FAVC - v1.07 (Auto Menu Generation) (19/06/08)

[Mr_Odwin]

FAVC is a GUI that enables you to easily make DVDs from video files. It takes one, or more, video files and produces a dvd folder ready to be burned to a dvd disc that should play in any regular dvd player. FAVC uses several pieces of free software to accomplish its task.

Features:
Input video files and obtain a DVD folder ready to be burned to a DVD disc.
Automatic file recognition and analysis.
Automatically assigns correct bitrate based on disc size chosen.
Easy chapter creation.
AC3 Retention.
Uses Muxman (Via BatchMux) for DVD Authoring.
Automated Menu Generation for up to 8 Titles.

Requirements:
Must have Avisynth v2.56a or later installed.
Must have .NET framework Version 2 installed.

Instructions:
Open FAVC. Choose your video files, configure the options and then click the generate button. Whilst processing, tasks will run on the task bar and can be watched. The main task is video encoding, which is done by QuEnc or HC. When everything is done you will have a dvd folder in the required directory.

Files:
http://download.videohelp.com/favc/FAVC_107.exe (32 bit) (self-extracting)
http://download.videohelp.com/favc/FAVC_107.zip (32 bit) (zip file)
http://download.videohelp.com/favc/FAVC_107_x64.exe (64 bit) (self-extracting)
http://download.videohelp.com/favc/FAVC_107_x64.zip (64 bit) (zip file)

Source:
http://download.videohelp.com/favc/FAVC_Source_107.zip Source Code (Really Messy!!!)

Homepage:
http://favcfavc.googlepages.com/home

Updates for v1.07:
Updated Aften, DGPulldown, HC, ImgBurn, MediaInfo, Mencoder, MKVToolnix, Muxman, twoLame and FFMpegSource
Improved HC Predictive Quantization Algorithm
Added support for mpg/vob files

Updates for v1.06:
Updated MediaInfo
Fixed HC speed button
Fixed plugin loading for FFmpegSource
Improved HC Predictive Quantization Algorithm

Updates for v1.05:
Updated HC, Wavi, MediaInfo
Improved HC Predictive Quantization Algorithm
A donate button (Christmas is coming and Mrs_Odwin wants lots of presents)
Incorporation of FFmpegSource

Updates for v1.04:
Vista Compatibility Fixed
Improved HC Predictive Quantization Algorithm
Minor GUI Fixes

Updates for v1.03:
New HC encoding mode - Quant Prediction by 2% samples

Updates for v1.02:
Updated twolame & Mediainfo
Small Code Clean
Added a shut down option
Replaced bepipe with wavi
Tweaked Audio handling

Updates for v1.01:
Simple menu preview
A fix for ac3 retention with mkv
A fix for chapter creation
Some slight (mostly not noticeable) menu improvements

Updates for v1.00:
Automated Menu Generation for up to 8 Titles

[DDogg]

Thanks for posting this work. It looks like a good concept for converting a batch of AVIs directly to a dvd image. I've only tried it once with 4 avis.

The result was a dvd image ready to burn except it only contained one of the avis. I have not spent enough time to know why the others were not included. When I get some time I will try to track the process and report back to you.

[Mr_Odwin]

Originally Posted by DDogg

Thanks for posting this work. It looks like a good concept for converting a batch of AVIs directly to a dvd image. I've only tried it once with 4 avis.

The result was a dvd image ready to burn except it only contained one of the avis. I have not spent enough time to know why the others were not included. When I get some time I will try to track the process and report back to you.

That would be a great help.
It's my first ever programming project so it's going to be a bit rough round the edges, but I'm using it myself so it meets my needs at least.
I recently updated it to include .vdr support so you can frameserve from vdub/vdubmod.

[DDogg]

Only had a few minutes to investigate, but it looks like there is a problem producing some of the mp2's - Some have 0 size- which cause mplex to fail - thus no MPGs are created.

"**ERROR: [???] Unable to read from C:\Documents and Settings\DDogg\Desktop\FAVC\Working Folder 0\Title2.mp2."

Will try to dig deeper soon.

DD

/ADD - Seems to be failing on those avis with AC3 sound. Imo, you have to support ac3 for this work to be useful to many folks. Hope you will consider it. Wouldn't it actually save you a step or 2 since you just need to demux it, fix it then remux to the mpg?

Several things come to mind:

1> Add a "Do not delete files" tickbox - People may wish to build there own dvd from the files generated using DVD lab, etc.
2> When AC3 is present, keep it and mux it tickbox
3> Perhaps a few additional QuEnc options available? HQ/trellis/2pass - If these options would offer a better quality encoding, and if they would not throw you off your calculated required bitrate.
4> INI file that remembers the ntsc preference

[Mr_Odwin]

Originally Posted by DDogg

Only had a few minutes to investigate, but it looks like there is a problem producing some of the mp2's - Some have 0 size- which cause mplex to fail - thus no MPGs are created.

"**ERROR: [???] Unable to read from C:\Documents and Settings\DDogg\Desktop\FAVC\Working Folder 0\Title2.mp2."

Will try to dig deeper soon.

DD

/ADD - Seems to be failing on those avis with AC3 sound. Imo, you have to support ac3 for this work to be useful to many folks. Hope you will consider it. Wouldn't it actually save you a step or 2 since you just need to demux it, fix it then remux to the mpg?

Several things come to mind:

1> Add a "Do not delete files" tickbox - People may wish to build there own dvd from the files generated using DVD lab, etc.
2> When AC3 is present, keep it and mux it tickbox
3> Perhaps a few additional QuEnc options available? HQ/trellis/2pass - If these options would offer a better quality encoding, and if they would not throw you off your calculated required bitrate.
4> INI file that remembers the ntsc preference

Files with ac3 work at my end. The app uses DirectShowSource to open the audio part of files. I chose that as AVISource was giving me problems with some avi files with vbr mp3. I'll certainly look into it more.
The other things you mention were kinda already in the back of my mind as things that would be an improvement.

[DDogg]

Originally Posted by Mr_Odwin

Files with ac3 work at my end. The app uses DirectShowSource to open the audio part of files. I chose that as AVISource was giving me problems with some avi files with vbr mp3. I'll certainly look into it more.
The other things you mention were kinda already in the back of my mind as things that would be an improvement.

Thanks for getting back to me. You mentioned the ac3 works on your end ... two responses to that -

1> I'll need to arrange a method to get you a snip of the file/s that fail. Will contact you a download location via PM. Let me know if you are on dial-up.
2> I assume you mean "working on your end" as converting the ac3 to mp2. I was suggesting you detect the ac3, demux it, and directly remux it back to the pulldown mpv. I am thinking it is sort of a shame to lose the 5.1 soundtrack when it is available. I think there is another step in between, IIRC, to "fix" the ac3. I'm sure somebody here can provide that information. It has been a long while since I was on top of this stuff.

I think you may have a real winner here. Your program is so simple and functional that it is downright elegant. I really do hope you are open to continuing with it.

[ArchieX]

to "fix" the ac3. I'm sure somebody here can provide that information

Quick search on Google for AC3Fix.exe (13kb Command line) should help cure that part.

Archie

[Mr_Odwin]

Originally Posted by DDogg

Thanks for getting back to me. You mentioned the ac3 works on your end ... two responses to that -

1> I'll need to arrange a method to get you a snip of the file/s that fail. Will contact you a download location via PM. Let me know if you are on dial-up.
2> I assume you mean "working on your end" as converting the ac3 to mp2. I was suggesting you detect the ac3, demux it, and directly remux it back to the pulldown mpv. I am thinking it is sort of a shame to lose the 5.1 soundtrack when it is available. I think there is another step in between, IIRC, to "fix" the ac3. I'm sure somebody here can provide that information. It has been a long while since I was on top of this stuff.

I think you may have a real winner here. Your program is so simple and functional that it is downright elegant. I really do hope you are open to continuing with it.

I have a feeling that the problem is multi-channel audio rather than ac3 audio, and if so, I can work with that. A sample/snip of your failing vid would be great! I'm on broadband and can follow a link if you PM it, or you could send it to FAVCFAVC@googlemail.com

[DDogg]

Odd thing - before putting you through checking it out, I tried some tests on my other machines and had no problem on them. I uninstalled AC3filter on my machine and your program started working with no problem (other than no 5.1 audio in final output ). I suspect some type of conflict between other software allowing ac3 playback that is installed on my machine. Perhaps PowerDVD?

Speaking of PowerDVD, for some reason it chokes on your final output. I have to kill it with TM. Other DVD playback software has no problem. I verified this on several machines and suspect if will be like that for all using PowerDVD.

Any thoughts on keeping the AC3 sound? I notice you have studiously avoided comment so far

[Mr_Odwin]

Originally Posted by DDogg

Any thoughts on keeping the AC3 sound? I notice you have studiously avoided comment so far

I think it's a great idea and something that is on my list of things to implement. As far as I see it it would save time in the long run and obviously preserving the 5.1 element is desirable.
Everything you mentioned above has gone on my 'to do' list, just I appear to be really busy with real life at the moment.

The PowerDVD thing ... the dvdauthor xml file created uses jumppad and apparently some players have trouble with it, but none of mine do, and I currently don't have the dvdauthor skills to get around using it with a virtualmachine, or whatever it is.

[Matthew]

DDogg keeping AC3 involves a bit of grief unless one restricts PAL<->NTSC conversion options, especially with 23.976->25 fps. If one wants to be comprehensive about it then Soft Encode support is required.

Also, MuxMan 0.15 > DVDAuthor, although project file generation is more complex

[arthurfent2k]

Hm,nice work!

Would be great to be able to do a 352/576(480) DVD in order to store more

[Mr_Odwin]

Been a while as I've just submitted my thesis, my wife is having a baby soon (end of June), I just got a new job and we're moving to a new house because of the new job. Anyway ... v0.3.0.0 is out and I've tried to get a few things done.

Added:
i) Added config file to remember last used choices
ii) Additional QuEnc video encoding options made available
iii) Option of leaving temporary files undeleted

No ac3 retention yet as that's tricky, but I am getting closer.
Links of the first post have been updated.

[DDogg]

Thanks for this update. It makes the program much more flexible. As mentioned before, I hope you do continue the project when time allows. This is a good solution for many folks that don't want to be bothered with the details, and the resulting quality of the encoding is good.

The only major problem I have encountered is with the authoring. The resulting disks will literally not play on any of my HW players, nor my son-in-law's. As mentioned, they also crash PowerDVD on my system.

Have you taken a recent look at this problem?

[Fugdefino]

I've just tried converting a divx file. Six hours later and it's still stuck at "Analysing Video 0".

[Mr_Odwin]

That's strange as the analysing stage is just a quick pass over 250 frames (or less) using avisynth. It writes some results to a log file and then the encoding options are chosen based on that. Do you have avisynth installed and can it normally open the offending file?

[Fugdefino]

Yes, and I've tried several files now and same problem occurs with all of them.

[Mr_Odwin]

I've updated the links in the first post to to 0.4.0.0 and there should be some significant changes for the better (I hope). Amongst other things the muxing and authoring behaviour has been changed so it should be more compatible with dvd players. Guess it could throw up a load of different trouble though.
Still no ac3 retention, but it shouldn't throw a wobbly anymore when files with ac3 audio are the input.

[Mr_Odwin]

Updated links, Version 0.5.0.0 ahoy! AC3 retention is added, along with extra video resolutions.

[~bT~]

Ive just downloaded this, gonna give a try. Just wondering if it would be poss in future releases to add subtitle support pls? Thanx for the app.