mencoder + .dvr-ms The Evil!

[cogman]

So, here is what I want to accomplish.

I have a dvr setup with Vista MCE. The problem is that it stores all its files in DVR-MS files, using MPEG2 streams. I would like to automatically re-encode those files to an H.264 MP4 with the latest edition of x264.

Currently I have a program (MCEBuddy) that does this, however, it uses an edition of x264 from 2007 (yuck). The reason it does this is because it uses a discontinued branch of mencoder with DVR-MS support built into it.

Now here is the biggest problem I have, Even though the author says that the project is covered under the GPL, he hasn't released any source code for it, so there is no chance to just hack a quick patch for the current version of mencoder and x264.

Documentation is scarce, so I don't know if there is already support for DVR-MS in mencoder.

So what are my options? Should I just give up now, or should I dive into the rabbit hole?

[Inspector.Gadget]

Use DVRMSToolbox (http://babgvant.com/files/folders/dvrmstoolbox/default.aspx) to remux, then use DGIndex/Avisynth/x264 as you might with a DVD.

[buzzqw]

you could try the -lavf demuxer option

BHH

[cogman]

Use DVRMSToolbox (http://babgvant.com/files/folders/dvrmstoolbox/default.aspx) to remux, then use DGIndex/Avisynth/x264 as you might with a DVD.

While this does work, I would rather not take that route. I want to be able to do this automatically, me having to run DVRMSToolbox would remove that. :( But thanks for the suggestion.

you could try the -lavf demuxer option

BHH

Thanks, Ill give it a try. What does it do?

[Inspector.Gadget]

Well, everything from DVRMSToolbox to x264 in the above example is scriptable/batchable, so you can set it up to run automatically.

[buzzqw]

Thanks, Ill give it a try. What does it do?

it will force mencoder to use ffmpeg demuxer instead of mencoder one's

afaik ffmpeg is able to decode correctly dvr-ms (i use this option in automen)

BHH