AVI2DVD- output files confusing

[mackaroon]

Hi, this is my first post, (as you can probably tell). Couldn't find much about this searching the forum. I was having trouble using CCE trial at first, every time it opened, it crashed, and it really annoyed me. So I bought the real version and it seems to be encoding fine-- and so much faster than TMPGenc's 15 hour marathon session! But now the question arises of attempting to make sense of the menagerie of files in my dvd2svcd/movie directory which has resulted from so many failed attempts and cut-offs.

software:
dvd2svcd 1.2.2 build 3 (and the whole bundle from doom9)
cce sp 2.50.01.00
D2SRoBa 3.60

system:
-Microsoft Win XP Media Center SP1
-Pentium 4-HD, 2x180GB hd, 1GB ddr-ram
avi file converted:
NTSC, 592x320, USA, fourcc xvid, 23.97fps

Resulting audio and video files files:
disc image 3.55GB
Encoded_audio_1.mp2 1.06 GB
Encoded_video_CCE_NTSC 3.39 GB
MPlex_muxed_file00 3.55 GB
Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC 3.39 GB
[along with some other smaller audio and text files]

I don't think I need to paste my log files because it seems everything went right with the encoding. In the AVI2DVD guide it says that the discimage.dvd file should be burnt to a dvd-r to make it stand-alone compatible. My question with this is that the disc image file is only slightly bigger than the encoded video file and is no where near the 4.3 GB limit that the dvdr can hold. The alternative, (I suppose) would be to use the encoded audio and video files but 1.06 + 3.39= 4.45 = too big! So I guess my question is, should I listen to the guide and use the discimage file even though it is too small and probably not as high quality as it could be, or should I try to encode the whole thing again in order to get encoded audio and video files small enough to fit on the same disc?

[ralphthedog]

Welcome to the forum!

Well, kind of sounds like something's not right, maybe you should have posted your log file for the brains trust to have a look at?!

Mount your disc image in a virtual drive (Daemontools) so you can play it and actually see what you've got in there.

That encoded audio mp2 file seems awfully big at 1GB?

[mackaroon]

Used Daemon Tools to view files on the disc image file and there are two folders, audio_ts, which is empty, and a video_ts, which contains the full 3.55GB. Played the discimage file using my powerdvd and it seemed to play fine, including both audio and video. So why the hell is audio on the video_ts file? I suppose if both audio and video makes up only 3.55GB, then it has to be of lesser quality? Any answers to these questions would be much appreciated. I know my questions are stupid and helping me would be just a big waste of time for someone who knows the answer, but this doesn't seem like too big of a mess to correct. I hope I'm posting everything correctly (I tried) and if any other info is needed here I will gladly post it with the alacrity of Paris Hilton's desire to make more sex tapes. heehee

Here's the AVI2DVD log:

WNASPI32.DLL 0.0.0.0
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/28/2004 11:01:50 PM
- AVI to SVCD Conversion
- AVI2DVD ver. 1.2.2 build 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
- C:/myhomevideos.avi
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/28/2004 11:01:53 PM
- Free on drive C: 229843.36 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Undoing Nandubs 1152 BlockAlign value to 1
Redoing Nandubs 1152 BlockAlign value
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/28/2004 11:02:32 PM
- Free on drive C: 229843.36 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/28/2004 11:02:34 PM
- Free on drive C: 229843.36 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Converting MP2 to WAV. Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.mpa
Executing MADPlay (mp2 to wav). Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MADPlay\madplay.exe" --quiet --output=wave:"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.wav" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.mpa"
Conversion (mp2 to wav) of C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.mpa finished.


Encoding Audio. Filename: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.mpa
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.wav" -output "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -ota( -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s )
Audio conversion of C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.mpa finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/28/2004 11:09:29 PM
- Free on drive C: 229888.75 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 4666096988
AudioSectors: 96594736
VideoPAPO: 70784028
ScanOffsetBytes: 214152
SeqAligningBytes: 13610549
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 0.00
PureMPEGStream: 4484893518.67
Seconds: 5956.62
CalcMPEGStream: 4484893518.67
Frames: 142768
CDSize: 4464.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 4460.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 142768
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: One Pass VBR
Q. Factor: 60
Min. bitrate: 2000
Max. bitrate: 6023
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\AVISYN~1.5PL\Mpeg2dec\MPEG2D~1.DLL")
AVISource("C:\DOCUME~1\DOUGLA~1\Movies\BADDER~1.AVI",audio=false)
ConvertToYUY2()
Import("C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Tylo\RoBaConditional.avs")
LanczosResize(720,462)
AddBorders(0,9,0,9)
Import("C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\ResampleAudio.avs")
ResampleAudio(44100)
----AVS End----

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:12:02 AM
- AVI to SVCD Conversion
- AVI2DVD ver. 1.2.2 build 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
-
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:12:02 AM
- Free on drive C: 226285.98 mb
- Restarting from: Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:12:05 AM
- Free on drive C: 226285.98 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_Video_CCE_NTSC.mpv" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv" -prog_frames p
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:19:22 AM
- Free on drive C: 222811.70 mb
- Multiplexing Audio and Video
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing MPlex. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv" "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:23:51 AM
- Free on drive C: 219169.77 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg
5951.046 seconds C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:25:09 AM
- Free on drive C: 219169.75 mb
- Authoring DVD
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing DVDAuthor. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\dvdauthor.exe" -x "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DVDAuthor.xml"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:30:24 AM
- Free on drive C: 215525.31 mb
- Creating DVD ISO Image
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing MkIsoFs. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\mkisofs.exe" -o "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DVDImage.iso" -publisher "DVD2SVCD" -volid "" -dvd-video "C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\DVD-Files"
Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/29/2004 1:35:01 AM
- Free on drive C: 211882.43 mb
- Conversion done!
--------------------------------------------------------

[bobwillis]

Hi mackaroon (and welcom to the forum),

An empty AUDIO_TS is entirely normal. I believe the AUDIO_TS directory is for DVD-Audio discs; which we are not trying to produce here.

The only remaining question is why is the image not the full size of the disc. Posting your d2sroba_log.txt file will give us further clues.

It seems from your log, that the max bitrate was 6203. What value for this do you have entered into DVD2SVCD (bitrate tab). Make sure 'calc bitrate as max' is also unchecked in the encoder tab.

If we can increase the max bitrate from 6023, to say 8500, the quality of the encode will improve.

We need to see the roba log to see what the Q was. If it was Q=1, then you cannot get a better quality encode, unless we can somehow increase the maximum bitrate.

Posting your CCE_project_file_MOVIE.ecl will also help, so we can actually see the encoder settings used.

Regards,
Bob

[mackaroon]

Thanks. here's the roba log
D2SRoBa v3.60, by Tylo
--------------------------------------------------------
- WIN_XP - AutoIt 3.0.101.0
- 2004-10-28 22:52:46
--------------------------------------------------------
- Output type : DVD
- CD size : 4464
- Threshold Q : 36
- Sample size : 1.0%
- Adjust estimated : 1.2%
- Cond. sizing pass : Yes (Transcode if opv sz > 0.0% oversize, and Q <= 40)
(Encode if opv sz < 2.5% undersize, or Q > 40)
- Cond. filtering : If configured, and estim. Q reaches above Threshold Q
- Run mode : Normal
--------------------------------------------------------
- Waiting for CCE window ...
- Detected a CCE encode window
- Detected the movie encode window - shutting down
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2004-10-28 23:10:18
- Project dir: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\
- Avisynth setup: LanczosResize
- Configured cond. filter: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Tylo\RoBaConditional.avs
- D2S ver. 1.2.2.3, CCE ver. 2.50.1.0
- Setting high process priority
--------------------------------------------------------
- Movie length : 01:39:14 (142768 frames, 23.976 fps)
- D2S audio select : 128 + 0 kbps
- D2S video calc. : 6023 kbps, 1 CDs
- Select ranges : every 1200, select 12 frames
- Sample frames : 1428
--------------------------------------------------------
Calculations:
- 1 CD: video_br=6023 (6023) audio_br=128+0 video_sz=4483085502 fill=100% cbr=0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Using num CDs : 1
- Target mpv br : 6023 (max 8000) kbps, size=4483085502 bytes
--------------------------------------------------------
Search for Q:
- Sample enc. Q=36 : 2481 kbps, err=-58.8%, size=1846845648, sample sz=18472596
- Sample enc. Q=6 : 5176 kbps, err=-14.1%, size=3852890414, sample sz=38537540
- Sample enc. Q=1 : 5266 kbps, err=-12.6%, size=3920360891, sample sz=39212396
--------------------------------------------------------
- Determined Q : 1 = Round(1 + (-12.6 - 1.2)/0.3)
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2004-10-28 23:15:24
- Start movie OPV encoding (Q 1)
- OPV pass result: 81.2% on target, 4893 kbps (3642391424 / 4483085502) Speed: 1.7
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2004-10-29 00:13:44
- Start VBR sizing pass (6023 kbps)
- Sizing pass result: 81.3% on target, 4894 kbps (3642966776 / 4483085502) Speed: 1.71
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2004-10-29 01:11:57
- Recover DVD2SVCD: Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
- 2004-10-29 08:20:04
- D2SRoBa successfully finished
--------------------------------------------------------
Here's the besweet log
BeSweet v1.5b26 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using Shibatch.dll v0.24 by Naoki Shibata & DSPguru (shibatch.sourceforge.net).
Using MP2enc.dll v1.129 (23/5/2002), Engine 1.129 <http://www.cdex.n3.net>.

Logging start : 10/28/04 , 23:04:07.

C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe -core( -input C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.wav -output C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2 -logfile C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.log ) -ota( -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.wav
[00:00:00:000] | Output: C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: Yes
[00:00:00:000] | Overall Track Gain: 0.609dB
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] +------- MP2ENC ------
[00:00:00:000] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:00:000] | MP2 bitrate : 128
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Mode : Stereo
[00:00:00:000] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------
[01:39:14:544] Conversion Completed !
[01:39:14:544] Actual Avg. Bitrate : 128kbps
[00:05:16:000] <-- Transcoding Duration

Logging ends : 10/28/04 , 23:09:

Im sorry, but I'm not sure what program to use to view cce.ecl logs. I know I used the default settings, the max bitrate was 8000 the min 2000 with a max average of 7200.

[ralphthedog]

@Bobwillis got it.

Your problem is you already have the best quality possible @mackaroon........so it's not really a problem.

Q=1 is as good as it gets.

You can fill the disc up a little more by encoding as CBR I guess or using a higher audio bitrate. I wouldn't bother myself, quality is the important thing.

[mackaroon]

Tanks man. So I guess I have no more use for all the huge files the process created? If so I can delete them with no worries on burning?
Not important... I just dont want 50 gigs of useless crap on hd.

In the meantime, don't drink so much you ralph. lol

[bobwillis]

Hi Mackaroon,

BTW, if you just have 1 audio track you can use 9350 as max bitrate. Subtract 450 from this for every additional audio track.

IMO, the default min bitrate of 2000 is too high, you can go as low as 0 (if you wish).

The default max avg of 7200 is ok.

You can use notepad to view .ecl files (they are just text files).

As ralphthedog has said Q=1=the maximum possible quality. I would keep all the files until you've burnt and watched the disc, then delete them.

Regards,
Bob