WMV File Information

[medic611]

Is there an alternative to G-Spot or MediaInfo for Windows Media Videos.

I am looking specifically for information on the file's Frame rate, and progressive versus interlaced frames.

I have been having some issues with AV sync using DGIndex & avisynth. I think I have isolated my error and would like to double check my theory prior to re-ripping and re-encoding a 3 hour disk.

[neuron2]

Why don't you state your theory so that we may assess it and possibly support or refute it?

[medic611]

Ripping Tom & Jerry Volume 1 - Disk 1 NTSC R1.
After ripping with DVD Decrypter and using DGIndex 1.3 (I think) to produce a d2v files to use with avisynth.

Option 1: I think that I allowed DGI to honor pulldown flags when frameserving and set my framerate in windows media encoder to 23.976.

Option 2: When DGIndex demuxed (I finally learned what that meant) the AC3 with a delay of -13ms I also may or may not have corrected that in AC3 Filter when converting to a Lossless WMA.

I wanted to check the frame rate of the video stream to rule out or in option 1, which I presume is the issue because the Audio seems off by more than 13ms.

[neuron2]

Don't worry about the WMV you made. Just start over again from your DVD. Determine which Field Operation to use in DGIndex by analyzing your source and do it correctly from the beginning. Trying to guess what error you may have made in retrospect seems indirect to me. We can help you to properly analyze your source and tell you the correct processing for it.

First question: When you have Honor Pulldown Flags set and do a preview in DGIndex, do you see Field Repeats in the Info dialog? What is the film percentage reported at the bottom of the D2V file?

Second, you can adjust for the audio delay in your script, and then test things by playing the script before you start the WMV/WMA encoding.

[medic611]

Yes there are field repeats, and the Film percentage at 78%. I was forcing film because when open in GSpot it indicated that the source was 23.976 interlaced with a 3:2 pulldown. When converting TV episode DVDs Gspot would indicate the source as 29.97 and I would honor pulldown flags for those sources.

My avisynth script:
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\Plugins\DGDecode.dll")
mpeg2source("C:\Documents and Settings\...\TOM AND JERRY VOL 1 DISC 1\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.d2v",idct=5,cpu=4,iPP=true)

I am a novice with avisynth and have only figured out the above and how to add subs with textsub / VSFilter plugin.

I cannot seem to figure out a way to preview my avisynth script.

When I try media player classic I get:
Warning Media Player Classic could not render some of the pins in graph, you may not have the needed codecs or filters installed on the system.
C:\Documents and Settings\...\TOM AND JERRY VOL 1 DISC 1\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.avs::Avisynth video #1

Media Type 0:
--------------------------
Video: YV12 720x480 23.98fps

AM_MEDIA_TYPE:
majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_YV12 {32315659-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_VideoInfo {05589F80-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}
bFixedSizeSamples: 1
bTemporalCompression: 0
lSampleSize: 518400
cbFormat: 88

VIDEOINFOHEADER:
rcSource: (0,0)-(0,0)
rcTarget: (0,0)-(0,0)
dwBitRate: 0
dwBitErrorRate: 0
AvgTimePerFrame: 417083

BITMAPINFOHEADER:
biSize: 40
biWidth: 720
biHeight: 480
biPlanes: 1
biBitCount: 12
biCompression: YV12
biSizeImage: 518400
biXPelsPerMeter: 0
biYPelsPerMeter: 0
biYPelsPerMeter: 0
biClrUsed: 0
biClrImportant: 0

pbFormat:
0000: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 3b 5d 06 00 00 00 00 00 ........;]......
0030: 28 00 00 00 d0 02 00 00 e0 01 00 00 01 00 0c 00 (...Ð...à.......
0040: 59 56 31 32 00 e9 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 YV12.é..........
0050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

When I try VirtualDubMod:
[!] Couldn't locate decompressor for format 'YV12' (unknown).
VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to
decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media
Player, are not suitable. Only 'Direct stream copy' is available for this
video. and I am unable to preview the script. Is there a plugin from DGIndex that I need to copy to the VDub plugin's folder?

When loading Windows Media Encoder I was loading the video and audio seperately.
Video: avisynth source
Audio: WMA Lossless (processed seperately, AC3 to WMA Lossless 5.1 at 48kHz 24 bit.)

I was unaware that I could load my audio into avisynth. I will have to reasearch how to do that, all of my training is as a paramedic and my only computer classes were basic (10 print, etc.) many years ago. All of what I am doing I have learned here on this website. So thank you in advance.

[neuron2]

Yes there are field repeats, and the Film percentage at 78%. I was forcing film because when open in GSpot it indicated that the source was 23.976 interlaced with a 3:2 pulldown. When converting TV episode DVDs Gspot would indicate the source as 29.97 and I would honor pulldown flags for those sources. Then you have a hybrid source, i.e., film mixed with video. It's more difficult to process.

When I try VirtualDubMod:
and I am unable to preview the script. Is there a plugin from DGIndex that I need to copy to the VDub plugin's folder? You need VFW support for YV12. You can get it by installing the Helix YV12 codec, or even XviD/DivX.

I was unaware that I could load my audio into avisynth. I will have to reasearch how to do that It's described in the Quick Start guide that comes with DGMPGDec. You have to start reading the documentation!

[medic611]

Then you have a hybrid source, i.e., film mixed with video. It's more difficult to process.

Will "force film" help or hinder the processing?

You need VFW support for YV12. You can get it by installing the Helix YV12 codec, or even XviD/DivX.

Working now.

It's described in the Quick Start guide that comes with DGMPGDec. You have to start reading the documentation!

I had previously read the accompanying manuals, I did not see the Quick Start Guide. Read and trying.

Question: Previously when format shifting my DVDs I would load the MPEG directly into Windows Media Encoder. Because of AC3 Filter's "on the fly" filter, WME would get errors when attempting a two pass VBR Peak encode. I got around this by switching to a two pass CBR which worked without error.
Since I have started to frameserve my video I have been converting AC3 to WMA Lossless at listed above. Will loading the AC3 directly into avisynth give me the same "variations" that AC3 filter gave me when attempting 2-pass VBR encoding?
Which is technically less-lossless (if that is a word)
AC3 to WMA Lossless to WMA VBR Peak.
AC3 to 6 wav files to WMA VBR Peak.

[neuron2]

Will "force film" help or hinder the processing? Your video sections will become jerky. If you encode at 29.97, your film sections will have judder. You are caught in this dilemma when you try to encode hybrid material. That's why I said it is difficult. You could do a search on processing hybrid material.

I regret that I have time only to support my own tools. Hopefully someone else can help you with your additional questions.

[medic611]

Understood.

Thank for your prompt and informative replies.