StaxRip x86 (development for x86 has been stopped)

[3dsnar]

OK, I understand.
So can u utilize somehow our installer,
as a part of StaxRip installer?

[stax76]

OK, I understand.
So can u utilize somehow our installer,
as a part of StaxRip installer?

I can but it would be much easier for me and all other GUI authors without the two problems I've pointed out. There will be quite a bit extra code and extra time for us GUI authors to work around this problems.

[3dsnar]

OK, so do you need our installer project?
I can send it to you, just please let me know.
----------------
Regarding the other problem, please specify
what exactly would be necessary for you
and I will pass this info to my colleague responsible
for C++ development.

[chipzoller]

Stax,

Then can we encode just using MP4 instead of x264 to create iPod-compatible video? I just don't know enough about the workings of the x264 codec to suggest a profile at this time. I'm desperate to get some program to encode my AVIs of DVDs I own that are at 23.976 fps, but because Videora is a frontend of FFMpeg, and FFMpeg doesn't handle framerates into the thousandths, it has to round up. Even if you compensate through an AVS script by assuming the fps at 23.98, there is still a small un-sync towards the end.

[thuongshoo]

You can enter custom switches.
I still can't know . Which menu must I choose ?
Please say clearly ,more detail
thanks !

[Deinorius]

I found a bug with x264 AE-Standard. When selecting B-Frames 3, with 1.pass StaxRip uses only --b-frames without 3. If I select for example B-Frames 2, there's no problem. I didn't noticed it with other Profiles.

There are some other things here (http://forum.gleitz.info/showthread.php?t=26177&page=5), I want you to know.

[thuongshoo]

oh ! I know the way to use "direct option" .thanks :D

[harycover]

Hi stax

Thanks for this great software it's powerful and handy to use :)

[stax76]

OK, so do you need our installer project?
I can send it to you, just please let me know.

It takes too much time to work around the setup exceptions so users will have to download and install Aud-X manually.


please specify
what exactly would be necessary for you
and I will pass this info to my colleague responsible
for C++ development.

A option to define the target path e.g.:

-t "c:\aaa.mp3"

Then can we encode just using MP4 instead of x264

What does that mean (I understand MP4 as container)? I really can't do I iPod related work without guidance (explaining exactly how it's done manually).


I found a bug with x264 AE-Standard. When selecting B-Frames 3, with 1.pass StaxRip uses only --b-frames without 3. If I select for example B-Frames 2, there's no problem. I didn't noticed it with other Profiles.

I can't reproduce this, the preview looks OK. Maybe you can describe the steps needed to reproduce this.

[Deinorius]

I can't reproduce this, the preview looks OK. Maybe you can describe the steps needed to reproduce this. Nor am I. Now I copied your Hotfix and I don't have this problem anymore. I don't know, what it was. Maybe it was only an individual case.
I am more interested in selecting .ssa Subs for .mkv. It's not supported now I think. Will you support it in future?

Without Resizing (with your Hotfix) StaxRip selects --sar 40:33, but that's for NTSC. I don't find any option for selecting another SAR. And options for x264 Compression Tests are missing. I don't use it anyway, but it's still a feature.

[chipzoller]

Stax,

Can you "port" Sharktooth's iPod profile to StaxRip? Or if not, maybe he'll give you permission to use it. I was mistaken about his profile not working...it turns out my AVS script was to blame.

[Deinorius]

There's another point, I forgot. What about the "fast" option for 1.pass? But I have no idea about the commandline order, don't find anything in MeGUI or somewhere else.
Will you include it? It brings still a performance gain.

[stax76]

I am more interested in selecting .ssa Subs for .mkv. It's not supported now I think. Will you support it in future?

Depends on how much demand there is, might require quite a bit work, other than that I agree it would be a good feature though I don't know where and how that kind of subtiltles are used.

Can you "port" Sharktooth's iPod profile to StaxRip? Or if not, maybe he'll give you permission to use it. I was mistaken about his profile not working...it turns out my AVS script was to blame.

I was thinking all sharktooth's profiles are available in StaxRip, no?

What about the "fast" option for 1.pass?

Is that a new switch?

[chipzoller]

I was thinking all sharktooth's profiles are available in StaxRip, no?

Maybe so...I haven't checked.

[davidlt]

I like this tool, but I hate just one thing. MKV container supports AC3 sound, but it can`t be made at the same time... It would be ice yo use it on HDTV, maybe you are going to add some profiles for HDTV?.. http://nwgat.net/ Here you can find, how to encode 1080i and 720p to x264... For now It don`t work so nice with HDTV, I and other people tryed, and nothing good... MKV + AC3 sound + x264 video...

[stax76]

@davidlt

I can't do much unless somebody tells me what's wrong. If it can be done manually and somebody explains me how I should be able to fix it, if it can't be done manually it can't be done by StaxRip either because StaxRip is just a GUI.

[LRN]

I encountered a DVD with very nice DTS track and very bad AC3 track.
I need a way to use DTS in StaxRip.
There's a few links for you, if you're interested:
http://www.schudy.de/dts/azidts26wavs-e.htm - dts->wav->ac3 (for us it's possible to dts->wav->ac3->aac)
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=109488 - dts->aac

[Deinorius]

Depends on how much demand there is, might require quite a bit work, other than that I agree it would be a good feature though I don't know where and how that kind of subtiltles are used. Well, I use it with every movie, which has subs. Don't ask me why, I'm just using it. :D
Of course I'm using .ssa Subs for Animes every time. DVD subs are good, but .ssa Subs are looking much better. You know, they can be styled. Just a cool feature. ^^
Is that a new switch? I dont't know it either. You have to ask a MeGUI developer about it like doom9. But it fastens 1.pass very good. For owners of a slowly CPU like my Athlon XP-M 2000+ a needed feature. :D

How about adding the Anime AVS Script from the german doom9 Board? I could send you my build, so you can see, how I did it.
I like this tool, but I hate just one thing. MKV container supports AC3 sound, but it can`t be made at the same time... It would be ice yo use it on HDTV, maybe you are going to add some profiles for HDTV?.. http://nwgat.net/ Here you can find, how to encode 1080i and 720p to x264... For now It don`t work so nice with HDTV, I and other people tryed, and nothing good... MKV + AC3 sound + x264 video... If you mean encoding for .ts Files, you may be right, but otherwise it should work already. x264 support it, you only have to use a HD-resolution.

[davidlt]

Yes, I was talking about TS encoding to x264 and MKV + AC3 muxing, as I can see, I need manually make AC3 sound from video(source), before encoding?..

[Kriz]

Can StaxRip convert Xvid/Mp3 in an AVI to mpeg2 for making DVDs?

I keep getting an error:

http://67.18.37.14/54/185/upload/p873236.jpg

[3dsnar]

I can but it would be much easier for me and all other GUI authors without the two problems I've pointed out. There will be quite a bit extra code and extra time for us GUI authors to work around this problems.
OK, we will prepare a special release of the executable,
dedicated to StaxRip, so you will be able to distribute it with your application.
The necessity for installing our codec in order to reproduce Aud-X encoded sound will remain, as you suggest.
I will get back to you when ready.
Thank you.

[LRN]

I found fine app (BeHappy) for dts transcoding, but i can't configure it to output 5.1 aac :(

[stax76]

I need a way to use DTS in StaxRip.

You could try to configure StaxRip for this.

I dont't know it either. You have to ask a MeGUI developer about it like doom9. But it fastens 1.pass very good. For owners of a slowly CPU like my Athlon XP-M 2000+ a needed feature.

I would guess MeGUI accelerates the x264 first pass by using faster settings for this pass, it is or was called 'Turbo'. StaxRip does exactly the same.

How about adding the Anime AVS Script from the german doom9 Board? I could send you my build, so you can see, how I did it.

IIRC it was way to complex.

Can StaxRip convert Xvid/Mp3 in an AVI to mpeg2 for making DVDs?

By default only MPEG-4 output is supported. It would be possible to configure StaxRip to use any command line encoder if mpg would be a supported output format. I'll give this a try if I have time.

OK, we will prepare a special release of the executable,
dedicated to StaxRip, so you will be able to distribute it with your application.

Packing the executable myself is hardly a problem but it's pointless because the user has to install your package anyway, StaxRip would locate the install path automatically for manual installs. Even if it had to be installed manually it would be no big deal, the external applications dialog and generally the integration of external applications is well suited for that scenario.

The best solution would really be to simplify the installer, using Nullsoft or Inno to have a single executable and consider installing the filters in the install directory and not in system directory. Most dshow filters are installed in the install directory, for very good reasons.

[Deinorius]

I would guess MeGUI accelerates the x264 first pass by using faster settings for this pass, it is or was called 'Turbo'. StaxRip does exactly the same. I will do some 1.pass Tests with MeGUI and StaxRip. I will see, if there's any difference.
IIRC it was way to complex. You may be right, but adding it as a Template could be way of versatile. It's your choice.

[3dsnar]

You could try to configure StaxRip for this.
Packing the executable myself is hardly a problem but it's pointless because the user has to install your package anyway, StaxRip would locate the install path automatically for manual installs. Even if it had to be installed manually it would be no big deal, the external applications dialog and generally the integration of external applications is well suited for that scenario.

The best solution would really be to simplify the installer, using Nullsoft or Inno to have a single executable and consider installing the filters in the install directory and not in system directory. Most dshow filters are installed in the install directory, for very good reasons.
OK. I do not know how long time it will take my colleague to prepare a new installer. I will talk to him and let you know as soon as it is ready. Thanx & cheers.

[siddharthagandhi]

dude, every single program that they want you to download they say version is wrong because I HAVE the newer version

they seriously need to update the versioning of their programs and codecs

[chongy5]

I assume the reason for this is because of best compatibility, and probably because the program works best/tested using whatever version number of those tools.

[stax76]

dude, every single program that they want you to download they say version is wrong because I HAVE the newer version

You can use a newer build (http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip), please read the warning carefully as well as the support page in the help, that page was updated for this not yet but soon released build. This build is more up to date than your signature as it supports DivX 6.2.0, it what released today, right? ;)

[siddharthagandhi]

even x264 and vdub are outdated...did u fix those as well?

[LRN]

siddharthagandhi, you could use ANY version of any application, included in StaxRip. Just ignore StazRip's warnings. That's what Stax trying to tell you. Place newer versions in Applications directory instead old ones and enjoy.

[Warrex]

Hi Stax,

there is also a new Version of DivXMux. It is part of the DivX Media Creation Tools r2. Would be cool if you could include into the hotfix.

See here: http://labs.divx.com/archives/000066.html

[stax76]

even x264 and vdub are outdated...did u fix those as well?

Yes, those are updated in the build posted previously, check the changelog for all changes.

there is also a new Version of DivXMux. It is part of the DivX Media Creation Tools r2. Would be cool if you could include into the hotfix.

Thanks, I had it downloaded but kind of had forgotten it since I didn't had a DVD to test it, time to get a new one. :)

[Warrex]

Thanks for the quick reply! Its support is one of the MANY great things about StaxRip! Do I sound like a fanboy? Well, I am! :sly:

[siddharthagandhi]

It's a really nice program and has a great UI for noobs in particular. You don't even have to know anything about video encoding and external programs, most of the stuff is automatically done for you.

[snowcrash]

I tried doing a search within this thread and didn't see anything on this. I'd like to request support for type 1 DV as input, the default type of video that comes out of a MiniDV camcorder. I have home videos that I like to convert to XVID. Right now AutoGK is the only encoding app that takes type 1 DV and it doesn't have the advanced features I need (Gordian Knot does not accept type 1 DV). Thank you.

[stax76]

I'd like to request support for type 1 DV as input

You might try to customize StaxRip for this. Normally I try to help people wherever I can but I don't have any experience with DV.

[Warrex]

@Stax

Batch Mode

"Batch Mode" might be useful to me but I do not understand what it does. I read some posts where you said one should read the context help. Well, pressed the help button and thats what I got:

"Options Dialog
All options in the Options Dialog are stored in projects. In order to use changes as defaults available on startup overwrite the default project. In the main dialog's main menu select File/Default Project/Save."

Not exactly useful... Then I searched all .htm files for the term "batch" which returned three files with no real info...


Interface

I really do not like the assistant. With the new Hotfix you introduced a warning ("Please follow the assistant") that forces me through the assistant although I just want to queue a job. This is really annoying as I accidentally started Batch Processing some times without having queued all jobs (clicked one time too much on "next" in the assistant). Btw. adding more jobs should be possible after others were started (like in Gordian Knot).

The assistant is really a "Wizard" to me which many programs have to guide novice users through important steps of a program. This is perfectly fine but really slows pro users down. It's the same with StaxRip. I would prefer if StaxRip had a wizard and a pro mode to choose from.

Btw. another annoying thing which was introduced a while back is having to load the default profile again when starting a new project (i.e. loading a new file).

StaxRip is great because you can do almost everything directly in the programm itself (which is great for TV Recordings) and it is configurable to the max but imho I lacks a streamlined and clean interface.

For a Pro Mode I would suggest an interface slightly similar to Gordian Knots with Tabs:

[Text] = Button
{Text} = Slider
|Text| = Dropdown Menu with possible manual input

1. Main Tab (Left=Video / Right=Audio)

Left side top:
[Select Video Source], Source Infos

Left side middle (Video Settings):
|Codec|, Codec [1st Pass]/[2 Pass], [Check Compressiblity] N/A or Value, {Resize}, Favorite Filters Checkboxes

Right side top: [Select Audio Source 1] / [Select Audio Source 2]
Right side middle (Audio Source 1 Settings / Audio Source 2 Settings): (|Codec|, {Bitrate},...)

Bottom (Target): |Select Container| |Filesize|, |Video bitrate|, [Target Path], [Start Encoding], [Enqeue]


2. "Advanced Video Settings" Tab
[Preview/Crop/Cut] opens ONE window, More Avisynth filters - checkbox with descriptions (over time a filter database could be added here)

3. "Advanced Audio Settings" Tab
BeSweet Option Mania (see Belight)

4. "Subtitles" Tab
[Add Subtiltle File(s) to container], Checkox to select subtitles if applicable

(Vsfilter)

[B]5. "Jobs" Tab
Infos, Change Order, Delete, etc.

6. "Avisynth Script Editor" Tab
(blanked out via checkbox in the left corner by default, warning that this is for experts)

A cleaner Options menu (also using Tabs) would be good also as important options are currently scattered over various menus.

Options Menu
- Directories
- Video Defaults (Codec, etc.)
- Audio Defaults (Codec, etc.)
- Muxer Defaults
- Subtitle Defaults
- Avisynth Filter Manager (define default settings, add filter to Favorites > Main tab)
- Automation
- Preparation
- External Programs Manager
- Profile Manager

[OK], [Save as Profile only], [Cancel]

I know that this would be a lot of work and some things might not work this way (due to window sizes, etc.). These are just my ideas about another interface.

I guess you won't like most of them as I assume you would have done things this way already but hey proposing changes is worth a try... :rolleyes:

[stax76]

"Batch Mode" might be useful to me but I do not understand what it does. I read some posts where you said one should read the context help. Well, pressed the help button and that's what I got:

"Options Dialog
All options in the Options Dialog are stored in projects. In order to use changes as defaults available on start-up overwrite the default project. In the main dialog's main menu select File/Default Project/Save."

Not exactly useful... Then I searched all .htm files for the term "batch" which returned three files with no real info...

What the user should be expecting pressing the help button there is the help for the active tab, I need to fix this. Most options have a context help you can show by either dropping the 'What's this help' (?) on it or by right-clicking on the option, the right-click works even for menu's (main and context menu's) but of course not if the control got a context menu like text controls.

Not exactly useful... Then I searched all .htm files for the term "batch" which returned three files with no real info...

Most of the help is runtime generated because it's much easier for me doing the help in place using visual designers and wiki markup.

I really do not like the assistant. With the new Hot-fix you introduced a warning ("Please follow the assistant") that forces me through the assistant although I just want to queue a job.

Starting the encoding directly instead of using the job list is not possible either, if that was possible before than it was a bug and not a feature. I had to force this because before I did so I was getting lot's of bug reports from people ignoring critical warnings. If reminders bother people I could make them optional.

Btw. adding more jobs should be possible after others were started (like in Gordian Knot).

It should but it's a too big task, I've explained it here (http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=780748&postcount=543).

The assistant is really a "Wizard" to me which many programs have to guide novice users through important steps of a program. This is perfectly fine but really slows pro users down. It's the same with StaxRip. I would prefer if StaxRip had a wizard and a pro mode to choose from.

I could make some stuff optional, which of the instructions bother you? IIRC there are really only crop and filters, everything else would lead to people mess up their encodes (and send bug reports...).

Btw. another annoying thing which was introduced a while back is having to load the default profile again when starting a new project (i.e. loading a new file).

There isn't really a way around, a new source needs a clean project for a couple of very good reasons. So far I recall about three complaints and was confronted with the warning myself too. What might be a improvement is showing a small dialog allowing to pick a template or the default project.

For a Pro Mode I would suggest an interface slightly similar to Gordian Knots with Tabs:

IMHO traditional tabs look a bit old fashioned. I would prefer a sidebar much like 'Windows Movie Maker' which of course are tabs too. I prefer my ultimate simplicity compact single screen approach but understand many people would prefer a tab and multi screen approach. There are lot's of factors like people have different experience, requirements, understanding, habits, priorities, the list is endless, the more types of users you want to cover the harder it get's, it's really not easy.

If you have lot's of simple stuff to encode without extras like subtitles and want things to be done quick and painless then a single sceen is handy, if you got extras and like to tweak you'll likely prefer a tab/multi sceen approach.

My architecture wouldn't allow such a change (like the job issue) btw. Such huge things are critically if not done from the beginning.

[sterlina]

Hi Stax, I wander if there is an option to separate first pass and second pass, as it takes a long to do them together.

[swinokur]

Stax: I'm using a CLI based encoder, and I've got it launching okay, but it launches in a separate 'command' window. Is there a different method I could use to launch it so that the output of the encoder (process bar, etc) shows up in the processform?

thanks!

[stax76]

I wander if there is an option to separate first pass and second pass, as it takes a long to do them together.

No, if it takes long then you must be using x264 :devil:, you could show the command line preview in that case and execute the command lines manually and use the null encoder, the profile is called 'Misc - No Encoding', you have to configure the output format of the null encoder and need to know that changing the encoder changes the muxer because the muxer is part of the encoder. Maybe quality mode or the pause feature could help you.

Stax: I'm using a CLI based encoder, and I've got it launching okay, but it launches in a separate 'command' window. Is there a different method I could use to launch it so that the output of the encoder (process bar, etc) shows up in the processform?

Such things are too much work to add and maintain, a progress bar requires the output to be parsed which is different for every application. Parsing the output is a poor solution just like confronting a windows user with a scary console window but there is no other way when the operating system or codec don't provide a better way.

[sterlina]

No, if it takes long then you must be using x264 :devil:, you could show the command line preview in that case and execute the command lines manually and use the null encoder, the profile is called 'Misc - No Encoding', you have to configure the output format of the null encoder and need to know that changing the encoder changes the muxer because the muxer is part of the encoder. Maybe quality mode or the pause feature could help you.


ehu... not really, I'm encoding with XviD. For a 2h video it takes about 6 hours to do both pass, that's not really *too much* but if it could be splitted it would be better.

I've tried the profile "XviD - Exact File Size", choose number of passes 1 in [options], but then [codec configuration] accepts only single pass in encoding type. I mean, I can change but it just won't take care and reset it.
Wouldn't be more powerful if that was only the default option, and if I change it just leave as I changed?

[stax76]

@sterlina

In StaxRip a encoding is a batch of many tasks. You want to disable one of this tasks, fine but how are you gonna do the disabled task?

[Warrex]

I really do not like the assistant. With the new Hot-fix you introduced a warning ("Please follow the assistant") that forces me through the assistant although I just want to queue a job.

Starting the encoding directly instead of using the job list is not possible either, if that was possible before than it was a bug and not a feature. I had to force this because before I did so I was getting lot's of bug reports from people ignoring critical warnings. If reminders bother people I could make them optional.

Well I solution might be that StaxRip dynamically checks which info is still missing for a successful encode. "Start" could then be greyed out out as long as StaxRip does not have all the info it or it could display an info box for the user with things he has to do before running the job.

I am no programer and I have no idea which things are hard to do. I just see shiny things in other programs and think to myself "well, that would be a cool things to have in StaxRip". :sly:

As you will have noticed my major concern is just that using StaxRip for batch encoding got slower with some of the last versions which contrasts with so many people asking about extended functionality. So if there are little things you can do in this area it would be very welcome. :)

[stax76]

Well I solution might be that StaxRip dynamically checks which info is still missing for a successful encode. "Start" could then be greyed out out as long as StaxRip does not have all the info it or it could display an info box for the user with things he has to do before running the job.

I don't understand exactly the workflow you want so please explain more detailed. I changed things in that area for almost any version, either because of feedback or for me, just the most recent build has changes, the whole thing is very difficult and I don't know if it was the last change.

When clicking new in the job dialog the following things happen using the most recent unofficial build:

*requirements are verified
*assistant check (new behavior)
*project is saved to source dir + target name so no longer any dialog unless the above checks fail (new behavior)

It's now very easy to make different encodes from the same source, you just change the target name and add it to the job list.

I've heard DXN is preparing another release so I'm waiting for that and I still have to add the updated DivX muxer, meanwhile here is another hotfix (http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip).

[Warrex]

Well, what I meant was the following:

I do not want to click myself through the assistant when adding jobs.

StaxRip should not check whether I have clicked through it but whether I can safely add (or start) a job now directly. Having to confirm by pressing "next" that cropping/filter setup/cutting/compressibility check were done or should not be done is a waste of time and most of all you can accidently click "next" one time too much and encoding starts prematurely. If I need one of these functions I can press F4, F5 or whatever.

Currently I want to encode many smaller clips of circa the same duration. The encoding settings stay the same (Saved as default profile: Filter setup, target size, target video dimensions, no cropping/cutting needed) - the only change is loading another source file. This might sound like a very special workflow but it isn't. The basic problem described below stays the same even if a have to change more settings...

Current workflow:

- Reload Default Profile
- Load File
- Click through four steps in the assistant and stop when it is at the "Ready" step
- Click text next to the "Next" button or hit F6
- Press Add & Close in Job Window

Workflow in (much) earlier StaxRip versions:

- Load file
- Press F6
- Press Add & Close in Job Window

A workflow I would like:

- Load file
- hit a Button like "Add to joblist" without opening the job window (thats what View/Jobs... or F6 is for)


Bottom line: I do not need an assistant as I access e.g. Crop via F4 only when I need it.

[stax76]

@Warrex

I might not change the default behavior but I will add some features allowing you to customize StaxRip for your prefered workflow.

[sterlina]

@sterlina
In StaxRip a encoding is a batch of many tasks. You want to disable one of this tasks, fine but how are you gonna do the disabled task?

ehu... if I have to encode first pass and second pass, I can disable the second and run the encoding, then (later, other day, whenever) disable the first pass and do the encoding, if I haven't changed anything (crop, audio, bitrate...) it should work

but that would be quite strange to do, so it wouldn't be a good solution :D I'll try to explain better my though (BTW... I don't know much about coding, so I don't know how much is difficult or it takes long for you to do it :p )


Let say you wants to do [XviD - Exact File Size] with an encode on two passes. The only way to do it is to set 2 passes in the encoder options (the one on the right), and that way you can only queue a job with the whole (1st and 2nd pass) encoding.

My idea was to add the possibility to set 1 pass in the "encoder options", then into "codec configuration" change it to first pass and add the job, then do the same thing but change onto second pass in "codec configuration" tab and add the job. So there would be two jobs, one for first pass and one for second pass

[stax76]

@sterlina

It's not so easy since e.g. audio encoding or muxing, all this things run for every job, like I said, encoding is a batch of tasks. It would end up then tasks like audio encoding run twice and other tasks like muxing fail because encoding wasn't completed.

[stax76]

0.9.9.1 (2006-04-14)



new: Crop dialog has a customizable menu like the main dialog and the preview.
new: Crop dialog remembers the last video position.
new: Crop dialog allows to crop opposite sides simultaneously.
new: Main and context menus show tooltips.
new: Default target directory option.
new: The file types used for the 'Open' and 'Save As' dialogs can be customized in the settings.
update: x264 490
update: x264 profiles 2006-03-23
update: DivX 6.2.1
update: DivXMux 6.1 build 36
update: VirtualDub 1.6.14
change: No more Save dialogs for the job filename, it'll be based on the target filename.
change: A couple of small AR related improvements.
change: Little change in audio profiles that is only relevant for PMP, PMP muxer updated to 2.0 to support 2 audio tracks and MP3 VBR.