WME Assistant (WMEA) -- a fast, easy, batch windows media encoder

[tchaikovsky]

WME Assistant (WMEA) is a fast, easy batch Windows Media Encoder.

Main Features:

- High speed encoding - approximately twice the speed of 'wmcmd.vbs', the Windows Media Encoder command-line tool. Unlike some other applications that use lower Video Complexity Settings, users can fully control output video quality using WMEA.

- Fully supports WMV9 / VC-1 codec. Users can encode WMV files at bit rate of 4K-135M bps using WMEA.

- With a friendly user-interface and customizable settings, you can easily add sources and configure compression settings. You will no longer need to edit Registry key values manually when using the WVC1 codec's Advanced Settings.

- Supports Avisynth script files as inputs.

- Supports separate sources, folder as inputs.

- Supports jointing several media files to one windows media file.

- If your media file can be played by WMP correctly, then it will be encoded correctly by WMEA.

v1.16 2007-03-12
New Supports auto switch off users' monitor.
Adjust Supports changing process priority on the fly. Thanks to Dacian Andrei for his advice.
Adjust Some parts of UI.
Fixed Bugs of VBR encoding mode. Thanks to Kevin Stenner and Hunter Harrington for the bug reports.

v1.15 2007-02-06
New Supports using a folder as the source and drag & drop files onto the job list. Thanks Richard Gregg for his advice.
Adjust Set FPS value to 0 to use the frame rate of sources. Thanks to Richard Gregg and zambelli.
Adjust Some parts of UI(Maximize and resize main window, some small icons of job list and player). Thanks to Dacian Andrei for his advice.
Fixed An access violation error will occur when get data form registry.
Adjust Removed WM-codec-packages (WMFormat9AP & WMFormat11) from setup program. Thanks to zambelli for his info.

v1.14 2006-11-24
Adjust Add tray icon and progress bar in grid. Replace some icons and adjust some other parts of the UI. Thanks to Andrew Tobin for his advice.
Adjust No need for users re-register when update WMEA. Thanks to Andrew Tobin for his advice.

v1.13 2006-11-19
New Supports interlace, Deinterlace and Invert telecine video optimize processing. Thanks to Traivs Bell for his testing job.
Fix An access violation will occur when sources can not be supported by WMP.
Adjust Input format of FPS setting. Thanks to Traivs Bell for his suggestions.

v1.12 2006-11-10
Fix Bugs of using 'Open Source Directories' to open folders that separate sources located.
Fix An access violation error will occur when delete all items from play list.
Fix Bugs of current position indicator's refresh rate(WMEA v1.10, v1.11).
Adjust Some icons.

v1.11 2006-11-02
New WMFormat11 runtime update to the latest version that included in Windows Media Player 11 (2006-10-31 released version).
Adjust Some parts of UI.

v1.10 2006-10-31
New Support converting / jointing separate video and audio sources in batch.
New WMFormat9 with AP codec package for WinXP SP1. AP codec extract from WMFormat11 runtime and to install this package does not require for SP2, WMFormat9.5 and WMP10.
Fix An error of 'a module can not be found' will occur when re-configure encoding settings.
Adjust Some parts of UI.

v1.9 2006-10-25
New Codecs update to WMFormat11 (WVC1 encoder / decoder & WMA10 Pro supported).
Adjust Removed WVC1DMO beta codec pack from setup program.
Fix Bugs of displaying encoding time at status bar(English UI), output path at general settings tab and player buttons(English UI)

v1.6 2006-10-23
Fix An access violation will occur when use VC-1 Advanced Settings.
Fix Bugs of dynamic multi language module.
Adjust Cut LRC related functions.
Adjust Some parts of UI.

v1.5 2006-9-13
New Supports dynamic changing languages of UI. Simple Chinese and English have been supported.
Fix Bugs when re-configure encoding settings using converting encoder working mode.
Fix character strings format adjust (convert subtitle files to LRC files).

v1.4 2006-9-7
New Supports encode WMV files at bit rate of 4 -135Mbps.
Fix Bugs when load media files.
Fix Bugs in jointing encoder working mode.
Adjust Some parts of UI.

v1.2 2006-9-2
New Encoding statistics for Avisynth script files encoding and jointing encoder working mode.
Fix An access violation error will occur when Player quit.
Adjust Rename Media Assistant to WME Assistant.

v1.1 2006-8-12
New VC-1 codec and advanced settings of it.
Fix Some UI bugs.

v1.0 2004-9-20
New Batch windows media encoder.
New Supports encode to 5.1 / 7.1 multi-channel WMV / WMA.
New Supports Avisynth script files as inputs.
New Jointing encoding mode.
New Simple Player for preview encoded file.
New SRT, SMI Subtitle files convert to LRC files.
New Several subtitle files Joint to one LRC file.

For more information, please visit http://www.wmeassistant.com

[buzzqw]

what's mean "trial download" and "You can get your registration code file from email after the payment is completed to activate unlimited version of WMEA."

Is payware the product ?

what is the restriction of trial download ?

BHH

[tchaikovsky]

Sorry about that, the free version has been removed several days ago :-)

trial version has two limited aspects : one file you can add to the encoding list each time and the max length of WMV/ WMA files created by trial version is 10 minutes.

[DarkZell666]

49$ USD ??? What the heck ? oO

I'll indeed try it and evaluate it, but considering that MS provides an encoding solution for free (not top notch for sure, but still, It works ...) I find that just a bit ... greedy ?

I'm not expert in the legal grounds but bundling free filters in a payware application isn't neat at all either :/

Edit: I can't try it at work since WM11 needs SP2 ... lol, what a pitty (not your fault though ;))

[tchaikovsky]

49$ USD ??? What the heck ? oO

I'll indeed try it and evaluate it, but considering that MS provides an encoding solution for free (not top notch for sure, but still, It works ...) I find that just a bit ... greedy ?

I'm not expert in the legal grounds but bundling free filters in a payware application isn't neat at all either :/

Edit: I can't try it at work since WM11 needs SP2 ... lol, what a pitty (not your fault though ;))

oh! man, MS can do a lot things for free, say, virtual pc 2004, but can you, can I ?

The filters included in the package just in case, actually, most of the time they have already been installed on a encoder player's pc, right?

Edit :

Remind you: ...Cut: WME9, WVC1DMO beta. You do not have to install WME9 for files converting job. ***But WMEA still works well with WME9, WMFormat 9/9.5 ***...

and thank you for the tips, I will remove them and repack it.

[tchaikovsky]

DarkZell666

Well, I removed the filters and repacked setup package yesterday.

This tool is only a *encoder* tool that use MS XXX SDK, likes the others. But it doesn't mean the others tools that use these free SDK have to be free, AFAIK.

Right you are. MS provides an encoding solution for free. As i said, is there any other Corp can do an encoding solution for free?

This tool not a *decoder* tool. Actually, anyone can use any others *decoders or filters* they like. No need for binding them in this software.

Add the buttons in this tool to configure filters options quickly and included them in setup package just because I usually use these filters for decoding job. you can use your favorite tools. These buttons just for easier to use them.

If you do something, AutoWMV tool, free, share or commercial, I'll very gald to try it :)

-Tchaikovsky

[foxyshadis]

As long as you're willing to distribute the sources as well as the binaries (avisynth at least includes them), and you don't compile them directly into your code, there's no prohibition on including GPL software with commercial packages.

[tchaikovsky]

As long as you're willing to distribute the sources as well as the binaries (avisynth at least includes them), and you don't compile them directly into your code, there's no prohibition on including GPL software with commercial packages.

AFAIK, WME9 can use .avs inputs, I just do the same thing but easier for use. you mean ... MS compile them directly in WME9 code and MS have to distribut the sources as well as the binaries?

[tchaikovsky]

Sorry for the misleading act. It seems I have not make it clear. This tool only use MS SDK for encode and make it easier for use. all the other installing packages included in the setup program just for convenient purpose. In free version or trial version. No need for include them in the setup program and I had already removed them from trail version yesterday. The free version download removed one week ago.

I'm not use these installing packages (avisynth, ffdshow, ac3filter) make profits and I can't do that. Anyone who want use them can get them. Even if i'm going to use them in commercial, how can i take advantage of something everyone can get for free?

[foxyshadis]

Avisynth's license specifies that anything can use avisynth.h to communicate with it, even if it's closed source. So that's no issue. If MS were to distribute avisynth, hypothetically, they would have to provide or at least be willing to provide the sources to avisynth on demand. But since they're included in the avisynth installer, that's taken care of.

Ac3filter and ffdshow don't include sources, but they are on sourceforge and it wouldn't be hard to bundle with your app. For the most part, distribution of anything from sourceforge without sources is fine, as long as readmes are kept intact, because the sources are always there for the taking by anyone interested, even if the letter of the GPL is a little stricter.

[tchaikovsky]

Firstly, thank you for the lessons.

Secondly, I had made a note on my blog and DarkZell666 had seen that note, then he posts here to point it out there is some issues.

So, I removed these installers (avisynth, ffdshow, ac3filter) form this tool installer and rebuild it yesterday.

After that I deleted that note form my blog.

This new package does things right?

[zambelli]

AFAIK, WME9 can use .avs inputs, I just do the same thing but easier for use. you mean ... MS compile them directly in WME9 code and MS have to distribut the sources as well as the binaries?
WME9 does (sort of) support Avisynth inputs, but not because it was specifically developed for Avisynth. Remember that Avisynth uses an interface very similar to AVI. WME9 has an AVI handler, and just by proxy happens to work with Avisynth scripts too. The only bug (which I worked around with the latest wmcmd.vbs revisions) was that it could not retrieve the duration property from .avs sources.

Bottom line: there is no Avisynth-specific code in WME9.

[tchaikovsky]

WME9 does (sort of) support Avisynth inputs, but not because it was specifically developed for Avisynth. Remember that Avisynth uses an interface very similar to AVI. WME9 has an AVI handler, and just by proxy happens to work with Avisynth scripts too. The only bug (which I worked around with the latest wmcmd.vbs revisions) was that it could not retrieve the duration property from .avs sources.

Bottom line: there is no Avisynth-specific code in WME9.

Yeah, I saw wmcmd.vbs how to get .avs duration.

[dlight]

Supports avs inputs but what kind of sources? TS? MPG? I can't get the thing to work, some better documentation would be great. I definitely won't pay for this until I can get a few encodes working.

[tchaikovsky]

Supports avs inputs but what kind of sources? TS? MPG? I can't get the thing to work, some better documentation would be great. I definitely won't pay for this until I can get a few encodes working.

Sorry for that, i mean this tool is a encoding tool, not a converting tool. if your media files can be played by WMP , then WMEA can encode it.

The english help doc.... i'm working on it.

[travisbell]

I have successfully used WME Assistant to encode some 720p WMV's from my HD .mpg sources. .ts files don't seem to work at the moment.

Once the IVTC and de-interlacing work a bit better, I think this program might very well be worth purchasing.

Cheers,

[dlight]

Really, I'm looking for something like AutoGordian Knot that generates VC1 video.

[travisbell]

dlight,

WMEA does more or less is a AutoGK equivalent however, we don't have near the custom options (like which resizer to choose or auto cropping) but the latest version do encode pretty much everything I've thrown at it, with proper IVTC and de-interlacing.

A few more versions down the road and it might be much, much more powerful.

[sjchmura]

WME cannot accept AVS files with the audio (say nicac3filter) muxed in


audio (video,audio).

This is a real shame. ProCoder 2 can do this supposedly but it is $500.

So you can use MEGUI to generate a great IVTC script and just dub the audio in with delay, pop into ProCoder, and it works.

If only WME would work for the masses - we could all make XBOX360 compliant VC1 streams.

[zambelli]

WME cannot accept AVS files with the audio (say nicac3filter) muxed in
I've never experienced this problem. Are you muxing stereo or multichannel audio?

[dlight]

dlight,

WMEA does more or less is a AutoGK equivalent however, we don't have near the custom options (like which resizer to choose or auto cropping) but the latest version do encode pretty much everything I've thrown at it, with proper IVTC and de-interlacing.

A few more versions down the road and it might be much, much more powerful.

I have yet to get the program to encode anything. I have tried an mpeg file and an avs script and after 24+ hrs all I get is a 30K file and a failed to encode message. That's it. I am using the trial but no way am I paying for it until I get some decent 3 minute encodes out.

[travisbell]

Hey man, not sure what to say. Try uploading your mpeg somewhere and letting the developers take a look at it.

I've only been throwing HD .mpeg files at it. It's worked for all of my files.

One thing, if I remember correctly, that was happening if I had a setting in the audio settings set wrong. I think, anyways... no gurantees.

[tchaikovsky]

I have yet to get the program to encode anything. I have tried an mpeg file and an avs script and after 24+ hrs all I get is a 30K file and a failed to encode message. That's it. I am using the trial but no way am I paying for it until I get some decent 3 minute encodes out.

eh... Maybe, I can do something here...

A user who comes from UK had the same problem when he used 2pass encoding mode for ac3 audio.

Mail me if you still have problems with WMEA.

-t

[DarkNite]

Apparently this has gotten popular lately. Every time I go to download the trial version mydatabus.com sais:

This user has exceeded their quota for public file downloads today. Try again later!

Any chances of someone mirroring?

[tchaikovsky]

Apparently this has gotten popular lately. Every time I go to download the trial version mydatabus.com sais:



Any chances of someone mirroring?

Thanks for interested in this app. Obviously, it has no mirroring at this moment. But I will send you a copy via mail if you will:)

[dlight]

Has the program undergone any changes since December?

[jeffy]

Has the program undergone any changes since December?

http://www.wmeassistant.com/new.html (v1.15 2007-02-06)
http://www.wmeassistant.com/download.html (Release Date: 2007-03-09)

[easy2Bcheesy]

Giving this tool a go now. Looks most intriguing, but can it letterbox widescreen videos into a 4:3 frame?

I have a 1280x720 HD file that needs to be reduced down to 400x225, then letterboxed so the final video is 400x300.

Can this tool do the job?

[Slitheen]

I tried this out, worked quite well. Shame it's not free.

I'd pay $19.95 for it, but not $39.95.

[tchaikovsky]

Thanks jeffy :)

dlight

Please visit WMEA's website: http://www.wmeassistant.com

easy2Bcheesy

I replyed your PM :) Please check it.

Slitheen

Thank you for your advice:) Like a friend said, "we all need support sometimes", right?

[x_specter_x]

*** BUYER BEWARE ***

WME ASSISTANT will stop working if you change any hardware. When you register it, if you change out certain hardware the software will revert back to the trial version. I bought the software and only 2 weeks later put in a new faster CPU. Then WME assistant went back to trial mode. I contacted the company to let them know what happened and asked for a new code to work with my new CPU. They refused. I pissed away $40 for software I can't even use.

If you thought Microsoft had a bad software license, WME assistant is MUCH worse!

SOFTWARE ISSUES:
When encoding VC1 video in CBR mode it doesn't correctly set the bit rate. If you calculate the bit rate for a video to get a 8GB file and use this software it will come out closer to 5GB. You can use those same settings in the FREE Windows Media Encoder and it will correctly produce the 8GB file with much better quality. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THIS SOFTWARE.

Anything WME Assistant can do, Windows Media Encoder can do MUCH, MUCH better and it is FREE!

WME Assistant says you can use any input that plays in windows media player (using directx filters). Well that applies to Windows Media Encoder. I am converting VC1 video and Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio by simply using Sonic Cineplayer HD DVD Decoder version 4.2. It will allow you to process demuxed HD-DVD video files and Audio files.

So to sum it up.... just use Windows Media Encoder or some other free and superior software.

This software gets a 1 out of 10. AVOID.

[tchaikovsky]

First of all, we are very appreciate you for your good review which obviously had been edited as it is now.
*** BUYER BEWARE ***

WME ASSISTANT will stop working if you change any hardware. When you register it, if you change out certain hardware the software will revert back to the trial version. I bought the software and only 2 weeks later put in a new faster CPU. Then WME assistant went back to trial mode. I contacted the company to let them know what happened and asked for a new code to work with my new CPU. They refused. I pissed away $40 for software I can't even use.

Not sure what to say. We had already informed you that we will give you another special offer and you agreed on Dec. 16. But we found your paypal claim right after that.

============================================================
The Dispute History Log displays all actions related to your claim.
Date Actor Action Details
Dec. 20, 2007 PayPal Case under review
Dec. 17, 2007 PayPal Email sent to buyer
Dec. 17, 2007 Seller Tracking information received
Dec. 16, 2007 PayPal Email sent to buyer
Dec. 16, 2007 Buyer Dispute escalated to claim

Total Messages: 3
From PayPal: PayPal on 12/16/2007 03:45 CTT
Buyer escalated this dispute to a Claim.
From Buyer: Anthony Rizzo on 12/16/2007 03:45 CTT
I do not have a working key for the software I purchased from them. Their copy protection method doesn't allow for any hardware changes on the computer or it will not work. I need a working registry key to get the software to work with my computer. I can not use their software at all. They know this too and refuse to help.
From Buyer: Anthony Rizzo on 12/16/2007 00:33 CTT
Software requires a key to work and I do not have a working key.
============================================================

So, we hand over your case to Paypal and we are still waiting for your response.
If you thought Microsoft had a bad software license, WME assistant is MUCH worse!

Like we said, the license of WME assistant only work for one machine, but it is free for upgrades.
SOFTWARE ISSUES:
When encoding VC1 video in CBR mode it doesn't correctly set the bit rate. If you calculate the bit rate for a video to get a 8GB file and use this software it will come out closer to 5GB. You can use those same settings in the FREE Windows Media Encoder and it will correctly produce the 8GB file with much better quality. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THIS SOFTWARE.

Would please give us more details about this issue? TIA
Anything WME Assistant can do, Windows Media Encoder can do MUCH, MUCH better and it is FREE!

User needs are various. If you need to encode a clip which bit rate is over 20Mbps or encode some clips in batch processing, etc., WMEA might help.
WME Assistant says you can use any input that plays in windows media player (using directx filters). Well that applies to Windows Media Encoder. I am converting VC1 video and Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio by simply using Sonic Cineplayer HD DVD Decoder version 4.2. It will allow you to process demuxed HD-DVD video files and Audio files.

Yeah, both of them base on WMSDK.
So to sum it up.... just use Windows Media Encoder or some other free and superior software.

This software gets a 1 out of 10. AVOID.

Oh, I've just read your P.M. Did you say "This software is by far the easiest to use!"?:)

Waiting for your response.

[x_specter_x]

Not sure what to say. We had already informed you that we will give you another special offer and you agreed on Dec. 16. But we found your paypal claim right after that.



Unfortunately, that is a lie. They never offered me a special. They wanted me to buy their software again.


THIS FREE SOFTWARE IS MUCH BETTER THAN WME ASSISTANT:
http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/

Media Coder is free and doesn't rely on codecs on your system. It has built in codecs for nearly every format. It is amazing. It does batch file conversion and is shockingly fast.

Media Coder also has a huge selection of hardware profiles (zune, pda, ipod...etc). They have just added functions to create thumbnails of your video. The software is updated weekly with new features. It is simply amazing software.

[tchaikovsky]

Unfortunately, that is a lie. They never offered me a special. They wanted me to buy their software again.


THIS FREE SOFTWARE IS MUCH BETTER THAN WME ASSISTANT:
http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/

Media Coder is free and doesn't rely on codecs on your system. It has built in codecs for nearly every format. It is amazing. It does batch file conversion and is shockingly fast.

I'm confused. Why you posted here again and again, but did not respond your paypal claim until it had been closed?

[skrowl]

I was considering checking it out until I realized they want an amazing $40 for what's basically a front end to some free software, especially if it gives you trouble when you get new hardware / new computer.

I'm going to take your advice and check out MediaCoder!

[tchaikovsky]

I was considering checking it out until I realized they want an amazing $40 for what's basically a front end to some free software, especially if it gives you trouble when you get new hardware / new computer.

I'm going to take your advice and check out MediaCoder!

Good for you.

The thing is this tool is a software which based on windows media sdk like windows media encoder app and wmcmd.vbs. According to redistribution agreements of the SDK, it must include the Windows Media Encoder software.

It's neither a GUI nor a front end. It will work properly if you delete the executive files of windows media encoder software - wmenc.exe and wmcmd.vbs.

And it can use all windows media encoders installed on your system and any decoder which can work well with WMP whether it is free or not - it's up to you.