StaxRip x86 (development for x86 has been stopped)

[stax76]

0.9.2.2 (2006-01-11)



new: AVI demuxing using VirtualDubMod supporting, mp3, ac3 and wav. Removed AVI2WAV.
new: Preparers can be enabled/disabled and other minor changes regarding preparers.
new: Addition language info for audio tracks like directors comments is written to the filename.
change: TreeView dialog used to replace, insert and add filters is now resizable and saves the window size.
change: x264 comp check uses now --crf 18 instead of --qp 18.
change: Audio files containing the name of the source file like the ones demuxed by DGIndex are now more reliable being automatically picked up.
fix: x264 Single Pass - Quality was broke since --qrf instead of --crf was used.

[weaver4]

I have noticed that the video quality for StaxRip is lower than the quality of same movie made with AVI.NET and Dr DivX 2.0. Here is the same data for the same movie coded four different ways: AVI.NET - Divx; Dr Divx 2.0 - Divx; StaxRip - Divx; StaxRip - XviD.

=============================
AVI.NET - DivX
Filesize: 1073Mbytes
Bitrate: 1099kb/s
FPS: 23.976
Qf: 0.263 bits/pixel
xy: 640x272

Dr Divx 2.0 - DivX
Filesize: 1079Mbytes
Bitrate: 1104kb/s
FPS: 23.976
Qf: 0.227 bits/pixel
xy: 704x288

StaxRip (DivX)
Filesize: 1254Mbytes
Bitrate: 1270kb/s
FPS: 29.970
Qf: 0.214 bits/pixel
xy: 688x288

StaxRip (XviD)
Filesize: 1254Mbytes
Bitrate: 1106kb/s
FPS: 29.970
Qf: 0.186 bits/pixel
xy: 688x288
==========================

Notice that the Quality Factor is much lower for StaxRip codes even though the bitrate is higher or the same as other approches. I beleive this is because the FrameRate for StaxRip is 29.970 but the frame rate for AVI.NET and Dr DivX 2.0 is 23.976.

But I can't find a way to set the FR in StaxRip to make it identical to AVI.NET or DR Divx.

Am I missing something? How can I get comparable results using StaxRip?

[StaxUser]

Hey Stax,

First I'd like to say thanks for the great tool.

Just wanted to echo an earlier comment about the resizing. I have been processing 720x480 sources from MPEG2 to XVid, with the intention of keeping the resolution the same but getting much better compression. The UI as of version 9.1.9 doesnt allow this (doesn't like 720x480 aspect ratio). I've gotten around it for now since I have VS.NET so I changed the code a little.

Thanks again

[stax76]

@weaver4

There is a IVTC filter but I don't have much clue about NTSC.

@StaxUser

Should be solved in the latest release.

[dimzon]

@stax
WOW! I take look @ StaxRip at first time - it's amaizing(I take look @ source code too). Congratulations!

[JoeBG]

@stax
WOW! I take look @ StaxRip at first time - it's amaizing(I take look @ source code too). Congratulations!

It´s the most promissing programm for mpeg4. The first stable version needs Profiles for the mass of users:
- mpeg4 part 2 with AC3 ( for the ones with SA´s) -> mkv
- mpeg4 part 2 with AAC ( for Nero Digital users Standart Profile) -> mp4
- mpeg 4 part 10 with AAC (for Xoro 700 users or PC users) -> mp4

and something between these profiles.

[LRN]

Can you implement pause/resume, at least for video encoding process?

[stax76]

@dimzon

thanks

The first stable version needs Profiles for the mass of users

I've plans for profiles but it takes some effort.

Can you implement pause/resume, at least for video encoding process?

I don't know how x264 cli can be paused.

[LRN]

Well, it's not necessary to use x264 cli. You can just pause/resume x264.exe main thread with SuspendThread() and ResumeThread().

[weaver4]

@weaver4

There is a IVTC filter but I don't have much clue about NTSC.


I don't understand your answer. Are you saying that you don't understand the problem or that you don't know what to do to fix it?

[weaver4]

After some investigation I found that if you set DGIndex to "Force Film" it will set the framerate to 23.976.

Can you add this as an option?

I think it is: -FO=1

Thanks,

[stax76]

@LRN

I'll check it.

@weaver4

Right-click on the filter of category Deint and select IVTC.

edit:

After some investigation I found that if you set DGIndex to "Force Film" it will set the framerate to 23.976.

That's only good under certain circumstances.

Can you add this as an option?

Only if somebody gives me good hints about how and why to add it and if I understand it, it's a difficult topic.

[swaaye]

you can only force film if there is no video in the source. If it's a hybrid, with video and film, you'll screw it all up. Hybrids make life tough. Weaver you need to go read thru some guides, like the Gordian Knot guides here on Doom9. Also google for the DGIndex and DGDecode manuals.

[LRN]

@LRN
I'll check it.
While doing this is very easy (i wrote external pause/resume application in 30 minutes), i can provide you code example, if you want :)

[stax76]

That would be great.

[LRN]

http://lrn.no-ip.info/other/seek_and_suspend_v1.0.7z
I hope you understand Delphi :)

[weaver4]

Right-click on the filter of category Deint and select IVTC.


That worked! Picture quality is much better and it is running at 23.97 FPS. I am suprised that this issue did not come up before now. Wondering why I was the first person to mention it. It seemed to me that if you were running 1100Mbps for video and getting a bad video that people would wonder why.

[stax76]

@LRN

I hardly know Delphi but if it uses Win32 it's a help, thanks.

@weaver4

As I'm constantly trying to make StaxRip easier I'll try to add some automation regarding the issue.

0.9.2.3 (2006-01-13)



new: Workaround for DivXMux upper case file extension bug.
new: If a setting has new default values StaxRip asks if the setting should be updated to new defaults or if the customizations (if any) should be kept. As example if better audio profiles are added StaxRip will ask if audio profiles should be updated.
new: Video profile defaults.
new: Audio profile defaults.
change: More robust XviD and DivX support.
change: More meaningful assistant warnings regarding incompatibilities between encoder, muxer and audio profile.

[LRN]

0.9.2.3 doesn't launch DGIndex when i select several VOB files. It uses first of these files as Source.

[swaaye]

weaver4,

cuz most of us knew that IVTC was needed for these sources. Part of this encoding nonsense is reading up on guides and how the sources need to be converted. I suggested some reading for you. You can not IVTC a hybrid (film+video) without some more intelligent methods. It will end up with jerky sequences.

Stax,
The automated crop is skewing the aspect on my 4:3 TNG episodes. I'm still using autocrop in the filter list as a result. You should try setting autocrop to leave the source aspect as is, if you are trying to set it so a specific ratio. -1 is the setting for the property I'm thinking of.... I tried 4.0/3.0 a while back, like the readme for autocrop says, and it ended up like 5:4...very strange.

[stax76]

0.9.2.3 doesn't launch DGIndex when i select several VOB files. It uses first of these files as Source.

I don't remember changes in that area since last version, works here. If you can't get it to work please send a bug report.

@swaaye

I never had auto crop problems with any source, maybe you can upload a sample to some file hosting service. Are you really sure it's a bug, I thought all the AR stuff works quite well.

[berrinam]

Only if somebody gives me good hints about how and why to add it and if I understand it, it's a difficult topic.
MeGUI manages Force Filming (not to be confused with the Automatic Deinterlacing which I added recently). It does an automated version of what the GK guide recommends: if the Film % reported by DGIndex is higher than the threshold in the settings (the default, 95%, is what I think most people use), then use force film, otherwise, don't.

This can all be done AFTER you have indexed the file. The operation goes like this:
1. Index with whatever settings you normally use.
2. Read in the .d2v file. The last line will be something like this:
FINISHED 0.00% FILM or whatever, according to the source. Take this percentage as your value, compare it to your threshold. If it is less, do nothing. If it is more, then do step 3.
3. Modify the following two lines (near the beginning) of the .d2v file:
Field_Operation=0
Frame_Rate=?????
and turn them into
Field_Operation=0
Frame_Rate=23976
Now you have a .d2v file with force film enabled.

[LRN]

Can't reproduce. Maybe it's just me? :)
Also...
What does --bime option for x264 do, and where is gui-switch for this option?
Also...
While searching for pause/resume solution for x264, i found some interesting thread here, on Doom9 - http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=94162 . There's encoder app with stop/resume feature! This is musthave for any AVC encoder, since AVC encoding is relatively slow.

[stax76]

@berrinam

Awesome, thanks, a while a go I bought 2 NTSC disc for testing purpose, crappy movies because the selection for NTSC disc is not really big here at eBay, it's time to attack the issue now. I knew there is the percentage value in the d2v file but I was wondering if DGIndex had to run a second pass depending on the outcome, now it's clear how it works.

Can't reproduce. Maybe it's just me?

Maybe I can spot it with the diagnostic files if you send some.

What does --bime option for x264 do

I'm not really using x264, there is no control but there is a box for additional switches. Either I have to support every possible features (probably more than 100) like MeGUI which is a huge task or I have to set a limit somewhere and that's pretty much reached. If there are features frequently requested I have to consider them of course.

While searching for pause/resume solution for x264, i found some interesting thread here, on Doom9 - http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=94162 . There's encoder app with stop/resume feature! This is musthave for any AVC encoder, since AVC encoding is relatively slow.

Thanks, that kind of info get pasted on my ever growing to do list instantly. I guess I can be lucky being through in 2-3 hours with a movie using XviD quality mode ;)

[LRN]

H-m-m-m..I think you should just redesign "CLI" section (maybe implement "Add to 2nd pass" and even "Add to 3nd pass"), so anyone could modify commandline to use switches unsupported in GUI. At this moment it is used only for "fast first pass", since "Add to all passes" applys after "Remove from first pass".

[stax76]

@LRN

I think there are 3 issues:

1. bime gets removed but was never added before.

2. Add/remove first actually is all but last, I just named it first because I thought it's easier to understand but it's actually confusing. I'll rename this to 'preceding passes'.

3. Add all should be added before the add/remove is done because that's how it works with the gui options so the order should be:

1. add to all
2. remove from preceding passes
3. add to preceding passes

[stax76]

@LRN

I hope this is better: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

There was also a bug, the last switch of the remove switches wasn't removed.

[Rogi]

First of all thanks for excellent tool, but think I found some error in your program.
When turn on deblocking filter in x264 GUI and then check CLI there is nothing showed ( for example --filter -2,-2), but when turn off deblocking filter in GUI then actually filter is showed in CLI.
Hope you will understand what i mean because my english is not so good.

[stax76]

Thanks, here is a hotfix: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

[Rogi]

Ok, now filter is showed in CLI but there is also instruction --nf which should not have been there, --nf have to be in CLI when deblocking filter is unchecked because that simple means "no filter".
Just one thing, use comma instead colon (-2,-2) in CLI.
Hope that will help you.

[mulrich]

I have an insane idea for a feature: the ability to convert flash movies to regular movies.

It's not a demand, but merely an idea, so I won't lie sleepless if you can't do it. :)

[stax76]

I've fixed the bug with the --nf switch and changed it to comma like in MeGUI, I guess that works but I understand the docs different:

-f, --filter <alpha:beta> Loop filter AlphaC0 and Beta parameters [0:0]

Here is the hotfix: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

I have an insane idea for a feature: the ability to convert flash movies to regular movies.

It's not a demand, but merely an idea, so I won't lie sleepless if you can't do it.

If there is a DirectShow filter or AviSynth filter or command line application for the transcoding than you can configure StaxRip to handle Flash source.

[weaver4]

weaver4,

cuz most of us knew that IVTC was needed for these sources. Part of this encoding nonsense is reading up on guides and how the sources need to be converted. I suggested some reading for you. You can not IVTC a hybrid (film+video) without some more intelligent methods. It will end up with jerky sequences.


The other tools that I use Avi.net, AutoGk, Dr1, Dr2, MPEG Mediator did not require that you set up IVTC. And since StaxRip is intended to be tool that is a simple to use as these I did not think there was anything extra I needed to know. I did look at gknot guide to learn about this. Interesting reading.

[Rogi]

I have done several encodings and can confirm now deblocking filter works fine.
Thanx for quick fix.

[stax76]

0.9.2.4 (2006-01-15)



fix: fixed two x264 bugs.
new: Added automatic aspect ratio signaling, it is automatically used for XviD and x264 (not supported by DivX) whenever no resize filter is used. Muxer aspect ratio signaling was removed.

[Aladdin]

It's getting better and better. The 'Ask before update profile' feature is an improvement, but I still don't like it when it overwrites my custom profiles when I give the ok to update. Would it be possible to update the default profiles without actually overwriting (or removing) any custom profiles that might have been added by the user?

[stax76]

It's getting better and better. The 'Ask before update profile' feature is an improvement, but I still don't like it when it overwrites my custom profiles when I give the ok to update. Would it be possible to update the default profiles without actually overwriting (or removing) any custom profiles that might have been added by the user?


It would be possible but too many features have also drawbacks. In case of profiles that use the generic profiles dialog such a feature is not really needed because when you click New in the profiles dialog you have all the factory defaults always available. Maybe you can elaborate a little bit more?

[Aladdin]

I mean when upgrading to a new version you now get dialogs asking if the profiles (and other settings) should be updated. In most cases, I think people want to update the default profiles to the new versions. But I also think quite a lot of people make custom profiles and the way it is implemented now, those custom profiles are lost when you upgrade. Each time I upgraded to a new version I had to recreate my custom profiles for video, audio and the filter profile, because they were removed.

[stax76]

0.9.2.3 doesn't launch DGIndex when i select several VOB files. It uses first of these files as Source.

A user sent a bug report about it and here is the story: Problem was a setting become incompatible, normally a force a update while developing and certainly did so but after that I changed the way setting versioning is done because of the new feature that asks if a setting should be updated. Now that I think about it I should have forced to reset everything because the older the version is that was used before the higher the chance something like this happens because all version tags are gone as I use a complete new method for versioning.

here is a build that forces preparers to be reseted: http://www.planetdvb.net/staxrip/StaxRip_Hotfix.zip

I mean when upgrading to a new version you now get dialogs asking if the profiles (and other settings) should be updated. In most cases, I think people want to update the default profiles to the new versions. But I also think quite a lot of people make custom profiles and the way it is implemented now, those custom profiles are lost when you upgrade. Each time I upgraded to a new version I had to recreate my custom profiles for video, audio and the filter profile, because they were removed.

I don't think merging all old profiles with all new profiles wouldn't be that great either and even if you don't update you still can preview and use what's changed and new in the profiles dialog. Create a new profile based on the factory defaults, preview it with edit, accept it with 'OK' or cancel changing anything.

[ch@@boom]

good app
starting my first experiences

quick q: will you support seperate credits encoding .. or is it already possible?

thx

[stax76]

will you support seperate credits encoding

I'm not much convinced of such a feature but I new sooner or later somebody is gonna ask ;). Would it be too much of a pain to setup a credits zone manually in the codec configuration?

[LRN]

Just ripped another movie...There's slight -300 ~ -500 ms delay on both audio streams...I wasted whole 30 mins trying to sync them, until i realized, what "Delay" in "Audio mix options" in "AAC-HE - Add existing profile" doesn't works :). Commandline looks ok, but delay isn't applied :-/
cmdl is something like Arguments: -fps 25.00 -add "file.264" -add "aud1.mp4:lang=rus:delay=50000" -add "aud2.mp4:lang=eng:delay=50000" -chap "chapters.txt" -new "VTS_05_0.mp4"
Tried raw mp4box mp4box.exe file.mp4 -delay 2=50000 -delay 5=50000
Doesn't works (i set delay so huge for it to become really noticeable - but i noticed no changes). As i understand, now delay is only applied in audio encoder, not in muxer? I.e. if i want to delay audio, i should re-encode it?
Also...
chapters.txt is common OGM chapter file with chapter names in CP-1251. After muxing chapter names is not visible (using Media Player Classic). What encoding i should use!?!? UTF-8 doesn't works.
In Nero Recode chapter names in CP-1251 worked fine. Looks like MP4Box doesn't support this feature well enougth :(

[stax76]

Delay is in BeSweet settings because some players might not handle container delay properly, might this be your problem? Did you try other players and DirectShow filters, VLC, MPC and all that stuff. A StaxRip muxer is smart enough however to check if the audio profile has handled the delay and if it wasn't handled it will handle it. A CLI profile will check if a delay macro is used and a mux profile will always assume the delay wasn't handled if I recall correctly and if there are no bugs.

Regarding chapters, I think MP4Box cannot use DVD Decrypter created chapters because of different encoding. Bond wrote something about it but I don't recall what encoding it was. I work around probably about more than 100 limitations and bugs of every other application so I might as well workaround this, if you have some implementation hints, would be great of course.

[LRN]

I use MPC. With two differend decoders - CoreAVC and ffdshow. Haali media splitter for mp4 handling.

I use Chapter-X-tractor for chapter x-traction :)
And it outputs chapter-file in default local codepage.

[stax76]

I use MPC. With two differend decoders - CoreAVC and ffdshow. Haali media splitter for mp4 handling.


Maybe you should try then let BeSweet handle delay as it's default in StaxRip or did you just that? You can also try VLC as non DirectShow alternative to check if you get different results as opposed to your DShow solution.

And it outputs chapter-file in default local codepage.

ANSII using local codepage is what's used by far most if I understand this right. Would have been great if MP4Box could handle this...

[LRN]

Re-encoded audio with delay. Fine. But it took nearly 2 hours, that's bad...I hoped everythig would be almost autimatic...

Regarding chapters - here's post you mentioned http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=735047#post735047

Remuxed everything with YAMB. Now, there's NO chapters at all :) (in previous cases they WERE, but without names, only with timestamps)

[bomsom]

Hi There! I'm kinda new to encoding and I'm a little bit lost here...

Is there a way to put selectable subtitles into the .mp4 container?

There's an option on the menu View>Project Options>Automation that says "Auto subtitle selection" and an option to add languages. I selected the languages I wanted but in the end I got no subtitles at all.

Do I have to add forced subtitles for it to work?? And doing so, will it always be displayed during the movie or can I turn it off?

By the way, I converted the movie using x264(exact file size profile) and Staxrip version 0.9.2.3, and I use VLC to play it.

Stax, keep the good job man! All this enconding process is very tricky, but you're making it easier!! I was using Nero Recode (AVC) because of it's friendly interface and encoding in a few steps, but I don't want to install all those apps included in the pack that I will not use just to have the Recode.

[stax76]

Re-encoded audio with delay. Fine. But it took nearly 2 hours, that's bad...I hoped everythig would be almost autimatic...

Well, firstly you didn't use the defaults which encode with delay and secondly it's not the fault of StaxRip that container delay don't work but rather a bug or limitation in either the muxer or the player and that's exactly the reason why the delay is handled by BeSweet in the first place.

Is there a way to put selectable subtitles into the .mp4 container?

No and that's exactly the reason why I don't use it and don't recommend to use it, happily there is mkv and divx.

There's an option on the menu View>Project Options>Automation that says "Auto subtitle selection" and an option to add languages. I selected the languages I wanted but in the end I got no subtitles at all.

That's only the auto selection, first you got to demux the subtitles as described in the DVD guide of the help and then you got to select the subtitle s in the muxer (container) options because the muxer is the application that puts all streams together into the target file.

[LRN]

Well, firstly you didn't use the defaults which encode with delay
And what defaults exactly i should use? I thought delays are detected by DGIndex and automatically added to audio profile?
Well, anyway i suspect, what this is my mistake. I added all vobs starting from VTS_05_0. There's no audio in VTS_05_0.vob, only 0.6 secs of video. This is why audio is delayed, i think

Also...
After muxing with YAMB i noticed, what in MPC in Navigate->Audio Language both tracks is "Unknown" ("Unknown 0" and "Unknown 1") and in splitter both tracks is "[Undetermined]".
After StaxRip muxing, there's NO any text in Navigate->Audio Language (only check-marks showing wich stream is selected), but in splitter there's [English] and [Russian] audio streams.

Is there a way to put selectable subtitles into the .mp4 container?

No and that's exactly the reason why I don't use it and don't recommend to use it, happily there is mkv and divx.
Errrr....And what's about srt muxing? It is not "selectable subtitles"?

[stax76]

And what defaults exactly i should use? I thought delays are detected by DGIndex and automatically added to audio profile?

That's how it's supposed to work, in BeSweet it is handled with -ota( d %delay% ) and in any audio profile configuration regardless of type you can see and edit the value StaxRip readed from the filename.

Also...
After muxing with YAMB i noticed, what in MPC in Navigate->Audio Language both tracks is "Unknown" ("Unknown 0" and "Unknown 1") and in splitter both tracks is "[Undetermined]".
After StaxRip muxing, there's NO any text in Navigate->Audio Language (only check-marks showing wich stream is selected), but in splitter there's [English] and [Russian] audio streams.

Does it work in VLC?


Errrr....And what's about srt muxing? It is not "selectable subtitles"?


Sorry, I forgot about that.