iTunes - Audio, but white frame video

[TwoToad]

I've been re-encoding anime using Sharktooth's iPod 5.5g profile and most of the time the encodes come out perfect. Once in a while though all I get in iTunes is a white frame for the video but I can still hear the audio. I was reading this thread: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=101813&page=25 but there hasn't been a solution yet.

Here's how I've been encoding:

DirectShowSource("Anime.avi",fps=23.9759856527702, convertfps=true, audio=true)
#blank deinterlace line
#crop
LanczosResize(640,352) # Lanczos (Sharp)
#denoise
ConvertToYV12()

I use convertfps=true because once in a while the audio will be off. This way it stays in sync. The only thing else I do, is resize the video. I don't mess with anything else because I assume the fansub group knew what they were doing, and I am a newbie. =)

I use neroaacenc to reencode the audio to 128 cbr. I have noticed that nero doesn't actually hit 128 though. The audio always turns out to be 131 cbr. That would be a problem if I was trying to hit the iPod's limit of 160 cbr. (Is there a way to add iTunes aac encoder to megui because it actually hits the right bitrate?) Anyway...

I use Auto Encode to put it all together, set the file size (the video bitrate averages 1000k), and muxing with nicmp4box. Tag it with atomicparsley and load into iTunes. As I said, most of the encodes come out perfect except for 1 or 2 eps out of a season. The "bad" encodes will load into iTunes, just not play right. They will also transfer to the iPod and actually play correctly though!?!

All the software I've been using is up to date, so that ~shouldn't~ be the problem.

Oh, and my purpose in doing this was to originally get a season down to 1 dvd size: 26 eps X 172mb = 1 dvd. I know the subs are harder to read on the iPod screen, but I plan to plug it into my TV at some point...

[HowlerX]

Add the line:
AssumeFPS(24000,1001)

to the end of the .avs script (for 23.976fps content).

For 29.97fps video content you should add the line:

AssumeFPS(30000,1001)

at the end

Try that first. I'm pretty sure that will solve your problem.

If you get audio sync issues, you might have to demux the audio from the .avi file using VirtualDubMod and encode it separately.

Good luck. Let us know if it worked.

[B. W.]

I'm having the same problem as TwoToad, but I can't try out HowlerX's solution at the moment. Let us know if you get the videos to play!

[TwoToad]

Unfortunately no, I still get the white frame with audio.

[HowlerX]

Ah, I re-read your post and noticed you used MeGUI's AutoEncode button. I too had that white-frame problem, but only when I used MeGUI's AutoEncode button. When I encoded video and audio separately and muxed manually (all done using MeGUI), the video would then play perfectly.

When I use MeGUI's AutoEncode with x264 it produces a raw h264 file for some reason (even though I tell it to produce an MP4.) Which is why I had to resort to do everything manually with MeGUI. By manually, I mean AVS input>Enqueue, Audio input>Enqueue>wait for it all to encode>Tools>MP4Muxer>Enqueue>All done.

That's how I got rid of the white-frame problem. Hope it works for you this time.

[TwoToad]

Oh cool. I'll give it a shot HowlerX... Will let you know how it goes tonight.

[TwoToad]

Well, I encoded the audio, then set the bitrate for the video (which comes out closer to 900kps than 1000 like I said earlier) and encoded both to separate mp4's. Then muxed them together with MP4Muxer, which is set to nicmp4box.

The resulting file won't load into itunes at all now. Sheesh I don't know where I'm messing up!

[HowlerX]

Man, I was sure that last suggestion would work! The only thing I can think of to try is updating the DirectShowSource.dll that AVISynth uses. Backup the old one in your AVISynth plugin directory and try the one posted in this thread:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=907182#post907182

Or, you can just try AVISource instead, in your case:

AVISource("Anime.avi",audio=true)
#blank deinterlace line
#crop
LanczosResize(640,352) # Lanczos (Sharp)
#denoise
AssumeFPS(24000,1001)

Assuming you have the appropriate codecs, it should encode fine. I still recommend you add AssumeFPS line at the end of your scripts, because eventually you'll come across a file that iTunes wont like because of frame rate issues.

One other thing you can do to try and track the problem is muxing the video with NicMP4Box without the audio to see if it's just the video that is giving you problems.

Really, that's all I can think of. I'm not sure why you are having a problem with that one file when you said all your other similar encodes went fine. Feel free to try these new suggestions and I hope you get it to work.

[TwoToad]

It's definately not the audio giving me problems. =)

I'll try that other DirectShowSource.dll first, then the AVISource option.

Also, adding the AssumeFPS option to my AVISynth profile.

Encoding now, but gotta head to work.

[TwoToad]

Well, it's been a while since I posted on this; I had given up on it for a while. I *think* I may have figured out the white frame issue.

First of all, delete the older iPod profile (not the 5.5G one). It keeps getting in the way.

If you read the Readme.txt that came with NicMP4Box, you'll notice that it requires --no-cabac, --sar 1:1, and -- level 30 (???). Sharktooth's iPod 5.5G profile doesn't include the sar and level 30.

Ok, so select the 5.5G profile and hit config. On the first (Main) tab, set AVC Level to "Unrestricted". Then go to the next tab (Zones) and near the bottom is Custom Commandline Options. Enter "--sar 1:1 --level 30". Hit the Update button to save the new 5.5G profile (or hit New and save it as a new profile).

I just tested with one movie that was white-framing me and it loaded into iTunes just fine. If anyone else could test this out?... I can't remember which vids were giving me issues, so I haven't tested this completely.

[bond]

try not using b-frames

and send apple a bug report, because that issue is most likely caused by the usual crappy apple software (yeah, they have nice guis)