standard also doesnt know "display aspect ratio", meaning dar has to be recalculated to the correct sar, but you propably know that already

So SAR is basically the same as PAR, I feel somehow relieved now because this stuff started to bother me.

[Moat]

Just a little feedback. I was trying to install the external programs using the download method built into StaxRip. Everything seems to work fine but BeSweet and VirtualDubMod always come up as unknown versions even when installed thru StaxRip.

-Moat

Update: I tracked it down to:
If VersionDate.ToShortDateString = FileHelp.GetLastWriteTime( path).ToUniversalTime.ToShortDateString Then

It's the .ToUniversaltime that causes it. It changes my date of VirtualDubMod.exe to 3-9-2004 instead of 3-8-2004. If I remove it everything works fine.

[stax76]

Great you know VB .NET, maybe you can help me to tackle this issue. I don't get it since I took the date for all applications using universal time, needless to to say here it works.


Public Class VirtualDubModPackage
Inherits Package

Public Sub New()
Name = "VirtualDubMod"
Filename = "VirtualDubMod.exe"
Version = "1.5.10.1 build 2439"
Website = "http://virtualdubmod.sourceforge.net"
Description = "VirtualDubMod is derived from VirtualDub and supports additional formats."
VersionDate = New DateTime(2004, 3, 8)
DownloadFilename = "VirtualDubMod_1.5.10.1_build_2439.zip"
TreeFolder = "Video Processing"
End Sub

Public Overrides Function IsRequired() As Boolean
Return TypeOf p.VideoEncoder Is VirtualDubEncoder AndAlso _
Not DirectCast(p.VideoEncoder, VirtualDubEncoder).UseVirtualDub
End Function
End Class

Private Sub DebugCopyDateCodeClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
Dim dt As DateTime = FileHelp.GetLastWriteTime(ActivePackage.GetPath(False)).ToUniversalTime
Clipboard.SetDataObject("New DateTime(" + dt.Year.ToString + ", " + dt.Month.ToString + ", " + dt.Day.ToString + ")", True)
End Sub


I also realize this code is a little bit dusty since .NET 2.0 has many new methods like File.GetLastWriteTimeUtc or Clipboards.SetText.

edit: the bug is what you spotted VersionDate get converted to universal date (it is already universal date)

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.1.0 (2005-11-30)

fix: fixed bug in zip extraction code that was writing a false time to the extracted files.



@Moat: thanks for the help, the bug were somewhere else, in my zip exctracting code (not in the IC#Code zip lib). I hope this time I got it right. This bug was in DVX for many month. :eek:

Since the files were extracted with wrong date you have to download them again. Disabling the warnings about wrong versions would also work but I cannot suggest this.

edit: probably the bug is still there, maybe tomorrow I have more luck :(

edit 2: after reading usenet I found out dealing with file times at some place at some time it is doomed to fail (timezones, daylight saving times, wrong os or bios date, very long tool chain (reading/writing dates (packing/unpacking again reads/writes dates)) etc. etc.). As example, the .NET API to get the last write date for a file returns a different date as the windows explorer here!

I could use a checksum (.NET has algorithms built in but it would probably be too slow for large files) assuming file attributes like time have no influence on this. Using the filesize is problematic as well, it was the first approach used in DVX and it turned out some applications had a different version but same filesize. :mad:

[bratao]

MD5 its pretty fast , .ComputeHash can do it fast !
maybe you can take a look .
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301053&ID=kb;en-us;Q301053&SD=MSDN&FR=1

[stax76]

It would have a noticeable impact I think as I loop through all packages to validate them before showing some dialogs. (I'm using MD5 in quite a few locations in StaxRip btw. :))

I'm not making much progress these days so what I'm gonna do is continue to use to compare the last write days but simply make a tolerence of two days!

[fight2win]

i guess it's audieu to autogk now, coz dr. divx and staxrip rock!

[JoeBG]

I want to add a custom Audio profile. Can someone give a tip how to do? I want to add a new AAC profile.

[stax76]

I want to add a custom Audio profile. Can someone give a tip how to do? I want to add a new AAC profile.


I was already afraid that this is not intuitiv enough so I got think about if this can be done easier and of course better help files are needed. Regarding help I did some work already (nice css menu) but it needs a lot more work.

Generally you create new profiles in the profiles dialog. Regardless of what profile it is the dialog to manage profiles is always the same. With "Add" you create a new profile. It opens a selection with profiles usually starting with "Current" what are the current settings following with "factory" defaults so what you pick is "Current". Your customizations need to be done before of course using the "Edit" option in the drop down button in the main dialog which opens the configuration menu of the audio settings. I hope it's clear now. I really have to think if it can be done more intuitive, please let me know if you any ideas. I might see things sometimes too much from a developer view and not enough from user view.

[ricardo.santos]

Hi!
I have to say i was never a big fan of your Dvx program mainly because i had to track the right versions of the programs to make it work, but now with StaxRip that has changed(button to download the right version, nicer gui, customization of the menu for foreign language users and a lot more) only thing missing is the DMF format support but judging by your posts here on doom9 youre are already working on it.

Ps: i havent compared the encoding times but being a user of AutoGk and avi.net it seems StaxRip is a bit slower, but like i said i havent compared it.

Good work!

[bond]

only thing missing is the DMF format support support for the divx format is very easy, simply rename .avi to .divx ;)

no, thats not a joke...

[ricardo.santos]

would it be possible that when converting dvdsubs to Divxmedia format the user could change the position onscreen of the subs?

Let me explain:

At the moment im creating my divx files by converting the dvd with AutoGk and adding subs with srt2bmp, why? lets say i have 2 tvs one being 4:3 and the other 16:9. at the moment with srt2bmp i can create one sub stream to be played on the black bars instead of on the video when viweing the video on a 4:3 tv, and another substream to positioned on the bottom of the picture when viewing it on a 16:9 tv.(one divx file with 2 different sub streams for different tvs)

when converting dvds with autogk and avi.net they will put the subs on the video, if the video has an aspect of 2:35:1 the picture is already small when played on a 4:3 tv, subs on the video will only make it worst, thats why i use srt2bmp to make the subs appear on the black bars.


i know its probably a bit confusing but this is a feature no other program has at the moment(that im aware)

Ricardo

[ricardo.santos]

support for the divx format is very easy, simply rename .avi to .divx ;)

no, thats not a joke...


i meant converting the dvd to Dmf maintaing chapters, selectable audio and subs(xsubs)

more here:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=89718

http://labs.divx.com/archives/000066.html

[stax76]

would it be possible that when converting dvdsubs to Divxmedia format the user could change the position onscreen of the subs?

So far I've only looked at the docs, I'm not so familiar with MP4 and DMF and hope I make soon progress with these containers. Basic support usually is not so hard, subtiltles usually involve most work.

[ricardo.santos]

Thanks for the update/status.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.1.1 (2005-12-05)

new: MP4Box subtitles.
new: Help and web design and content.
change: Main menu in the main form had to be reseted because of various changes.



edit: I just uploaded this build again because it turned out the VirtulDub/Mod multiplexer needed to be newly created due to bug fix I had done. Because of this I invalidated all Encoder and Muxer settings forcing them to be newly created. Once beta stage is reached I hope I'll be able to avoid reseting so often so many settings.

edit: I wasn't able to get DivXMux to work and nobody confirmed success using it so DMF support is delayed until I can use DivXMux.

[ricardo.santos]

since version09.1.0 whenever i try converting something StaxRip wont let me convert anything untill i install xvid, a pop up window comes up asking for it even tough i dont use xvid, does it have to be installed even if not necessary?

Ricardo

[stax76]

since version09.1.0 whenever i try converting something StaxRip wont let me convert anything untill i install xvid, a pop up window comes up asking for it even tough i dont use xvid, does it have to be installed even if not necessary?

You can try choosing another YV12 decoder in the settings but XviD is the only decoder I know that works reasonable so I would rather install XviD. Next build will have another change regarding that issue. I plan to release MKV support later today and DMF tomorrow (both incl. vobsub).

[Sirber]

try:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56972

[stax76]

Besides DivX and XviD this decoder will also be available in the settings dialog, I don't know any other. Don't know about Helix but DivX is bad, slow startup and bad compatibility.

[Sirber]

I bundle helix codec with RealAnime to decode the output of AVS scripts. Works like a charm.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.1.2 (2005-12-08)

new: mkvmerge including vobsubs.
new: Auto renaming of audio files (VTS_01_1 T01 becomes VTS_01_1 de-German).
fix: Detection of application versions.



DVD related features like subtitles are not so easy to test, I hope it's not broke.

[stax76]

new version available:


0.9.1.3 (2005-12-09)

new: DMF (DivX Media Format) support incl. vobsubs.

[fight2win]

stax dude, when can we expect a stable release, something like 1.0?

[stax76]

stax dude, when can we expect a stable release, something like 1.0?

It will stay alpha/beta probably for a long time. I try to release daily so if somebody finds a bug it's usually fixed the next day. :)

[ricardo.santos]

i cant find the executable file in the 0.9.1.3 version, for some reason i think i downloaded the source code instead of the normal StaxRip

edit: same thing happens in version 0.9.1.2(something wrong with the download links i guess)

[stax76]

Must be a problem on your side.

[ricardo.santos]

Hi!

I guess i had to much drinks last night as i was downloading the source code thinking it was the "normal StaxRip" :o :o :)

Sorry Stax for the unnecessary post

Ricardo

[amango]

@Stax

Thank you for your new wonderful program.

I encode DVB-material so I use the Cut-Feature in the Preview-window.

With StaxRip I can only cut if I encode an avi-file, so I am limited to XVID and DIVX. Can you enable cutting for MKV, MP4 and DIVX media? Could you enable your program to encode x264 to an avi (works if you support the VfW-Codec)...?

[stax76]

With StaxRip I can only cut if I encode an avi-file, so I am limited to XVID and DIVX. Can you enable cutting for MKV, MP4 and DIVX media?

Thought about this before, might be tricky and will add even more complexity but I really want to investigate this.

Could you enable your program to encode x264 to an avi (works if you support the VfW-Codec)...?

Generic VFW support would be doable meaning all installed codecs would work. It seems however the cli version is much more popular, did you try using x264 cli in StaxRip?

[ricardo.santos]

im not being able to get Staxrip to produce DMF files.

staxrip produces avi files only, no sign of xsubs aswell or any other kind of subs(i have vobsub installed)

In encoder i set it to divx and in the muxer i select DivxMux, i have all aplications installed.

Ricardo

[stax76]

When you select the muxer profile you also have to load it using double-click or clicking the Load button. Please note that the muxer belongs to the encoder, this means that if you load another encoder you get also the muxer of that encoder. Whenever the muxer changes also the file extension of the target file changes if the muxer has another container as output. Subtitle settings belong to the muxer settings.

Project -> Encoder -> Muxer -> Subtitles

[ricardo.santos]

When you select the muxer profile you also have to load it using double-click or clicking the Load button. Please note that the muxer belongs to the encoder, this means that if you load another encoder you get also the muxer of that encoder. Whenever the muxer changes also the file extension of the target file changes if the muxer has another container as output. Subtitle settings belong to the muxer settings.

Project -> Encoder -> Muxer -> Subtitles


i done that.

will i get hardsubs or selectable subs?

[stax76]

Selectable subs using vobsub, if you can't get it to work you can of course send diagnostic files, select: Main Menu: Help/Send Bug Report

[stax76]

new build:


0.9.1.4 (2005-12-13)

new: Configuration dialog for muxing audio profiles (language and delay).
new: Delay handling for MKV, DIVX and MP4 muxing.
new: Chapters for MKV and MP4 muxing.
new: Aspect Ratio parameter for mkvmerge.
fix: language parameter wasn't applied properly using AAC with mkvmerge.

[TEB]

Hi. I cannot get it to start even. And yes, i have .net 2.0 installed. Works with other apps ive tested..

EventType : clr20r3 P1 : staxrip.exe P2 : 0.9.1.4 P3 : 439f3b13
P4 : staxrip P5 : 0.9.1.4 P6 : 439f3b13 P7 : 1d P8 : c6
P9 : system.invalidoperationexception

And im using the newest build.. Any idead what do do?
Running WindowsXP,sp2,AMD4600X2

[stax76]

@TEB

If there is no .NET error dialog with the usual debug output then we have a problem I'm afraid.

[TEB]

Hei. Theres a debug dialog, but its impossible to copy paste it :)
And its like 50pages of info :)

[stax76]

Then it must be the dialog of windows and not .NET, this debug information is not very helpful. :(

[TEB]

Well i now tested the newest build at work on my WS, (p4 3,6EE, ati x700) windowxpsp2eng dot net 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0.
Here i cannot get it to work at all.. When i click on the .exe it starts, but nothing comes up... no dialog at alll..

Tried it on another macine (collague - .net developer) and the start of the file gave :

EventType : clr20r3 P1 : staxrip.exe P2 : 0.9.1.4 P3 : 439f3b13
P4 : staxrip P5 : 0.9.1.4 P6 : 439f3b13 P7 : 1d P8 : c6
P9 : system.invalidoperationexception



___________

Started debugging in MS-VS2005, CLR-Debugger gave :


An unhandled exception of type 'System.InvalidOperationException' occurred in Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll

Additional information: An error occurred creating the form. See Exception.InnerException for details. The error is: Culture name 'nb' is not supported.
Parameter name: name

[stax76]

Did some changes, maybe works now, please download the latest build again.

[TEB]

Hi again!

From our developers :

Hi!

I tried to compile the project locally here, and it was ok. But running it gave the same problem. I ran it with a debugger and located the problemcode :

In project.vb in the function init() the autoselection of the twoLetterISOLanguageName
causes the problem. It returns 'nb' (Norsk Bokmål = norwegian locale) which causes the problem.

I'll try to comment it out and see if it works running 'en' in all cases.

EDIT 5 min later : Woho!!! Changed New Language(New CultureInfo("en")) as default for subtitles and audio and it worked! (cut out the autoselection)

[stax76]

Yes, thanks for working this out, does the build I've uploaded work?

[TEB]

Yupp, both works :)

[weaver4]

I really want to try StaxRip, but I am afraid to install .Net 2.0. I am developing a couple of applications under Visual Studio 2003 that use .Net 1.1. Anyone know if I install .Net 2.0 if it will screw up my work?

I know it is a little off-topic but I thought the author might know.

[Emp3r0r]

.NET 1.1 and 2.0 work fine side by side

[stax76]

Different .NET versions are supposed to work side by side. I had similar setups and never problems. You might as well want to give VS 2005 Express a try, it's free. Your chances to screw up are higher than of course but again, also different SDK and Visual Studio Versions are supposed to work side by side. You got to take care of the order you uninstall things.

[JoeBG]

@ stax

works great your new release - thank you :)

[stax76]

works great your new release - thank you

well, almost. The culture fix caused another culture bug, also there was another culture bug appearing when the DVD has languages not known to .NET. I'm working on it...

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

stax, in which folder I must to copy files DivXMux.exe and DMFCheck.exe so staxrip can start to encode my files in .DIVX container?

Currently, Staxrip can't see that I already downloaded needed files. I can't understand why.

[stax76]

@Kostarum Rex Persia

You can copy them where you want as long as you tell StaxRip where to find them.

The help of the External Applications dialog describes it as follows:


Applications already installed manually can be integrated using the Search option (StaxRip needs to know the location of the application).


If you got the latest build just hit Download (as suggested) for any DivX product.

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

What about x264 codec, it says that I use wrong version, and he try to download very old revision 334. Can you update x264 to 367B revision.

What is Mediainfo?

[fight2win]

will staxrip run with xvid cvs builds?

[Doom9]

What is Mediainfo?What is the search engine?

[stax76]

What about x264 codec, it says that I use wrong version, and he try to download very old revision 334. Can you update x264 to 367B revision.

Nice to get some feedback about x264, since I don't use it I already thought nobody does (using StaxRip). What about rev.387B?

What is Mediainfo?

It gives info about media files, you can reach the website directly from the External Applications dialog, select Tools, choose MediaInfo, choose Open Website In Browser, it's there explained better than I possibly could.

will staxrip run with xvid cvs builds?

I hope so, maybe you can give some feedback.

[stax76]

0.9.1.5 (2005-12-16)



new: Editor for command lines and scripts with support for preview and execute.
new: More than just one command line can be executed.
fix: A couple of bugs were fixed.

[Gdragon]

Hi,

I just came across this as it looks great program. BUT, there is a big problem with detecting-downloading-finding needed applications. I have all programs and filters required, but the program refuses to use them. I have mostly newer versions then required, and I don't understand why the program don't except them.

Can this be changed somehow? Why the program needs exactly specifig build, since there is no significant differences between close builds, for example with VirtualDubMod.

Millan

[Gdragon]

I noticed one more thing concidering installed codecs. I already have XvID 1.1.0-beta2, but program still claims that I have some unknown version and I must download it. Some goes with almost evrything. I have DiVX 6.0.3 but it is also not recognized. Only thing that passess check is JAVA.

How to slove this!

[stax76]

I have all programs and filters required, but the program refuses to use them. I have mostly newer versions then required, and I don't understand why the program don't except them.

StaxRip shows a message box telling that you are using a wrong version but that message box has also a check box Use always wrong version. If you check this it won't tell you again that you are using a wrong version. You can also disable the warning in the External Applications dialog btw. You should however use always the required versions. I use always the best versions, if not please tell me where I miss something and tomorrow it will be fixed.

since there is no significant differences between close builds, for example with VirtualDubMod.

VDM had quite often breaking changes. You can disable the warning and use another version but when something don't work please don't send a bug report until you have verified exactly the same problem occurs with the required version.

I noticed one more thing concidering installed codecs. I already have XvID 1.1.0-beta2, but program still claims that I have some unknown version and I must download it.

I'm checking last write date so somebody must have compiled this on another day so you have two options to solve this: download my version or disable the warning.

If I wouldn't check the versions 90% of all bug reports would be related to incompatible applications, that's my experience with DVX and that's why other apps like GK have software bundles and codec packs. I never liked the idea of bundles, packs etc. unless I'm looking for guarantied way to mess up my system.

I have mad verification code in StaxRip like has user more than one Decomb in the plugin dir (e.g. Decomb521.dll and Decomb.dll), does the source path has comma's (not supported by DGIndex), has the user moved his files (d2v files have hardcoded absolute path information) has the user both DGDecode and MPEG2Dec3.dll in the plugin dir, is the DGDecode.dll in the plugin dir the one that belongs to the used DGIndex version. All this things did break StaxRip until verifications were added. It might work for other apps because they might load plugins manually (LoadPlugin(...)) or they might use a special syntax to reference a function (DGDecode_Mpeg2Source(...)) but it did break StaxRip. There are hundreds of lines of code dealing with this things. I get many bug reports a day per email and quite often the fix is adding more verifications. Lately I started to offer to fix a problem instead of just giving a warning because some users don't know what to do with a warning and send a bug report instead of fixing the problem as hinted in the warning.

[ricardo.santos]

Hi everyone!

Stax would it be possible to add an option to shutdown the pc when conversion finishs?

I always set up the pc do do the conversions during the night (like so many others) and such a function would be usefull

Thanks

[stax76]

It's there already :), it's at the bottom of the window that is visible while encoding: When finished do: shutdown or standby or...

[horny_german]

First of all a big thanx to stx for this really useful and nice working prog.
It helped me a lot and i was able to backup with such high quality. Very nice is the automatic download of missing programs wich are requiered to run StaxRip.
But at least I have one little problem.
I encode the audiopart with the default settings AAC-HE 80. The result is an playable mp4 audiofile. However after the videoencoding is done and StaxRip puts video and audio into the MP4 container you can't hear anything of the sound.
Is there any hint ?

[stax76]

I encode the audiopart with the default settings AAC-HE 80. The result is an playable mp4 audiofile. However after the videoencoding is done and StaxRip puts video and audio into the MP4 container you can't hear anything of the sound.
Is there any hint ?

Maybe you have no DirectShow filter that can decode the audio file. I don't know what is the best filter, maybe ffdshow but I can't tell you where to grab the best build. There is also a player that don't rely on any DirectShow filter but has everything built in, it's called VLC (VideoLan Client).

[JoeBG]

First of all a big thanx to stx for this really useful and nice working prog.
It helped me a lot and i was able to backup with such high quality. Very nice is the automatic download of missing programs wich are requiered to run StaxRip.
But at least I have one little problem.
I encode the audiopart with the default settings AAC-HE 80. The result is an playable mp4 audiofile. However after the videoencoding is done and StaxRip puts video and audio into the MP4 container you can't hear anything of the sound.
Is there any hint ?

That´s hard to believe :) You can hear the single audio.mp4 => so you have all splitters and decoders. 2 ideas:
- try vlc as player. vlc will also show if there is a audiostream in the mp4
- open mp4 with yamb. yamb will analyse the mp4 will show you if there is an audiostream in the file.

[chipzoller]

Can we not get a separate forum in the Doom9 space devoted to StaxRip?
Great program, BTW. I like the flexability with external apps, but there seem to be too many "secrets" in the GUI, like options are so spread out it's a bit difficult to know where to change a setting.

Any chance of putting an update feature directly into StaxRip, where you can check for a new version and download and apply it automatically?

thanks again,

Chip

[horny_german]

That´s hard to believe :) You can hear the single audio.mp4 => so you have all splitters and decoders. 2 ideas:
- try vlc as player. vlc will also show if there is a audiostream in the mp4
- open mp4 with yamb. yamb will analyse the mp4 will show you if there is an audiostream in the file.


... but true .... the single audiofile encoded as MP4 is fine as long as staxRip or i manually (withYAMB ) mux it into a mp4 container.
However if i encode manually the file with BeLight wich results in a single .aac file and mux afterwards the raw videostream and the aac file into a mp4 container everthing is fine.
The problem can't be the extension mp4 of the audiofile, can it ?
I use the latest vlc already...


Thanks
hg

[ricardo.santos]

but there seem to be too many "secrets" in the GUI, like options are so spread out it's a bit difficult to know where to change a setting.

at the moment im trying to figure out how to change the audio encoding from 160cbr to 128cbr?

can any of you guys give me a hand on how to do it?

[stax76]

I like the flexability with external apps, but there seem to be too many "secrets" in the GUI, like options are so spread out it's a bit difficult to know where to change a setting.


Can you tell me anything particular? Maybe we can find a way to make it more accessible.


Any chance of putting an update feature directly into StaxRip, where you can check for a new version and download and apply it automatically?


I hope I find soon time for this, might be a little bit tricky.

at the moment im trying to figure out how to change the audio encoding from 160cbr to 128cbr?

can any of you guys give me a hand on how to do it?

In the main dialog there is a drop down button for each audio track, choose Edit there and edit the audio settings in the dialog that pops up. If you want to use this often you can create a audio profile as described in the help of the profile dialog. Furthermore you could customize the default project to have this settings available at startup.

However if i encode manually the file with BeLight wich results in a single .aac

I hope I'm not doing something wrong with BeSweet/MP4Box. Maybe somebody can look in the log file and check if the command lines use the best possible settings.

[ricardo.santos]

In the main dialog there is a drop down button for each audio track, choose Edit there and edit the audio settings in the dialog that pops up. If you want to use this often you can create a audio profile as described in the help of the profile dialog. Furthermore you could customize the default project to have this settings available at startup

ive done that before but it still encodes as 160 instead of 128,

dio i have to change the value in the besweet command line as well?

edit: wow, converting to divx using the 6.1divx codec is faster than the previous divx version

[ricardo.santos]

Hi Stax

Sorry for being a pain, i was trying to encode a 5 minute dvdclip from starwars,reveng of the sith for test purposes only,
i wanted my final otput to be divxmedia format with 1 audio mp3 track and 2 xsub tracks.

ive followed your instructions and my final output is a avi file, the mp3 bitrate is 160cbr instead of the 128 i selected

heres the log_:

---------- Versions ----------

StaxRip 0.9.1.5
Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
.NET Framework 2.0.50727.42
DirectX 4.09.00.0904

AutoCrop 1.1
AviSynth 2.5.6a
BeSweet 1.5b31
Decomb 5.2.2
DGIndex 1.4.5
DivX 6.0.3 Pro
FluxSmooth 1.1a
Java
ProjectX 0.90.1
VirtualDubMod 1.5.10.1 build 2439
VirtualDub 1.5.11
XviD XviD 1.1.0 Beta 2
MP4Box 2005-11-08
x264 334
Deen 2005-07-05
UnDot 2003-01-18
AVITOWAV 3.5
DirectShowSource 2.5.6
MKVtoolnix 1.6.5
MediaInfo 0.7.0.3
DivXMux 6.1 build 24

---------- Macros ----------

application:AutoCrop C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\AutoCrop.dll
application:AviSynth C:\WINDOWS\system32\avisynth.dll
application:AVITOWAV C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\AVITOWAV\avi2wavcmd.exe
application:BeSweet C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe
application:Decomb C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\Decomb.dll
application:Deen C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\Deen.dll
application:DGIndex C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\DGIndex\DGIndex.exe
application:DirectShowSource C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\DirectShowSource.dll
application:DivX C:\WINDOWS\system32\DivX.dll
application:DivXMux C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\Tools\DivXMux.exe
application:FluxSmooth C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\FluxSmooth.dll
application:Java C:\Programas\Java\jre1.5.0_01\bin\java.exe
application:MediaInfo C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\MediaInfo\MediaInfo.exe
application:MKVtoolnix
application:MP4Box
application:ProjectX C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\ProjectX\ProjectX.jar
application:UnDot C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\UnDot.dll
application:VirtualDub
application:VirtualDubMod C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\VirtualDubMod\VirtualDubMod.exe
application:x264
application:XviD C:\WINDOWS\system32\xvidvfw.dll
application_dir C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\
audio_bitrate 288
audio_file1 C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1 en-English 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3
audio_file2
avisynth_plugin_dir C:\Programas\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\
compressibility 0
crop_bottom 76
crop_height 428
crop_left 54
crop_right 2
crop_top 72
crop_width 664
encoder_out_file C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.avi
pos_ms 0
programs_dir C:\Programas\
source_dir C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\
source_file C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v
source_files_blank "C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v"
source_files_comma "C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v"
source_files_comma_no_quotes C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v
source_frames 7493
source_height 576
source_name VTS_01_1
source_rate 25,00
source_seconds 300
source_width 720
system_dir C:\WINDOWS\system32\
target_dir C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\
target_file C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.avi
target_framerate 25,00
target_frames 7493
target_height 304
target_kilobyte 51200
target_megabyte 50
target_name VTS_01_1
target_seconds 300
target_width 688
version 0.9.1.5
video_bitrate 1260

---------- AviSynth Plugins ----------

AutoCrop.dll 17-06-2003 13:45
Decomb.dll 04-09-2005 13:20
Deen.dll 05-07-2005 22:42
DGDecode.dll 01-10-2005 7:31
DirectShowSource.dll 28-10-2005 16:44
FluxSmooth.dll 29-07-2004 16:07
TCPDeliver.dll 28-10-2005 16:44
UnDot.dll 18-01-2003 18:05

---------- AviSynth Script ----------

MPEG2Source("C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v")
Crop(54,72,-2,-76)
BicubicResize(688,304,0,0.5)

---------- Audio Encoding ----------

Encoding Type: Command Line Audio Profile
Command Line: "C:\SelfRunPrograms\StaxRip\Applications\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1 en-English 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3" -output "C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1 en-English 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms_AudioOutput.mp3" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -lame( -p --alt-preset cbr 160 )

---------- Audio Encoding Statistics ----------

Start time: 18:46:13
End time: 18:47:12
Duration: 00:00:59
Speed: 126 fps
Size: 5,7 MB
Bitrate: 159,82 KBit/s
Video Bitrate: 1260 -> 1229

---------- First Pass Codec Parameters ----------

bitrate: 1234
chromame: 1
desired_size: 45187
display_status: 0
max_bframes: 1
mode: 1
stats: C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\Temporary Files\VTS_01_1.pass
use_bvop: 1
vhq_mode: 1

---------- First Pass Encoding ----------

VirtualDub.Open("C:\\Documents and Settings\\Windows XP\\Ambiente de trabalho\\star2\\VIDEO_TS\\VTS_01_1.avs","",0);
VirtualDub.video.SetMode(1);
VirtualDub.video.SetCompression(0x64697678,0,10000,0);
VirtualDub.SaveAVI("C:\\Documents and Settings\\Windows XP\\Ambiente de trabalho\\star2\\VIDEO_TS\\Temporary Files\\VTS_01_1_FirstPass.avi");

---------- First Pass Encoding Statistics ----------

Start time: 18:47:13
End time: 18:51:15
Duration: 00:04:01
Speed: 31 fps

---------- Multi Pass Codec Parameters ----------

bitrate: 1234
chromame: 1
desired_size: 45187
display_status: 0
max_bframes: 1
mode: 2
stats: C:\Documents and Settings\Windows XP\Ambiente de trabalho\star2\VIDEO_TS\Temporary Files\VTS_01_1.pass
use_bvop: 1
vhq_mode: 1

---------- Multi Pass Encoding ----------

VirtualDub.Open("C:\\Documents and Settings\\Windows XP\\Ambiente de trabalho\\star2\\VIDEO_TS\\VTS_01_1.avs","",0);
VirtualDub.video.SetMode(1);
VirtualDub.video.SetCompression(0x64697678,0,10000,0);
VirtualDub.stream[0].SetSource("C:\\Documents and Settings\\Windows XP\\Ambiente de trabalho\\star2\\VIDEO_TS\\VTS_01_1 en-English 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms_AudioOutput.mp3",0x00000202,0);
VirtualDub.stream[0].SetMode(0);
VirtualDub.SaveAVI("C:\\Documents and Settings\\Windows XP\\Ambiente de trabalho\\star2\\VIDEO_TS\\VTS_01_1.avi");

---------- Multi Pass Encoding Statistics ----------

Start time: 18:51:15
End time: 18:56:49
Duration: 00:05:34
Speed: 22 fps
Size: 49,8 MB

[stax76]

@ricardo.santos

Yes, you have to change the command line, the audio settings are cli based, it's possible to create profiles for any cli application, not just BeSweet. Building a basic GUI for BeSweet or any other application would be trivial btw. since StaxRip is build with extensibility in mind, it's just I don't need it and it's not frequently requested.

[ricardo.santos]

thanks for the answer.

and what about the Dmf creation im only getting avifiles instead of **.divx files with xsubs on it, like DivxConverter does

[stax76]

and what about the Dmf creation im only getting avifiles instead of **.divx files with xsubs on it, like DivxConverter does


Did you really load a corresponding muxer?

[chipzoller]

I'll have to come up with specific examples of complex GUI instances.

But for now, how do you add text subtitles, or the filter for AVISynth so it gets recognized? In general, I'm trying to figure out how to maximize this with AVISynth, but because I'm still learning AVISynth and what it can do, I'm a bit unclear on this.

Edit: Also what would be nice, if you wanted to include burn-in subtitles present in the DVD stream (vob subs, not text) you could tick a box if you wanted them. Then a demux step would be added in the processes to include those subs.

[stax76]

But for now, how do you add text subtitles


Generally dmf and mkv muxer have idx support (image based vobsub subtitles) and mp4 muxer has srt support (text based subrip subtitles), you can also use burnt in subtitles using a (AviSynth) filter.

or the filter for AVISynth so it gets recognized?


Did you see the walkthrough in the help?

Edit: Also what would be nice, if you wanted to include burn-in subtitles present in the DVD stream (vob subs, not text) you could tick a box if you wanted them. Then a demux step would be added in the processes to include those subs.

Edit: VSRip requires to know the pgc but how do I know what pgc was ripped?

[LRN]

At this moment i use Nero Recode to convert DVD->mp4 (Ateme H.264 + Nero HE-AAC). I use "Maximum Definition AVC" profile wich gives me very good video quality (2 pass), and audio is HE-AAC 192 Kbps (usually 5.1) by default. There's also support for chapters. Up to 2 subtitles, up to 2 audio streams. And it is fully automatic (GUI is good too!), i.e. click-click-click and go! All is fine (even now), BUT!
1) Recode conflicts with ANY DirectX-based application (i.e. games ;) ) and goes crazy. I must keep it inside another windows session, if i want to use my comp while Recode works.
2) Sometimes 2 audio and (more often) 2 subtitles is just not enougth...
3) On "Maximum Definition AVC" encoding is SLOW (on P4 3200 - only 1-2 fps!!!)
4) "Pause" button does not works (Recode still consumes my cpu in paused mode)
5) Anyway, Recode slows down all other processes (regardless what i set it "Low" process priority!)
Recently i learned, what x264 is, well, almost as good as Ateme H.264 (you should look at Second Annual AVC/H.264 Codec Comparison by MSU Graphics and Media Lab), and in some cases maybe even better! Then i searched for suitable application - and i found StaxRip :)
I took a look on it, and it seems pretty well for me. Still, i have some questions:
1) Will x264 + AAC + subs + chapters = mp4 work without any troubles? Any players/splitters incompatibilities?
2) I know, i should ask x264 developers, decause StaxRip is mainly DivX-related app, but i have really hard times configuring x264. I found no profiles for video, and i'm really not very informed in field of video encoding techniqes (all that features, modes, matrices, options etc). How about that? At least there IS profiles for audio...
3) Can i pause all the process at any moment (well, looks like whis is "question-to-x264-developers-not-for-stax" too ...) ? No application conflicts? Is there "idle" priority setting?
4) At this point i see support for only 2 audio streams. I think, i could mux some more to mp4 after transcode...But it's really not so easy for me to calculate result file size correctly (allright, i'm just lazy). Looks like number of subtitles is unlimited. I wish same for audio streams...
5) I think i found how to make audio profile for HE-AAC 5.1 192 kbps audio (-core( -input "%input%" -output "%output%" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -bsn( -6chnew -vbr_normal ) and 192 in proper edit field ;), if i remember correctly), but i'm really not sure about this. I am right?
6) Will StaxRip + x264 be faster than Recode + Ateme H.264? I do not really trust Ahead in field of optimization, speed and all that stuff. I think what lack of speed is because of Recode, not codec itself, and i hope StaxRip (and its component applications) will do better.
H-m-m-m. Allright, that is all. I hope, you will not kick me with legs for it :)
P.S. I just set up small video clip conversion with StaxRip. First pass gives me only 2-3 fps...Let's see results tomorrow...

[chipzoller]

VSRip requires to know the pgc but how do I know what pgc was ripped?

I'm talking about subs from that source (assuming you didn't demux the streams and it's in a VOB container, MPEG2 source from DVD). So, for example you would rip (in IFO parsing mode, let's say) the main movie of your DVD of choice, then load that into StaxRip. You could then perform the sub demux and burn-in by adding a line to the queue and putting it in the AVS script, could you not?

[stax76]

The ultimate question is why burn in subtitles when optional subtitles could be used?

[Doom9]

The ultimate question is why burn in subtitles when optional subtitles could be used?I guess forced subs would be such a case.. so far unless authoring a DVD there's no way to make sure that a certain subtitle stream will be shown at a certain time. But I guess I just gave you another Christmas headache to worry about.. that's why MeGUI does no subs except muxing in existing ones.

[chipzoller]

The ultimate question is why burn in subtitles when optional subtitles could be used?


How about if you're encoding a foreign film and the spoken language is something other than English (assuming you only speak English) and the subs are in English. Also, if you're making an AVI and not a DIVX container you'd have to keep AVI and subtitle together (most likely). Most of the time when I encode using subtitles I always burn them in, because I'm using them for films in which I would always have them on anyway.

[stax76]

Thought about, only thing I'm not sure yet is how to do the GUI, should it be in the options, in the AviSynth menu or maybe some AviSynth wizard or has anybody a better idea? It should be intuitiv as I'm currently spend much thought on how to make StaxRip more accessible for the novice user.

[chipzoller]

Well, this isn't something that is vitally important, but would really make StaxRip stand out.

As for where to put it, if the option is checked, could it be put right after the operation starts, after the d2v project file is created?

[stax76]

Automated ripping would happen as one of many task opening a source but it would only work if the ifo filename contains the pgc, DVD Decrypter has a option for this.

[chipzoller]

So you could put an option box in the settings like "demux main subtitle PGC" so that users can elect to demux subtitles or not.

My only point in all this being if all other aspects of video processing are streamlined, it doesn't fit to have subtitles be completely manual and tedious if not necessary.

[stax76]

So you could put an option box in the settings like "demux main subtitle PGC" so that users can elect to demux subtitles or not.


Yes, it's likely be called "Demux DVD subtitles".

[stax76]

I wonder what are the most reasonable presets for audio encoding, currently there are only three audio encoding profiles:


MP3 CBR 160 KBit/s: BeSweet -core( -input "" -output "" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -lame( -p --alt-preset cbr 160 )
MP3 VBR 128 KBit/s: BeSweet -core( -input "" -output "" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -lame( -p --alt-preset 128 )
AAC-HE 80 KBit/s: BeSweet -core( -input "" -output "" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -bsn( -2ch -vbr_normal )


I'm sure there is much room for improvements, AAC multichannel is missing completely. Also I'm wondering if the delay should rather be handled by the audio encoder or rather by the muxer like it is right now.

The muxers and audio encoders interact to insure the delay is handled exactly once, all this happens fully automated, I just need to know how to put the presets.

[ricardo.santos]

How about if you're encoding a foreign film and the spoken language is something other than English (assuming you only speak English) and the subs are in English. Also, if you're making an AVI and not a DIVX container you'd have to keep AVI and subtitle together (most likely). Most of the time when I encode using subtitles I always burn them in, because I'm using them for films in which I would always have them on anyway.


Lets see: you want to see your native language subtitle on your foreingn spoken movie? i encounter this problem "all the time" and going by"the optional subtitle " way works for me.

example: i bought "taxi 3" a French movie.

French language
portuguese subtitles

i converte the movie to avi(divx)
ripped the dvd subs with subrip and saved them as srt
used Divxmux to creat a xsub from the srt sub and muxed it to the avi file

Final result: A divx file with a portuguese selectable subtitle that works perfectly on any divx player,

lets say my french uncle comes and visites me, he can switch the subs off on the divx player(hardware) and watch the divx file without the portuguese subs

Doesnt StaxRip do this in "1 step"?

Burnedin/hardcoded?! No more

[chipzoller]

Let's be clear about one important processing aspect of subtitles:

What I'm suggesting is a demux of the subtitles (whatever predominant stream it may be) in bitmap form (i.e. VobSub format). To convert the subs into text requires user intervention, something that is probably not feasible in this situation.

For instance, you could have (and select) an option to demux and add subtitles by the stream that identifies itself as 'English' (if it works that way; most commercial DVDs do) to any video project that you wish. If you wanted to take control of it yourself and demux and OCR them into text, that's fine, but probably too complex for this type of integration (SubRip is good, but not ready for this type of autopilot control seeing as how the technology of character recognition isn't perfect).

Really the only time I create a video with subtitles is when I would always watch it with the subtitles. For instance, I own a DVD called "Habana Blues" produced in Spain. The spoken language is Spanish, and seeing as how my Spanish is not quite fluent (enough), I would encode the movie using English subs and would select to burn them in. If ever I watch the movie, I'm obviously going to want the subtitles on. The same would probably hold true for anime videos or name your own equivalent.

[stax76]

0.9.1.6 (2005-12-21)



new: Null Encoder to remux a already encoded project.
new: Auto Compressibility Check option.
new: Auto Mode: Normally StaxRip performs various tasks directly after a source file is opened like demuxing, auto crop, auto resize etc. In Auto Mode all this tasks are performed when the encoding is started (either manually or by the joblist).
new: Profiles can be edited from within the profiles dialog, even encoder and AviSynth profiles!
change: Simplified AviSynth menu.



I hope using profiles is now easier, changing this required a lot code to change so I hope no bugs slipped through.

[chipzoller]

Yes! Using iprofiles is much easier now! Nice work, I'm going to try an encode out tonight.
One thing...is it possible to display the total encode time? I looked for an option but didn't see it...I may be missing something.

thanks for your hard work. I can definately see this program coming out on top of most others out there.

[stax76]

One thing...is it possible to display the total encode time? I looked for an option but didn't see it...I may be missing something.

Only the display of the encoder e.g. VirtualDubMod displays it.

[Chris Benoit]

Can this programm be used to encode compatible for psp mp4 avcs?

[Doom9]

Can this programm be used to encode compatible for psp mp4 avcs?What is an avc? ;) You mean a PSP compatible MP4 file using the AVC codec..
Just as MeGUI you can use this software, and there are the same limitations (you still need to use the atomchanger after encoding).

[Chris Benoit]

Of course that's what i meant! :)

So is there any psp profile available for this program.It seems nice,but i'm having some difficulties using it.

How can i add the avs lines on the filters section?And what features shall i avoid to make a compatible mp4 for psp?

[stax76]

So is there any psp profile available for this program


I'm sorry no but you might create one yourself, x264 work is stopped until there is more feedback!

It seems nice,but i'm having some difficulties using it.

I try to make it as easy as possible so maybe you can tell me what is difficult, maybe I find a way to make it easier.

How can i add the avs lines on the filters section?

What exactly do you want to achieve and ain't this documented?

[ricardo.santos]

I try to make it as easy as possible so maybe you can tell me what is difficult, maybe I find a way to make it easier.

i have a question on the following screenshot, why are there up and down buttons? to select a codec to use isnt it enough to select it and press load?

thanks

[Chris Benoit]

I try to make it as easy as possible so maybe you can tell me what is difficult, maybe I find a way to make it easier.

The audio profile you select must be the profile for the source or output audio?Cause i want ofcource lc-aac for psp,i've selected lc-aac i open an avi select settings and next,and then it says The audio profile you selected doesn't match the source file.

What exactly do you want to achieve and ain't this documented?

I'm confused as for the input of the values in the scripts.So it has crop,resize,etc.How can i select the number i want to be in the parenthesis?I've made a category named framerate,added script with Name ChangeFPS and script ChangeFPS() but now i want to register the value for the specified filter,that would be 29.97.

[stax76]

i have a question on the following screenshot, why are there up and down buttons? to select a codec to use isnt it enough to select it and press load?

Just in case somebody want's a special order, I'm not sure yet if it's a important feature. :p

The audio profile you select must be the profile for the source or output audio?Cause i want ofcource lc-aac for psp,i've selected lc-aac i open an avi select settings and next,and then it says The audio profile you selected doesn't match the source file.

I guess those warnings could be clearer, what's your source, what's the audio profile and what's the muxer? All this must obviously be compatible.

I'm confused as for the input of the values in the scripts.So it has crop,resize,etc.How can i select the number i want to be in the parenthesis?

You don't have to change this by hand, do you understand what a macro is, most serious applications work with macros, it's a fundamental concept important to understand if you want to do anything advanced with StaxRip.


I've made a category named framerate,added script with Name ChangeFPS and script ChangeFPS() but now i want to register the value for the specified filter,that would be 29.97.


Sounds like you want to create a filter profile. Did you try to follow the walkthrough in the help?

[ricardo.santos]

i have a question on the following screenshot, why are there up and down buttons? to select a codec to use isnt it enough to select it and press load?

In my opinion wouldnt it be simpler to have a drop down menu displaying the codecs and upon clicking on it it would load it and close the codec selection menu, same thing with the muxer menu

just my opinion

[stax76]

In my opinion wouldnt it be simpler to have a drop down menu displaying the codecs and upon clicking on it it would load it and close the codec selection menu, same thing with the muxer menu

Loading would be quite a bit easier yes.

[ricardo.santos]

One questuion Stax:

an important feature in STaxRip is the ability to have xsubs but ive encoded 3 dvds so far and havent been able to get multiple xsubs. Staxrip produces the DMF fikle but without xsubs

iveselected divx codec, mux with divxmux and the vobsub plugin

[Chris Benoit]

You don't have to change this by hand, do you understand what a macro is, most serious applications work with macros, it's a fundamental concept important to understand if you want to do anything advanced with StaxRip.

I've only heard of macro,i haven't actually worked with it.

Sounds like you want to create a filter profile. Did you try to follow the walkthrough in the help?

No i haven't yet...

Your program looks prommising!I'm very busy at the moment taking care of some things before i head out for Christmas,but i will certainly look more into your programm when i find some time!

[stax76]

an important feature in STaxRip is the ability to have xsubs but ive encoded 3 dvds so far and havent been able to get multiple xsubs. Staxrip produces the DMF fikle but without xsubs

You have to load the DivX muxer and open the config dialog of the DivX muxer. In the config dialog you have to open a IDX file. The IDX file can be created with VSRip. Once the IDX file is loaded you can select which languages to mux.

I've only heard of macro,i haven't actually worked with it.

It's really simple, maybe you know environment variables in windows, that's pretty much the same. In StaxRip macros are used everywhere, without macros you can forget about most of the profile features and most of the flexibility and you are forced into a linear way of doing things like in GordianKnot.

[ricardo.santos]

You have to load the DivX muxer and open the config dialog of the DivX muxer. In the config dialog you have to open a IDX file. The IDX file can be created with VSRip. Once the IDX file is loaded you can select which languages to mux.

GOT IT!

will have a go at it tomorrow

thanks

[Chris Benoit]

It's really simple, maybe you know environment variables in windows, that's pretty much the same. In StaxRip macros are used everywhere, without macros you can forget about most of the profile features and most of the flexibility and you are forced into a linear way of doing things like in GordianKnot.

Where can i find some documentetation for it?

[stax76]

Where can i find some documentetation for it?

I describe it in the docs as followed:

Macros are placeholders used in command lines, scripts and other customizable settings. Before e.g. a command line is executed macros in the command line get replaced with real values.

If you for instance look at a audio profile it looks as followed:

"%application:BeSweet%" -core( -input "%input%" -output "%output%" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -lame( -p --alt-preset cbr 160 )

So before StaxRip executes this command line it will replace %application:BeSweet% with the actual path of BeSweet that you have selected in the External Application dialog. %input% will get replaced with the audio source file selected in the main dialog.

[mod]

@Stax: I've been able to solve the bitrate control problem on 2 pass XviD encoding. I saw that the problem wasn't only with your software, so I made a deep manual registry cleaning and now it works fine with latest Celtic Druid build, ty for the nice tool :)

PS: I've noted that Aspect 2.1.0 and StaxRip sometimes give different AR %errors with the same resolution settings..

[stax76]

@Stax: I've been able to solve the bitrate control problem on 2 pass XviD encoding. I saw that the problem wasn't only with your software, so I made a deep manual registry cleaning and now it works fine with latest Celtic Druid build, ty for the nice tool

When ever you install another XviD or DivX build StaxRip will notice it and reset the StaxRip encoder profile as well as the XviD or DivX registry key. Hard to tell what happened but it's OK when it works now.


I've noted that Aspect 2.1.0 and StaxRip sometimes give different AR %errors with the same resolution settings..


You can load your source in GK and compare the values, it should be equal unless there is a bug somewhere.

[mod]

I will :)

[ricardo.santos]

Hi everyone!

Finally i managed to get xsubs with StaxRip.

on my first tests to produce xsubs i was encoding 10m vob clips "cut" with dvdshrink from my dvds, it seem VSrip doesnt extract the idxfiles properly when opening these clips done by dvdshrink.

once i copied a full lenght dvd and extracted the full stream with Vsrip i got the xsubs muxed in the final DMF file.

just wish this process could be done without the user action(extracting), vsrip would extract all sub streams automatically and present the user with a selection of subs to be muxed.

Great job Stax on what is shaping up as a really good program!!

[stax76]

on my first tests to produce xsubs i was encoding 10m vob clips "cut" with dvdshrink from my dvds, it seem VSrip doesnt extract the idxfiles properly when opening these clips done by dvdshrink.


Maybe you didn't use the proper PGC number which VSRip requires. In VSRip you can select the PGC number in the left column. Hint: DVD Decrypter has a option to write the PGC number to the file name.


just wish this process could be done without the user action(extracting), vsrip would extract all sub streams automatically and present the user with a selection of subs to be muxed.


Yes, there is room for more automation and streamlining.

Great job Stax on what is shaping up as a really good program!!

Thanks, I'm glad it works now for you!

[ricardo.santos]

Hi
i was trying to convert a small clip using x264. Everything goes fine. VLC plays the MP4 file fine but i cant hear the audio track.

i opened the audio AAc file StaxRip produced with VLC and it played it.

any suggestions? im using latest VLC version

[JoeBG]

Hi
i was trying to convert a small clip using x264. Everything goes fine. VLC plays the MP4 file fine but i cant hear the audio track.

i opened the audio AAc file StaxRip produced with VLC and it played it.

any suggestions? im using latest VLC version

Can you select the audio Track in VLC?

[ricardo.santos]

nero showtime plays the file fine, VLC doesnt

[stax76]

0.9.1.7 (2005-12-25)



change: streamlined profile and quality mode features.
new: Easy way to add forced subtitles.



It looks like there will be a focus shift for the StaxRip development. I've learned from this and other boards that novice users have lot's of problems figuring out how to use StaxRip while there is little feedback from expert users. In DVX I've always tried to reach novice and expert users alike but with little success. I don't want to do the same mistake for StaxRip and rather focus on trying to make things a lot more easier. This means there won't be time left for many advanced features. I hardly have time to support all 100 x264 options just like I hardly have time to support all options of the two upcoming XviD cli encoders. Not being a expert with all this codecs is another problem. Maybe I could move all this stuff into a library and try to find people working with me on it, for instance if somebody works on a similar application and want to use this dialogs as well he could work with me on such a library. If this won't happen I'll only be able to support maybe 10 options for each encoder.

[Franky]

It seems StaxRip won't work on 64bit Windows XP, since it seems to think that AviSynth won't work when residing in c:\windows\syswow64 instead of c:\windows\system32.

[stax76]

Does anybody know what's the deal with syswow64, I'm using this code to determine the sys dir:


Environment.SystemDirectory

[Aladdin]

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the lack of feedback means that people have very little trouble with using your app. I've started to use it instead of MeGUI for converting .avi to a format the iPod likes. Both apps work quite similarly, but I like the greater flexibility StaxRip offers. The iPod is extremely picky with encoder settings and your app allows a completely custom command line. The greater flexibility does make it a bit more difficult to figure out how it works, but only a bit.

I have only two small problems. I store a default target resolution and bitrate in the default project, but every time I open a new file these values are changed. There seems to be some logic behind it, but I'm not sure what that logic is. It's easy enough to reset the values to how I want them, but it is an extra step away from just "open file and press 'next' to encode" after having setup all the profiles.

Another problems doesn't seem to come from your app, but from avi2wav. It doesn't extract the VBR mp3 tracks from the avi files I have been transcoding. Extracting with virtualdub before opening the file in staxrip does make staxrip autoselect the mp3 file, but it would be nice to have it working without the extra step of virtualdub.

Apart from that, thank you for a very nice app :)

[Franky]

I'm guessing the problem is that when Environment.SystemDirectory is called, it returns system32, since that is the correct system folder for 64-bit apps, and since StaxRip is using .NET 2, it in effect is a 64-bit app.

[stax76]

I've started to use it instead of MeGUI for converting .avi to a format the iPod likes. Both apps work quite similarly, but I like the greater flexibility StaxRip offers. The iPod is extremely picky with encoder settings and your app allows a completely custom command line. The greater flexibility does make it a bit more difficult to figure out how it works, but only a bit.


Good to hear the CLI stuff works since I don't use it.


I have only two small problems. I store a default target resolution and bitrate in the default project, but every time I open a new file these values are changed. There seems to be some logic behind it, but I'm not sure what that logic is. It's easy enough to reset the values to how I want them, but it is an extra step away from just "open file and press 'next' to encode" after having setup all the profiles.


Target resolution get adjusted when you use the option Auto Resize (Options/Automation) which is default (dunno what is more popular), I have it enabled.

Bitrate depend on the target lenght and size so the reason why it changes is the target length changes, the size stays. This might be a limitation, if you like we can examine it further, normally people aim for a file size while other (e.g. me) use quality mode (fixed quant), doesn't the iPod fit in traditional encoding methods?

Another problems doesn't seem to come from your app, but from avi2wav. It doesn't extract the VBR mp3 tracks from the avi files I have been transcoding. Extracting with virtualdub before opening the file in staxrip does make staxrip autoselect the mp3 file, but it would be nice to have it working without the extra step of virtualdub.

It does extract the MP3 but as pseudo wav file, what is needed here is a cli demuxer and a command line to make it work, maybe somebody has a idea. Maybe even VirtualDub can be used as VD's CLI can pass args into scripts, maybe somebody can post a example.

I'm much interseted in sample clips other than PAL DVD/DVB btw. so if anybody has something that is not handled well please send it. I plan a auto deinterlace feature and could use some samples for that as well.

http://www.yousendit.com/

I'm guessing the problem is that when Environment.SystemDirectory is called, it returns system32, since that is the correct system folder for 64-bit apps, and since StaxRip is using .NET 2, it in effect is a 64-bit app.

Do all the applications you want to control with StaxRip work if you use them manually?

[ricardo.santos]

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the lack of feedback means that people have very little trouble with using your app.

i agree, up tiil now i only had diffculty in creating DMF with xsubs and how to change audio bitrate(commandline)

On my first attempts with x264 i couldnt figure it out how to do it with MEGUI and with StaxRip it worked the first time(even i was surprised with it) every function was where it was supposed to be.

i think the lack of feedback means that users arent having problems with it!

In my opinion the new Encoder and Muxer selection menu are just right

Good Job Stax

[Franky]

Do all the applications you want to control with StaxRip work if you use them manually?

Yes, they all work absolutely no problem, since they are 32-bit and look in syswow64 for the dlls. I guess there should be some way to check both dirs for the dlls?

[TEB]

Well this is my first venture into stax-encodings.. and i couldnt get my little HD-Mpeg2-ts --> HD.x264 project to work.. it ends at :

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at StaxRip.MP4BoxMuxer.Mux()
at StaxRip.MainForm.Encode()
at StaxRip.MainForm.bSkip_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)


(it does all the ts demuxing and audio transcoding, and when its supposed to start encoding with x264 it blinks and goes back to the gui and says an error)

any idea?

And another thing: How does one really set a new target directory for the encodes, demuxing and so on? I click on the target directory option but i just get the current one up and i cannot select anything..

[Aladdin]

Target resolution get adjusted when you use the option Auto Resize (Options/Automation) which is default (dunno what is more popular), I have it enabled.

Ah, sorry, I was still using version 0.9.1.6 where the option to disable auto resize wasn't there yet. With it disabled it works nicely for me.

Bitrate depend on the target lenght and size so the reason why it changes is the target length changes, the size stays.

Seems logical. I don't much care about the final size (within limits), but the reason I use bitrate instead of fixed quant is that the iPod has a hardware limited bitrate. I guess this is too much of a special case to implement a workflow for it. I'm not really bothered by the way it works now.

It does extract the MP3 but as pseudo wav file

I know that is what it is supposed to do, but it didn't for the files I was transcoding. It does indeed for other files that I tried. The only difference between the files is that one contained a VBR mp3 track (didn't work) and the other a CBR mp3 track (no problems there). I can't share the files, but if further examination is needed, just ask.

[stax76]

@TEB

I would need a bug report generated from StaxRip to find out why the x264 encoding failed. Didn't StaxRip offer to generate a bug report after the crash?

@Franky

I'll upload a hotfix later today.

@Aladdin

I'll look for a additional avi demuxer. Your source is a AVI file containing MP3 VBR and DivX/XviD?

[Aladdin]

@TEB
I'll look for a additional avi demuxer. Your source is a AVI file containing MP3 VBR and DivX/XviD?

Yep, that's right (XviD). I've looked for another CLI avi demuxer myself, but haven't found one that works under windows. I've also looked into VirtualDub, but it doesn't seem it's possible to add the 'Save WAV' option to a job list. So I don't think it is possible to use a script in VD from the command line. But I could be wrong, since I have no experience with VD scripting.

[TEB]

stax, email sent.

[stax76]

The scripting doc contains something which could be the thing we need:


void SaveWAV(string filename); (VirtualDub 1.4d or later)

Runs the processing engine to produce an output file in WAV format.


I can give it a try but since when supports VD MP3 VBR?

stax, email sent.

Thanks, I hope being able to code a little bit today, quite a bit posting (pm/mail/other boards...) going on today.

[chipzoller]

Stax, new build looks good. Although I do agree with you that the interface is a bit complicated for newbies. Just depends on to what group you're gearing this app.

[Aladdin]

The scripting doc contains something which could be the thing we need:
Looks like it indeed.
I can give it a try but since when supports VD MP3 VBR?
It doesn't. But just for demuxing no processing is done on the streams. For me, VD hasn't failed yet using this function. On the other hand, it might be quite a bit of overkill to use VD solely for demuxing an avi. But for now I can't think of an alternative.

[ricardo.santos]

I can give it a try but since when supports VD MP3 VBR?


It doesn't.

i found this, dont know if it will help, just remembered about it.

VirtualDub with MP3 VBR support (http://www.videohelp.com/download/vdub_mp3_freeze.zip)

[stax76]

@TEB

You've selected Pass 3 in All Pass mode and this changed all passes to use pass 3. I've should disabled this option in All Pass mode.

[TEB]

Hi. Im exatcly sure what u mean, i just turned on 3 passes to get the maximum quality :)

[fogbav]

Excelent app ! Great ... exactly what a TS (DVB) to Format XXX needs ...8)

Thank you 4 this great app !

-EDIT- found the command line syntax for encoding ac3-> HE-AAC 5.1

(-core( -input "%input%" -output "%output%" ) -azid( -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -hybridgain ) -bsn( -6chnew -vbr_normal )

tnx

Is there a chance to do Cutting in Project X (GUI ?) as first step and then do the complete encoding process ? DVB Streams are not exactly recorded so i have to cut off leading commercials etc ...

Would be a nice feature .... 8)

[stax76]

Is there a chance to do Cutting in Project X (GUI ?) as first step and then do the complete encoding process ? DVB Streams are not exactly recorded so i have to cut off leading commercials etc ...


I don't think it's possible, you can of yourse use ProjectX by hand and then open the demuxed files.

[fogbav]

Jup ... ok ... seems logical ...8)

First Rips are running ... perfect ... thank you very much again for this "heavy duty" App !
Go and sell it to Ahead so they know how "recode" can look like when its nearly perfect ..8)

[chipzoller]

Would it be possible to add a job timer somewhere? I would like to be able to see the total job time on encodes to see how long a job has taken with certain settings and across different machines. I've got your prog. on about 5 machines all with different hardware and am testing out encoding times with various AVI synth filters. I think this would be a great addition.

thanks

[stax76]

Would be the overall time at the end of a encode's log file OK? IMHO I got it all wrong with the x264 dialog, I think I can do better. There were absolutely no positive feedback about the intermediate state feature but quite a few bug reports because of a wrong intermediate state configuration that I didn't verify. I'll dump this feature, make it easier using automated modes while giving control over the turbo switches, add verifications, add a bitrate/quant slider and maybe even add the x264 logo on top. Before everything I have to fix the pending bugs.

[mezzanine]

Very nice GUI. Great job stax.

[chipzoller]

How about just displaying the total job time somewhere in the window? Or maybe make an option to have a box pop up with the time...I don't know. Whatever you think is best.

[stax76]

@mezzanine

:thanks:

@chipzoller

You mean once a job is finshed displaying how long it took in the job window? I tend to keep everything related processing as elementary as possible. As soon as the processing starts threads are involved and features here usually end up in much complexity and work and if things go worse subtle bugs.

[chipzoller]

Or just some way that Staxrip shows the total processing time of a given job is all I'm after, whether it be shown in the main window or in the log file. I just need to see some time frame in which jobs are completed. This is useful for a variety of reasons and should really be available in staxrip.

[stax76]

@chipzoller

You mean predicting the total time it takes to encode a project, it's not possible. The processing applications calculate and display values while processing. Once things are completed writing it to the job file is easy.

[chipzoller]

I don't mean predicting the total time, I mean displaying the total time AFTER the encoding process is finished. Meaning, starting a time from the beginning of the job and displaying the time it took to complete the job somewhere, either in a log file or other.
I'm thinking of how GordianKnot displays the complete job time when the encoding is finished in the log window...something like that.

[stax76]

I'll write it to the log file.

[chipzoller]

Great, thanks very much! I look forward to testing it out.

[dinolib]

Hi stax,

I'm playing with your new tool. Very interesting.
After a mini test, I have some tiny question:

- x264 automatically downloaded is rel. 334, very old. Do you think to keep it up to date, in the future?

- using Trellis, encoding fails (both kind) silently. Does exist a log file where read codec output (or x264 output)? Do you know the reasons of the error? Same problem with latest x264.
Manually running cl get me an "unknown option ( )" error. MeGUI with the same settings has no problems.

cmd line:

"x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 1443 --stats "HPII.stats" --ref 4 --bframes 5 --trellis 1 --progress --no-psnr --output NUL "HPII.avs"

- Did you planned to include x264 profile management in future releases?

Anyway, thank you for your great program!

bye

[stax76]

x264 automatically downloaded is rel. 334, very old. Do you think to keep it up to date, in the future?


Yes, lately there were more interest so yes I'll work on x264 related things soon.

using Trellis, encoding fails (both kind) silently.

I don't know, maybe you can find out executing it manually?

Did you planned to include x264 profile management in future releases?

There is a profile feature, only thing missing is some default profiles. It's likely a frequently requested feature (you are not the first asking) and thus will likely come, it's not really easy.

[digidragon]

Very nice front-end. Just trying it out now.

Is there a reason why it doesn't allow x264 in an avi container?

[Sirber]

Is there a reason why it doesn't allow x264 in an avi container?Not standard. Time to move to a standard one... MP4 or MKV.

[sillKotscha]

Not standart. Time to move to a standart one... MP4 or MKV.

standar_D_!

:)

[Sirber]

4) Be nice to each other and respect the moderator. Profanity and insults will not be tolerated.:devil: ;)

[stax76]

@Franky

Sorry about the delay, here is the fix for 64 bit system: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

I wouldn't be surprised if more 64 bit system related bugs crop up.

[Nrmf]

ok i am going to give this a try on my 64 bit system and see what the humbug is about.

[Nrmf]

ok am i missing some readmes staxrip dosent seem to see avisynth on my win 64 o/s Mr.Stax can you point me to some readmes on what i need to do to set it up.

thank you for your time your app and your help.

[Nrmf]

ok making some progress got OK's on most of the stuff required

[stax76]

I've uploaded another 64 bit hotfix which searches now in both sys dirs: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

[Nrmf]

so how do i install

[Nrmf]

ok i unzipped it and clicked on .exe and downloaded what it says it was missing and now it says all application are ok

[Nrmf]

ok look slike i get an StaxRip error Box....an error occured while processing DGIndex

edit DGIndex or send bug report

[stax76]

@Nrmf

Probably some wrong configuration or another 64 bit bug. If you don't find a problem you can always make a bug report.

@Aladdin

Here is a thread about avi demuxing:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=104698

[Nrmf]

well it seems that it doent generate a bug report properly either

[Nrmf]

whats your email

[stax76]

That's much of a problem because I cannot fix a bug without a bug report. My email address can be found in the support section of the help.

[Aladdin]

@Stax

Simply passing a small script to VD from the command line seems to work just fine.

// $numjobs 1
// $script


VirtualDub.Open(<'\' escaped path to .avi file>,"",0);
VirtualDub.SaveWAV(<'\' escaped path to .wav file>);
VirtualDub.Close();

// $endjob
//
//--------------------------------------------------
// $done

Save to script.vcf and invoke with
VirtualDub.exe /s"script.vcf" /x

AVI2WAV seems to work just fine in most cases. Maybe you could add the use of VD as a demuxer as an option for people who prefer it or for the cases in which AVI2WAV fails.

BTW, I just noticed the fact that the files that AVI2WAV choked on contained a VBR stream doesn't seem to be the problem. Other avi files also containing such a stream are handled without a problem by AVI2WAV. I'm starting to think that if noone else has had a problem with AVI2WAV there is no need to implement an alternative at all.

[chiklit]

This is my first post here so hopefully you won't find me to be a nuissance. :)

Anyway, I just tried the program out and while it seems like a good concept, I'm not to sure about the implimentation.

Some gripes I have with the program:

It requires .NET (I'm glad they at least partially got rid of this in Delphi 2006, but no such luck for VB). IMHO .NET is just some bloated thing Microsoft invented to try and intigrate everything but it just seems to bog prorgams written in it down.
Everytime you do something for the first time a help windows pops up right in front of the window you were just about to work in. This doesn't really seem necessary since there's a help button on almost every form and makes using the program for the first time really annoying.
When it crashes it doesn't ask where to save the debug file. I don't know about everyone else but my desktop is not a place where I'd put a file I actually want to find :P
This might be because I downloaded the source instead of the release, but once I tried to load a file for the first time it poped up asking me to download a bunch of programs. Most of them I already had installed but it either found the wrong version or didn't find them at all. It would be nice to be able to simply tell it the directory for each of the apps in addition to being able to download them. A download all function would also be nice. If this is different in the non-source release then just ignore this.
When you do something there isn't much indication that what you did had any effect. Like when I uncheck resize the resize options don't disable themselves and still allow me to change them leading to some confusion as to whether or not resize is actually disabled. Same with crop when you disable it the cropped size is still shown as different under the input file instead of the same as the original.
The interface is a bit counter-intuitive at least for me. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that I needed to use the next button to go forwards, I was looking for an 'Encode' button and though the next button was just to go to the next hint down at the bottom.


Now for the bugs I saw:

This might not be a bug but even though noise and subtitle are shown on the filters setup box they don't show up in the list on the main form.
When it asked me to perform a compressability test it poped open a dos window but even after a few minutes it didn't seem to be doing anything so I ended up aborting.


Suggestions:

It's sort of difficult to tell what encoder and muxer your using you should probably use a check menu to indicate what encoder/muxer your using. It would also be nice to have the option to change these from the main form without having to go to the menu since it's one of the most often changed settings.
It'd be nice to have the program recgonize irregular resolutions from the uncropped/resized original instead of just on the resize adjuster since it still let me encode even though x264 said that since one of the demensions was not divisible by 16 it might effect the compression.
Since you already have the box at the bottom indicating what all the buttons do you should probably also have a tooltip on the labels for things like quality and compressability saying what the numbers there indicate.
This might just be this one error, but when you have crop disabled and then go to crop in the menu instead of saying that the filter setup doesn't allow cropping it should say something like "You must enable crop in the filters list first." Or when you uncheck crop in the filters list disable crop in the menus options.
There doesn't seem to be a precise way to adjust the cropping. You might want to do something like in virtualdub with cropping so you can adjust the values more precisely.
I don't really know why this occurs so it might be a bug but when you switch to x264 in the encoder menu it also switches to mp4 in the muxer options if this is a bug then ignore this, but if it's a feature then the menu option should probably only do what it says since having it change both the encoder and the muxer when you only expect it to change the encoder is a bit confusing.


Sorry if I came off as a bit over critical and I understand that the program is still in testing but hopefully you found some of my suggestions useful.

[stax76]

@chiklit

Thanks for your feedback. Is it possible you rush things a little bit? :)

[chiklit]

@chiklit

Thanks for your feedback. Is it possible you rush things a little bit? :)

You mean judging too quickly or working too fast? Or perhaps a little of both ;)

[stax76]

I mean for instance point 4, but there are many rushed points.

This might be because I downloaded the source instead of the release, but once I tried to load a file for the first time it poped up asking me to download a bunch of programs. Most of them I already had installed but it either found the wrong version or didn't find them at all. It would be nice to be able to simply tell it the directory for each of the apps in addition to being able to download them. A download all function would also be nice. If this is different in the non-source release then just ignore this.

There is a Search button in the External Applications dialog to locate existing apps. This button is well documented in the help that pops up when the dialog is opened the first time, it has a tooltip like everything.

[chiklit]

I mean for instance point 4, but there are many rushed points.



There is a Search button in the External Applications dialog to locate existing apps. This button is well documented in the help that pops up when the dialog is opened the first time, it has a tooltip like everything.

Yeah, I noticed that, but I figured it'd be eaiser to configure that by just specifiying a directory like when you went to the external app menu you could pick and app and then double click under where it says path and just specifiy a path in addition to being able to use the search function to find things. I think "Searches a already installed application." should be "Searches for an already installed application." though

As for being rushed, yeah I did write that a bit hurriedly since those were only my first impressions, if there's anything else you want me to elaborate on let me know. I'd help fix some stuff myself since I've been programming in VB and Delphi for about 6 years now but since I mostly program in Delphi now I don't have Visual Studio installed.

[stax76]

Yeah, I noticed that, but I figured it'd be eaiser to just let the user tell the program where each specific app is like when you went to the external app menu you could pick and app and then double click under where it says path and just specifiy a path, having to go to the whole process with the search menu and having two different kinds of searchs seems like a bit much to just specify a single directory.

There is probably room for improvements but no matter how you do it it will be boring to pick up the paths. Currently I don't have a clear vision how to improve it so I hope to get feedback to clear the fog.

double click under where it says path and just specifiy a path

You mean extending the custum control to add sort of button?

[chiklit]

You mean extending the custum control to add sort of button?

Yeah something like that. Like in avisynth's installer when you pick to install the vdub plugin you click the [...] button and tell it where the virtualdub directory is.

[stax76]

I agree it would intuitive but still hope to find a way avoiding to mess with my custom control as it takes time. It can scroll, scale but non of the item classes can embed child controls yet.

[chiklit]

You could add another button to the toolbar with something like "Specify Location"

[stax76]

I'll add it.

[mulrich]

I don't know if this has already been requested, but I don't have time to read through all pages now: can you add an option to hardsub? I tried to add a filter to use TextSub, but AviSynth just complained about not knowing the command.

[stax76]

It requires .NET (I'm glad they at least partially got rid of this in Delphi 2006, but no such luck for VB). IMHO .NET is just some bloated thing Microsoft invented to try and intigrate everything but it just seems to bog prorgams written in it down.

I'm not too fond of Delphi either ;)

When it crashes it doesn't ask where to save the debug file. I don't know about everyone else but my desktop is not a place where I'd put a file I actually want to find :P

I thought most users use the desktop for tasks like this, your method would be a addituional step for most users.

Everytime you do something for the first time a help windows pops up right in front of the window you were just about to work in. This doesn't really seem necessary since there's a help button on almost every form and makes using the program for the first time really annoying.

I should have done a global option, it's not too late.

When you do something there isn't much indication that what you did had any effect. Like when I uncheck resize the resize options don't disable themselves and still allow me to change them leading to some confusion as to whether or not resize is actually disabled. Same with crop when you disable it the cropped size is still shown as different under the input file instead of the same as the original.

I understand what you mean, probably difficult to do

The interface is a bit counter-intuitive at least for me. It took me a couple of seconds to realize that I needed to use the next button to go forwards, I was looking for an 'Encode' button and though the next button was just to go to the next hint down at the bottom.

I think the assistant way is not bad, it gives many useful warnings and creates a workflow, maybe needs time to get used to it. I thought about giving control about what it should remind.


This might not be a bug but even though noise and subtitle are shown on the filters setup box they don't show up in the list on the main form.

It's configurable and the defaults are simple because it might be scary for novice users.

When it asked me to perform a compressability test it poped open a dos window but even after a few minutes it didn't seem to be doing anything so I ended up aborting.

x264 is a console app, maybe wrong x264 options, this stuff needs work and it's the next big thing, a new x264 config dialog.

It's sort of difficult to tell what encoder and muxer your using you should probably use a check menu to indicate what encoder/muxer your using. It would also be nice to have the option to change these from the main form without having to go to the menu since it's one of the most often changed settings.

Regarding checkboxes, wouldn't make sense, after the object is cloned there is no relation. I've noticed there is no indication but hadn't a great idea yet. About putting it on the form, how would you do that?


It'd be nice to have the program recgonize irregular resolutions from the uncropped/resized original instead of just on the resize adjuster since it still let me encode even though x264 said that since one of the demensions was not divisible by 16 it might effect the compression.

Didn't understand it.

Since you already have the box at the bottom indicating what all the buttons do you should probably also have a tooltip on the labels for things like quality and compressability saying what the numbers there indicate.

The What's This help would open a help topic if writing this wouldn't be that much of a pain :)


This might just be this one error, but when you have crop disabled and then go to crop in the menu instead of saying that the filter setup doesn't allow cropping it should say something like "You must enable crop in the filters list first." Or when you uncheck crop in the filters list disable crop in the menus options.

Needs work, yes

There doesn't seem to be a precise way to adjust the cropping. You might want to do something like in virtualdub with cropping so you can adjust the values more precisely.

Aren't the values in the status bar enough? Guess what happens when I was encoding with VirtualDub by hand? I thought no way me going to all this several times a day. So I started DVX 4 years ago, I cannot even remember what the crop dialog looks like.

I don't really know why this occurs so it might be a bug but when you switch to x264 in the encoder menu it also switches to mp4 in the muxer options if this is a bug then ignore this, but if it's a feature then the menu option should probably only do what it says since having it change both the encoder and the muxer when you only expect it to change the encoder is a bit confusing.

It's by design, looking at the menu nobody would expect this and this is bad. My considerations were changing a encoder will likely need another muxer, think of formats like avc, wmv, rv10 etc. This sound stupid but the other problem was I didn't know from where to open the muxer options so it was handy being able to make the muxer part of the encoder. The fact that the muxer options are avaiable in the encoder menu is a indication that the muxer is part of the encoder.

[stax76]

I don't know if this has already been requested, but I don't have time to read through all pages now: can you add an option to hardsub? I tried to add a filter to use TextSub, but AviSynth just complained about not knowing the command.

There is Tools/Add Forced Subtitle but this uses VobSub(). If you need another function for forced subtitles I'll have to work on it. How is TextSub() different? Where can I download it or is it a function of vsfilter too?

[mulrich]

There is Tools/Add Forced Subtitle but this uses VobSub(). If you need another function for forced subtitles I'll have to work on it. How is TextSub() different? Where can I download it or is it a function of vsfilter too?

Oh yeah, the VobSub thingie doesn't work either. I tried it and AviSynth says it doesn't know what VobSub means. TextSub is part of the VobSub download, I think.

TextSub is different, because it can work with text subs like SRT, SSA and ASS without losing formatting. VobSub can't do that as far as I know.

[stax76]

@mulrich

try this: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

[Macarse]

goin to check it.

[mulrich]

@mulrich

try this: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

Thanks, stax, works perfectly now! :D You should implement that as a permanent fix.

EDIT: Now I just need to be able to add multiple subtitle tracks ;)

[Nrmf]

Stax did u get me email on the eroors i am getting in win 64 bit pro

[stax76]

Now I just need to be able to add multiple subtitle tracks

Optional subtitles are already supported for mkv, mp4 and divx ;)

Stax did u get me email on the eroors i am getting in win 64 bit pro

I received only a project file. You said generating a bug report does not work after the crash. What if you generate a bug report from the main menu?

[Nrmf]

how do i do that stax

[stax76]

In the main menu choose Help and select Send Bug Report.