QuEnc 0.51 (AVS->M2V/M1V Encoder)

[Nic]

http://nic.dnsalias.com/QuEnc.zip

Edit: Updated link to latest version.

This little (700kb) app can be used to encode from an Avisynth Script file to a raw MPEG-1/MPEG-2 video stream. I'm hoping it will be a free alternative to CCE. (it uses a built in FFMPEG library for the encoding)

I made it primarily for use with jdobbs Rebuilder app, so any testing or feedback is appreciated as then jdobbs can decide if it's worth including the support in rebuilder.

It supports command line control. Run it with /? as a parameter to see the command line options.

Let me know what you think,

-Nic

[Paced]

Hi Nic, I just tested out this neat little program, and it works great I compared it to my CCE (v2.50) encode (same video/bitrate), and I found the quality of this program to be better! CCE has more blocks (only noticeable when zooming) in some parts compared to QuEnc; also, QuEnc seems to keep more detail than CCE. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that CCE loves to add more noise to the video, and QuEnc doesn't?

Would it be too much if I asked you what you have planned in the future for this encoder? Also, these are a few things I'm wondering at the moment:

- how does the bitrate allocation work in the program's current state?
- can it handle interlaced video? (field order wise)

Thanks in advance, and great work so far Nic - I'm really looking forward to this encoder's future.

[DarkNite]

I can't help but wonder how long the idea to do this has been buried within those deep, dark, caffiene driven, mumbling encoder recesses of your mind just waiting for an excuse (or an updated build of ffmpeg) to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting masses.

Well, good timing, and good execution as well (disregarding the color choices for the GUI, but I'll only see those once). Just one comment: trellis quantization? I had a slight XviD flashback there.

In 2 pass, ~3100kbps, high motion scenes, sans trellis, it looks great. Especially for something that's free. I'll get around to some different sources, and trellis inclusive testing tomorrow.

So far it seems a bit "smoother" than CCE. I certainly can't say softer, but it's almost like someone turned off the high frequency emphasis switch that sometimes seems to be cranked to maximum in CCE.

[Amnon82]

Hi Nic, I downloaded Your Encoder. I'll test it now.

Here my Results:

QuEnc:

1650 VBR Bitrate
HighQuality on
Trellis
Force closed GOB on
2Pass
SVCD Sample filesize: 7.25 MB
ca. 27 FPS at encoding

DRPEnc:

1650 VBR Bitrate
HighQuality off
Trellis on
nag on
2Pass
SVCD SAR16_9 Template
SVCD Sample filesize: 6.93 MB
ca. 34 FPS at encoding

Quality Result:

DRPEnc produces same Quality but less filesize.

[Asmodeus]

Short:
- looks great
- with simple test, speed and quality is the same as in ffvfw (while it's the same engine). More complex tests today evening

Only one sugestion: add "no b-frames" mode, pliiiiiizzzzz

[Paced]

After some more testing, I've found that QuEnc produces some pretty 'nasty' artifacts on the left + top borders of the screen, anyone else get this (the artifacts aren't evident on the original, or on the CCE output)?

[Amnon82]

Here we go:

DRPEnc Sample 4:3 SVCD VBR 1650 (6.99 MB) encoded with 34 FPS

QuEnc Sample 4:3 SVCD VBR 1650 (7.04 MB) encoded with 27 FPS

this time it was close. K, in DRPEnc I could add a deinterlance filter.
For the QuEnc I used only a resizefilter to get the same resolution.

@Nic: You can build in so many filter. So it will be faster. I use MEncoder for my GUI. This one has so many well known filter build in that I only have to set them to my gui. This can You also do with Your encoder.

In which language do You code QuEnc? I use Delphi for my GUI.

[vhelp]

Morning everyone

.
.
I heard of an new toy here (heard of it on kvcd) and came running here

Someone said that it might have done a little better then CCE ??

Well, I can't wait to test this out for myself. I'm curious.
-vhelp

[Nic]

@Amnon82: Please dont use this thread to advertise your GUI, as nice as it is. Mencoder uses libavcodec, so does QuEnc. So the quality will be the same, however the options im using may vary somewhat to MEncoders. i.e comparing the two is pointless, but if you have some nice options for to try/add, feel free to share them.

@Paced: Hmmm, concerning, I havent noticed these, might be how im outputing the frames to the encoder. (ill test here and check, thanks for the feedback). Oh, and with respect to field based encoding, it definitely has options I could use, not sure what will be best though. Ill test it out & get back to you. Oh, and I dont have any plans as yet for it, just whipped it up to offer it to jdobbs....
(Edit: Yup, just spotted it, something's not right, good eyes )

@Asmodeus: Yup should be the same as ffvfw, both use the same library. Yup, ill add an advanced options dialog to set the number of B-Frames (2), GOP Size (12), etc (brackets indictate what it is set to now)

@DarkNite: Yup trellis Helps alot too, but slows it down quite a bit.

@vhelp: Well dont expect too much, but for the price, it's hard to beat

-Nic

[vhelp]

Thank you Nic.

I respect you and your work, and always look forward to it (and others
all around the many forums

And, please keep up the good work.
OH, yeah, not effense, that RED looks..hmm.. ahhh, it's not so bad hehe..

Be Good,
-vhelp

[Nic]

"OH, yeah, not effense, that RED looks..hmm.. ahhh, it's not so bad hehe"
lol...Ok, Im going to make it so you can change the colors from the advanced options too :P

[vmesquita]

Nic,

Congratulations for the great idea! I have found a workaround to use mencoder (which is also libavcodec based) with avisynth (http://kvcd.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9078), but doing this right easily with no makeavis in a 700 kb executable is really awesome. I was really looking for a free command-line encoding app with AVs support to integrate in my free tool DIKO as an alternative to CCE, and looks like you made my dream come true.
I can't wait to get home and test!

EDIT: I downloaded and run, altrought I don't have nothing to encode here at the university. The interface is very simple and functional! I only miss 2 things: use a custom matrix and define GOP lenght. Could this be implemented?

[vhelp]

Hi Nic,

I'm back already. Hope you don't mind my posting an issue w/ my
opening up an .AVS scrip.

Here is what I'm doing, and maybe you can help me ??

* plain .AVI file (dvd source: VFAPI'ed to vdub, saved as .AVI file)
* vdub opens this plain .AVI file and frameserve as .VDR file.
* my .AVS script opens it:
* 01.Film 23.976 fps.(convertTOyv12).avs

 x="d:\01.00.vdr"
 segmentedAVISource(x)
 assumeFrameBased()
 convertTOyv12()

* open in your app, QuEnc(01.Film 23.976 fps.(convertTOyv12).avs)

After performing the above steps, it issus an error:
-------------------
Error
[!] Could not open Video Codec
-------------------

Nic, I'm sorry, but there is a reason why I go this laborous route in
feeding my source files for a final encode. Please understand me for
this. But, I never have problems with color space or anything else,
and that's another reason I use this route.

Also, I'm using another frameserve alternative, "makeAVS" but it was
not used in the above process.

Can you help me out with the above error ?? thanks.
-vhelp
EDIT: this process (above) opens up fine when used w/ vdub, just
not w/ QuEnc yet.

[Nic]

@vhelp: ill check that it can read that FPS correctly, also what was the size of the video (resolution) ?

ps
EDIT: Just checked....If I do a AVS with AssumeFPS(23.976), it didnt like it. (dont have any MPEGs with that frame rate here, so had to use AssumeFPS). I've put in a hack to make it work. (I hope). The thing is the FPS is not really 23.976, it's 24000/1001 and if libavcodec doesnt get exactly that it crys...so ive got to detect it and force it.

-Nic

[vmesquita]

Nic,

Looks like you missed my question because I edited the message. Could you add custom matrix and GOP support in a future release?

[vhelp]

Nic,

ok, when I feed that same script into vdub, and check it's information,
it tells me that it is using the "ATI YUV12 format codec".

Thanks again,
-vhelp

[tyee]

Great app Nic! I'm trying to test it but am also getting this --

Error
[!] Could not open Video Codec

I'm just feeding a regular .avs with a 720*480 dvd source. VirtualDub cannot open the script either. I do have ConvertToYV12() at the end. Do I need to install a Divx or Xvid codec to make this work?

tyee

[Nic]

Ok here is 0.3:
http://nic.dnsalias.com/QuEnc.exe

This has an updated ffmpeg version, a fix for decimal framerates (such as NTSC), speed increase, file size decrease (now around 650kb), as well as minor bug fix.

New version will have the extra options...

-Nic

@tyee: No it doesn't require any codecs, it didn't work because of the framerate issue which is fixed in this release, please re-download and try again.

@vmesquita: Yes & Yes

[vmesquita]

EDIT: Looks like Nic was faster and my FFVFW tip has nothing to do with your problem, so I removed.

@Nic
This is great news! Please keep the good work.

[vhelp]

Nic,

FYI and FWIW..
I got it to finally encode (was 720x480 source) but I added in a
* AssumeFPS(24)

..before the YV12 filters, and it encoded (3fps) but that's because of
my setup. Anyways, this was found before you updated your version.
I'll D/L it now

I'll let you know how v0.3 comes out w/ my give setup from my earlier
setup.

-vhelp