dvd2svcd error with Canopus ProCoder

[KevinHuang]

dvd2svcd error with canopus procoder
Hi folks :
I am testing dvd2svcd 1.1.2b1 these few days, it works fine with cce 2.5 & TMPGEnc Plus 2.57.41.
source vobs are StarWar Episode II.
But when I tried to use Canopus ProCoder 1.01.08 as encoder, some error occured.
Canopus ProCoder works, but dvd2svcd halt at bbMPEG section:
Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "F:\test\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
------- dvd2svcd stop here ----------
and pop up error message : "input file F:\test\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv was not found"
and also some message weird "Executing Canopus ProCoder Encoder.
Program Handle not found, terminating program.
"
What's Program Handle ?

The whole log is here :
------------ log begin ------------------------------------------------
WNASPI32.DLL 4.71.2.0
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:13
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.1.2 build 1
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:16
- Analyzing subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x20 Language: Unspecified

Executing subtitle selection/verification.
Subtitle selection/verification accepted.
1 subtitle streams selected.
Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:26
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[F:\test\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[F:\test\VTS_01_1.vob]
Analyzing DVD2AVI Project file
Force Film activated!
Framerate: 23976
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:40
- Free on drive F: 22434.64 mb
- Extracting the subtitles.
--------------------------------------------------------

Subtitle extraction finished. Extracted these subtitles:
SVCD Stream no: 1 Language: Unspecified Num. of subs: 32

Saving Subtitle Timecodes.
Permanent subtitles.
Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:50
- Free on drive F: 22433.42 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: F:\test\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: -521 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:40:56
- Free on drive F: 22426.38 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: F:\test\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "F:\test\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "F:\test\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "F:\test\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -ota( -d -521 ) -shibatch( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 192 -m s )
Audio conversion of F:\test\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:42:05
- Free on drive F: 22423.33 mb
- Video Encoding using Canopus ProCoder
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Frameserver.
Closing program
StreamSectors: 771537788
AudioSectors: 3320996
VideoPAPO: 11900088
ScanOffsetBytes: 2837
SeqAligningBytes: 180294
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 0.00
PureMPEGStream: 756133568.80
Seconds: 136.46
CalcMPEGStream: 756133568.80
Frames: 3152
CDSize: 740.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 736.00

Executing Canopus ProCoder Encoder.
Program Handle not found, terminating program.
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:56:41
- Free on drive F: 21955.61 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "F:\test\Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_NTSC.mpv" "F:\test\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv"
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:56:50
- Free on drive F: 21955.61 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:56:57
- Free on drive F: 21955.61 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:57:03
- Free on drive F: 21955.61 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2003/3/17 ?? 08:57:09
- Free on drive F: 21955.61 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 736 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "F:\test\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
-------------- dvd2svcd halt here ------------------------------------------

so, is there anyone could help me ?
Thanks in advanced !

[jorel]

hi KevinHuang,

DVD2SVCD, Fiddler of DVD2sVCD, post:
"- New Feature: Support for Canopus Procoder 1.01.35.0 (maybe other versions too, but I haven't tested that)"

in this thread:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15623

:)

[eugen]

Check if you have DirectX8.1 and QuickTime5(0.1) properly installed.
I have the same problems with 1.01.35 which dissapeared after proper installation of the mentioned above products.

[KevinHuang]

Finally, ProCoder 1.01.35 works perfectly with dvd2svcd 1.1.2b1.
And seems faster than CCE.:D

[eugen]

To my probes - Canopus gives nearly the same quality like CCE250. And 20% longer. And wrong length (for 80 min CDR it gives me 69 min track, now testing with 900 in bitrate section). More interesting I have got from the latest TMPG (2.510) with Auto (CQ+VBR) mode. Nearly 2 times faster and quality could be compared - somewhere better then CCE, somewhare (fast picture changes and unsharp rear plan) - worse.
Want to test with CCE266 - but my trial copy could not open .ecl file.

[markrb]

DVD2SVCD does not support 2.66.

Mark

[jorel]

about dvd2svcd and cce266,please follow the link:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24155

:)

from readme:

"HISTORY:
XX feb 2003 version 1.1.2 build 2
- Enhancement: Added support for Canopus ProCoder 1.25.15.0
- Bug Fix: Permanent Subtitles + Canopus ProCoder didn't work. Fixed
- Bug Fix: Fixed various subtle problems when interfacing with ProCoder.
- Bug Fix: External Subtitles not formated properly, could produce an "Access Violation" or a "List index out of bounds" error.
- Change: I've removed the codec check. Itseemed to give some problems, especially with xvid.
- Bug Fix: If using frameselecytion, the cd sizes selected would not be reduzed to the proper size.
- Enhancement: Support for CCE 2.66 (and maybe 2.67 too). But, if you are using the demoversion you have to use RB's EclCCE (Load EclCCE.exe instead of cctspt.exe). You can download it here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46664 Thanks to RB for this little nifty tool :)
- Enhancement: Support for CCE Templates (sort of). You can select a CCE Template in dvd2svcd, but this is only for settings which isn't already in dvd2svcd. That is, the template will _not_ overwrite the settings already existing in dvd2svcd.
- Enhancement: Chapters are added to the ECL file. Should make the chapter entries when authoring dvd's more precise.
- Enhancement: You can preview External Subs in the Preview Window.
- Enhancement: Added support for Avisynth 2.5"

;)

[eugen]

Backing to Canopus 1.01.35 - I have faced with some strange thing. While I pointed to 800 (in bitrate section) - the final movie takes 68:59. Then I indicated 900 - 69:14. And the line about "Program Handle terminated" in log file. To my understanding something who is responsible to calculate bitrate for Canopus does not work. Could anyboly tell me what to do?

[ralphthedog]

Having the same problem as eugen using DVD2SVCD 1.1.3build3 beta7/avisnth2.5/procoder1.01.35

No errors, just 69 min. image instead of the expected 80

Also tried using a minimum av. bitrate calculated to fill 1 disc with no luck.

Keen to try procoder out on my interlaced PAL DVD backups, looks promising so far!!!


RTD.

[eugen]

Coming back to ProCoder. Have found out that NonIntra.mtr consits on zeros. What does it mean? Why is it possible to tune both matrices only for TMPG (in DVD2SVCD112b2). No tuning for CCE/Canopus? To my mind zeros is not very good? Or I am mistaken?

[Happygolucky]

I had similar problems using ProCoder (seems the file names that ProCoder produces aren't the ones DVD2SVCD expects, can't figure out the issue between them). But, since I had TMPGEnc Plus 2.512 working fine, I did a comparison between ProCoder and TMPG. Used same AVI file as source and tried to make all available settings as similar as possible. The result is ProCoder produced an MPEG2 file that was about 3% larger than TMPG. Visually, as viewed on my computer (using PowerDVD XP) and on my 65" Philips projection TV using an SVCD burned with the files, the two were indistinguishable. Both produced excellent results, I could not tell them apart. The kicker? TMPG was much faster, taking about 3 hours to encode versus ProCoder taking nearly 5 hours. This is on a Pentium4 1.7GHz with 512MB PC800 RDRAM.

So, with TMPG producing just as good quality MPEG2 files in less time, I see no reason to use ProCoder. That's my experience, yours may differ.

[DDogg]

I never have aproblem using ProCorder with Dvd2svcd although I use link2 instead of vfapi.

@Happygolucky, sure would be great if you would do a CCE 1 pass VBR encode using Tylo's plugin and give us a comparison on that monster screen of yours. I exit in great envy of your big one :)

[ralphthedog]

Maybe it's vfapi somehow upsetting my filesizes with procoder (no prob's with CCE or TMPG).Works fine otherwise.

I'm keen on procoder because I think maybe my interlaced PAL DVD backups look cleaner (more like the original),especially edge noise wise compared to my 3 or 4 pass CCE (80cm Sony flatscreen TV).Some of those interlaced ones can be a real pain (in varying places) to get a decent encode. Need to fiddle with procoder more though.

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by DDogg
I never have aproblem using ProCorder with Dvd2svcd although I use link2 instead of vfapi.

@Happygolucky, sure would be great if you would do a CCE 1 pass VBR encode using Tylo's plugin and give us a comparison on that monster screen of yours. I exit in great envy of your big one :)

Alas, I don't have access to link2 nor CCE. I did some more playing with ProCoder and TMPG, with both set to their highest quality settings (ProCoder doing 2 pass VBR and TMPG doing CQ), it was still a node to TMPG. Viewing on both PC and TV showed no appreciable difference in quality (both were excellent), but TMPG was significantly faster and produced a slightly smaller file. Note, though, that I must run ProCoder by itself, not from a DVD2SVCD session, and TMPG is being run via DVD2SVCD (and using AVISynth). I still cannot get Procoder and DVD2SVCD to cooperate, the filename problem is persistent. Not sure what is wrong, I've uninstalled both of them, completely wiped the registry of anything I can find related to them, then reinstalled them, to no avail.

[DDogg]

Hey, what version of ProCorder are you guys using?

Well there is a cce 2.50 demo in the Doom9 download that would give a good comparison if you were willing. :)

[ralphthedog]

My DVD2SVCD 1.1.3build3 beta7/avisnth2.5/vfapi/procoder1.01.35 Have no problem talking to each other (except for the resulting too small filesize,699 instead of my usual 818MB).

I fiddled with the first chapter of Goldmember (Interlaced PAL) a while ago and thought it looked a bit sharper, with cleaner edges on the moving objects using procoder (highest qual.) than 3 pass CCE 2.5. Would be happy watching either one on a big TV though.


Oh,and thanks DDogg (and everyone else) for fixing all my problems before I actually encountered them!!!

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by DDogg
Hey, what version of ProCorder are you guys using?

Well there is a cce 2.50 demo in the Doom9 download that would give a good comparison if you were willing. :)

I have ProCoder 1.01.35. A friend has given me a copy of CCE 2.66.01.07 to play with so I may give that a try. I'm pleased with TMPGEnc, though, and I can't imagine there would be any better quality than what I'm already getting.

I'm using DVD2SVCD 1.1.3 build 3 beta 7, the latest build of AVISynth, and though I've done uninstalls and reinstalls, I still cannot get it and ProCoder to behave with one another. Very odd. But, since I get such good results with TMPG it is no big deal.

[DDogg]

I understand that CCE may not be your choice. Actually I was just asking for the temporary use of your eyes and that big TV of yours. I have been spending a lot of time trying to establish if the 1 pass CCE vbr mode is equivalent to the TMPG CQ mode.

Doing comparisons on a PC monitor is less that optimum, whereas that big set of yours would surely show any difference. I can't see any difference. CCE 1 pass mode is the fastest encode in the known universe. A two hour movie literally takes a little over an hour on my old TBird 1.4. Before it was too difficult to gage the size, so wasn't something I have been pursuing for a long time. The later versions of Tylo's plugin have made it relatively simple and painless. So I thought our community could benefit from some comparisons from those of you with "great big ones".

Anyway, I do realize I may be hassling you. If so, not to worry at all. Comparisons can be a real drag and take way too much time.

BTW, I also realize I have pulled this way Off topic and I apologize for that. Actually I think DVD2SVCD is doing some work on the program at the moment and maybe he/I/we can figure out what is causing you guys the problem. I will try to run some encodes using VFAPI to see if I have problems and report back.

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by DDogg
I have been spending a lot of time trying to establish if the 1 pass CCE vbr mode is equivalent to the TMPG CQ mode.


You haven't bothered me in the least bit. :cool:

To me, TMPG CQ mode produces a very high-quality encode, at least with the settings I use. And in my, admittedly novice, experience a 1-pass VBR encode would not be of optimal quality, correct? Maybe I'll play with CCE a bit and see what happens. If it can encode with 1-pass VBR and produce the near DVD quality I'm seeing from TMPG CQ mode, then by all means that will be what I use from now on.

[DDogg]

If it can encode with 1-pass VBR and produce the near DVD quality I'm seeing from TMPG CQ mode Yeah, that is what I am trying to get you to see :) TMPG CQ is a 1 pass mode, ya know.

As to Procorder, I am currently doing an encode with Beta7, VFAPI, and Procorder 1.01.35 with no problems. I would suggest you do these tests:

1> Manually run the VFAPI reader from its directory in dvd2svcd. Drag in a avs script that you have verified as playing in WMP. Do the conversion. BTW, make sure it is the 1.04 version that came with dvd2svcd. The later 1.05 version will not work with Dvd2svcd.

If the conversion completes without any ??? marks, then play the vfapi.avi in WMP to again verify it is playing. If so, drag into a manually run instance of Procorder and see if you can get a svcd encode running. Let me know how this goes.

Edit: Encode finished with no problems. Both cds are full.

[Happygolucky]

Thanks for helping. I did as you suggested and everything seems to work just fine. The problem I have when using ProCoder from DVD2SVCD is with the filenames. I can sit at my computer and watch as DVD2SVCD enters all the info into ProCoder (like watching a ghost enter stuff on the screen). For some reason, ProCoder tries to output everything to its default directory and name (Untitled.mpeg). ProCoder does the encode, but when it is finished, DVD2SVCD can't complete because it is looking for a different filename than what ProCoder has made. For some reason DVD2SVCD can't seem to get ProCoder to use the filenames that it is supposed to use.

[dvd2svcd]

Weird, because it works here. So, I really have no idea why you have this ordeal when using ProCoder.

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by dvd2svcd
Weird, because it works here. So, I really have no idea why you have this ordeal when using ProCoder.

Me, either. I've uninstalled everything, wiped the registry of any Canopus/Procoder/DVD2SVCD/AVISYNTH/VFAPI stuff, reinstalled and still get the messed up filenames when using ProCoder. But, since TMPG is giving me such great results I'm not going to worry about it too much. Of course, it pisses me off that I can't figure out the problem! :devil:



A bit later: I fixed it!!! I went into ProCoder's options and even though the "always use default directories" was not checked, I checked them just so I could change the directories (was My Documents for everything). I changed the dirs, unchecked the boxes, then ran DVD2SVCD with ProCoder and it worked beautifully. I guess ProCoder needed the dirs changed once manually before it would do it via script. Not sure why. But now I know.
:D

[dvd2svcd]

Great :D I'll have a look at that. Thank you for your continued investigation into this.

[ralphthedog]

Had a go at a couple more encodes with procoder,still can't fill the discs correctly.

815 disc size (my usual) in the bitrate tab still got me 697MB,840 disc size got me 778MB and 845 disc size produced 852MB(??). CCE and TMPG always give me a max. of 818MB without fail.

Took what I like to call the cowards way out (deleted and reinstalled everything,then hope all my problems have gone away) with no luck.

Did discover procoder would encode a rip of a problem DVD with a glitch in the video stream,that without fail throws the audio out of sync using CCE or TMPG.

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by DDogg
I never have aproblem using ProCorder with Dvd2svcd although I use link2 instead of vfapi.

@Happygolucky, sure would be great if you would do a CCE 1 pass VBR encode using Tylo's plugin and give us a comparison on that monster screen of yours. I exit in great envy of your big one :)

What is Tylo's plugin? I did a test here, using the same Divx source AVI (really good quality), I ran DVD2SVCD beta7, using Avisynth 2.52. I tested ProCoder, CCE 2.67.00.9 w/ecl 1.5c, and TMPGEnc Plus 2.513, all with as similar settings as possible (CCE using 1-pass VBR, TMPG using CQ, ProCoder doing 1-pass VBR. The results are TMPGEnc producing a slightly smaller filesize and yet having the best picture quality. The CCE encode looks "fuzzy", like it is out-of-focus or overly smoothed. The ProCoder encode looks very good, but the edge goes to TMPGEnc Plus since I noticed less blockiness in dark areas than the ProCoder encode, TMPGEnc was significantly faster on my P4 1.7GHz machine (and only slightly slower than CCE). I was very disappointed in the CCE encode, I expected much better. Perhaps with tweaking it would have been much nicer, but the "out-of-the-box" experience favors TMPG.

Settings used were DVD2SVCD defaults for each encoder.

[eugen]

Hallo to all discussing ProCoder. Could anybody help me to understand why NonIntra.mtr consists only of zeroes while converting using ProCoder. And it is impossible to change it by means of DVD2SVCD (with CCE and TMPG you could choose the matrices). Is it good or bad? What it could influence?

[dvd2svcd]

It is not used when using ProCoder. So no influence.

[eugen]

Thanks [to DVD2SVCD]. Could anybody help me to find where to read about those matrices to understand it slightly deeper.